Winthrop Partners Market and Economic Update 5-9-22

The Markets (as of market close May 6, 2022)
Stocks ended last week lower, marking the fifth consecutive week of losses. Despite suggestions from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell that the central bank is not likely to raise interest rates by 75 basis points, stubbornly high inflation has set the Fed on a path of quantitative tightening and interest-rate advances that presents a risk to economic growth. April’s solid jobs numbers (see below) suggest employers may be inclined to keep raising wages in order to attract workers, adding to inflationary pressures. Once again, tech shares took the brunt of the sell off, with only energy shares and utility stocks posting gains. The Nasdaq and the Russell 2000 each fell more than 1.2% last week, while the S&P 500 extended its losing streak after slipping 0.2%. Treasury bond prices continued to drop, pushing yields higher. Crude oil prices advanced again last week on supply concerns fueled by the impending European Union sanctions on Russian oil.
Stocks began last week on an uptick, likely influenced by dip buyers. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here gained ground, led by the Nasdaq, which rose 1.6% on the heels of a rally by several major tech companies. The Russell 2000 added 1.0%, the S&P 500 gained 0.6%, and the Dow climbed 3.0%. The Global Dow slid 0.5%. Ten-year Treasury yields traded near 3.0%, ending the day at 2.99%. The dollar rose $0.67 to reach $103.63 against a basket of foreign currencies. Crude oil prices increased $1.13 to $105.82 per barrel.
For the second session in a row, stocks ended the day higher last Tuesday as investors awaited Wednesday’s expected Federal Reserve rate hike. The Russell 2000 (1.0%) and the S&P 500 (0.5%) led the indexes, followed by the Global Dow (0.8%). The Nasdaq and the Dow each gained 0.2%. Crude oil prices, 10-year Treasury yields, and the dollar declined. Gold prices advanced.
Wall Street rallied last Wednesday after Jerome Powell eased concerns that the central bank would pursue a more aggressive pace of tightening. Nevertheless, earlier in the day, the Federal Open Market Committee announced the steepest interest-rate hike in 20 years. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted notable gains, with both the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 adding 3.0%. The Dow jumped 2.8% and the Russell 2000 advanced 2.7%. The Global Dow rose 1.8%. Ten-year Treasury yields slid 4.3 basis points to 2.91%. The dollar dropped nearly 1.0%, while crude oil prices soared, adding
$5.50 to reach $107.90 per barrel after the European Union proposed an import ban on Russian oil.
The Wall Street rally from last Wednesday reversed to a retreat last Thursday as stocks plunged by the end of trading. The Nasdaq fell 5.0%, the Russell 2000 dropped 4.3%, the S&P 500 slid 3.6%, and the Dow declined 3.1%. The Global Dow gave back 1.8%. Ten-year Treasury yields added nearly 15 basis points to close at 3.06%, the highest rate since 2018. The dollar rose to $103.50. Crude oil prices jumped to $108.25 per barrel.
Stocks fell again last Friday to end a roller coaster week. The small caps of the Russell 2000 (-1.7%) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq (-1.4%) led the declining indexes, followed by the S&P 500 (-0.6%), the Global Dow (-0.4%), and the Dow (-0.3%). Ten-year Treasury yields gained 5.7 basis points to end the week at 3.12%. Crude oil prices topped $110.00 per barrel after climbing $2.23. The dollar was little changed, while gold prices advanced $6.10 to $1,881.80 per ounce.  Click here for the complete article: Winthrop Partners Market and Economic Update 5-9-22