Stock Market Watch for the Week of January 21st

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Stocks remain strong after three weeks of trading. The S&P 500 is up around 14% since December 24th. That said, there is still plenty of uncertainty in the market, including the government shutdown, Brexit, and trade talks between China.

China just posted its GDP numbers for 2018, 6.6% growth, its weakest annual performance since 1990.

However, it hasn’t been all doom and gloom. For example, members of the FOMC continue to come out and assure the market that the Fed is unlikely to raise rates this year. In addition, corporate earnings kicked off last week… and so far so good.

graph

Source: Yahoo

The VIX closed at 17.80 on Friday. A far cry from 36, where it was on Dec 24.

Here are how some of the most actively traded index ETFs performed over the week: SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) +2.89%, iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) +2.54%, SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA) +2.99%, Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) +2.84%

Here are how some of the most actively traded commodity and interest rate ETFs performed: United States Oil Fund (USO) +3.76%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) -1.13%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) -0.64%

Economic Releases:
22 Jan 2019- Existing Home Sales 10:00 AM ET

24 Jan 2019- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET; EIA Petroleum Status Report 11:00 AM ET

25 Jan 2019- Durable Goods Orders 8:30 AM ET; Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET; New Home Sales 10:00 AM ET

Key Earnings:
22 Jan 2019- JNJ, HAL, STLD, SWK, UBS, AMTD, IBM, NAVI, ZION

23 Jan 2019- CMCSA, KMB, NTRS, PG, RES, WAT, CCI, F, FFIV, XLNX

24 Jan 2019- FCX, HBAN, JBLU, LUV, STM, TXT, UNP, DFS, NSC, SBUX, WDC

25 Jan 2019- APD, CL, LEA, SYF

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Week of December 31st Stock Market Watch

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There is just one more trading day left in what has been a wild ride for stocks this December. Typically, when we get close to year-end, trading volume and volatility dies down. However, that has not been the case this year. In fact, the day after Christmas the Dow had its largest gain in history (+1,000 pts). Despite the gains stocks had after Christmas, they still finished relatively flat on the week.

Here are some of the main concerns investors are having right now:

  • The government shutdown
  • Rising interest rates
  • Trade disputes with China (tariffs)
  • Fears of an economic downturn
  • Loss of confidence in the Federal Reserve Bank
  • Crashing oil prices
  • Uncertainty with Brexit

The VIX closed at 28.34 on Friday. That said, traders appear to embracing the shift from low volatility to high.

Here are how some of the most actively traded index ETFs performed over the week: SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) +0.23%, iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) +0.81%, SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA) +0.69%, Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) +0.45%

Here are how some of the most actively traded commodity and interest rate ETFs performed: United States Oil Fund (USO) -1.95%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) +0.26%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) +1.53%

This is a shortened week for the stock market, as it’s closed on New Years Day.

Economic Releases:
3 Jan 2019- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET; ISM Manufacturing Index 10:00 AM ET

4 Jan 2019- Employment Situation 8:30 AM ET; EIA Petroleum Status Report 11:00 AM ET

Key Earnings:
3 Jan 2019- RECN

4 Jan 2019- LW

From all of us at TVC, have a happy, healthy, and profitable New Year.