Weekly Market Recap

Weekly Market Recap – October 19th, 2018

In the Markets
After a roller coaster week in U.S. equity markets, the indices stabilized on the week with the Dow Jones up 0.4%, the NASDAQ down 0.6%, and the S&P 500 finishing the week even.  While the S&P 500 finished without a net move, it climbed 2.15% on Tuesday, before …

Weekly Market Recap – October 12th, 2018

In the Markets
Volatility made a return to equity markets last week, as the three major indices all saw significant moves down, as they posted their largest losses since March. The combination of factors that had been hanging over the markets for some time, including rising interest rates and U.S.-China trade …

Weekly Market Recap – October 5th, 2018

In the Markets
The markets opened with substantial developments as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement was finalized to replace NAFTA with Canada and the U.S. agreeing to terms. While tensions eased between members of North America, they once again grew between the U.S. and China as the pending trade fallout looms over investors.

Weekly Market Recap – September 28th, 2018

In the Markets
As the 3rd quarter came to an end, it proved to be the strongest since 2013 for U.S. equity markets. Strong earnings growth combined with sub 4% unemployment and positive consumer confidence have maintained the bull market despite continued trade tensions. While the quarter was strong, the last …

Weekly Market Recap – September 21st, 2018

In the Markets
The months of promised tariffs against China materialized into reality on Tuesday, as the United States put in place a 10% tariff on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, with a raise to 25% in four months if China does not sit down at the negotiating table. Beijing …

Weekly Market Recap – September 14th, 2018

In the Markets
Despite recent tensions regarding tariffs, the major indices rebounded last week as the U.S. and China have agreed to a new round of trade negotiations. On this news, as well as strong performance from the tech sector, the Dow Jones rose 0.9%, the S&P 500 climbed 1.2%, and …

Weekly Market Recap – September 7th, 2018

In the Markets
The effects of low level negotiations between Chinese and U.S. officials became apparent as the Trump administration announced intentions to place tariffs on all Chinese goods imported into the United States. Two of the big three indices reacted strongly as the S&P 500 dropped 1%, and the NASDAQ …

Weekly Market Recap – August 31st, 2018

In the Markets
On Monday the U.S. and Mexico reached a bilateral trade deal as former NAFTA members have turned to separate trade discussions. Similar negotiations between the U.S. and Canada did not reach an agreement by weeks end, but plan on resuming talks in September. The trade news sent U.S. …

Weekly Market Recap – August 24th, 2018

In the Markets
In a week light with commodities news, the USD strengthened through the 15th before dropping off to end the week, with dollar index futures falling 0.96% on the week. Low level trade discussions between U.S. and Chinese officials were uneventful, leaving the world to wait for future meetings …

Weekly Market Recap – August 17th, 2018

In the Markets
After a breakdown in discussions two months ago shifting the focus to retaliatory tariffs, U.S. and China trade negotiations reopened last week. Reported meetings between low-level officials are setting up a scheduled meeting between President Trump and President Xi in November. Additionally, after inducing panic surrounding the possibility …

Weekly Market Recap – August 10th, 2018

In the Markets
The Turkish lira plunged last week amidst rising inflation and tensions driven by rising global interest rates. The lira fell to record lows as the nation sits on the precipice of financial crisis. The lira freefall led to ripple effects across a variety of markets, including the euro, …

Weekly Market Recap – August 3rd, 2018

In the Markets
Interest rates remained unchanged following the Fed’s Wednesday meeting, although the central bank did change its description of the economy from solid to strong, possibly pointing to two additional rate hikes this year. The USD strengthened on the news, climbing 0.53% up to 94.961 on September futures. Gold …

Weekly Market Recap – July 27th, 2018

In the Markets
The U.S. GDP posted a 4.1% growth in the second quarter, the strongest performance since 2014. While this increase could be attributed to foreign companies buying U.S. goods before potential tariffs are put in place, domestic contributors to GDP also posted gains; consumer spending rose 4%, while business …

Weekly Market Recap – July 20th, 2018

In the Markets
Grains rebounded from last week’s steep drop off, as soybeans recovered 3.66%, corn climbed 4.02%, and wheat rose 3.82%. Oil fell again, with WTI futures down 1.83%, and Brent Crude futures falling 2.81%.
Precious metals fell this week, with gold down 0.81% and silver down 1.68%. Platinum had …

Weekly Market Recap – July 13th, 2018

In the Markets
Last week NATO leaders met in Brussels, focusing on member nations’ commitments to increased military spending. Tensions were high going into the summit, as President Trump had questioned the usefulness of the alliance, but that sentiment shifted following the summit, with President Trump maintaining belief in NATO. Central …

Weekly Market Recap – July 6th, 2018

In the Markets
On July 6th, the Trump administration’s first round of tariffs against China went into effect. These tariffs, effecting around $50 billion worth of Chinese exports, were issued to combat China’s allegedly unfair trade practices, including forced transfer of American technology and intellectual property. The tariffs cover 1,102 different …

Weekly Market Recap – June 29th, 2018

In the Markets
The Trump Administration announced plans to levy powerful sanctions against companies who do not entirely cut Iranian Crude Oil imports by November. This considerably shortened the previous timetable, which required companies to cut 20% of their imports every 180 days. Now these companies must cut 100% of their …

Weekly Market Recap – July 22nd, 2018

In the Markets
This week, leaders from OPEC member nations met in Vienna, Austria to discuss increasing oil production. On May 22nd, when oil prices were on a strong bullish rally, with WTI futures reaching $72.9/bbl and Brent futures eclipsing $80/bbl, Saudi Arabia and Russia leaned towards raising production by one …

Weekly Market Recap – June 15th, 2018

In the Markets
The week ended with a substantial development in the U.S. China trade conflict, as the long rumored tariff skirmish materialized into reality with the Trump administration announcing a 25% tariff on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports. China was quick to respond, stating that they will enforce equivalent …

Weekly Market Recap – June 8th, 2018

In the Markets
Last week ended with the Charlevoix G7 summit in La Malbaie, Quebec, as Italy, Germany, France, Japan, and the U.S. joined Canada for the 2 day conference. The summit ended with a 28 point joint communique covering a wide range of issues including trade, North Korea’s denuclearization, and …

Weekly Market Recap – June 1st, 2018

In the Markets
The highest-ranking North Korean official to visit the United States in 18 years touched down in Washington, D.C. last week. Kim Yong Chol, regarded as Kim Jong-un’s right-hand man, met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday before delivering a letter from Kim Jong Un to President …

Weekly Market Recap – May 25th, 2018

In the Markets
President Trump called off the June 12th summit with North Korea on Thursday. Following this announcement, South Korean president Moon Jae-in met with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday, and it appears that for the time being, the meetings between U.S. and North Korea are back on …

Weekly Market Recap – May 18th, 2018

In the Markets
This week brought tension regarding the June 12 meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un, as North Korean officials pushed back against any plans that involve unilateral abandonment of their nuclear weapons capabilities. As the historic summit in Singapore inches closer, Pyongyang expressed critiques of the U.S. …

Weekly Market Recap – May 11th, 2018

In the Markets
Having repeatedly stated his dissatisfaction with Obama era policies, President Trump officially pulled the United States from the Iran nuclear nonproliferation agreement. With the deal off the table, economic sanctions against Iran are potentially back on. Pending renegotiation, Iran exports could be heavily impacted by U.S. sanctions, especially …