Economic Update
Market Week: June 14, 2021
The Markets (as of market close June 11, 2021)
Stocks were mixed last Monday, with the Russell 2000 (1.4%) and the Nasdaq (0.5%) gaining, while the
Dow fell 0.4% and the S&P 500 and the Global Dow closed the day essentially unchanged. Treasury yields,
crude oil prices, and the dollar fell. Communication services, health care, and real estate advanced, while
materials, industrials, and financials dipped lower.
Market Week: June 7, 2021
The Markets (as of market close June 4, 2021)
Stocks were mixed last Tuesday to begin the holiday-shortened week. The Russell 2000 climbed 1.1%, the Global Dow added 0.6%, and the Dow eked out a 0.1% gain. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 each dipped 0.1%. Yields on 10-year Treasuries, the dollar, and crude oil prices advanced. Energy gained nearly 4.0% as the OPEC+ alliance agreed to increase output in July. Real estate and materials also advanced more than 1.0%, while health care fell 1.6%. European markets closed higher for the fourth consecutive month as economies continue to show signs of recovery from the pandemic
Market Week: June 1, 2021
The Markets (as of market close May 28, 2021)
Monday kicked off last week on a high note for stocks. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted
gains, with the Nasdaq advancing 1.4% to lead the way. The S&P 500 gained 1.0%, the Russell 2000
climbed 0.6%, the Dow and the Global Dow each added 0.5%. Information technology and communication
services led the market sectors, each rising 1.8%, followed by real estate (1.1%), energy (1.0%), and
consumer discretionary (1.0%). The yield on 10-year Treasuries declined 1.5%. The dollar slipped, while
crude oil prices climbed 3.7%.
Market Month: May 2021
The Markets (as of market close May 28, 2021)
Stocks were volatile in May, likely a reflection of strength in the U.S. economy as well as concerns about inflation and the timing of when the Federal Reserve might begin to taper its accommodative policies. Regarding inflation, members of the Federal Open Market Committee acknowledged that prices may run higher than the 2.0% target set by the Committee due to transitory supply-chain bottlenecks, which are expected to fade.
Market Week: May 24, 2021
The Markets (as of market close May 21, 2021)
Stocks began last week mostly lower, pulled down by tech and consumer shares. Of the benchmark indexes listed here, only the Russell 2000 (0.1%) and the Global Dow (0.2%) were able to eke out gains. The Nasdaq dipped 0.4%, followed by the S&P 500, which lost 0.3%, and the Dow, which fell 0.2%. Treasury yields rose modestly, while crude oil prices rose 1.5%. The dollar was mixed to lower. Energy prices advanced 2.3% and materials climbed 0.9%. Tech shares dropped 0.7%, communication services declined 0.9%, and utilities fell 0.9%.
Market Week: May 17, 2021
The Markets (as of market close May 14, 2021)
Tech and growth shares fell last Monday, as inflation worries drove stocks lower and commodity prices higher. The Dow (0.2%) and the Global Dow (0.5%) advanced, while the Russell 2000 and the Nasdaq each fell 2.6%. The S&P 500 lost 0.7%. Treasury yields and the dollar gained. Crude oil prices dipped. Among the market sectors, information technology was the hardest hit, decreasing 2.5%, followed by consumer discretionary (-2.0%) and communication services (-1.9%). Utilities (1.0%) and consumer staples (0.8%) fared best.
Market Week: May 10, 2021
The Markets (as of market close May 7, 2021)
Stocks opened generally higher last Monday, with only the Nasdaq (-0.5%) losing ground. The Dow closed up 0.7%, followed by the Global Dow (0.6%), the Russell 2000 (0.5%), and the S&P 500 (0.3%). Losses in consumer discretionary, communication services, real estate, and information technology were offset by gains in energy, materials, health care, industrials, consumer staples, and financials. Crude oil prices rose by more than 1.3%, pushing the price per barrel over $64.40. The dollar and Treasury yields slid.
Market Week: May 3, 2021
The Markets (as of market close April 30, 2021)
Last Monday saw small caps and tech shares drive the Russell 2000 and the Nasdaq higher. Investors may have drawn encouragement from strong, first-quarter corporate earnings reports, solid economic data, and the expectation that the Federal Reserve will maintain its accommodative stance. Following the Russell 2000 (1.2%) and the Nasdaq (0.9%), were the Global Dow (0.6%) and the S&P 500 (0.2%). The Dow dipped 0.2%. The yield on 10-year Treasuries inched up, while the dollar and crude oil prices fell. Energy and consumer discretionary each advanced 0.6% last Monday, while consumer staples fell 1.2%.
Market Month: April 2021
Market Month: April 2021
The Markets (as of market close April 30, 2021)
Stocks climbed higher in April on the heels of strong first-quarter corporate earnings reports and encouraging employment data. Vaccine distributions increased and several states relaxed COVID-related restrictions. More stimulus checks were given out, which encouraged consumer spending.