Month: December 2017

December 31st 2017

Market Review

The three U.S. indexes finished the final week of the year with small losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.1 percent for the week to end at 24,732. The blue-chip index is 10.4 percent up for the fourth quarter and recorded a yearly gain of 25.1 percent. The S&P 500 declined 0.3 percent to 2,674 in the holiday-shortened week, after completing the fourth quarter with 6.1 percent and the year with a 19.4 percent gain. The Nasdaq lost 0.8 percent for the week to finish at 6,903. The tech-heavy gained 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter and 28.3 percent in 2017. All three indexes ended in positive territory in December, with the S&P 500 and Dow clinching their 9th straight monthly gain. That marks the longest streak for the Dow since 1959. While, the Nasdaq notched its sixth straight annual gain, its longest streak since the one between 1975 and 1980. Among the key S&P sectors, utilities was the best weekly performer, while technology dragged. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, traded near 15.68. Read More

December 24th 2017

Market Review

All three U.S. major averages posted modest gains for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.4 percent during the week to close at 24,754.06. The S&P 500 increased 0.3 percent to 2,683.34 for the week. Both the Dow and the S&P rose for a fifth straight week. The Nasdaq gained 0.3 percent over the week to 6,959.96. All three indexes are within 1 percentage point of record levels. Most key S&P sectors finished higher, led by energy, while utilities ended in the red. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, the gauge of S&P 500 options known as the VIX, closed at 9.9. Read More

December 17th 2017

Market Review

U.S. stocks rose for the week, lifting all three major indices to new records. For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.3 percent, to 24,651.74. The S&P 500 advanced 0.9 percent during the week to 2,675.81. Both the S&P 500 and Dow booked a weekly gain for the past four consecutive weeks. The Nasdaq gained 1.4 percent from last week's close to end at 6,936.58. Most key S&P sectors ended in positive territory for the week, led by technology. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, ended near 9.4. Read More

December 10th 2017

Market Review

In line with our recent call, most U.S. averages finished the week in positive territory with the Dow and S&P 500 logging record closes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded a 0.4 percent weekly gain to end at a record of 24,329.16. The S&P 500 also booked also a weekly climb of 0.4 percent, closing at a record of 2,651.50. The Nasdaq finished the week nearly unchanged (minus 0.1 percent) at 6,840.08. Among the key S&P sectors, financials was the best weekly performer, while utilities dragged. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, ended at 9.58. Read More

December 3rd 2017

Market Review

U.S. averages finished the week mostly with strong gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rocketed 2.9 percent for the week to close at 24,231.59, its strongest weekly rise of 2017. The S&P 500 finished at 2,642.22. The broad index recorded a 1.5 percent weekly gain, the biggest since September. Both the Dow and the S&P 500 have risen in 10 of the past 12 weeks. The Nasdaq in contrast, fell 0.6 percent over the week to finish at 6,847.59; the biggest weekly decline for the index since September. The tech-heavy index also suffered its biggest one-day drop in more than three months on Wednesday. Read More