The Week on Wall Street
Stocks posted modest losses last week as tariff deals, January jobs data, and Q4 corporate reports injected volatility into markets.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped 0.24 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index lost 0.53 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.54 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, edged ahead 0.17 percent.1,2
Tariffs, Q4 Reports, and Jobs
On Monday, stocks opened lower on news that tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China went into effect over the weekend. However, markets rebounded midmorning following news of a U.S.-Mexico deal that delayed new trade rules. News of a similar last-minute agreement with Canada followed.3
Stocks continued their rally midweek, led by technology stocks from companies that provided upbeat Q4 corporate reports.4,5
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose for the third consecutive day on Thursday, while the Dow experienced a slight fall as investors digested more corporate earnings reports. The week closed on a down note as a mixed jobs report and a cautionary inflation outlook disappointed investors.6,7
Mixed Signals on the Labor Market
As has happened several times in recent years, two job reports told conflicting stories about the state of the jobs market. On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 143,000 jobs had been added for the month–a four-year low. Earlier in the week, the ADP report showed the economy added 188,000 new jobs, ahead of the 150,000 economists expected.8,9
Why do the reports tell different stories? Economists point to various factors, including how January can be challenging to measure accurately, typically due to the more significant number of laid-off seasonal workers.10
Weekly Riddle
Each morning, I show up at your feet, yet at midday, I nearly retreat. No matter how fast you move, I follow. What am I?
Last week’s riddle: It sits when it stands. It walks in jumps. It can grow up to 8′ tall. What is it?
Answer: A kangaroo.
John Dombroski Jr. may be reached at (480) 991-1055 or [email protected]
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