Monday Moves

Blog, Market Commentary

Stocks stepped up on Monday amid favorable economic news. Technology brands such as Microsoft and Altera let the way. Microsoft moved up after announcing a late July release of its new operating system, Windows 10, while Altera added gains after Intel announced plans to purchase the chipmaker for $54 a share, or $16.7 billion.

Money Talks – May 30, 2015

Radio, Radio: Whole Show Recording

This week on “Money Talks”, hosts Matt Hames, CTFA, and Troy Harmon, CFA, CVA, are joined by Nick Antonucci and K.C. Smith, CFP®, to discuss the up and down moves in the market during the holiday-shortened week. They discuss durable goods, consumer confidence and moves in the housing market. The experts also take a look at a case study of an individual who wants to reduce her estate under the federal estate tax exclusion to ensure her heirs inherit her wealth. They also answer listeners’ questions on stock buybacks, Target, Sally Beauty Holdings and our outlook for the Utilities sector.

Technology and Energy Stocks Push Markets Lower

Market Commentary, Radio

During the holiday-shortened week, the markets dipped into the red zone. The Dow Jones Industrial Average began the week with its largest decline in nearly a month (1%), as all 30 Dow components lost ground. Technology stocks in the S&P 500 Index fell 1.4% dragging the index down. While Wednesday, the markets recovered some of the previous day’s gains, the markets were down again on Thursday with Energy stocks taking their toll on the S&P. Labor Department figures also showed a jobless claims uptick of 7,000 to 282,000. Economists had expected a decrease to 270,000 from a revised 275,000 the week prior. On Friday, economic data weighed on the markets when first-quarter gross domestic product was downwardly revised to negative 0.7% in a second estimate. Consumer confidence decreased slightly in May, as the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment index slipped 5.2 points to a six-month low of 90.7.