The Impact of Oil and Elections

Weekly Update – November 12, 2018 Last week, markets experienced a 4-day winning streak before dropping on Friday, November 9. Despite those losses, domestic indexes posted gains for the week.[1] The S&P 500 increased 2.13%, the Dow added 2.84%, and the NASDAQ was up 0.68%.[2] International stocks in the MSCI EAFE had slight growth, ending the week…

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Markets Bounce Back

Weekly Update – November 5, 2018 Markets posted strong gains last week after struggling for much of October. The S&P 500 had its best weekly performance since May, and the NASDAQ had its first positive week since September. [1] Despite domestic markets dropping on Friday, November 2, the S&P 500 added 2.42%, the Dow increased 2.36%, and…

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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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New Records and Changes

Weekly Update – September 24, 2018 Last week brought new tariffs and data, and another look at changes coming to equity classifications. Overall, the S&P 500 gained 0.85% and the Dow was up 2.25%, while the NASDAQ dropped 0.29%. [1]International stocks in the MSCI EAFE had sizable growth, posting a 2.89% increase. [2] A Look Back: Last…

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Stocks Up as Milestone Passes

Weekly Update – September 17, 2018 Last week, the East Coast prepared for Hurricane Florence, which roared through the Carolinas and Georgia. As investors kept their eyes on the weather and its potential for destruction, estimates emerged of up to $27 billion in hurricane damage. This potential for damage contributed to insurance companies in the…

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Markets Up Again

Weekly Update – September 4, 2018 Trade continued to dominate the news last week and cause market volatility as investors monitored discussions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and tension with China. While Mexico and the U.S. reached a new trade deal early in the week, talks with Canada stalled on Friday, August…

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