Afia Wealth Management’s Post

Check out our latest Monthly Market Video. Stocks notched modest gains in August, helping investors forget a volatile month of trading, punctuated by upbeat comments by Fed officials about interest rates. #InterestRates #StockMarket #FederalReserve

LPL Financial's Weekly Market Performance – Highlights for the week include that the U.S. stocks inched up this week despite a volatile market whipsawed by economic data releases and the FOMC meeting. The Fed's more dovish than anticipated stance, coupled with mixed economic signals, kept hopes alive for more than one rate cut this year, which buoyed the broader indexes. Strong earnings reports from a few key companies also further bolstered sentiment. The interest rate sensitive utilities sector remained the frontrunner for the second week running. The bond market mirrored the positive sentiment in stocks, with issues across the curve strengthening on the Fed's dovish tone and a tame Quarterly Refunding Announcement from Treasury. Notably, the benchmark Bloomberg Bond Aggregate Index traded to its highest level since early April and even briefly broke above the 200-day moving average. #LPLFinancial #marketperformance #weeklymarketupdate #financialadvisor #financialprofessional

EZBites for the week ending March 15, 2024 www.EZTracker401k.com DOW:0.0% (YTD:+2.7%) NASDAQ:-0.7% (YTD:+6.4%) S&P:-0.1% (YTD:+7.3%) The major indices settled with relatively modest declines this week. The DJIA was unchanged, the S&P 500 declined 0.1%, and the Nasdaq Composite logged a 0.7% loss. Meanwhile, the Russell 2000 underperformed, dropping 2.1%. Investors took in two inflation readings suggesting price pressures remain stubborn and inflation is taking longer to fall to the Fed’s target. Both the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) for February came in hotter than expected, but stocks seemed to take this in stride. The S&P 500 even reached a new record high on Tuesday following the hot CPI reading: investors weren’t spooked due to the notion that the largest factor in the increase -- the index for shelter -- will lessen in coming months. The relatively muted response in the stock market was also from expectations that the Fed's policy decision this upcoming Wednesday may provide more clarity on the Fed's thinking. The Treasury market had a more pronounced response to the data. The 10-yr note yield jumped 21 basis points to 4.30% and the 2-yr note yield settled 23 basis points higher at 4.72%. Other data this week included a February retail sales report that was a bit weaker than expected but still up nicely versus the prior month, and jobless claims data that reflected ongoing strength in the labor market. The ultimately negative bias in the stock market was also partially related to a growing sense that stocks are due for a pullback. Six of the 11 S&P 500 sectors ended down on the week: the rate-sensitive Real Estate sector was the worst performer far, dropping 3.1%. The Consumer Discretionary sector was the next worst performer, declining 1.2%. Meanwhile, Energy saw the largest gain, jumping 3.7% and Materials registered a 1.5% gain.

In a quiet session Monday the S&P 500 and Nasdaq notched record-high closes, as investors awaited fresh inflation data, commentary from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and the start of quarterly earnings season. Traders will get...

Stock Mania Rages On as S&P 500 Closes Above 5,000: Markets Wrap US CPI revisions confirm inflation progress at end of 2023 BofA’s Hartnett says stocks close to triggering a sell signal By Rita Nazareth (Bloomberg) -- Wall Street notched a milestone, with the S&P 500 topping 5,000 amid a renewed rally in big tech and hopes the Federal Reserve will soon be able to cut rates — bolstering the outlook for corporate profits. S&P 500 tops 5,000 Just as Americans get ready for football’s biggest night — with tickets for Sunday’s Super Bowl setting fresh records — US stocks scored a victory of their own to hit another all-time high. Emboldened by bets on a soft landing and the power of artificial-intelligence — equities continued to push forward, defying doomsayers and warnings about an overstretched market. “The S&P 500 is the best single barometer of confidence in Corporate America’s earnings power and the strength of the economy,” said George Ball, chairman of Sanders Morris. “The direction of the S&P 500 reflects whether the economy and earnings are improving or deteriorating.” A few days ahead of the key consumer price index, investors breathed a sigh of relief as a government report — which is usually ignored by markets — confirmed inflation progress at end of 2023. In the immediate aftermath of the data, Treasuries rose — but quickly reversed that move. The two-year yield went back to levels seen since before the Fed’s December “pivot.” Fed Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said he’s “laser focused” on returning inflation to target, and his Dallas counterpart Lorie Logan said she sees no urgency to cut rates. #Bloomberg #MFT #MATTFINANCIALTRADING

📊 Weekly Market Update 📊 Stocks finished the last week of June and Q2 mixed as investors digested a fresh round of economic data: - 📉 The S&P 500 Index slipped 0.08% - 📉 The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.08% - 📈 The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 0.24% - 🌐 The MSCI EAFE Index, tracking developed overseas stock markets, rose 0.27% Federal Reserve officials continue to communicate that despite recent progress, inflation remains above the 2% target. - 💬 Fed Governor Michelle Bowman surprised the markets with her willingness to raise the federal funds rate if inflation stalls or reverses. - 📅 Fed Chair Powell, speaking on July 2, previously indicated that a rate hike is unlikely based on current data. 📈 Read more of this week's update ⬇️⬇️⬇️ #marketupdate #investing #finances #economy #health #wealth #happiness #Fed #FOMC

Another solid week for stocks, led by large cap tech. So far, 2024 is mimicking 2023, in that the market-cap weighted S&P 500 (+5.5% YTD) is outpacing the equal-weighted version (+0.8%) of the index. Meanwhile, bond yields rose once again, thanks in part to a much hotter than expected ISM Services Index print for January. Enjoy! https://lnkd.in/g668U3as #investing #wealthmanagement #financialplanning #gooddecisions #albionfinancialgroup

📢 Stock Indices Traders Alert! Last week's economic figures spell caution for the market, but amidst the storm. 📈 S&P 500 hits highest earnings growth since Q2 2022, with 77% of companies surpassing Q1 2024 estimates. ⛽️ Ceasefire proposal tightens grip on oil market, offering brief respite from energy inflation. 👀 Watch out for shifts in sentiment with Michigan consumer confidence and Fed officials' speeches in this week. 👉 Want to learn about trading strategies? Look no further! This insightful analysis will give you all the information you need: https://lnkd.in/eYVww2va #globalmarkets #tradesignals #EconomicData #MarketOutlook #technicalanalysis #stockmarket #SP500 #CeaseFireNow #oilprices #tradinganalysis #Q12024 #FederalReserve #gold #silver #XAUUSD #XAGUSD #tradingstrategy #OilMarket

The market is expecting the Fed to cut interest rates. Considering historical market reactions, small capitalization stocks may outperform the market if the Fed moves to cut rates.

Stocks saw modest gains last month as positive economic data and upbeat Q4 corporate reports helped support prices. In addition to thinking of flowers and chocolates, investors will be listening to what Fed officials say. The next two-day Fed meeting will not be until mid-March but they have clarified that it is now leaning away from rate hikes and toward rate cuts as it attempts to steer the economy to a soft landing this year. They will also be watching for any signs of tailwinds in company fundamentals as the earnings season unfolds. See our monthly market insights video and more here: https://lnkd.in/gSkk7Nb #marketupdate #economicdata #marketinsights #financialsummary