Weekly insights on the markets, economy, and financial planning
February 16, 2018 Weekly Market Recap
February 16, 2018
Mike Minter
The equity market bounced back this week, reclaiming about half of the losses it registered over the previous two weeks. The tech-heavy Nasdaq climbed 5.3% as technology shares outperformed, while the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones added 4.3% apiece. The S&P 500 and the Dow ended Friday on a six-session winning streak.
This week’s gains put the major indices back into the green for the year, and back above their respective 50-day simple moving averages. They’re still a ways below record territory, however, settling Friday about 5.0% beneath the record highs they posted on January 26.
11 of 11 S&P 500 sectors finished the week in positive territory, with gains ranging between 1.8% and 5.8%. The top-weighted technology group (+5.8%) was the strongest sector, while the energy (+1.9%), utilities (+2.9%), telecom services (+2.4%), and real estate (+1.8%) groups were the weakest.
Within the tech group, Apple (AAPL), surged 10.2% this week, reclaiming most of the 13.5% it lost between January 18 and February 8, and Cisco Systems (CSCO) rallied 4.7% on Thursday, after reporting better-than-expected profits for the quarter ending in January and raising its earnings and revenue guidance.
Investors received a big batch of economic data this week, highlighted by a hotter-than-expected CPI reading: the Consumer Price Index increased 0.5% month over month in January and the core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose by 0.3%. The headline month-over-month figures sparked a knee-jerk reaction from the market, which has been fighting fears of inflation – and, in turn, fears of a more hawkish Fed – in recent weeks.
However, the year-over-year figures helped restore order and keep the week’s upward trajectory intact, showing that both the CPI and the core CPI are still within a range they’ve held to for some time; the total CPI is up 2.1% year-over-year and has been between 2.0% and 2.2% for five months, while the core CPI is up 1.8% year-over-year and has been between 1.7% and 1.9% for ten months.
The yield on the benchmark 10-yr Treasury note climbed to a four-year high on Wednesday following the CPI release, closing at 2.91%, but gave up some ground on Thursday and Friday to finish the week little changed at 2.88%.
In Washington, the White House released its infrastructure plan on Monday, which is designed to stimulate $1.5 trillion in spending over a decade.
Source: Briefing Investor
Mike Minter
Mike develops investment portfolio allocations, handles trading and rebalancing, and conducts research and analysis as a Portfolio Manager and Financial Advisor for the firm. As a perpetual student of investing and the markets, Mike considers himself obsessed with the subject. Mike has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and Certified Fund Specialist® designations. He is also an active member of the Houston chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPA).
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FinSyn Insights
Weekly insights on the markets, economy, and financial planning
February 16, 2018 Weekly Market Recap
The equity market bounced back this week, reclaiming about half of the losses it registered over the previous two weeks. The tech-heavy Nasdaq climbed 5.3% as technology shares outperformed, while the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones added 4.3% apiece. The S&P 500 and the Dow ended Friday on a six-session winning streak.
11 of 11 S&P 500 sectors finished the week in positive territory, with gains ranging between 1.8% and 5.8%. The top-weighted technology group (+5.8%) was the strongest sector, while the energy (+1.9%), utilities (+2.9%), telecom services (+2.4%), and real estate (+1.8%) groups were the weakest.
Within the tech group, Apple (AAPL), surged 10.2% this week, reclaiming most of the 13.5% it lost between January 18 and February 8, and Cisco Systems (CSCO) rallied 4.7% on Thursday, after reporting better-than-expected profits for the quarter ending in January and raising its earnings and revenue guidance.
Investors received a big batch of economic data this week, highlighted by a hotter-than-expected CPI reading: the Consumer Price Index increased 0.5% month over month in January and the core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose by 0.3%. The headline month-over-month figures sparked a knee-jerk reaction from the market, which has been fighting fears of inflation – and, in turn, fears of a more hawkish Fed – in recent weeks.
However, the year-over-year figures helped restore order and keep the week’s upward trajectory intact, showing that both the CPI and the core CPI are still within a range they’ve held to for some time; the total CPI is up 2.1% year-over-year and has been between 2.0% and 2.2% for five months, while the core CPI is up 1.8% year-over-year and has been between 1.7% and 1.9% for ten months.
The yield on the benchmark 10-yr Treasury note climbed to a four-year high on Wednesday following the CPI release, closing at 2.91%, but gave up some ground on Thursday and Friday to finish the week little changed at 2.88%.
In Washington, the White House released its infrastructure plan on Monday, which is designed to stimulate $1.5 trillion in spending over a decade.
Source: Briefing Investor
Mike Minter
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