Wall Street rises but ends well off day's highs amid renewed Middle East jitters

The Dow was up about 240 points until just before close when it dropped to 160 mostly on reports that there were no casualties in last night’s attacks by Iran in Iraq and that Tehran appeared to be standing down.  Still, celebration is premature as, after the bell, two more missiles were reported in Baghdad’s Green Zone.  As today’s expert said, “the market is going to react minute-by-minute” to the crisis.  Though global markets have been rattled, the good news is that, for the time being, war has been averted.  In economic good news, the S&P and Nasdaq both hit new intraday records and private payrolls jumped by more than 200,000 new jobs, well above forecast.  Volume was well above average at nearly 7.8 billion.  

Wall Street slips with investor focus on Middle East, but chipmakers climb

Caution on Iran sent the Dow down nearly 120 points in today’s session.  But then after the market closed there were the missile strikes on U.S. bases in Iraq in what Iran called a proportional response. So Wednesday will be critical with things either escalating or ending and the market responding accordingly.  Let’s hope there were no casualties.  Volume was in line with recent averages at 6.9 billion. 

Wall St ends up despite Middle East tensions as tech-related shares gain

The Dow dropped 240 points today before rebounding late in the session to close up 68.  This is being described in today’s commentary as “investors brushed asides worries” about Iran – but the hourly chart tells a different story.  At any rate, it’s premature to prognosticate about what this conflict may or may not do to the market.  It could be nothing. Or it could be very serious.  If Iran retaliates, it could be very serious indeed.  But as the commentary continues, “in the absence of any additional escalation, the market will end up shrugging its shoulders” and that is likely quite true.  But it’s a gigantic if.  Volume was above average at nearly 7.8 billion.  

Succinct Summation of Week’s Event 1.3.2020 (plus My Investing Resolutions for 2020, Part 1)

Below is the usual weekly summation, the positive (which according to 40% of those polled is really a negative bringing us much closer to war, the other 40 thinking it's saving us from war, the remaining 20 scratching their heads trying to figure out what the hell is going on) being the killing of the Iranian general, the negative that the China trade is not yet signed, thus remaining but an ephemeral hope.  The bonus this week courtesy of AAII is a list of Charles Rotblut's 11 investing resolutions for the year.  But as he states, these really have nothing to do with 2020 but rather just general sound investing advice, making this article another good concise primer.

S&P 500 snaps win streak as Middle East tensions push down Wall Street

I’m rushing off for the weekend so this’ll be shorter than usual.  The market has  been thrown into  a tizzy over the attack on Iraq and killing of the Iraqi general who was targeting Americans and the further threats of retaliation from the Middle East.  All told all three indexes took a substantial hit, the Dow down 233 points on above average volume of nearly 7.5 billion. 

Wall Street starts 2020 with new records on China stimulus, trade hopes

China’s move yesterday to reduce the reserves requirement for their banks was lauded by global markets as a major boost to equities which shot the Dow up a whopping 330 points registering it biggest gain in four weeks and putting the S&P at its 11^th record in three weeks and the Nasdaq its highest in three months.  The stimulus in China has bolstered optimism that 2020 will be a year of accelerated growth.  Volume was brisk at 7.6 billion. 

A Remarkable Year

For the New Year, I submit below a very comprehensive article from our friends at Heritage Capital Research about the remarkable 2019 proved to be for investors and some prognostications as to where we're heading for 2020.  Hope everyone had a great holiday!