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Weekly Commentary & Outlook
The stock market was flat on low volume last week. In other words little of consequence happened. Oil prices fell back somewhat after rumors that a release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve were floated by our government in an attempt to influence the market of yet another asset class. One wonders where the stock market, interest rates and the price of commodities would be if the government both at home and elsewhere was not manipulating prices to the extent they do.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Last week the stock market got all it wanted from the Central Banks of Europe and here at home. The money presses have been put on full power. The result was a continuation of the stock market rally along with commodities while bonds suffered a setback as investors swapped out.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Stock prices have been supported by strong profits permitting buybacks and rising dividends as well as the absence of negative news from Europe. In fact, with all the leaders there taking vacations it has allowed rumors and leaks of possible steps, which have produced lower borrowing costs in Spain and Italy. This has allowed for a reflex rally there that has served as a catalyst for the continued rally in our domestic markets.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Last week gave us quite a bit of information, but on balance the stock markets did not seem fazed one way or the other. Disappointment at a lack of policy initiative from the world's Central Bankers was offset by an employment report, which was very confusing at best, but certainly did not indicate a meltdown in the economy.
Weekly Commentary and Outlook
Stock prices recouped their early week losses, as earnings reports were not as bad as feared. Fridays session, and again today though, have seen investors reminded that Europe is a broken economic zone which cannot be repaired using
the current European Monetary Union framework.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
A strong day last Friday salvaged the week for stocks despite continuing evidence of a global slowdown related to the sovereign debt crisis which shows no sign of improving in Europe. It was kind of a quiet week from the European leaders. There werent any concrete developments, of course, just a few confusing new twists and turns. The most important one is that Germanys highest court must now rule as to whether it is constitutional to agree to what was supposedly agreed to previously.
Weekly Commentary and Outlook
Stock markets rebounded last week on the perception (which turned into reality over the weekend) that Europe would find some sleight of hand method of rescuing the Spanish banking system.The reality this morning is that Spains sovereign debt (which this bailout money will be added to) is trading down and its credit default swaps are trading higher. This is not a very good sign for the bailout at this point. On top of that, now Ireland and Greece (which votes again this weekend) want similar and more lenient terms to their previously negotiated bailouts. Thus, Europe remains a total quagmire.
Weekly Commentary and Outlook
Between the problems in Europe and the disappointing news on jobs and economic growth at home, stock markets globally have taken a tumble albeit with the USA doing much better than everyone else. For some reason investors finally opened their eyes these past couple of weeks. They did not like what they saw. As we have commented endlessly here over the past six months, there never has been a recovery in our employment category, and the growth rate of the economy has never shown any inclination to rise above 2% on an annualized basis.
Weekly Commentary and Outlook
Last week saw the worst week for stocks of the year, caused by the continued fears over the impending break-up of the European Monetary Union as well as the colossal flop of the IPO of Facebook, and the burgeoning horror at the trading losses at JP Morgan. Sad to say that the fears of the past several months, as expressed in these weekly commentaries, seem to be materializing. The circus act known as Europe is back in recession, as political leadership is simply not possible given the pressures of seventeen sovereign nations.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Stocks have endured a rough couple of weeks as it has finally become obvious to everyone that the socalled recovery in the US has been a mirage while the difficulties in Europe have never been addressed. The latter problem is due to the flawed structure of the European Monetary Union, while our problem has to do with an incorrect mixture of policy choices from Washington and in many of our larger states such as California and Illinois. Last week saw a decline of 1.7% for the Dow Jones and .76% for the NASDAQ Composite. These declines were very modest compared to the carnage in Europe and Asia.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Stock prices rallied here in America last week as discouraging (but predictable) economic news at home along with the worsening situation in Europe were more than offset by positive earnings from Apple, dividend increases, and buybacks from countless other corporate names. As the charts above illustrate, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.5% and the NASDAQ Composite which is heavily influenced by the price of Apple improved by 2.3% last week.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Last week was a seesaw affair, with the macro news being a negative, while
corporate earnings served to support stock prices. The charts above illustrate that the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.4% last week as the blue chips reported pretty good earnings and outlooks. The NASDAQ Composite though fell .36%, mainly because of concerns and some confusion developing in the shares of Apple, which reports tomorrow evening.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Stocks were subdued last week, as concerns about the growth prospects of the economy overtook the recent trend in the media to portray everything as being on the upswing. As the charts above illustrate, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 1.2% while the NASDAQ Composite held forth with a marginal gain for the week.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
The stock market continued to meander last week as concerns over Greece have now been replaced by a growing consensus that growth in the United States is slowing.
For the week the stock market was mixed as indicated by the above charts.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined slightly
while the NASDAQ Composite gained slightly on the week.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Stocks continued to mark time last week as concerns increased over slowing global growth and rising international tensions as evidenced by the price of oil. All in all though, the combination of low interest rates, high profit growth and rising dividends all combine to support stock prices and continue to make
the stock market virtually the only investment game in town. As the charts above illustrate, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat last week, while the NASDAQ Composite (aided by Apple) moved fractionally higher.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
The stock market paused last week in its 2012 rally over concerns about what might happen in Greece. As the charts above illustrate, both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ Composite fell fractionally for the week, but certainly showed underlying strength given the urge of many to take short-term gains.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Stocks moved higher last week in anticipation of a deal over Greek sovereign debt, as well as evidence the economy is not falling into a double-dip recession. As the charts above illustrate, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained over one percent, while the NASDAQ Composite moved higher by 1.65% led by Apple, Inc.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Last week featured continued excellent earnings reports (see our comments below on Caterpillar and Boeing) along with mixed economic news. As a result the stock market overall was flat to positive. As the charts above illustrate, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by about one-half a percent while the NASDAQ Composite gained just over one percent largely due to a stellar report from Apple.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
The New Years rally continued last week. Solid earnings reports, for the most part, along with the belief that the Federal Reserve Board will offer up some policy changes this week served to support stock prices across the board. As the charts above illustrate the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.4% and the NASDAQ Composite jumped 2.8% last week to extend their early year gains.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
The first full week of trading in the New Year was uneventful but positive as the market awaits corporate earnings and next weeks Federal Reserve Board Meeting. As the charts above illustrate, the Dow Jones Industrial Average extended its gains for the year by an additional half of one percent last week, while the NASDAQ Composite jumped nearly 1.4% on excitement in many of the technology shares.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Happy New Year to everyone and it was for stock investors. The stock market, at least here in the United States, ended on a positive note last year and has started on a positive note this year. As the charts above illustrate, the New Year saw a first week gain of over one percent for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. while the NASDAQ Composite jumped 2.65% in the first four trading days of 2012.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Stock markets here in the USA and Europe are ending the year on a positive note. The concerns of the European sovereign debt issue have been put aside for now as the European Central Bank is essentially embarking on a quantitative easing policy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 3.6% last week and is positive for the year while the NASDAQ Composite jumped by 2.5% and is more or less break even for the year with a few trading days left in 2011.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Markets continue to be whipsawed by headlines out of Europe which much of the time are confusing and contradictory. Overall, however, the stock market here in the United States continues to outperform other global markets, and as evidenced by the
charts below showed gains for the week. Last week saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average gain 1.4% while the NASDAQ Composite moved higher by three quarters of a percent.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
The past few weeks have seen a rollercoaster ride for stocks. Despair over the European sovereign debt crisis has been replaced, for now, with optimism that the authorities there have finally decided to act. Both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ Composite had stellar weeks. Both indices gained more than 7 percent for the week. Of course, this just reclaimed the losses from the previous couple of weeks, but the averages are once again positive for the year and given the level of pessimism and uncertainty supports our notion of just how undervalued this stock market is.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Despite generally improving economic data, the stock market continues to be held hostage to the circus over in Europe. As we warned last Monday, replacing two elected but misbegotten leaders with two technocrats who developed the modern day Europe and who lack political support, was a recipe for disappointment. Europe is nothing if not disappointing. They simply cannot muster the courage to either take apart their 50-year experiment run amuck or alternatively take the actions necessary to rescue the sovereigns in trouble.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
News from Europe continued to roil markets on a daily basis, but when all was said and done there were new governments in Greece and Italy (same governments just different leaders), and the stock market advanced on the week as economic data and earnings continued to impress investors. As the charts above illustrate the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.4% while the NASDAQ Composite was flat as concerns over Apple held back that average.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
The stock market took a breather last week given the number of so-called macro issues to deal with as well as the usual stuff such as Federal Reserve Board meetings and employment reports, etc As the charts above illustrate, both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ Composite dropped around 2 percent for the week, but remain positive for their year to date performance.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
The stock market is on the verge of completing its best month since 1974. Who would have thought that just five weeks ago? The ostensible reason given for the upswing is some resolution of the European debt issues. Forget that; the reason stocks recovered is the reason they always bounce back and that is higher earnings, higher dividends and a lack of alternative asset choices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ Composite gained almost 4 percent each last week. Shorts were covering and hedge fund managers were caught underinvested into the end of the month. Too bad.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Stocks continued to advance as stellar earnings reports continue to overshadow the macro worries. These include the European crisis as well as many of our domestic problems such as the protests in the streets, And the confusion caused by President Obama starting his reelection campaign so early. This has created total grid lock in Washington DC. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.4% last week while the NASDAQ Composite fell slightly due to confusion around Apple Computers earnings release. I doubt the disappointment for Apple will prove to last for long.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Stocks rebounded last week and are off to a very strong start this morning as the economic data shows few indications of recession and because Europe is beginning to disclose their intentions as to how to deal with their sovereign debt crisis. As the charts above illustrate, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.7% last week while the NASDAQ Composite did even better with a jump of 2.7%.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Stocks were mixed last week as global growth concerns trumped the continuing mix of ok economic reports and on-balance good corporate news at least in terms of dividends and so on. As the charts above illustrate, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.3% last week while the growth centered NASDAQ Composite fell by 2.7% as concerns about a double-dip recession moved further onto the front burner.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Stocks jumped higher last week as the central bank took steps to ease the European sovereign debt crisis which relieved the concern about a short-term run on the European banking system. The week was a very strong one for stock prices with the Dow Jones Industrial Average moving higher by 4.7% while the NASDAQ Composite (a more growth oriented index) jumped 6.3%.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Stocks ended the week once again on a sour note over the problems looming in Europe and the non-reaction to President Obamas annual jobs speech. As the chart above illustrates the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped over two percent last week while the NASDAQ Composite was relatively calm with a decline of just one half of one percent.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
The volatility in share prices was quite extraordinary last week on a daily basis. However, when the week was over and as the charts below indicate the Dow Jones Industrial Average had declined by just 1.5% while the NASDAQ actually fell by less than one percent. Given this mornings strong opening (Europe is quiet due to a religious holiday), all of last weeks losses have now been reversed, which is hard to believe.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
The volatility in share prices was quite extraordinary last week on a daily basis. However, when the week was over and as the charts below indicate the Dow Jones Industrial Average had declined by just 1.5% while the NASDAQ actually fell by less than one percent. Given this mornings strong opening (Europe is quiet due to a religious holiday), all of last weeks losses have now been reversed, which is hard to believe.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Markets around the world fell last week as Europe crumbled over the bankruptcy of Italy and what to do about it. As the charts above illustrate, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 5.8% while the NASDAQ Composite dropped an astounding 8.1% last week on both sovereign debt issues as well as global growth concerns.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Concern over the debt ceiling debate had the stock market down each and every day last week despite stellar earnings reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 4.2% while the NASDAQ Composite dropped 3.58% last week as Washington dithered. Today is a new week, and with the erstwhile deal announced last night, the stock market should enjoy a very sharp snap back. Fears about the financial system not being able to function normally should dissipate despite some worry that the deal will not be approved in the House of Representatives.
Weekly Market Commentary
Stellar earnings reports, as well as the apparent success in throwing good money after bad in Greece, allowed for a decent rally in the stock market last week. As the charts above illustrate, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.6% while the NASDAQ Composite surged 2.4% on the back of Apple Computer and Google.
Weekly Market Commentary
Last week saw the stock market fall for the usual reasons of government incompetence here and especially in Europe. This was offset by merger news in the energy patch, which dramatically helped our holdings there. Thus I remind everyone that the stock market ultimately prices in fundamentals and not sound bites from either politicians or billionaires who cannot find an interview they dont want to give. Last week saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average drop 1.4% while the NASDAQ Composite, despite stellar earnings from Google, dropped by 2.5% over the outlook for future economic growth.
Weekly Commentary & Outlook
Another week of watching the Europeans deal with their flawed common-currency union as the financial media focus on all things Greek. The stock market was able to shrug off the bankruptcy of Europe as well as the continued soap opera here at home, as our government cannot find a way to trim the annual 1.6 TRILLION dollar deficit. The result was a fractional loss for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, while the NASDAQ Composite jumped out to a 1.4% gain for the week.
And That?s The Week That Was ?
The stock and other financial markets were focused on Greece - as opposed to the other bankrupt European nations of Ireland, Portugal & Spain. As such the currency, interest rate and stock markets all traded on the back and forth of news headlines, which proved to be without substance. Stocks in the absence of earnings or other specific news just went along as the futures markets dictated. The result was that the Dow Jones Industrial Average broke its six-week losing streak by gaining .44% while the NASDAQ fell just over one percent as earnings warnings and slowdown fears took their toll.
Results 51–100
of 159 found.
