A Look at the Market – April 2024 Update
The S&P 500 had a total return of -4.1% for the month of April. This was its worst monthly return since September last year and is being driven by interest rate movements that have turned higher, once again. 10-Year Treasury Yield Increases to 4.6%. Source: Bloomberg Investors are now weighing the risk/reward scenarios from “risk-free” […]
A Look at the Market – March 2024 Update
The stock market continued its robust performance in Q1 2024 driven by big technology stocks with Generative Artificial Intelligence investment theses. The overall economy on an aggregate basis has also been strong with unemployment and inflation rates trending lower and now both at 3.8%. The S&P 500 index reached an all-time high on March 28. […]
A Look at the Market – February 2024 Update
February proved to be another good month for the stock market as the S&P 500 stock index rallied 4% driven by investor excitement on Generative Artificial Intelligence and optimism on the overall economy. The strong market rally was across all sectors from Consumer Discretionary and Energy to Industrials and Technology. This market rally was in […]
A Look at the Market – January 2024 Update
Mixed Sector Returns in a Strong Labor Economy The stock market was up overall in January but there were material discrepancies in performance returns from the different market sectors. The Russell 3000 index that covers the 3,000 largest publicly traded companies had a monthly performance of 1.1%. However, the market sector performances had investment returns […]
A Look at the Market – December 2023 Update
Market Factors and the Year Ahead While overall interest rates dictate the price paid to borrow money, the change in interest rates have been driving stock market returns with rates having reached an inflection point this past quarter. The yield earned on 10-year Treasury bond which reached a high of 4.99% in October only to […]
A Look at the Market – October 2023 Update
October has historically been a poor month for equity investors with major stock market crashes in the Octobers of 1929, 1987 and 2008. This past October, the S&P 500 stock index fell by 2.8% weighed down by… The uncertainty that comes with a new Middle East war Political infighting even within singular parties as witnessed […]
A Look at the Market – September 2023 Update
Up until September, the stock market had been having a great year rebounding 15% from the bear market of 2022. Then September came and the S&P 500 index dropped 5%. The narrative from investors changed from “peak interest rates” to “higher interest rates for longer” to “higher interest rates forever”. This new environment is reflected […]
A Look at the Market: June 2023 Update
The overall equity market fell materially last year in the rising interest rate environment but recovered year-to-date as interest rates have since leveled off with inflation rates normalizing. Growth oriented stocks that drastically fell in price in 2022 have been the market leaders in 2023. Value oriented stocks outperformed last year but have underperformed on […]
A Look at the Market: May 2023 Update
The equity market witnessed a sector rotation in May from Utilities to Technology stocks as investors took on greater risk on a market backed by a strong labor market. The S&P 500 Utilities index was down 6% while the Nasdaq composite index was up 6% for the month. Utilities fell due to the probability of […]
A Look at the Market: April 2023 Update
In the ever-changing world that surrounds the stock market and economy in general, the team at John G. Ullman & Associates is committed to keeping you informed and up to date on the latest news and events that could affect you! Each month, Mark Abdalla, CFA®, MBA, will recap the news and events that led […]
