Stuart Financial Group Blog

Market Insights Stocks were down for the week as investors appeared to take some profits and traders parsed Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Congressional testimony. Source: YCharts.com, March 9, 2024. Weekly performance is measured from Monday, March 4, to Friday, March 8.ROC 5 = the rate of change in the index for the previous 5 trading…

Market Insights Stocks extended their tech-led advance last week as signs of a resilient and still-enthusiastic consumer boosted momentum. Source: YCharts.com, March 2, 2024. Weekly performance is measured from Monday, February 26, to Friday, March 1.ROC 5 = the rate of change in the index for the previous 5 trading days.TR = total return for…

Market Insights Stocks vaulted to new heights last week on the back of an artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor company, marking investors’ belief that AI has the potential to transform the U.S. economy. Source: YCharts.com, February 24, 2024. Weekly performance is measured from Friday, February 16 to Friday, February 23.ROC 5 = the rate of change…

Market Insights Stocks fell last week as investors reacted to disappointing inflation updates and other economic reports that fell short of estimates. Source: YCharts.com, February 17, 2024. Weekly performance is measured from Monday, February 12, to Friday, February 16.ROC 5 = the rate of change in the index for the previous 5 trading days.TR = total…

Market Insights The stock market experienced solid gains last week, concluding the trading week on a positive note, thanks to robust corporate reports and favorable inflation news; this propelled the S&P 500 Index to achieve a new record high at the end of the week. Source: YCharts.com, February 10, 2024. Weekly performance is measured from…

Market Insights Stocks pushed higher last week as investors cheered mega-cap tech corporate reports and a better-than-expected employment report. Source: YCharts.com, February 3, 2024. Weekly performance is measured from Monday, January 29, to Friday, February 2.ROC 5 = the rate of change in the index for the previous 5 trading days.TR = total return for…

Market Insights Stocks continued their upward climb last week as excitement around big tech continued; positive economic reports stoked investors’ belief that the Federal Reserve has pulled off a soft landing. Source: YCharts.com, January 27, 2024. Weekly performance is measured from Monday, January 22, to Friday, January 26.ROC 5 = the rate of change in…

Market Insights Stocks finished higher last week, with big tech again leading amid lingering uncertainty over how continued economic strength would influence the Fed’s rate decision. Source: YCharts.com, January 20, 2024. Weekly performance is measured from Monday, January 15, to Friday, January 19.ROC 5 = the rate of change in the index for the previous…

Market Insights Stocks pushed higher last week, led by big tech names and boosted by December inflation reports that were mixed but positive enough to shore up investor confidence in Fed rate cuts this year. Source: YCharts.com, January 13, 2024. Weekly performance is measured from Monday, January 8, to Friday, January 12.  ROC 5 =…

Market Insights Stocks retreated in the first trading week of 2024, struggling a bit after a celebratory end to last year as investors second-guessed Fed signals and fretted over lingering inflation concerns. Source: YCharts.com, January 6, 2024. Weekly performance is measured from the close of trading on Friday, December 29, to Friday, January 5, close….

Market Insights Stocks posted a slight gain last week amid a shortage of news and light holiday trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.76%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 0.49%. The Nasdaq Composite index advanced 0.32% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, increased 1.13%.1,2,3 Source:…