Stocks moved to the rhythm of earnings season last week, initially rising on positive earnings surprises and faltering later in the week on key earnings disappointments. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.08%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 0.69%. The Nasdaq Composite Index slumped 0.57% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, slipped 0.32%.1,2,3 
Earnings in Focus
Entering its first big week of the second quarter earnings season, solid reports from the nation’s big banks rewarded investor optimism, sparking a rally that continued into mid-week. An announcement by a mega-cap tech company of a new AI subscription plan, and stabilizing deposits at several regional banks, further fed investor enthusiasm. Disappointing earnings from two big-tech names dragged market indices lower on Thursday, with the largest losses in the Nasdaq composite. Despite the reversal, 20 stocks in the S&P 500 touched 52-week highs on Thursday, with 11 reaching all-time highs.4 Stocks closed flat to end an otherwise mixed week.
Housing Hits a Bump
June housing reports reminded investors that any emerging housing recovery remains shaky. After a massive 21.7% jump in housing starts in May, new home construction tumbled 8.0% in June, with building permits (an indicator of future home construction) dropping 3.7%.5 Sales of existing homes were also lower in June, declining by 3.3%, owing to a persistently low inventory level. This was the slowest pace since January. Year-over-year sales were lower by 18.9%. One reason for low inventory is that homeowners have been reluctant to sell homes on which many have a historically low mortgage rate and face buying a new home at elevated prices with a much higher mortgage interest rate.6
This Week: Key Economic Data
Monday: Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) Composite Flash. Tuesday: Consumer Confidence. Wednesday: FOMC Announcement. New Home Sales. Thursday: Gross Domestic Product. Durable Goods Orders. Jobless Claims. Friday: Personal Income and Outlays. Source: Econoday, July 21, 2023 The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision.
This Week: Companies Reporting Earnings
Tuesday: Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), General Electric Company (GE), Verizon Communications, Inc. (VZ), Visa, Inc. (V), Alphabet, Inc. (GOOGL), NXP Semiconductors, N.V. (NXPI), General Motors Company (GM), Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), 3M Company (MMM), Texas Instruments, Inc. (TXN), NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE), Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB). Wednesday: AT&T, Inc. (T), The Boeing Company (BA), The CocaCola Company (KO), Lam Research Corporation (LRCX), Union Pacific Corporation (UNP), ServiceNow, Inc. (NOW), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (TMO), General Dynamics Corporation (GD), O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (ORLY), Chipotle Mexican Grill, inc. (CMG). Thursday: Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN), Intel Corporation (INTC), Ford Motor Company (F), AbbVie, Inc. (ABBV), Mastercard, Inc. (MA), Bristol Myers Squibb Company (BMY), McDonald’s Corporation (MCD), Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC), HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA), Honeywell International, Inc. (HON), T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS), Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV), Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX). Friday: Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM), Chevron Corporation (CVX), The Procter & Gamble Company (PG). Source: Zacks, July 21, 2023 Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.
SFG News & Events
Thank you to everyone who came and made our Market Half Time Report Lunch & Learn a success!
We enjoyed having all of you there and look forward to our next event!
Food For Thought
“Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err.” –Mahatma Gandhi
Tax Tip
Tax Tips for Side Gigs
There are some important tips to remember if you work a side gig:
- All income from these sources is taxable, including both full-time and part-time work and any cash payment received.
- As a gig worker, correctly classify yourself as an employee or an independent contractor; this can depend on where you live, even for the same services.
- Lastly, it\’s important to consider paying quarterly taxes during the year to help avoid any federal or state tax penalties for underpayment.
*This information is not intended to substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional. Tip adapted from IRS.gov7
HealthyLiving Tip
Summer Skincare Tips
The first and most important tip is always to wear sunscreen, even if you spend little time in the sun. Some skincare products, including makeup, have sunscreen built-in, but you should consider using a moisturizer with at least SPF 30 for extra protection. Another good summer skincare tip is to lighten up your skincare routine. You\’ll likely be sweating, swimming, and spending time outside in the summer, so you might not need as much makeup or products as in the winter. Tip adapted from Allure8
Weekly Riddle
Sometimes you pass me slowly, yet other times I fly by. Sometimes I slip away. Regardless of how slow or fast I am, one thing’s certain: when I’m gone, I’m gone for good. So what am I? Last week’s riddle: What is the longest word in English to have only one vowel repeated? (Hint: It has 18 total letters, and the vowel repeats four times.) Answer: Strengthlessnesses.
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Footnotes and Sources
1. The Wall Street Journal, July 21, 2023. 2. The Wall Street Journal, July 21, 2023. 3. The Wall Street Journal, July 14, 2023. 4. CNBC, July, 20, 2023. 5. Yahoo!Finance, July 19, 2023 6. The Wall Street Journal, July 20, 2023. 7. IRS.gov, January 12, 2023. 8. Allure, April 23, 2023. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, may not materialize, and are subject to revision without notice. The market indexes discussed are unmanaged, and generally, considered representative of their respective markets. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Indexes do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses. Individuals cannot directly invest in unmanaged indexes. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an unmanaged index that is generally considered representative of large-capitalization companies on the U.S. stock market. Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of technology and growth companies. The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) and serves as a benchmark of the performance of major international equity markets, as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. The S&P 500 Composite Index is an unmanaged group of securities that are considered to be representative of the stock market in general. U.S. Treasury Notes are guaranteed by the federal government as to the timely payment of principal and interest. However, if you sell a Treasury Note prior to maturity, it may be worth more or less than the original price paid. Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors. International investments carry additional risks, which include differences in financial reporting standards, currency exchange rates, political risks unique to a specific country, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. These factors may result in greater share price volatility. Please consult your financial professional for additional information. This content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG is not affiliated with Stuart Financial Group, J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc., nor state or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and they should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright 2023 FMG Suite.