Winthrop Partners Market and Economic Update 5-16-22

The Markets (as of market close May 13, 2022)

Despite a late-week rally, stocks closed last week lower, extending the market’s streak of losses to six consecutive weeks. In what proved to be a very choppy week of trading, each of the benchmark indexes lost value, led by the Nasdaq, which is down over 24.0% so far this year. The large caps of the Dow and the S&P 500 are down 11.4% and 15.6%, respectively, in 2022. On the other hand, 10-year Treasury yields have risen over 140 basis points so far this year. Last week, crude oil prices ended relatively flat, while the dollar advanced marginally. Gold prices slid lower. Investors are still grappling with the economic impact of the Federal Reserve’s response to persistent inflation. In a sign that inflation is still running hot, two major inflation reports, the Producer Price Index and the Consumer Price Index (see below) showed annual increases of 11.0% and 8.3% through April.

Last Monday saw the S&P 500 dip 3.2% to fall below 4,000 for the first time since March 2021. Investors moved away from stocks, uncertain of how aggressive the Federal Reserve will be to slow rising inflation. The Nasdaq fell 4.3% to its lowest level since November 2020. The Russell 2000 dropped 4.2%, and the Dow declined more than 650 points, or 2.0%. Ten-year Treasury yields slipped 4.4 basis points, but remained over 3.00%, closing the day at 3.07%. The dollar was flat. Crude oil prices fell $7.30 to $102.47 per barrel.

Stocks ended last Tuesday slightly higher in a day of choppy trading. The Nasdaq gained 1.0% and the S&P 500 rose 0.3%. The Dow inched up less than 0.1%, the Global Dow gained 0.1%, while the Russell 2000 lost 0.3%. Ten-year Treasury yields fell for the second consecutive day, sliding more than 10 basis points to 2.97%. Crude oil prices also dipped below $100.00, to close the day at around $99.87 per barrel. The dollar increased, while gold prices fell.

Wall Street saw stocks retreat last Wednesday, with each of the benchmark indexes listed here ending the day in the red. A drop in the Consumer Price Index (see below) wasn’t enough to temper investor concerns about rising inflation. Once again, the Nasdaq led the declines, dropping 3.2%, followed by the Russell 2000 (-2.5%), the S&P 500 (-1.7%), the Dow (-1.0%), and the Global Dow (-0.1%). Crude oil prices vaulted higher, jumping nearly $5.50 to reach $105.25 per barrel. The dollar and gold prices advanced, while 10-year Treasury yields fell to 2.92%.

Last Thursday was another day of extreme volatility in the market. Ultimately, the Nasdaq eked out a 0.1% gain, the Russell 2000 rose 1.2%, while the Dow (-0.3%) and the S&P 500 (-0.1%) dipped lower. Ten-year Treasury yields fell 10.4 basis points to 2.81% as bond prices climbed higher. Crude oil prices jumped for the second consecutive day, closing at $106.73 per barrel. The dollar also advanced, while gold prices fell.

In what may prove to be a robust day of dip buying, stocks rebounded last Friday. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted solid gains, led by the Nasdaq (3.8%) and the Russell 2000 (3.3%). The S&P 500 advanced 2.4%, the Global Dow rose 1.6%, and the Dow gained 1.5%. As equity values rose, so did bond yields, reversing a rally in bond prices. Ten-year Treasury yields added 11.8 basis points to reach 2.93%. Crude oil prices advanced over $4.00 to hit $110.30 per barrel. The dollar slid lower for the first time all week.  Complete aticle:Winthrop Partners’ Maerket and Economic Update 5-16-22