Azzad MarketWeek

Although equities closed last week on a high note, it wasn’t enough to recover from mid-week losses. Each of the benchmark indexes lost ground, with the Russell 2000 falling over 1.0% to lead the pack. Inflation concerns seemed to weigh on investors’ minds during the week. While the Federal Reserve continues to suggest that inflationary pressures will calm by next year, traders may be concerned that if prices continue to rise, the Fed may consider hiking interest rates as soon as the summer of 2022. Ten-year Treasury yields edged higher. The dollar advanced, while crude oil prices fell to $80.84 per barrel.

Several of the benchmark indexes listed here reached new highs last Monday. The Dow finished up 0.3%, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq eked out 0.1% gains, while the Russell 2000 advanced 0.2%. These advances drove each of these indexes to record highs.

Stocks retreated from their longest rally since 2017 last Tuesday, as the benchmark indexes dipped from their all-time highs. Consumer discretionary, financials, information technology, and health care dragged the S&P 500 lower, falling 0.4% by the close of trading. The Dow declined 0.3%, the Nasdaq and the Russell 2000 each lost 0.6%, and the Global Dow slid 0.3%.

Rising inflation data shook the markets last Wednesday. Ten-year Treasury yields rose by nearly 9.0%, while the Nasdaq and the Russell 2000 each fell by about 1.6%. The S&P 500 dipped 0.8%, the Dow slipped 0.7%, and the Global Dow fell 0.5%.

Last Thursday was Veterans Day, an unusual trading day in the United States. Stock markets are open, but bond markets are closed. Tech stocks led a comeback in the Nasdaq, pushing that index up 0.5% last Thursday. The Russell 2000 also recovered some of the previous day’s losses after advancing 0.8%. The large caps didn’t fare quite as well. The S&P 500 inched up 0.1%, while the Dow fell 0.4%. The Global Dow dipped 0.1%.

Last Friday saw stocks post solid gains. The Nasdaq added 1.0%, followed by the S&P 500 (0.7%), the Dow (0.5%), the Global Dow (0.2%), and the Russell 2000 (0.1%). Ten-year Treasury yields advanced, while crude oil prices and the dollar fell.

Eye on the Week Ahead

More inflation data for October is available this week with the release of the retail sales report and import and export prices. Also worth watching is the Federal Reserve’s report on industrial production. September saw industrial production slip 1.3%, with manufacturing output falling 0.7%. That followed August, which saw industrial production fall 0.1%.