The Weekly Update
Week of December 16th, 2024
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®
Stocks finished the week mixed, bookending losses around midweek gains as investors digested fresh inflation data.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped 0.64 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index ticked up 0.34 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.82 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, slid 1.48 percent.
Up and Down Week
Stocks fell broadly over the first part of the week. Leading chipmakers who produce semiconductors for artificial intelligence applications were under pressure after Chinese regulators announced an antimonopoly investigation.
Investors breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday morning following news that consumer inflation in November was in line with expectations. Mega-cap tech stocks led the rally, with the Nasdaq closing above 20,000 for the first time. Meanwhile, the Dow fell as healthcare stocks came under pressure.
Stocks remained in the trading range for the rest of the week on mild concerns about Thursday’s warmer-than-expected wholesale inflation report and a spending slowdown among lower-income consumers. The Dow registered its worst losing streak since 2020.
Final Fed Meeting of 2024
The consumer price index ticked up to 2.7 percent on an annualized basis in November, as expected. The market’s rally following the news reflected investor relief that inflation met expectations and that the increase from the prior month was slight.
Those two factors may reinforce the belief that the Fed would follow through with the December rate adjustment, which it penciled in back in September. The bellwether inflation measure was the last critical data point before the Fed’s two-day meeting, scheduled to end on December 18.
This Week: Key Economic Data
Tuesday: Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Meeting Begins. Retail Sales. Industrial Production. Business Inventories.
Wednesday: Housing Starts and Permits. FOMC Announcement. Fed Chair Press Conference.
Thursday: Gross Domestic Product. Existing Home Sales. Weekly Jobless Claims.
Friday: Personal Income and Outlays. Consumer Sentiment.
Source: Investor’s Business Daily – Econoday economic calendar; December 10, 2024
The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision.
This Week: Companies Reporting Earnings
Wednesday: Micron Technology, Inc. (MU)
Thursday: NIKE, Inc. (NKE), Cintas Corporation (CTAS), FedEx Corporation (FDX), Paychex Inc. (PAYX)
Source: Zacks, December 10, 2024
Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.
