The Markets (as of market close June 3, 2022)

Investors swallowed modest losses last week as the stock market served up another disappointing performance. Each of the major benchmark indexes lost value, with the S&P 500 declining 1.2%, the Nasdaq pulling back 1.0%, and the Dow falling 0.9%. The Global Dow fell 0.8% and the Russell 2000 dipped 0.3%. Strong employment data seems to support the Fed’s plan to raise the federal funds rate quickly to help fight inflation, leaving investors to fret about the impact on economic growth.

Last Tuesday, rising crude oil prices and bond yields pulled stocks lower to start the holiday-shortened week. The Dow slid 0.7%, the S&P 500 lost 0.6%, and the Nasdaq slipped 0.4%. The small caps of the Russell 2000 advanced 0.6%. Ten-year Treasury yields added 12 basis points to close at 2.82%. Crude oil prices fell marginally. The dollar inched higher, while gold prices continued to tumble.

Wall Street began June on a sour note with each of the major benchmark indexes declining. Last Wednesday, the Global Dow, the Nasdaq, and the S&P 500 lost nearly 0.8%, while the Dow and the Russell 2000 dropped 0.5%. Yields on 10-year Treasuries rose 9 basis points to 2.93%. Crude oil prices changed little from the prior day. The dollar and gold prices advanced.

Equities rebounded last Thursday, with dip buyers targeting reduced megacap stocks. The Nasdaq jumped 2.7%, followed by the Russell 2000 (2.3%), the S&P 500 (1.8%), the Dow (1.3%), and the Global Dow (0.9%). Crude oil prices advanced $2.12, rising to $117.38 per barrel. However, OPEC+ agreed to increase crude output in July and August to compensate for the drop in production due to sanctions placed on Russia. Ten-year Treasury yields dipped about 2 basis points to 2.91%. The dollar declined, while gold prices climbed higher for the second straight day.

Yet another decline in tech shares dragged down the equity market last Friday, with the Nasdaq falling 2.5% and the S&P 500 dropping 1.6%. The Dow (-1.0%), the Russell 2000 (-0.8%), and the Global Dow (-0.6%) also ended the day in the red. Ten-year Treasury yields ticked up to 2.95%. Crude oil prices and the dollar advanced, while gold prices retreated.

Eye on the Week Ahead

The Consumer Price Index for May is available this week. Consumer prices rose 0.3% in April and were up 8.3% from April 2021. However, price inflation may be slowing, as the April increase was much lower than March’s 1.2% jump.

Data sources: Economic: Based on data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (unemployment, inflation); U.S. Department of Commerce (GDP, corporate profits, retail sales, housing); S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Index (home prices); Institute for Supply Management (manufacturing/services). Performance: Based on data reported in WSJ Market Data Center (indexes); U.S. Treasury (Treasury yields); U.S. Energy Information Administration/Bloomberg.com Market Data (oil spot price, WTI, Cushing, OK); www.goldprice.org (spot gold/silver); Oanda/FX Street (currency exchange rates). News items are based on reports from multiple commonly available international news sources (i.e., wire services) and are independently verified when necessary with secondary sources such as government agencies, corporate press releases, or trade organizations. All information is based on sources deemed reliable, but no warranty or guarantee is made as to its accuracy or completeness. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed herein constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities, and should not be relied on as financial advice. Forecasts are based on current conditions, subject to change, and may not come to pass. U.S. Treasury securities are guaranteed by the federal government as to the timely payment of principal and interest. The principal value of Treasury securities and other bonds fluctuates with market conditions. Bonds are subject to inflation, interest-rate, and credit risks. As interest rates rise, bond prices typically fall. A bond sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any investing strategy will be successful.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a price-weighted index composed of 30 widely traded blue-chip U.S. common stocks. The S&P 500 is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 largest, publicly traded companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-value weighted index of all common stocks listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The Russell 2000 is a market-cap weighted index composed of 2,000 U.S. small-cap common stocks. The Global Dow is an equally weighted index of 150 widely traded blue-chip common stocks worldwide. The U.S. Dollar Index is a geometrically weighted index of the value of the U.S. dollar relative to six foreign currencies. Market indexes listed are unmanaged and are not available for direct investment.