Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary February 25, 2019

The S&P 500 added another 0.7% to its impressive gains since late December. Optimism about a trade agreement between the U.S. and China continued to support markets. While trade negotiations between the U.S. and China remain the key focus, a number of other key events and data releases are likely to move markets this week.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary February 19, 2019

The S&P 500 surged 2.6% on the news an agreement had been reached to avoid a government shutdown and increased optimism about trade negotiations. Global stocks participated in the rally.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary February 11, 2019

U.S. stocks finished barely positive last week. The S&P 500 inched 0.1% higher on a relatively light week for news. The government shutdown has delayed a number of key statistics about the strength of the U.S. economy and given investors less data then expected to evaluate it.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary February 04, 2019

Markets returned to rally mode last week and finished January significantly higher. The S&P 500 surged 1.6% on strong employment data, the Federal Reserve communicating its concerns about slowing growth, and generally positive earnings data. The relatively strong earnings pushed Carson’s expectations for earnings growth from 11% to just less than 13%. Strong earnings performance from major oil companies helped boost estimates, too.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary January 28, 2019

After a four-week rally, stocks finished close to unchanged last week. The S&P 500 shed 0.2% but is still up 6.4% this year. The S&P 500 opened sharply lower and then rose the rest of the holiday-shortened week.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary January 21, 2019

Stocks continued to post strong weekly gains. The S&P 500 gained 2.9%, following last week’s 2.6% increase.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary January 14, 2019

After enduring a number of big swings in the market, investors benefited from a steady uptrend in stocks last week. The S&P 500 gained 2.6%, and only a tiny loss on Friday stopped the index from rising every day. The gains came steadily as there were no moves of more than 1% last week.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary January 07, 2019

The stock market wrapped up 2018 and began 2019 with a couple of big swings as investors reacted to a series of major announcements. On Wednesday evening, Apple warned iPhone sales in China were below expectations. The news sent stocks lower on Thursday, but those losses were erased when stocks soared after an extremely strong jobs report and indications of a more flexible Federal Reserve.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary December 31, 2018

Global stock markets continued to swing wildly last week as shifts in sentiment seemed to push the markets sharply higher and lower without much rationale.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary December 24, 2018

Stock markets continued to decline last week in response to the Fed’s modest shift in its interest rate outlook. The core issues of slowing growth, how the Fed will respond, U.S. and China trade, and Brexit have introduced a high level of uncertainty in the markets.