Winthrop Partners Economic Update 12-28-2020

The Markets (as of market close December 24, 2020)
Stocks rallied by the end of the day last Monday, paring losses from a morning plunge. Strength in bank stocks and financials helped stem the tide as the other major market sectors generally sank. Investors were hit with news that a new strain of the COVID virus was moving rapidly through the United Kingdom, prompting a major sell-off in European stocks. Crude oil prices and Treasury yields fell, while the dollar advanced.
The Nasdaq reached another record high last Tuesday and the Russell 2000 gained 1.0%, but the remaining benchmark indexes ended the day in the red. The Dow closed down 0.7%, the Global Dow dropped 0.4%, and the S&P 500 lost 0.2%. Information technology and real estate were the only sectors to post gains. Similar to the previous day, Treasury yields and crude oil prices decreased, while the dollar rose.
Energy and financials drove the market higher last Wednesday. The S&P 500 ended a three-day losing streak, but just barely, eking out a 0.1% gain. The Global Dow climbed 1.0% after an outline of a post-Brexit trade deal was reached. The Russell 2000 advanced 0.9% and the Dow closed 0.4% higher. The Nasdaq fell 0.3% on the day. Treasury yields and crude oil prices gained, while the dollar fell.
The stock market closed early last Thursday in observance of Friday’s holiday. Equities were mixed on the day, with the S&P 500, the Nasdaq, the Dow, and the Global Dow posting gains, while the Russell 2000 lost value. Crude oil prices advanced, while Treasury yields and the dollar dropped. Utilities, real estate, materials, and information technology were the only sectors that gained more than 0.5%.
Christmas week resulted in mixed returns for stocks. The Russell 2000 led the way, followed by the Nasdaq and the Dow. The S&P 500 and the Global Dow dipped. Overall, investors continued to stay with stocks, despite rising COVID-19 cases and stalled developments on the latest stimulus package. The Nasdaq continued to climb past last year’s closing mark, trailed by the Russell 2000, the S&P 500, the Global Dow, and the Dow.
Crude oil prices ended the holiday-shortened week lower, closing at $48.23 per barrel by Thursday afternoon, down from the prior week’s price of $49.05 per barrel. The price of gold (COMEX) closed last week at $1,883.20, down from the prior week’s price of
$1,886.30. The national average retail price for regular gasoline was $2.224 per gallon
on December 21, $0.066 higher than the prior week’s price but $0.308 less than a year
ago. Click here for complete update:Winthrop Partners Market Update 12-28-2020