Our Insights

Stocks finished higher last week, with big tech again leading amid lingering uncertainty over how continued economic strength would influence the Fed’s rate decision.

Stocks pushed higher last week, led by big tech names and boosted by December inflation reports that were mixed but positive enough to shore up investor confidence in Fed rate cuts this year.

For the three months ending on December 31, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 12.5 percent while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index picked up more than 11 percent. The Nasdaq Composite, which led throughout 2023, led again, tacking on nearly 14 percent.

Stocks retreated in the first trading week of 2024, struggling a bit after a celebratory end to last year as investors second-guessed Fed signals and fretted over lingering inflation concerns.

The stock market gains in the final trading days of 2023 capped an exceptional year of performance. The last-week rally also mirrored the historical tendency of stocks to rise at this time of year, a propensity known as the “Santa Claus rally.”

Investor optimism and fears of missing out on future gains propelled stocks higher in the last full week of trading before year-end.

Markets reacted positively last week to cooler inflation and the idea of potential rate cuts next year, adding to the gains of the market’s year-end rally.

A late-week, two-day rally left stocks higher, adding to November’s gains as the last month of trading for 2023 began.

A Friday rally turned an otherwise mixed week for stocks into a solid performance.

Investor enthusiasm for stocks remained strong last week, buoyed by declining bond yields in a holiday-abbreviated trading week.

Stocks extended their November rally last week as investors cheered lower-than-forecast inflation data.

A powerful Friday rally left stocks higher last week, extending the market’s early November gains.

Rising bond yields, geopolitical tensions, sticky inflation, and mixed earnings reports combined to push stocks lower last month.

Stocks ripped higher last week on a dramatic retreat in bond yields triggered by easing inflation and a slowing labor market.

Amid a busy week of corporate earnings reports, stocks slumped on cautious earnings guidance, fears of higher interest rates, and growing anxiety over the increasing amount of Treasury bonds and notes coming to market.

Rising bond yields and uncertainty over whether this was the close of the Fed’s rate-hike cycle dragged markets lower last week despite solid corporate earnings results.