by Mark Chandik | Apr 16, 2024
Weekly Market Commentary The rate of inflation is accelerating. That’s not how we hoped to start this week’s Insights. Take a moment and review Figure 1. The 4-month moving average has broken out of its long-term downward trend (red-dashed lines). On a monthly basis,...
by Mark Chandik | Apr 8, 2024
Weekly Market Commentary The latest employment numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) point to a robust job market. On Friday, the U.S. BLS reported that nonfarm payrolls rose 303,000 in March, well ahead of expectations. It’s not simply March; growth...
by Mark Chandik | Apr 1, 2024
Weekly Market Commentary Stocks turned in a surprisingly strong 2023, and momentum has yet to slow in 2024 as last year’s rally remains in high gear. According to Dow Jones Market Data published by MarketWatch, the S&P 500 Index set 22 all-time closing highs this...
by Mark Chandik | Mar 25, 2024
Weekly Market Commentary The Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate, the fed funds rate, at 5.25 – 5.50% last week. That wasn’t a surprise. Let’s look at three important takeaways from the meeting that drove the Dow, the S&P 500 Index, and the Nasdaq to new...
by Mark Chandik | Mar 18, 2024
Weekly Market Commentary The road to price stability has been long and arduous. Inflation doesn’t just impact investors. It impacts everyone, from shoppers to travelers to those on a fixed income. February’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) marks the second straight month...
by Mark Chandik | Mar 12, 2024
Weekly Market Commentary On Friday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that employers added 275,000 net new jobs in February. The hiring boom continues, right? Well, it’s not quite that simple. Let’s dive in. January’s red-hot increase of 353,000 was...
