Category Archives: Economy/Stock Market

Indices started the week with mixed moves as the Dow dipped on Monday, while the S&P 500 Index and NASDAQ added slight gains. The mixed results were likely due to a variety of economic news. The markets saw a dip in crude oil prices, a belief that earnings are likely to remain weak with S&P companies posting their lowest earnings-per-share growth rate since the financial crisis and support for the Fed’s dovish stance from both the Minneapolis and Chicago Federal Reserve presidents. Stocks surged on Tuesday. Oil prices jumped, and many international markets saw gains. Midweek, U.S. markets were back in the red with Consumer Discretionary stocks taking the biggest hit. Thursday, both the S&P and Dow were nearly flat. The weekly Jobless Claims unexpectedly increased as the Department of Labor couldn’t point to any special factors. The four-week moving average still increased, but remained consistent with solid monthly job growth. Friday saw the markets decline yet again. Overall for the week, the markets ended down.

Market indices began the week positive with Consumer Discretionary stocks leading the way up while Energy brands trailed with West Texas Intermediate crude falling 2.5% to settle at $44.78 a barrel. The ISM Manufacturing Index slipped to 50.8 from March’s reading of 51.8. Economists had expected a lesser decrease to 51.5. Stocks fell to their lowest level in three weeks on Tuesday, likely because of weak manufacturing data from China. Energy stocks felt the effect of a continued slip in crude oil. The fall in Energy continued on Wednesday. Energy Information Administration figures showed U.S. reserves increased by 2.8 million barrels last week, versus the 1.2 million barrels expected. The services industry activity ticked up in April, as the ISM non-manufacturing index moved up to 55.7 from 54.5 in March, exceeding expectations. Factory orders rose as new orders ramped up 1.1%, also beating consensus expectations. Indices closed with mixed moves on Thursday with the Dow producing a slight gain while both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ shed some points. Labor Department data showed new jobless claims climbed by 17,000 to 274,000. Trading ended in green territory on Friday. Carmaker and raw materials brands stepped up and Energy sector stocks climbed on an upswing in crude oil. Labor Department data showed an addition of 160,000 jobs in April, which was well shy of an expected 200,000. Gains for February and March were revised down by a total of 19,000 while the unemployment rate held steady at 5%.

Declines in commodity-sensitive stocks caused the markets to trade slightly lower on Monday. Energy brands led the way down ahead of the Federal Reserve’s two-day April meeting. Commerce Department figures showed new home sales dipped in March, falling 1.5% to a rate of 511,000. February sales were upwardly revised to 519,000. Tuesday’s trading session ended mixed with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 index adding gains while the NASDAQ closed in the red. Moves were mixed on a variety of economic news, including a tick up in durable goods orders for March, and a fall in The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence index. The mixed results continued Wednesday following comments from the April Federal Open Market Committee meeting. Policy makers left interest rates unchanged and left an increase in June unconfirmed. Thursday’s results were down across the board after the Commerce Department reported the U.S. economy grew at 0.5% in the first quarter, which was below analysts’ expectations. On Friday, West Texas Intermediate crude oil slipped 0.2% to settle at $45.92 a barrel. On another note, Commerce Department data showed consumer spending ticked up just slightly in March, increasing a mere 0.1%, half the amount anticipated. Personal income rose by 0.4% last month. The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index fell to 89 from 91, slightly below expectations of 90.

Indices began the week with gains as energy stocks stepped up on a slight dip in crude oil. Crude pared earlier losses as the session progressed. The markets closed with mixed moves on Tuesday when both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 index tacked on some points while the NASDAQ traded slightly into red territory.

The markets began the week on a down note as Healthcare stocks traded lower despite the step up by Financial stocks. West Texas Intermediate crude oil settled at $40.36 a barrel, which led to Energy stocks ramping up on Tuesday alongside a continued upswing in crude oil. Indices closed in positive territory on Wednesday on a variety of economic news. The Producer Price Index slipped 0.1% in March, while core goods prices rose 0.1% for the second straight month. Retail sales dipped 0.3% in March. Discounting cars, sales jumped 0.2%. Additionally, the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, which covered economic activity from mid-February through March, showed a modest to moderate rate of expansion in the majority of districts. Indices closed slightly mixed on Thursday. The Dow and S&P 500 added fractional gains, while the NASDAQ ended the session marginally in the red. Bank stocks in the Financials sector led advancers while Technology stocks retreated. Indices closed Friday’s session in red territory with stocks this time retreating on a variety of economic news. West Texas Intermediate crude lost its weekly gains to settle at $40.36 a barrel, where it began the week. In a preliminary measure, the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey showed a 1.3 point dip to 89.7 for April, versus expectations of an uptick to 91.8. 

The week began with a pullback in oil prices, which eroded the market’s recent rally. Commodities prices slipped, weighing on Energy and Materials shares. Many investors took comfort in Friday’s solid reading on U.S. manufacturing activity and the March jobs report, which further eased worries about the strength of the U.S. economy. However, concerns about sluggish global growth remained. The decline continued Tuesday with every sector in the S&P 500 falling, all but erasing the index’s gains for the year. The two-day losing streak was snapped Wednesday, led higher by Healthcare sector stocks. Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s March meeting showed policymakers left interest rates unchanged and reduced the number of planned rate increases to two from four. The market’s gains were short-lived as Financials and Energy stocks led the decline on Thursday. Friday’s gains were not enough to push the week into green territory, despite the rally in West Texas Intermediate crude.

The markets started the week mixed, with both the Dow and S&P 500 closing Monday with gains, while the NASDAQ shed some points. Trading was likely mixed ahead of the March employment numbers, manufacturing and construction data that were scheduled for release later in the week. Personal income increased 0.2% in February, versus a forecast of no change. On Tuesday, stocks flourished on Federal Reserve comments. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen emphasized a gradual, “as needed” approach to moving on interest rates. Meanwhile, consumer confidence ticked up in March. Conference Board data showed confidence increased 2.2 points to 96.2 this month. Home prices also increased 5.7% in January, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city index. Indices traded well into the green zone on Wednesday, with Technology stocks leading the way up. Crude oil moved higher on a smaller-than-expected jump in recent inventories. The ADP National Employment Report showed 200,000 jobs were added to the private sector in March. The market indices closed with mixed moves on Thursday, as investors proceeded with caution ahead of monthly employment numbers due out the following day. The Institute for Supply Management numbers showed economic activity in the Chicago area rebounded in March, as the Chicago PMI hit 53.6. The markets ended the week with a positive day of trading. U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday following positive reports on employment and manufacturing in the United States. The latest employment report showed 215,000 jobs were added in March, and average hourly earnings rose as well. The ISM manufacturing index also rose more than expected.

The week began with mixed results as the Dow Jones Industrial Average and NASDAQ added marginal gains, while the S&P 500 closed slightly in the red. Investors likely traded with caution in anticipation of comments coming from the Federal Reserve meeting that were due later in the week. Mixed results continued the following day as West Texas Intermediate crude dipped 2.3% to settle at $36.34 a barrel and a variety of economic news was released. U.S. retail sales decreased in February, falling 0.1%, which was in line with estimates. Sales for January were downwardly revised to a 0.4% retreat. Stocks were up midweek on comments from the Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting. Policymakers held interest rates unchanged and now anticipate two rate hikes this year versus December’s forecast of as many as four. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate crude tacked on 4%, providing a boost to Energy sector stocks. The Consumer Price Index dipped 0.2%; however, the core measure, which discounts food and energy, ticked up 0.3%. Thursday saw Energy stocks increase as crude oil touched $40.20 a barrel. The rally continued on Friday, spurred by a variety of economic news. In a preliminary measure, the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index fell 1.7 points in March to a reading of 90, which was shy of the consensus forecast for a slight uptick. The rally from Wednesday to Friday was able to push the S&P 500 into positive territory year to date.

The week began with both the S&P 500 and the Dow increasing for a fifth session in a row, marking their longest winning streaks since October. A rebound in commodities prices helped stoke the recent rally. Oil prices have risen steadily since Russia, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Qatar agreed last month to freeze their output at January levels. Additionally, Friday’s strong U.S. jobs report calmed concerns, helping interest rates edge higher. The next day, the five-day winning streak was snapped as supply woes weighed on oil prices and worries about a prolonged slowdown in China resurfaced. Crude-oil tumbled, leading the market to resume its doubts over the potential for an output freeze. Gains in utilities and consumer-staples stocks imply that investors remain cautious in the wake of the recent rally. Stocks ticked higher Wednesday, led by a rise in energy shares after government data showed inventories of gasoline and other fuels fell, reflecting strong demand. In a pleasant surprise, wholesale inventories rose 0.3% in January, the first increase after three months of declines. Analysts expect Fed officials will likely to keep short-term interest rates unchanged at their March meeting, but leave open the possibility of rate rises in April and June. The European Central Bank cut interest rates in the Eurozone to zero, expanding its money printing program as it seeks to revive the region’s economy and fend off deflation. Indices closed the week well into the green zone on Friday. Energy stocks traded up on a jump in crude oil.