The Markets (as of market close September 9, 2022) Are investors accepting the Federal Reserve's hawkish path to reduce inflation? Last week's market performance may lend credence to that possibility, as each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted solid gains, reversing three weeks of losses. A jump in tech shares pushed the Nasdaq up [...]
The Markets (as of market close September 2, 2022) Equities suffered losses for the third consecutive week, as investors anticipated continued aggressive moves by the Federal Reserve to combat inflation. The S&P 500 extended its longest losing streak since mid-June. The latest labor report (see below) seemed to validate the Fed's contention that the economy [...]
The Markets (as of market close August 26, 2022) Despite evidence that inflation may be slowing, the central bank is committed to fighting inflation, according to last Friday's speech from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Wall Street may have held out hope that the Fed would scale back its aggressive bent to reel in rising [...]
The Markets (as of market close August 19, 2022) The four-week rally for stocks came to an end last week. Investors turned cautious after Fed officials continued to support more interest-rate hikes. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here lost ground, with the S&P 500 declining for the first time in five weeks. Yields on [...]
The Markets (as of market close August 12, 2022) The stock market posted its fourth straight weekly advance, the longest consecutive weekly rally of 2022. Investors turned to stocks on the premise that the Federal Reserve may reduce the pace of its economic tightening campaign after three major indicators showed that inflation subsided in July. [...]
The Markets (as of market close July 29, 2022) July saw the stock market ebb and flow throughout the month. Sometimes the market reacted in response to news of some sort. Other times, stocks moved in anticipation of something that may happen. For instance, the latest quarterly corporate earnings reports generally have been better than [...]
The Markets (as of market close August 5, 2022) Stocks closed last week generally higher. A surprisingly strong labor report for July helped alleviate recession fears, but opened the door to more interest-rate hikes from the Federal Reserve as it continues to slow inflation. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq finished higher for the third [...]
The Markets (as of market close July 29, 2022) Positive economic news and corporate earnings data helped drive stocks higher last week. Although the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates another 75 basis points, investors may expect subsequent rate increases to be no more than 75 basis points, with the possibility of a slowdown in rate [...]
The Markets (as of market close July 15, 2022) Despite a late-week rally, stocks ended last week lower. A strong retail sales report for June showed continued economic strength, even in the face of rising inflation and concerns over an economic recession. Investors still aren't totally sold on risk, however. Each of the benchmark indexes [...]
The Markets (as of market close July 8, 2022) Last Friday's strong jobs report may have alleviated fears of a recession for the time being, but it also likely supported a more aggressive response from the Federal Reserve as it tries to dampen rising inflation. Stocks started July on a strong note, with each of [...]
