BULL MARKET MAKES HISTORY
At the close on August 22, the current bull marked its 3,453th day, a record by S&P Dow Jones standards. Between March 9, 2009 and last Wednesday, the S&P 500 advanced 323%, with an annualized return of about 19%. Besides optimism, four other factors drove the market higher in the last nine-and-a-half years: easing by the Federal Reserve, earnings growth (corporate profits have improved in 30 of the past 35 quarters, with the only slump happening in 2015-16), share repurchases, and dip-buying on the assumption that stocks would recover from declines.1
HOME SALES WEAKEN
New National Association of Realtors data shows existing home sales fell 0.7% during July. Last month, the sales pace was the slowest recorded since February 2016. New home buying declined 1.7% in July after a 2.4% June drop, with the sales rate hitting a 9-month low.2,3
OIL FUTURES JUMP 5% IN FIVE DAYS
Crude just left its 7-week losing streak behind. Oil rose 5.4% on the NYMEX last week, settling at $68.72 after a 1.3% advance during the Friday trading session. News indicating Iran’s output might fall with the imposition of U.S. sanctions helped the commodity.4
S&P 500, NASDAQ SETTLE AT NEW PEAKS
The S&P gained 0.86% last week to finish at 2,874.69, surpassing its record close of January 26. Entering fresh record territory of its own, the Nasdaq Composite pushed toward the 8,000 level, closing at 7,945.98 on Friday after advancing 1.66% across five days. The week was good to the blue chips as well: the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.47%, settling Friday at 25,790.35. The CBOE VIX fell 4.67% across the week to 12.05.5,6
T I P O F T H E W E E K
Certain life insurance policies now offer long-term care riders. If premiums for a standalone LTC policy seem too expensive, consider these policies as alternatives.
THIS WEEK
Monday, nothing major is scheduled. | BMO Financial Group and Best Buy present earnings on Tuesday, while the Conference Board’s August consumer confidence index and the latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller home price index also arrive. | The federal government’s second estimate of Q2 economic growth appears Wednesday, as do the NAR’s July pending home sales index and quarterly results from Dick’s Sporting Goods. | Thursday offers July personal spending figures, the July PCE price index, and a new initial unemployment claims report. | On Friday, the University of Michigan releases its final August consumer sentiment index.
Q U O T E O F T H E W E E K
“He who learns but does not think, is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”
Kong Qiu (CONFUCIUS)
% CHANGE |
Y-T-D |
1-YR CHG |
5-YR AVG |
10-YR AVG |
DJIA |
4.33 |
18.39 |
14.36 |
12.65 |
NASDAQ |
15.10 |
26.70 |
23.45 |
23.59 |
S&P 500 |
7.52 |
17.86 |
14.56 |
12.69 |
REAL YIELD |
8/24 RATE |
1 YR AGO |
5 YRS AGO |
10 YRS AGO |
10 YR TIPS |
0.73 |
0.44 |
0.69 |
1.64 |
Sources: wsj.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov – 8/24/185,7,8,9
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. These returns do not include dividends. 10-year TIPS real yield = projected return at maturity given expected inflation.
T H E W E E K L Y R I D D L E
It drapes the hills in white, it does not swallow, but it does bite. What is it?
LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: What is ready when you add a letter at its end?
ANSWER: The word “read.”
CITATIONS:
1 – businessinsider.com/stock-bull-market-longest-on-record-4-main-reasons-for-longevity-2018-8 [8/22/18]
2 – marketwatch.com/story/housing-is-another-brick-in-the-wall-of-worry-stock-analyst-says-2018-08-24 [8/24/18]
3 – investing.com/economic-calendar/ [8/23/18]
4 – marketwatch.com/story/us-oil-futures-climb-more-than-5-for-the-week-2018-08-24 [8/24/18]
5 – markets.wsj.com/us [8/24/18]
6 – cnbc.com/2018/08/24/us-stocks-china-trade-talks-end-powell-to-speak-at-jackson-hole.html [8/24/18]
7 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=8%2F24%2F17&x=0&y=0 [8/24/18]
7 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=8%2F24%2F17&x=0&y=0 [8/24/18]
7 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=8%2F24%2F17&x=0&y=0 [8/24/18]
7 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=8%2F23%2F13&x=0&y=0 [8/24/18]
7 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=8%2F23%2F13&x=0&y=0 [8/24/18]
7 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=8%2F23%2F13&x=0&y=0 [8/24/18]
7 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=8%2F25%2F08&x=0&y=0 [8/24/18]
7 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=8%2F25%2F08&x=0&y=0 [8/24/18]
7 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=8%2F25%2F08&x=0&y=0 [8/24/18]
8 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyield [8/24/18]
9 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyieldAll [8/24/18]
This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is an unmanaged, market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. Market indices discussed are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest in unmanaged indices. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This material was prepared by MarketingLibrary.Net Inc., for Mark Lund, Mark is known as a Wealth Advisor, The 401k Advisor, Investor Coach, The Financial Advisor, The Financial Planner and author of The Effective Investor. Mark offers investment advisory services through Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc. a fiduciary, independent, fee-only, Registered Investment Advisor firm providing investment and retirement planning for individuals and 401k consulting for small businesses. Cities served but not limited to are: Park City, Salt Lake City, Murray City, West Jordan City, Sandy City, Draper City, South Jordan City, Provo City, Orem City, Lehi City, Highland City, Alpine City, and American Fork City in Utah.