Positive Trade, Budget Negotiations offset Mixed Economic Data

US: S&P 500 Index +2.5%, Dow +3.1%, Nasdaq +2.4%
Europe: STOXX Europe 600 +3.0%, German DAX +3.6% France CAC 40 +3.9%, U.K. FTSE 100 +1.7%
Asia: Japan Nikkei +2.8%, China Shanghai Composite +2.5%, Korea KOSPI  +0.9%
Rates/Commodities: 10-Year Treasury yield -4 basis points to 2.66%, WTI crude oil +5.9%, COMEX gold: +0.8%

Positive developments on the U.S. budget and trade negotiations underpinned a solid week of gains, though mixed economic data tempered investors’ enthusiasm. Continue reading →

Daily Insights

Weak Chinese trade data, the unofficial kickoff of fourth quarter earnings season, and the ongoing government shutdown are on investors radars this morning. Continue reading →

Daily Insights

U.S., China talks progress as Chinese economic slowdown continues. In a tweet over the weekend, President Trump suggested that a “deal is moving along very well” after a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Though the president indicated “big progress is being made,” skeptics abound that a comprehensive agreement is imminent. Continue reading →

Daily Insights

Are we forming a triple bottom? Yesterday’s reversal occurred at significant support for the S&P 500 Index, marking the third time since October that stocks have tried and failed to close below 2630. This, combined with a number of elevated sentiment indicators, increases the odds of stocks moving higher in our view. Later today on the LPL Research blog, we take a closer look at whether yesterday may have been the final washout in the bottoming process.
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US: S&P 500 Index -1.6%, Dow -2.2%, Nasdaq -2.2%
Europe: STOXX Europe 600 -2.2%, German DAX -1.63% France CAC 40 -1.6%, U.K. FTSE 100 -1.0%
Asia: Japan Nikkei -2.6%, China Shanghai Composite +3.1%, Korea KOSPI  +0.3%
Rates/Commodities: 10-Year Treasury yield -12 basis points to 3.07%, WTI crude oil -6.23%, COMEX gold +0.3%

U.S. equities moved lower for the week, but ended on a high note as the S&P 500 Index broke a five-day losing streak on Thursday and then closed higher Friday as well, partly boosted by positive comments on U.S.-China trade talks. Oil snapped a record 12-day losing streak on Thursday, Continue reading →

US: S&P 500 Index +2.4%, Dow +2.4%, Nasdaq +2.7%
Europe: STOXX Europe 600 +3.3%, German DAX +2.8% France CAC 40 +2.7%, U.K. FTSE 100 +2.52%
Asia: Japan Nikkei +5.0%, China Shanghai Composite +3.0%, Korea KOSPI  +3.4%
Rates/Commodities: 10-Year Treasury yield +14 basis points to 3.22%, WTI crude oil -5.7%, COMEX gold +0.0%

U.S. stocks’ best week in six months capped an otherwise rough October for U.S. equity investors. The S&P 500 Index climbed 2.4% during the week, its biggest weekly gain since May, as the benchmark rebounded to close the month down 6.9%. Continue reading →

Daily Insights

• LPL Market Signals Podcast. On the latest episode of the LPL Market Signals Podcast, listen to LPL Financial Chief Investment Strategist John Lynch and Senior Market Strategist Ryan Detrick review the S&P 500 Index’s worst month so far this year, European economic concerns, U.S./China trade issues, and Federal Reserve (Fed) policy. Market Signals by LPL Financial is now available on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify. Please join our discussion on social via #LPLMarketSignals.

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US: S&P 500 Index -4.0%, Dow -3.0%, Nasdaq -3.8%
Europe: STOXX Europe 600 -2.5%, German DAX -3.1% France CAC 40 -2.3%, U.K. FTSE 100 -0.7%
Asia: Japan Nikkei -6.0%, China Shanghai Composite +1.9%, Korea KOSPI  -6.0%
Rates/Commodities: 10-Year Treasury yield -9 basis points to 3.08%, WTI crude oil -2.6%, COMEX gold +0.4%

Major U.S. indexes, with the exception of the Nasdaq, turned negative on the year and entered correction territory this week—falling more than 10% from their most recent highs. Continue reading →

US: S&P 500 Index +0.0%, Dow +0.4%, Nasdaq -0.6%
Europe: STOXX Europe 600 +0.6%, German DAX +0.3% France CAC 40 -0.2%, U.K. FTSE 100 +0.4%
Asia: Japan Nikkei -0.7%, China Shanghai Composite -2.1%, Korea KOSPI  -0.3%
Rates/Commodities: 10-Year Treasury yield +4 basis points to 3.19%, WTI crude oil -3.8%, COMEX gold +0.6%

So far, October continues to live up to its reputation for being a volatility-laden month, with stocks again failing to sustain early-week gains as investors mostly shrugged off a strong start to third-quarter corporate earnings season in the U.S., which is thus far tracking to grow 19.4% year over year. Continue reading →