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.
