Market Roundup: Week of New Record Highs as Stocks Surged for a Third Straight Week

Economy/Stock Market

The S&P 500 Index hit its first record high in more than a year on Monday, as stocks traded well into the green zone as a result of stronger-than-expected employment numbers for June. Earnings season kicked off after the closing bell. On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 hit new record heights, and Energy stocks gained on a jump in crude oil. West Texas Intermediate crude tacked on 4.6% to settle at $46.77 a barrel. Indices closed with mixed moves on Wednesday. The Dow and S&P 500 posted marginal gains to close at new record levels once again, while the NASDAQ shed some points. Moves were mixed amid a variety of economic news. West Texas Intermediate crude oil slipped 3.85% to settle at $45 a barrel, likely causing Energy stocks to trade lower. Details released from the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book report showed economic activity increased at a modest rate since mid-May amid slight price pressures and a small decline in consumer spending. Indices closed trading with gains on Thursday with crude oil rebounding from Wednesday’s downswing. Elsewhere, initial jobless claims held steady last week, as Labor Department data showed new claims remained at an addition of 254,000 for a second week straight. Additionally, continuing claims increased by 32,000 to 2.149 million in the week ended July 2, 2016. The markets closed with mixed moves on Friday. The Dow hit a new record while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ ended fractionally in the red for the session. West Texas Intermediate crude oil settled at $45.99 a barrel. In economic news, retail sales jumped up by an unexpected 0.6% in June. Economists had expected a lesser 0.1% gain. Advances at home-improvement and garden retailers led the ascent.

Market Roundup: Markets End Holiday-Shortened Week in the Green

Economy/Stock Market

The markets opened the week finishing to the down side on Tuesday after the Independence Day holiday on Monday. Energy stocks sold off amid retreating crude oil prices. West Texas Intermediate crude oil shed 4.9% to settle at $46.60 a barrel. In economic news, U.S. factory orders decreased by one percent in May, versus economist expectations of a 0.8 percent drop. The markets rebounded from early low levels on Wednesday to close in the green zone. Stocks gained on the release of minutes from the last Federal Reserve meeting as well as a variety of other economic news. Services industry activity increased in June. The ISM Services Index hit 56.5, up from 52.9 in May. The results exceeded expectations of a reading of 53.3. Additionally, the trade gap ticked up in May as the U.S. trade deficit rose to $41.1 billion from $37.4 billion in April. Indices were mixed on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 indices rebounded from session lows to land slightly in the red while the NASDAQ stepped up. West Texas Intermediate crude oil shed 4.9% settling at $45.09 a barrel. Department figures showed initial jobless claims fell by 16,000 to 254,000 last week. The markets ramped up on Friday with stocks gaining on favorable employment data for June. Labor Department figures showed an addition of 287,000 jobs versus expectations of 175,000. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.9% from 4.7% in May as a result of more people entering the work force. The markets are looking ahead to next week when earnings season kicks off on Monday.