Equities bounced back mid-week amid sector divergences. The S&P 500 was down 0.1%, balanced by declines in high growth stocks and gains in so-called value stocks. Rising interest rates put pressure on growth stocks nearly every day, although some days witnessed mid-day buying to limit the damage.
Equities inched up on the week, setting new highs in the process. The S&P 500 advanced 0.6%, but there was notable rotation under the surface. The energy sector jumped 4.0% as freezing temperatures across the country forced oil shut-ins and boosted demand for natural gas and other related commodities.
Equities posted a strong week as major indices pushed to record highs. The S&P 500 advanced 2.1% with the Energy Sector being a large catalyst. The S&P 500 Energy Sector is up 18.0% year-to-date and far outpacing the 4.2% advance in the S&P 500.
The economy grew by 4% in the fourth quarter of 2020 as indicated by the first reading of GDP in 2021. This comes after growth of 33.4% in the third quarter.
Equities sold off sharply on Wednesday and finished the week slightly in the red. The S&P 500 was down 0.5% for the week. The NASDAQ outpaced small caps by 2.8% on early signs the growth outlook may not be as robust.
With the run-off elections in Georgia behind us and Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration completed; investors are left wondering what the impact will be on financial markets in the new environment of Democratic control of the federal government.
The holiday shopping season was weaker than expected. The December retail sales number shows a decline of 0.7% compared to the expected growth of 0.05%. The weakness came amid a resurgence in COVID-19 cases over the holidays.
Happy New Year to all of you! 2020 was certainly a year we will all remember for quite some time. Despite the difficulties of the past year, our team has continued to rise to the occasion, providing invaluable insights and top-notch investment management and client service during an unpredictable time.
Equities posted a strong week with broad strength across global markets. The S&P 500 advanced 1.7% but was outpaced by both the NASDAQ and Russell 2000. The NASDAQ gained 3.1% with small caps up 2.6%.
The Energy and Financials sectors have started off the new year on the right foot. The Energy sector is up 7.8% in the first three trading days of the year and the Financials sector is up 3.42%.