Finsyn Logo White

The Blog

Weekly insights on the markets, economy, and financial planning

Week In Perspective: Market absorbs inflation and rallies [15-Oct-21]

The stock market had a great second half of the week, bolstered by better-than-expected earnings reports, relatively encouraging economic data, and improving technical factors. The Nasdaq Composite (+2.2%) led the way with a 2.2% gain, followed by the S&P 500 (+1.8%), Dow Jones Industrial Average (+1.6%), and Russell 2000 (+1.5%) with decent gains.

Ten of the 11 S&P 500 sectors finished the week in positive territory. The consumer discretionary (+3.6%), materials (+3.6%), and real estate (+3.5%) sectors each gained around 3.5%, while the communication services sector (-0.4%) was the lone holdout.

The start of the Q3 earnings-reporting season went well with most companies (predominately banks) exceeding expectations. In addition, there was a surprising 0.7% m/m increase in total retail sales for September, and weekly initial claims (293,000) fell to their lowest level since the start of the pandemic.

The good news helped the market overlook persistent inflation pressures indicated in the Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index reports for September, higher oil prices ($82.26/bbl, +2.86, +3.6%), and ongoing supply chain challenges highlighted by companies and reports.

More accurately, though, the stock market took its inflation cue from the Treasury market, which signaled a renewed tolerance for the peak-inflation narrative. This view stemmed from core CPI and core PPI coming in softer than expected on a month-over-month basis. The 10-yr yield decreased three basis points to 1.58%.

Technical factors helped, too. The S&P 500 closed above its 50-day moving average on Thursday, and the positive-minded price action carried over into Friday. This follow-through from buyers was viewed as a good indicator among traders.

Separately, the FOMC Minutes from the September meeting showed that asset purchases would be reduced on a monthly basis by $15 billion ($10 bln in Treasury securities and $5 bln in agency MBS) if begun later this year and lasting until the middle of 2022.

Week in perspective provided by Briefing.com

Recent Posts

Subscribe to Our Blog

Sign up to receive weekly articles on the markets, economy, and financial planning.
*Your email will be kept completely private.
Mike Minter

Shareholder | Chief Investment Officer

Download Your Free Guide

Fill out the form below for instant access