Why Did Stocks Drop?

Weekly Update – October 29, 2018 Last week did nothing to dispel October’s reputation as a tough month for the markets. The S&P 500 lost 3.94%, the Dow declined 2.97%, and the NASDAQ dropped 3.78% during what was one of 2018’s most volatile weeks so far. All three indexes are down significantly for the month,…

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Examining October

Weekly Update – October 22, 2018 Stock performance was mixed last week as investors considered the impact of interest rates, international affairs and corporate earnings. [1] The S&P 500 gained 0.02%, and the Dow added 0.41% to post its first weekly gains in October. The NASDAQ declined 0.64% and extended its losing streak. [2] International stocks in the MSCI…

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Stocks Take a Ride

Weekly Update – October 15, 2018 Volatility was back in full force last week. The three major domestic indexes posted several days of losses before experiencing wide swings on Friday. By week’s end, the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), which investors use to help measure fear in the markets, had increased by approximately 70%. The VIX…

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Examining Economies

Weekly Update – October 8, 2018 Although new data continued to show strength in the U.S. economy, markets stumbled across the globe last week. [1] The S&P 500 lost 0.98%, the Dow dropped 0.04%, and the NASDAQ declined 3.21%. [2]International stocks in the MSCI EAFE struggled, posting a 2.35% loss. [3] While U.S. and international stocks followed similar paths…

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Special Update: Quarterly Report

Weekly Update – October 1, 2018 Friday, September 28, was the last trading day in 2018’s 3rd quarter, and the S&P 500 posted its strongest quarterly return in nearly 5 years. [1] The Dow also showed impressive returns by beating expectations for the quarter, while the NASDAQ notched record highs against 2017 numbers. For the quarter, the…

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