Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary – July 22, 2019

The S&P 500’s steady climb took a pause last week as quarterly earnings reports and Fed comments drew the greatest attention from investors. The S&P 500 dropped 1.2%. The MSCI ACWI slid 0.6% as international stocks regained some ground after last week’s underperformance of U.S. markets. The Bloomberg BarCap Aggregate Bond Index climbed 0.4%.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary – July 15, 2019

The S&P 500 continued its steady climb and ended the week at a new record high. Investors remain confident the Federal Reserve will lower rates at its meeting in late July. The S&P 500 climbed 0.8% for the week. The MSCI ACWI gained 0.2%.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary – July 8, 2019

The S&P 500 continued its very strong performance this year and reached a new high Wednesday before inching lower on Friday. The strong employment report on Friday pushed markets slightly lower by reducing the number of expected interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 climbed 1.7% for the week. The MSCI ACWI gained 1.2%. The Bloomberg BarCap Aggregate Bond Index slipped 0.1% as yield rose in response to the jobs data.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary – July 1, 2019

The S&P 500 slipped slightly last week after reaching a new high the previous week. The S&P 500 declined 0.3%. The MSCI ACWI inched 0.1% higher, and the Bloomberg BarCap Aggregate Bond Index rose another 0.4%. Yields continue to fall as expectations of an interest-rate cut mount.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary – June 24, 2019

The S&P 500 continued its strong June performance and reached a new high Thursday, before inching lower on Friday. The openness of the Federal Reserve to cutting rates at its next meeting, along with renewed optimism on trade, shot markets higher. The S&P 500 climbed 2.2% for the week. The MSCI ACWI gained 2.4% as international markets performed well. The Bloomberg BarCap Aggregate Bond Index rose 0.4% as bond prices typically increase when yields fall.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary – June 17, 2019

The S&P 500 followed up the previous week’s strong gains with an increase of 0.5% last week. Decent economic data was encouraging but not strong enough to change expectations for much-desired interest rate cuts this year. The global MSCI ACWI climbed 0.3%. Heightened risks loom in the global market from tanker attacks and Hong Kong protests. The Bloomberg BarCap Aggregate Bond Index was unchanged as expectations for economic growth remained subdued.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary – June 10, 2019

The S&P 500 surged 4.5% last week as optimism about the Federal Reserve cutting rates and the quick end to potential tariffs on Mexican goods pushed markets higher. The global MSCI ACWI soared 3.6% as international markets participated in the surge, but not as much as domestic markets. The Bloomberg BarCap Aggregate Bond Index gained 0.4% as weak jobs data and the hopes of interest-rate cuts pushed rates lower and bond prices higher.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary June 3, 2019

The S&P 500 plunged 2.6% last week as economic data remained soft and the Trump administration surprised investors by threatening tariffs on Mexico over immigration concerns, rather than trade negotiations. The global MSCI ACWI dropped 1.9% as international markets held up slightly better than the U.S. The Bloomberg BarCap Aggregate Bond Index soared 0.9% on worries tariffs and the associated uncertainty will push rates lower.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary May 27, 2019

The S&P 500 dropped 1.1% last week to extend its losing streak to three weeks. Ongoing trade disputes and weaker economic data raised concerns regarding slow economic growth. The global MSCI ACWI declined 0.9% as international markets moved with the S&P 500.

Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary May 20, 2019

The S&P 500 dropped 0.7% last week primarily due to a sharp decline on Monday after the Chinese retaliated against increased U.S. tariffs. The global MSCI ACWI also declined 0.7% as international developed markets increased slightly, but declines in emerging markets pushed the overall index lower.