The Week on Wall Street
Stocks were mixed last week as fresh economic data points and election-related uncertainty slowed market momentum.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.96 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.16 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2.68 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, slid 2.30 percent.1,2
Nasdaq Leads
Stocks were mixed for the first half of the week as investors geared up for a steady stream of Q3 reports. The 10-year Treasury yield continued to trend higher, which caught the attention of some traders.
Markets fell Wednesday morning with news that existing home sales fell to a 14-year low in October; still slowed by higher interest rates, sales are on track for their worst year since 1995. Also, pre-election jitters remained an undertow with traders.3,4,5
News that durable goods orders rose in September buoyed sentiment a bit. At Friday’s close, the Nasdaq, fueled by technology names, marked its seventh consecutive week of gains but the S&P 500 broke its 6-week winning streak.6,7
Election Focus
With the election cycle in full swing, some traders appear to be preparing for an uptick in volatility in the coming weeks.
In late August, nearly 90 percent of stock traded above their 20-day moving average. However, that momentum has slowed. On Tuesday, Standard & Poor’s reported that the number of stocks above their 20-day moving average fell to nearly 50 percent. Traders may be moving to more of a “risk off” position ahead of November 5.8
Weekly Riddle
How many times can you subtract the number 75 from 7,500?
Last week’s riddle: How could Gail drive her car from Cleveland to Miami with a flat tire?
Answer: Her spare tire was flat, not any of the four tires she was driving on.
John Dombroski Jr. may be reached at (480) 991-1055 or [email protected]
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