Month: March 2017

March 26th 2017

Market Review

As expected in our last comment, U.S. averages finished the week with losses. For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.5 percent to finish at 20,596.72. The blue-chip index recorded its steepest decline since September. The S&P 500 plunged 1.4 percent for the week to close at 2,343.98, its biggest decline since November. The Financials sector suffered a 3.8 percent loss over the week, its largest decline since January 2016. The Nasdaq shed 1.2 percent during the week to end at 5,838.74, its largest since December. Most key S&P sectors ended in negative territory for the week, led by financials. Utilities were the only gainers. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, traded near 13. Read More

March 19th 2017

Market Review

U.S. stocks finished the week nearly unchanged. For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.1 percent to close at 20,914.62. The Dow recorded its fifth positive week in six. The S&P 500 rose 0.2 percent to end at 2,378.25. The Nasdaq advanced 0.7 percent for the week to end at 5,901.00. Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq booked their seventh positive week in eight. Among the key S&P sectors, utilities were the best weekly performer, while financials dragged. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, traded near 11.3. Read More

March 12th 2017

Market Review

U.S. stocks finished the week with losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.5 percent over the week to 20,902.98, snapping a streak of four straight weekly gains. The S&P 500 dropped 0.4 percent to finish at 2,372.60. The Nasdaq slipped 0.2 percent for the week to end at 5,861.73. Both indexes snapped a run of six weeks of consecutive gains. Among the key S&P sectors, technology was the best performer on the week and energy the greatest decliner. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, traded near 12.7. Read More

March 5th 2017

Market Review

Last week all three major U.S. indexes finished another week with gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.9 percent from the prior Friday's close to end at 21,005.71. The blue-chip index recorded a fourth consecutive weekly gain. The S&P 500 added 0.7 percent for the week to close at 2,383.12; its sixth consecutive weekly advance. The Nasdaq climbed 0.4 percent in five days to 5,870.75. All three main indexes were up between 6 percent and 9 percent year to date. Nearly all S&P sectors ended higher, led by financials. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, traded near 10.9. Read More