Month: December 2018

December 30th 2018

Market Review

U.S. stocks ended the week with solid gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.8 percent over the week to close at 23,062.40. The S&P 500 logged a 2.9 percent rise for the week to finish at 2,485.74. The Nasdaq ended at 6,584.52 and jumped 4.0 percent over the past week. It was the first weekly gain for all three indexes since the end of November. All three indexes are still nursing sharp month-to-date losses, however, with the S&P down 9.9 percent, the Dow off 9.7 percent and the Nasdaq down 10.2 percent. Nearly all key S&P sectors ended in positive territory for the week, led by discretionary; the utilities sector was the only decliner. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, closed near 28.3. Read More

December 23th 2018

Market Review

U.S. stocks plunged for the week, sending the major indexes to their worst week for years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded a weekly loss of 6.9 percent to finish at 22,445.37. It was its worst percentage drop since October 2008. The S&P 500 finished at 2,416.58 and plunged 7.1 percent for the week. Its worst weekly showing since 2011. The Nasdaq lost 8.4 percent for the week to close at 6,332.99. Its worst percentage drop since October 2008. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 are on track for their worst December performance since the Great Depression in 1931. All key S&P sectors finished in the red for the week, dragged by energy. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, jumped to 30.1. Read More

December 16th 2018

Market Review

U.S. stocks finished another week with losses. For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 1.2 percent, to finish at 24,100.51. The blue-chip index dropped to its lowest level since early May and is now down 2.5 percent for the year. The S&P 500 recorded a weekly loss of 1.3 percent and closed at 2,599.9 – its lowest closing level since April. The benchmark index is down 2.8 percent year to date. The Nasdaq fell 0.8 percent for the week to close at 6,910.66. For the year, the tech-heavy index is now up just 0.1 percent. Most key S&P sectors ended in negative territory for the week, led by financials. Utilities were the only advancers. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, traded near 21.6. Read More

December 9th 2018

Market Review

U.S. stocks finished the shortened week with deep losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 4.5 percent over the week to 24,388.95. The S&P 500 retreated 4.6 percent for the week to finish at 2,633.08. The Nasdaq tumbled 4.9 percent for the week to finish at 6,969.25. It was the biggest weekly percentage decline for all three benchmarks since March, while also marking the worst start to a December since 2008. The slump pushed the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average back into negative territory for 2018, while the Nasdaq is clinging to a 1 percent year-to-date gain. Most key S&P sectors ended in negative territory for the week, led by financials. Materials were the only advancers. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, closed near 23.2. Read More

December 2nd 2018

Market Review

U.S. stocks finished the week with solid gains, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq notching their best week in nearly seven years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 5.2 percent over the week to close at 25,538.46. The blue-chip index posted its strongest week since November 2016. The S&P 500 gained 4.9 percent for the week to finish at 2,760.17. The Nasdaq ended at 7,330.54 and rocketed 4.9 percent over the past five days. Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq logged their best weekly performance since December 2011. The S&P 500 closed November with a 1.8 percent gain, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.7 percent. The Nasdaq, meanwhile, eked out a 0.3 percent gain. All key S&P sectors ended in positive territory for the week, led by health care. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, closed near 18.1. Read More