Top Stocks in All 11 Stock Market Sectors

Here again is our wonderful nutshell list, courtesy of this week's U.S. News Invested, of all the best companies in all eleven market sectors. They've narrowed the list from 5,000 to 11. Happy hunting.  

Dow ends above 40,000 milestone, indexes notch up weekly gains

It was seesaw action all day with a particularly big dive right around 1:30 p.m. which then turned into a steep recovery around 2:30 p.m. Because the Nasdaq and S&P were already so far in the red, even the steep recovery only put them near break-even. But the Dow had a glorious day closing up 134 points.  The big news was that by a big 3-1/2 points, the Dow closed above the 40,000 milestone, another all-time high.  

Dow hits milestone 40,000 mark as rate-cut hopes fuel rally

All the indexes started out with a bang this morning, the Dow scaling almost 150 points and hitting the 40,000-mark around 11 a.m., then the whole market took a dive for the rest of the day with all three closing modestly in the red. Even though most of the day was in a decline, investors focused on the morning rally which still kept up hopes that inflation was on a downward path. 

Wall Street boasts record closes as inflation data fuels rate-cut bets

There was multiple good news on the inflation front today. The valued CPI data came in soft, April retail sales came in soft, consumer spending came in soft, a triple whammy all in one day, all pointing to a cooling economy which today’s expert points out as “clear evidence that the economy came off the boil and is operating at a more sustainable pace.” It’s exactly what the market wanted as subsequently it also points to greater odds of a rate cut in both September and December. 

World stock index set for record high, dollar dips after PPI, Powell

Everything was humming along relatively flat until about 1:30, the lack of enthusiasm attributed to a hotter than expected PPI report. It must have been at 1:30 that Powell made his remarks opining that even though the PPI was bad inflation news, prior data had also been revised lower so, taken together, the consensus was “mixed,” not “hot.” That triggered a buying spree closing the Dow and Nasdaq out at low 3-digit gains. But the big report comes Wednesday with the CPI. Volume came in at 13.9 billion, not just above average for a change, but considerably above average. If the CPI report is pleasing, volume should go through the roof Wednesday. 

S&P 500 barely changes as investors hold tight ahead of inflation data

All the indexes opened the day higher, the Dow a nifty 130 points, then all slowly declined except the Nasdaq which continues to benefit by the continuing AI fever. But the bottom line is that consumer expectations over worsening inflation has put a damper on everything while everyone sits on the fence waiting for a slew of inflation reports this week including the CPI on Wednesday and later the PPI, retail sales, jobless claims and big retailer earnings. The CPI particularly has been the biggest market mover in the last three months. Prices are expected to have risen 3.6% annually.  Volume came in at 10.09 billion, still below the 10.79 billion average as the markets await more data. 

Exciting Bond Returns

Here is Part II of this weekend's inquiry into safe assets. This time it's all about the exciting new bond market.  Hope everyone had a great Mother's Day and a great weekend.  

5 of the Best Gold Stocks to Buy Now

This weekend's theme will be on safe assets. Today, it's all about gold ... 

Wall Street closes up, another weekly gain ahead of inflation data

The markets all started on a high, then took a dive immediately out the gate until about 11:30 when all three indexes started a recovery that went through close with the S&P and Nasdaq closing near flat, the Dow doing better with a respectable 3-digit gain. It might have been around that time that the Atlanta Fed prez made the statement acknowledging that the economy was slowing, though this was tempered by the Dallas Fed prez saying monetary policy might not yet be tight enough. 

Dow closes up to make it seven in a row, as jobs data boosts rate-cut hopes

It was another day straight up on all the indexes, the Dow up for a 7^th session in a row, as new claims for unemployment increased by 16,000 more than forecast and thus provided new optimism for rate cuts and today’s buying spree has brought the market to an almost full recovery from the recent downturn. The calming of the bond market has also helped boost stocks. Volume was 9.9 billion, same as yesterday, still below average. 

Stocks slip, dollar gains as market awaits inflation data

The Dow spent the whole day in the black, the S&P and Nasdaq on the other end. But all three took a jolt upwards at 1:30 which put the Dow nicely into 3-digits and the others near flat again. It was yet another “take-a-breath” day as concerns continue about inflation heating up and putting the brakes on rate cuts. The Boston Fed prez today saying the economy needs to continue to cool off didn’t help which is why all eyes now anxiously wait next Wednesday’s CPI data to see if we’re on course to reach the Fed’s 2% target. 

Wall St loses steam, dollar gains as investors mull rate cut timing

All three indexes were handsomely in the black until about 1:30, the Dow up some 125 points in the morning, then a dive in the afternoon to close near flat, the Nasdaq not so lucky going a little into the red. After four days of euphoria over Powell’s “unlikely” comment, this is being attributed to a “take a breath” day and profit-taking as the consensus remains that the Fed isn’t doing anything anytime soon.  

Global shares rally on rate cut hopes, yen weakens

The power of “unlikely.” That’s the singular word, actually spoken last Wednesday, that is responsible for the fourth consecutive day of furious buying as the markets become ever more hopeful over the potential for coming rate cuts. As today’s expert put it, “Powell told the market that a hike was unlikely. Those were his words – ‘unlikely’ – and they took that to mean that he wants to cut.” The inflation outlook is still uncertain but the market hopes rates are restrictive enough to slow the economy. It’s also hopeful that the ECB is more confident about rate cuts and believe euro zone inflation will reach their 2% target by mid-next year. Volume came in at 10 billion, still below the 4-week average. 

AAII: Reasons for Not Selling Stocks This May

Here is another contribution from this week's AAII.  All the cynics are insisting that the market is heading for a major correction.  This article argues that those selling now in anticipation of a downturn will be sorry.  Hope everyone had a great weekend.  

AAII: Winning the Battle Against Investment Fees and Biases

This brings back memories, all the time in our FastTrack study group ten years ago when we were talking about fees and biases in our transactions with our investment platforms.  Paul Merriman's article in this month AAII magazine, published this week, is all about it.  Enjoy.  

Wall St ends sharply higher, jobs data strengthens case for rate cuts

On the Dow it was a straight shot up 600 points right out the gate and took only a modest decline from there to end the session up 450.  The other indexes had similar sessions. It was a second day of “bad news = good news” as job growth slowed down, unemployment went up and wage growth cooled, in other words, very good news on the inflation front and very much raising expectations of a first rate cut come September. 

Wall Street ends higher as Fed signals dovish bias; jobs report eyed

It was a shot straight up on all the indexes from the outset and continuing until close, both the Dow and the Nasdaq respectably up 3-digits.  It was another day of ‘bad news = good news’ as a collection of new data including muted jobless claims, rising labor costs and a sharp deceleration in productivity showed weakening economic conditions which points toward earlier rate cuts. 

S&P 500, Nasdaq end lower after Fed rate decision, Powell press conference

Speak of a schizophrenic market, this was no seesaw action today but rather the battle of the bulge with all the indexes dancing near flat the entire session, then suddenly zooming way into the black from 2 pm to 3 pm, then just as suddenly back down until close. The Dow was up nearly 550 points by 3 pm before falling, the S&P and Nasdaq spending almost all day in the red except for from 2-3 pm.  How to explain this except that the market got exactly what it was expecting – no Fed rate change.