Market Week: December 9, 2024
The Markets (as of market close December 6, 2024)
A stronger-than-expected jobs report (see below) helped drive stocks mostly higher last week and raise optimism of an interest rate cut when the Federal Reserve meets later in December. Consumer discretionary, communication services, and information technology helped drive the market, which was otherwise tempered by downturns in energy, utilities, real estate, and materials. Long-term bond prices were relatively stable, with yields on 10-year Treasuries slipping 2.0 basis points from the prior week’s closing mark. Crude oil prices declined on demand fears despite OPEC+’s decision to extend production cuts until the end of 2026. The dollar inched higher, while gold prices dipped lower.
A surge in tech shares and large-cap stocks drove the NASDAQ (1.0%) and the S&P 500 (0.24%) to record highs last Monday. Along with information technology, other sectors outperforming were communication services and consumer discretionary. The Global Dow gained 0.1%, while the Dow (-0.3%) declined. The small caps of the Russell 2000 ended the day essentially unchanged. Yields on 10-year Treasuries inched up to 4.19%. Crude oil prices settled at $68.09 per barrel. The dollar climbed 0.6%, partially rebounding from a 1.7% decline the previous week. Gold prices fell 0.7% to $2,661.60 per ounce.
Market Week: December 2, 2024
The Markets (as of market close November 29, 2024)
Thanksgiving week proved to be a positive one for stocks. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here closed higher, led by the Dow and the Russell 2000. Financials, consumer staples, and industrials led the market sectors, with only energy and communication services declining. Yields on 10-year Treasuries fell for the second consecutive week. Crude oil prices declined despite an apparent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The dollar lost about 1.7% for the week, while gold prices declined 2.0%.
The Dow reached a new high last Monday as stocks closed generally higher. The Russell 2000 gained 1.5% to lead the benchmark indexes listed here, followed by the Dow (1.0%) and the Global Dow (0.5%). The NASDAQ and the S&P 500 each climbed 0.3%. Ten-year Treasury yields closed at 4.27% after falling 14.5 basis points. The dollar, which had been rallying, declined 0.6%, while gold prices snapped a five-day winning streak after losing 3.1%. Crude oil prices slid 3.1%, settling at $69.07 per barrel.
Market Week: November 25, 2024
The Markets (as of market close November 22, 2024)
Wall Street enjoyed a solid week of gains, rebounding from the prior week’s losses. Each of the benchmark indexes climbed higher, led by the small caps of the Russell 2000, as investors moved from mega caps to cyclical stocks, which are influenced largely by the economy. Communication services was the only market sector to close in the red, while the remaining sectors moved higher, led by utilities, consumer staples, real estate, and materials. Crude oil prices gained nearly 6.5% last week, driven by increasing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The dollar and gold prices moved higher as investors sought safe-haven assets, in light of increasing geopolitical risks.
Market Week: November 18, 2024
The Markets (as of market close November 15, 2024)
Last week saw stocks close markedly lower as investors were discouraged by hawkish comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who put a damper on the likelihood of another interest rate decrease this year. Among the market sectors, energy, financials, and utilities closed the week higher, while the remaining sectors ended the week in the red, led by health care, which saw stocks fall after President-elect Trump’s appointment of Robert Kennedy as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Ten-year Treasury yields hovered near the highest level since June, reflecting the diminished probability of interest rate cuts. Crude oil and gold prices declined, while the dollar advanced.
Market Week: November 11, 2024
The Markets (as of market close November 8, 2024)
Investors had plenty to think about last week as they focused on the results of the presidential election and the Federal Reserve’s move to further reduce interest rates (see below). Each of the benchmark indexes listed here closed up by the end of the week, with consumer discretionary, information technology, and financials outperforming. Bond prices ended the week higher, pulling yields lower. Crude oil prices rose to over $72.00 per barrel only to slip back a bit at the end of the week. The dollar inched higher, while gold prices declined. According to Freddie Mac, mortgage rates rose to 6.79% on November 7, the highest they’ve been in nearly four months.
Market Week: November 4, 2024
The Markets (as of market close November 1, 2024)
Wall Street saw stocks end October with a whimper, although equities began November on a high note. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here closed last week lower, except the Russell 2000. A surprisingly weak jobs report (see below) at the end of the week was offset by solid earnings reports from a couple of tech giants. Analysts speculated that the October labor data was impacted by hurricane disruptions and a strike at a major airplane manufacturer. Consumer discretionary and communication services were the only market sectors to end the week higher
Market Week: October 28, 2024
The Markets (as of market close October 25, 2024)
Tech shares helped the NASDAQ close up last week. The remaining indexes listed here didn’t fare as well. Renewed concerns about the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy dampened investor appetite for risk. Bond prices also faded during the week, driving yields higher. Crude oil prices climbed higher as investors monitored ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Gold prices continued to advance and have risen over 33.0% from the beginning of the year.
Market Week: October 21, 2024
The Markets (as of market close October 18, 2024)
Wall Street marked another week of gains, with each of the benchmark indexes climbing higher. The Dow and the S&P 500 attained new records, while the NASDAQ rode a spurt in tech and communication shares. Nine of the 11 market sectors closed the week higher, led by utilities, financials, and real estate. Health care and energy declined. Gold prices also reached new record highs, driven by global demand for safer assets and expectations of further interest rate cuts by major central banks. Crude oil prices declined, marking the largest weekly drop since the beginning of September. Weaker demand and slowing economic growth in China drove the downturn in crude oil prices.
Market Week: October 14, 2024
The Markets (as of market close October 11, 2024)
Despite a tepid start, stocks ended last week generally higher. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted solid gains with the Dow and the S&P 500 reaching record highs on multiple occasions. Financials and information technology led the market sectors, with consumer discretionary, real estate, communication services, utilities, and energy losing ground. Crude oil prices rose for the second straight week, fueled by escalating tensions in the Middle East and increased fuel demand in Florida on the heels of Hurricane Milton. The dollar and gold prices increased.
Market Week: October 7, 2024
The Markets (as of market close October 4, 2024)
Investors were confronted with plenty of market-moving information last week as they waded through negative developments and some positive signs. Growing tensions in the Middle East and a slowdown in the manufacturing sector (see below) were causes for concern, while a better-than-expected jobs report (see below) helped alleviate some of those worries, at least for a time. The S&P 500, the NASDAQ, and the Dow ended a very volatile week on the plus side, while the Russell 2000 and the Global Dow closed the week lower. Among the market sectors, energy surged by more than 8.5%, while communication services, financials, and industrials also closed higher. The remaining sectors declined, led by real estate and materials. Ten-year Treasury yields surged to their highest level in nearly two months as the robust labor report cooled expectations that the Federal Reserve needed to aggressively cut interest rates.