Presented by Matt Glova and the LifeTime Asset Management team:
Weekly Market Update, October 26, 2020
We finished the week with Friday’s release of the September retail sales report. Sales impressed, rising by 1.9 percent against calls for a more modest 0.8 percent increase. This marks the best month of sales since June and signals consumers were willing and able to continue spending despite expired government stimulus. Core retail sales, which strip out the impact of volatile auto and gas sales, also impressed, with a 1.5 percent increase against calls for a 0.5 percent increase. The gains were widespread, with traditional back-to-school categories and recreational goods showing notable strength. This strong report bodes well for third-quarter growth, given the importance of consumer spending on the overall economy.
Click here to read the full weekly market published October 26, 2020.
Weekly Market Update, October 19, 2020
Treasury yields experienced heightened volatility during the shortened holiday week. The 10-year opened at 0.76 percent, dropped to as low as 0.68 percent by Wednesday, and spiked right back up to 0.76 percent this Monday morning. (The 30-year opened at 1.56 percent and the 2-year at 0.14 percent.) Many factors are affecting yield markets, including supply, governmental spending, the upcoming election, and a possible stimulus package. Other factors are in play, too, including the economy, the Federal Reserve (Fed), and COVID-19 and its related repercussions.
Click here to read the full weekly market published October 19, 2020
Weekly Market Update, October 12, 2020
There was a pickup in yields last week in the wake of stimulus talks. The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 0.70 percent 10 days ago before spiking to 0.81 percent on Wednesday and dipping to 0.79 percent on Friday. (The 30-year Treasury yield rose 10 basis points last week.) The spike on Wednesday was supported by Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell, who said the economy has a “long way to go” and there is “low risk of overdoing it.” The 10-year’s minor tick down came as President Trump closed the gap on a potential stimulus deal with Congress.
Click here to read the full weekly market published October 12, 2020
Weekly Market Update, October 5, 2020
Last week, markets moved up across the board, with the S&P 500 breaking its four-week streak of declines. The Russell 2000 outperformed, as the small-cap index has a larger weighting for financials, which were among the top three sectors for the week. The Federal Reserve (Fed) extended its restriction on share buybacks and dividend increases for the largest banks through the end of 2020. While this was expected, it provides clarity on a potential deadline. Additionally, we saw a modest pickup in stimulus hopes as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin plans to discuss a deal.
Click here to read the full weekly market published October 5, 2020.