Markets Mixed; Jobs Back on Track
The Weekly Update
Week of December 9th, 2024
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®
Stocks were mixed during the first trading week of December. Technology stocks led, while the widely followed Dow Jones Industrial Average struggled.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index picked up 3.34 percent while the Dow Industrials lost 0.60 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 0.96 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, gained 1.46 percent.
Tech Takes Charge
The S&P and Nasdaq rallied to start the week, closing at record highs Monday and Tuesday. The Dow fell on both days. During a conference speech, Fed governor Christopher Waller said he supports a rate adjustment in December for now, which seemed to add momentum to the S&P’s and Nasdaq’s gains.
Tech shares continued to propel stock gains midweek on the strength of a few better-than-expected Q3 reports.
On Friday, the S&P and Nasdaq hit new record highs following …