The Markets (as of market close October 7, 2022)
Market gains early last week were enough to outpace declines later, as stocks enjoyed their best weekly gains in a month. The Russell 2000, the Dow, and the Global Dow paced the benchmark indexes. The S&P 500 climbed higher, while the Nasdaq was able to hold on to a marginal gain. Investors saw a strong labor report, which included an unexpected drop in the unemployment rate, as adding fuel to the Federal Reserve’s fire of continuing interest-rate hikes. Crude oil prices advanced for five consecutive days following an OPEC+ cut in production, prompting some analysts to predict prices will soon reach $100.00+ per barrel. Gas prices, which had steadily declined during the summer, are now heading higher. Last week saw 10-year Treasury yields rise 8.0 basis points, with the dollar and gold prices also advancing.
Eye on the Week Ahead
Important inflation data is available this week with the release of the September consumer price index, import and export prices, and the producer price index. Investors are hoping each of these reports will show inflationary pressures are slowing.
Data sources: Economic: Based on data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (unemployment, inflation); U.S. Department of Commerce (GDP, corporate profits, retail sales, housing); S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Index (home prices); Institute for Supply Management (manufacturing/services). Performance: Based on data reported in WSJ Market Data Center (indexes); U.S. Treasury (Treasury yields); U.S. Energy Information Administration/Bloomberg.com Market Data (oil spot price, WTI, Cushing, OK); www.goldprice.org (spot gold/silver); Oanda/FX Street (currency exchange rates). News items are based on reports from multiple commonly available international news sources (i.e., wire services) and are independently verified when necessary with secondary sources such as government agencies, corporate press releases, or trade organizations. All information is based on sources deemed reliable, but no warranty or guarantee is made as to its accuracy or completeness. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed herein constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities, and should not be relied on as financial advice. Forecasts are based on current conditions, subject to change, and may not come to pass. U.S. Treasury securities are guaranteed by the federal government as to the timely payment of principal and interest. The principal value of Treasury securities and other bonds fluctuates with market conditions. Bonds are subject to inflation, interest-rate, and credit risks. As interest rates rise, bond prices typically fall. A bond sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any investing strategy will be successful.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a price-weighted index composed of 30 widely traded blue-chip U.S. common stocks. The S&P 500 is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 largest, publicly traded companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-value weighted index of all common stocks listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The Russell 2000 is a market-cap weighted index composed of 2,000 U.S. small-cap common stocks. The Global Dow is an equally weighted index of 150 widely traded blue-chip common stocks worldwide. The U.S. Dollar Index is a geometrically weighted index of the value of the U.S. dollar relative to six foreign currencies. Market indexes listed are unmanaged and are not available for direct investment.
