LCG Associates, Inc.

Weekly Market Update: U.S. equities declined over the past week as Treasury yields have continued to rise. The S&P 500 Index declined -0.96% on a total return basis. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note hit its highest level since July, rising to 4.24%. Economists have attributed the climb in yields partly to strong economic data that suggest the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates at a slower pace than originally anticipated. Oil recovered from recent losses and finished with a weekly gain as conflict in the Middle East continues to keep traders worried of broader conflict. https://lnkd.in/dn_22Uh

Weekly Market Update: U.S. stocks advanced for a sixth consecutive week on positive corporate earnings reports. The S&P 500 Index rose 0.9% over the week on a total return basis. The week’s broad-based gains saw stronger returns down the market cap spectrum, with the Russell 2000 Index and the S&P MidCap 400 Index both outperforming larger market capitalization indexes. Retail sales increased 0.4% in September, a mark above consensus estimates for a 0.3% increase and an acceleration from their 0.1% gain in August.  https://lnkd.in/dn_22Uh

Weekly Market Update: U.S. equities capped off their fifth consecutive week of gains, propelled by a strong start to third quarter earnings. The S&P 500 Index reached all-time highs after gaining 1.13% on a total return basis for the week. The consumer-price index rose 2.4%, year-over-year through September, running slightly hotter than expectations of a 2.3% increase. Bond yields fell below 4.1% thanks to a better-than expected producer-price index report that helped offset inflation fears that had re-arisen after Thursday’s CPI report. https://lnkd.in/dn_22Uh

Weekly Market Update: U.S. stocks rose for a fourth consecutive week as an upside surprise in the jobs report lifted markets into positive territory despite fears surrounding growing tensions in the Middle East and news of a dockworkers’ strike at East and Gulf Coast U.S. seaports. The S&P 500 Index added 0.2% on a total return basis for the week. Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 254,000 in September versus forecasts of 150,000, and the unemployment rate lowered to 4.1% from 4.2%. Last month's increase in total jobs was also revised higher, from 142,000 to 159,000. Average hourly earnings rose 0.4% in September on the heels of an upwardly revised 0.5% gain in August. The strong jobs report led to a spike in longer-term bond yields, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rising to 3.98% from 3.75% the week before, its highest level in almost two months.   https://lnkd.in/dn_22Uh

Weekly Market Update: U.S. equities capped off their third consecutive week of gains as the S&P 500 Index gained 0.64% on a total return basis for the week. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation, came in lower than economist expectations in August. The PCE price index posted an annual rate of 2.2% in August, down from 2.5% in July and the lowest since February 2021. China’s CSI 300 index posted its best week since November 2008, up 15.7% for the week, as the Chinese government announced a number of stimulus measures including $114 billion to support Chinese stocks. https://lnkd.in/dn_22Uh

Weekly Market Update: U.S. stocks climbed to new record highs over the week as investors celebrated the Fed rate cut. The S&P 500 Index added 1.4% on a total return basis. On Wednesday, the FOMC voted to cut rates by 50 basis points, its first rate cut in over four years (since March 2020). Retail sales rose 0.1% in August, following an upwardly revised increase of 1.1% in July.   https://lnkd.in/dn_22Uh

Weekly Market Update: U.S. equities rebounded with their best week of 2024 following their worst week of the year amid heightened debate around the Fed’s upcoming monetary policy decision. The S&P 500 Index gained 4.06% on a total return basis for the week. The consumer-price index climbed 2.5% from a year earlier, decreasing from 2.9% in July and extending its cooling streak to five months. Gold prices have hit repeated all-time highs since March, boosted by demand for safe-haven assets. The spot price of gold closed at $2,577.70 on Friday.   https://lnkd.in/dn_22Uh

Weekly Market Update: U.S. stocks moved down over the week, led by a decline in Information Technology stocks. The S&P 500 Index returned -4.2% on a total return basis. Employers added 142,000 jobs in August, below consensus estimates, and July’s gain was revised down to 89,000, marking the lowest level since December 2020. The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.2% from 4.3%, and average hourly earnings rose 0.4%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell to 3.72% from 3.91% the week before, marking its lowest level since May 2023. https://lnkd.in/dn_22Uh

Weekly Market Update: U.S. equities closed out a volatile August in positive territory as encouraging economic data overcame concerns about the health of the labor market. The S&P 500 Index gained 2.43% on a total return basis for the month. The Fed’s preferred inflation indicator, Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, increased 0.2% in July and 2.6% from a year ago, in-line with economists’ expectations. Berkshire Hathaway surpassed $1 trillion in market cap on Wednesday, becoming the first non-technology, U.S. company to reach this mark. https://lnkd.in/dn_22Uh

Weekly Market Update: U.S. stocks moved up over the week on Fed signaling for a possible September rate cut. Returns were broad-based, with small caps outperforming large caps. The S&P 500 Index returned 1.4% on a total return basis for the week. Existing home sales increased 1.3% in July, in line with expectations and breaking a stretch of four consecutive monthly declines. Longer-term bond yields fell and Treasuries rallied after annual job growth estimates were revised downward by 818,000 jobs through March, their largest downward revision since 2009. https://lnkd.in/dn_22Uh