Market Commentary — March 13, 2023
All of 2023's market gains were erased last week as the side effects of rapid Fed tightening are starting to ripple through the financial system.
All of 2023's market gains were erased last week as the side effects of rapid Fed tightening are starting to ripple through the financial system.
Stocks regained some positive ground last week following their worst decline in months. Energy and materials shares were particularly strong. Our NDIV index gained 3.6% last week. The S&P 500 stayed above the 200-day moving average which was a boost to investor sentiment in a low-volume week.
Stocks suffered their biggest decline in 10 weeks thanks to a cascade of upside inflation and growth news surprises. Inflation appeared to regain momentum in January, as the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index jumped 0.6% and December's figure was also revised higher.
The major indexes ended the week mixed heading into the 3-day Presidents' Day holiday weekend. While there are signs of healthy economic growth and earnings are coming in better than expected, inflation trends took an unfavorable one-month turn.
Markets gave back the previous week's gains in a light week for economic data, as investors wonder if markets have gotten ahead of themselves so far year-to-date.
Most of the major indexes extended their winning streaks last week, thanks to strong economic data, fourth-quarter earnings, and encouraging signals from the Fed. The S&P 500 Index reached an intraday high of 4,195 on Thursday, its best level since late August.
Stocks resumed their winning streak last week, as investors embraced the potential for a "soft landing" scenario. Consumer Discretionary stocks were particularly strong, thanks in part to a big jump in Tesla shares, up 33% for the week, after reporting record revenues and a favorable outlook from Elon Musk.
Recession fears returned last week even as inflation concerns waned. The major indices ended the week mixed, with the DJIA giving back some of its strong YTD gains, while tech stocks and the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite rose modestly.
The stock market is off to a good start to the year, as stocks recorded their second consecutive week of gains on inflation data and corporate earnings season.
A Friday rally after an encouraging jobs report helped propel markets into positive territory in the first week of the new year. Communication Services led the gains on a sector basis, with rallies in Charter Communications, Netflix, and Facebook parent Meta Platforms.