Winthrop Partners Market and Economic Outlook 2-14-22

The Markets (as of market close February 11, 2022)
The major benchmark indexes closed last week lower. Rising tensions over the Russia-Ukraine situation coupled with rising inflation made investors a bit skittish towards stocks. A higher-than-expected jump in the Consumer Price Index added to jitters over an accelerated tightening of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy. The Nasdaq, the S&P 500, and the Dow lost value last week, while the Russell 2000 and the Global Dow advanced. As of late Friday afternoon, concerns increased that Russia could invade Ukraine “any day now.” An invasion would likely spur sanctions against Russia’s exports of oil and gas, causing supply to decrease and prices to rise. Crude oil prices rose nearly 1.7% last week following Friday’s 4.0% jump in the price per barrel. Ten-year Treasury yields were volatile last week, reaching 2.0%, only to drop back down to 1.95% by the end of the week. Gold prices rose for the second consecutive week. Meanwhile, fourth-quarter earnings data continued to be mainly positive, with 78% of the S&P 500 companies exceeding earnings estimates.

Last Monday saw Wall Street end lower as stocks gave back gains from earlier in the day. The Nasdaq fell 0.6%, while declines in communication services and information technology dragged the S&P 500 (-0.4%) lower. The Dow was flat, while the small caps of the Russell 2000 and the Global Dow each advanced 0.5%. Crude oil prices extended a streak of six consecutive session advances after climbing 1.83% to $91.92 per barrel. Gold prices also continued to advance, while the dollar and 10-year Treasury yields declined.

Stocks rose last Tuesday, even as bond yields approached their highest levels since November 2019. Ten-year Treasuries jumped 4 basis points to close at 1.95%. Information technology, financials, industrials, and materials each increased by at least 1.0%, helping to push up the benchmark indexes listed here. The Russell 2000 gained for the second consecutive session after advancing 1.6%. The Nasdaq rose 1.3%. The Dow climbed 1.1%. The S&P 500 climbed 0.8% and the Global Dow added 0.7%. Crude oil prices declined, falling to $89.78 per barrel. The dollar inched higher.

Tech shares led a broad-based stock market rally last Wednesday. Megacaps helped drive the Nasdaq up 2.1% while the S&P 500 advanced 1.5% as both indexes posted their biggest daily gains this month. The Russell 2000 continued its upward trend after adding 1.9% last Wednesday. The Global Dow gained 1.0%. Ten-year Treasury yields retreated from the prior day’s advance, closing at 1.92%. The dollar was flat, while crude oil prices rose about $0.19 to $89.97 per barrel.
Each of the benchmark indexes listed here lost ground last Thursday on the heels of the largest annual increase in the Consumer Price Index (7.5%) since February 1982. The noteworthy jump in price inflation adds to the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will be more aggressive in pushing the federal funds rate higher beginning in March. The Nasdaq fell 2.1%, the S&P 500 lost 1.8%, the Russell 2000 slid 1.6%, the Dow dropped 1.5%, and the Global Dow dipped 0.6%. Ten-year Treasury yields jumped 11 basis points to 2.03%. Crude oil prices climbed to $90.02 per barrel. The dollar also advanced.

Stocks closed sharply lower last Friday amid rising Russia-Ukraine tensions. Information technology slumped over 3.0% on the day, pulling the Nasdaq down 2.8%.
Energy climbed higher, although the remaining market sectors slid lower. The S&P 500 fell 1.9%. The Dow dropped 1.4%, while both the Russell 2000 and the Global Dow slipped 1.0%. Ten-year Treasury yields continued to bounce up and down, falling to 1.95%. Crude oil prices reached $93.72 per barrel. The dollar advanced. For full article click here: Winthrop Partners Market and Economic Update 2-14-22