THE WEEK ON WALL STREET
Stocks posted their second straight weekly gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.17% in five trading days; the S&P 500, 1.27%; the Nasdaq Composite, 1.72%. The MSCI EAFE index of international stocks rose 1.84%.1-4
Investors got some good news last week: an encouraging employment report and indications that a new U.S.-China trade deal might be near.
A Solid Hiring Report
The economy generated 196,000 net new jobs in March, according to the Department of Labor. Monthly job growth averaged 180,000 in the first quarter.
The March hiring recovery eased Wall Street concerns about a near-term economic downturn. If payroll growth is this strong in April and May, the Federal Reserve may be motivated to rethink its pause of interest rate hikes.5
Another Step in the Trade Talks
Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said last week that the U.S. and China have come to a consensus on the basics of a new trade accord. President Trump commented Thursday that “the next four weeks” of negotiations will be critical.6
What’s Next
The first-quarter earnings season kicks off this week with three of the biggest banks in the country reporting results. The question is whether stocks in the S&P 500 will post earnings that beat analyst expectations to the degree that they have in the past few quarters.
T I P O F T H E W E E K
A new business owner should have some cash available for professional services, such as legal or accounting help. Those services will probably be necessary before the business receives any funding.
THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA
Wednesday: Minutes from the March Federal Reserve meeting, plus the latest Consumer Price Index, tracking monthly and yearly inflation.
Friday: The initial University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for April, which assesses consumer confidence.
Source: Econoday / MarketWatch Calendar, April 5, 2019
The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision. The release of data may be delayed without notice for a variety of reasons.
THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS
Wednesday: Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY), Delta Air Lines (DAL)
Thursday: Fastenal (FAST), Rite Aid (RAD)
Friday: JPMorgan Chase (JPM), PNC (PNC), Wells Fargo (WFC)
Source: Morningstar.com, April 5, 2019
Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame, and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.
Q U O T E O F T H E W E E K
“If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”
DOLLY PARTON
T H E W E E K L Y R I D D L E
What is the timepiece with the most moving parts? (It has been around for centuries.)
LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: What is the only planet within our solar system that rotates clockwise?
ANSWER: Venus.
CITATIONS:
1 – quotes.wsj.com/index/SPX [4/5/19]
2 – quotes.wsj.com/index/DJIA [4/5/19]
3 – quotes.wsj.com/index/COMP [4/5/19]
4 – quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices [4/5/19]
5 – cnn.com/2019/04/05/economy/march-jobs-report/index.html [4/5/19]
6 – cnbc.com/2019/04/05/stock-market-us-china-trade-nonfarm-payrolls-in-focus.html [4/5/19]
CHART CITATIONS:
markets.wsj.com [4/5/19]
treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldYear&year=2019 [4/5/19]
treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldAll [4/5/19]
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: Salt Lake County, 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, American Fork City, and Utah County in Utah.