The benchmark indices were mixed last week as large caps and tech stocks performed well, while small caps took quite a hit. The S&P 500 closed the week posting gains for the eighth straight week. The market kicked off the week with lackluster performance as the major indices closed in the red zone on Monday. One bright spot was an economic report that showed personal income ticked up in September. Nominal income edged up 0.4% last month versus a 0.2% increase in August, and exceeded expectations of a 0.2% jump. Corporate earnings releases boosted the market on Tuesday with Consumer Discretionary, Energy and Technology sectors showing leadership. Consumer confidence reached its highest level in almost 17 years in October, according to The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Survey. Boosted by what is perceived as a strong jobs market and improving business conditions, consumers expressed confidence in the present economy while expecting it to improve in the near term. Midweek, the indices closed mixed with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 Index stepping up while the NASDAQ shed points. Moves were mixed in the wake of comments from the Federal Open Market Committee’s two-day meeting. The Fed left interest rates unchanged at 1% to 1.25%, but said it would consider lifting them before year’s end on signs the economy was gaining momentum. Additionally, the president nominated a new chairman of the central bank to succeed Janet Yellen. Friday was dominated by economic reports the Purchasing Managers’ Index and the ISM Non-Manufacturing Survey. PMI registered 54.6 in October, up from 53.1 in September, while the services sector grew in October, registering 60.1, which is the highest reading since the index debut in 2008.
