Weekly Market Update – January 3, 2025

Weekly Market Update – January 3, 2025

Quick Takes Stocks had a Scrooge-like performance during the “Santa Claus Rally,” which is the seven-day period that ended Friday. This year’s Santa rally disappointed with a -0.5% decline for the S&P 500 Index versus the historical average gain of +1.3%....
Weekly Market Update – December 27, 2024

Weekly Market Update – December 27, 2024

Quick Takes A fall in shares of big tech companies dragged U.S. stocks lower on Friday, but the major U.S. stock indices still held onto gains for the week. The S&P 500 closed the week with a +0.7% gain, the Nasdaq Composite was down -0.8%, and the Russell 2000...
Weekly Market Update – December 27, 2024

Weekly Market Update – December 20, 2024

Quick Takes Wall Street didn’t like the message Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell delivered on Wednesday and sent the S&P 500 Index down -2.0 for the week; the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell -1.8%, and the small cap Russell 2000 Index sank -4.5%.  Fed policymakers...
Weekly Market Update – December 27, 2024

Weekly Market Update – December 6, 2024

Quick Takes The economic highlight of the week was the November Employment Situation Report which showed nonfarm payrolls grow by 227,000 for the month. That was solid enough for economic growth but not so hot to prevent the Fed from cutting rates again in December. ...
Monthly Market Update – November 2024

Monthly Market Update – November 2024

Key Points STRONGER THAN EXPECTED The Fed began a rate-cutting cycle in September but may need to recalibrate the pace and magnitude of cuts due to stronger-than-expected economic growth and inflation. Recent upward pressure on prices may necessitate a more gradual...