3 Tips for Investors in a Government Shutdown

Of course, the really great news is that this article is already dated since, as of about 3 hours ago, the Congress approved a bill to avert the shutdown. Still, it's good to have this stuff for future reference. 

S&P 500 dips after US inflation data, ending weak third quarter

All three indexes opened well into the black but began an immediate decline such that by 1 pm all had slid into the red and kept sliding the rest of the day with a small glimmer of recovery in the final hour. The PCE numbers came in better than expected, in fact the lowest in two years, but still showing an elevated inflation picture. Today’s selling confirms that investors are finally waking up to “higher for longer” and the almost certain government shutdown come Sunday isn’t helping. For the month, all three indexes are down between 2.6 and 4.1%. Volume was a little above average at 11.3 billion but part of that was due to quadruple-witching from JP Morgan. 

Wall St ends higher as investors digest economic data ahead of inflation report

It was yet another seesaw today with the indexes up and down like crazy, but at least in positive territory, and the Dow up about 200 midday but then decline in the afternoon to close up 116.  A pause in Treasury yields has brought some relief and, as today’s expert put it, “A little bit of a counter trend rally is to be expected after three or four pretty sharply negative days.”  All are looking to Friday’s PCE report for an up-to-date picture on inflation with “growing anticipation that it won’t run hot.” Meanwhile, nerves are on edge over the increasing likelihood of a government shutdown. Volume was above the 4-week average at 10.7 billion. 

S&P 500 ekes out slim gain as investors weigh elevated yields

Wow, what a gargantuan sell off as investors continued to grapple with the new normal of high rates with all the indexes being down big time, the Dow in the red over 300 points.  That is, until about 1:30 when everything came back to almost break-even, excepting the Dow still down 68 at close, but that’s a lot better than down 320.  What happened at 1:30? A good guess per today’s expert, “At some point people will start to buy stocks for the fourth quarter, going to get back to thinking the fourth quarter might be a pretty good one.” If that’s the consensus that’s good news. It means the recent plunge has been an emotional one, not based on the data which is positive.  

Wall St pounded as investors grapple with higher rates

It was a big shot straight down today for all the indexes as investors continue to adjust their expectations given recent Fed remarks regarding continuing high rates. Today’s expert summed it up nicely, “We continue to adjust to higher interest rates, increasingly a sense that the market is overvalued, that this isn’t sustainable, buyers are being scared away.” The VIX closed at its highest level in four months. Triple digit losses all around with volume in line with recent averages at 10.2 billion. 

Wall Street posts gains as investors eye rate outlook

It was a seesaw day with all the indexes down in the morning but then building to modest gains by close. This illustrates the “tug of war between investors seemingly getting more concerned about ‘higher for longer’ and bulls wondering maybe we have seen the correction and can start to build from these levels higher.” There’s a lot of fence sitting going with investors waiting for data this week on durable goods, PCE and Q2 GDP. And still another Fed prez said today that fighting inflation to the 2% goal is less risky than slowing the economy. Though the S&P has slid more than 5% since late July, it is still up 13% for the year. Volume remains below average at 9.1 billion. 

7 Best Energy Dividend Stocks to Buy

Continuing on this weekend's theme of investing for income ...