Market Blog

“That’s not a knife … that’s a knife!” Paul Hogan in Crocodile Dundee Continue reading →

DAILY INSIGHTS

Stocks opened higher. After ending last week on a down note and seeing its three-week win streak snapped, the S&P 500 Index is in the green in early trading this morning. Markets are awaiting the release of the Senate’s stimulus plan—expected in the $1 trillion range—and the start of a big earnings week. Asian markets were mixed overnight, with modest gains in China and Australia, and slight losses in Japan and Hong Kong. European markets are slightly lower in midday trading. Gold rose 2% to a record high of more than $1,940 per ounce, and silver rose 6%. Continue reading →

Market Blog

Index Performance

S&P 500 Index: -0.3%

Dow Jones Industrial Average: -0.8%

Nasdaq Composite: -1.3%

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Leading economic indicators continued to rebound in June, albeit at a slightly slower pace than in May. Continue reading →

DAILY INSIGHTS

Down again. US stocks opened lower following Thursday’s broad weakness. Caution is in the air, as China retaliated by shutting down the US consulate in Chengdu. Asian markets were down significantly on the news. European markets are firmly in the red, even though the Eurozone flash manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) surprised to the upside. The composite reading reached its best levels since February, yet another sign of global economic improvement. Continue reading →

Economic Blog

The US dollar was remarkably strong during the first quarter of 2020, benefitting from the flight to safety and rallying to nearly a 10% year-to-date gain at the stock market’s low point on March 23. However, as equity markets have recovered, and the US has continued to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the dollar has given up nearly all of those gains. Continue reading →

DAILY INSIGHTS

Stocks opened little changed. The S&P 500 Index is trying for its sixth straight positive session as mostly well-received earnings results and optimism that the next big stimulus package out of Washington, DC, will soon be secured are offset by rising weekly jobless claims. Asian markets closed mixed, with gains in Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and a modest loss in China’s Shanghai Composite amid escalating US-China tensions. Trading in Japan was closed for a holiday. European markets are largely flat. Continue reading →

Market Blog

LPL Research released our Midyear Outlook 2020 last week, discussing the path of the eventual economic and market recovery. Continue reading →

DAILY INSIGHTS

Mixed markets. US stocks opened mixed, as Tuesday the S&P 500 Index moved to its highest level since February. Caution is in the air as the United States ordered China to close its consulate in Houston, fueling potential retaliation. Europe is firmly in the red the day after passing the 750 billion euro COVID-19 recovery plan on Tuesday. Earnings season is in full swing, with many big names set to report over the coming days. Continue reading →

Economic Blog

While the 10-year Treasury yield has traded in a narrow range since early April, the equivalent real yield, represented by the yield on 10-year Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS), has continued to fall and could go lower. Real yields remove the impact of inflation. As shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, while the 10-year Treasury set a new all-time low for yields way back in February, declining 10-year TIPS yields are still above where they were in late 2012. Continue reading →