Stocks drifted lower last week, weighed down by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s unsettling comments on the economy and signs of renewed tensions with China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.65%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 retreated 2.26%. The Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 1.17% for the week. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed stock markets overseas, slid 3.66%.1,2,3 |
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Stocks Pull Back The stock market managed to find some firmer footing, posting a strong gain on Thursday. Stocks rallied again on Friday, overcoming headlines that suggested a souring relationship with China and a report that showed U.S. retail sales dropped 16.4% in April.4 Powell Speaks Powell also referenced internal Fed research that found those least able to weather the current economic environment were most impacted, with nearly 40% of households making less than $40,000 per year having lost a job in March.6 THIS WEEK: KEY ECONOMIC DATA THIS WEEK: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS Source: Zacks, May 15, 2020 |
1. The Wall Street Journal, May 15, 2020 2. The Wall Street Journal, May 15, 2020 3. The Wall Street Journal, May 15, 2020 4. CNBC.com, May 15, 2020 5. The Wall Street Journal, May 13, 2020 6. The Wall Street Journal, May 13, 2020 |

Weekly Market Insight 5/11/20 - 5/15/20
May 19, 2020