Winthrop Partners Market and Economic Update 1-24-22

The Markets (as of market close January 21, 2022)
Volatility has engulfed the markets this month and is showing no signs of letting up, impacted by a more hawkish Federal Reserve stance, economic disruptions from Omicron, and risks to company profits due to rising costs. Fourth-quarter 2021 corporate earnings season has begun with uneven results so far. Inflation continues to hover over investors as they anticipate a bump in interest rates for the first time in three years, with the first increase likely coming in March. Demand for 10-year Treasuries has driven prices higher, sending yields lower for the first time in five weeks. With last week’s losses, both the Nasdaq and the Russell 2000 have declined nearly 12.0% in January. The Nasdaq is in correction territory, down over 10.0% from its November peak, hitting its lowest level since June 2021.
Wall Street continued its January swoon last Tuesday, falling lower to start the holiday-shortened trading week. The Nasdaq dropped 2.6%, recording its lowest close since October. The Russell 2000 fell 3.1%, the S&P 500 dipped 1.8%, the Dow declined 1.5%, and the Global Dow lost 1.1%. Investors continued to weigh the anticipated interest-rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, which meets this week. Ten-year Treasury yields jumped nine basis points to 1.86%. The dollar gained 0.5%. Crude oil prices rose to $85.89 per barrel. Among the market sectors, energy was the only gainer. Information technology (-2.5%), financials (-2.3%), and communication services (-2.0%) fell the most.
The slide continued for stocks last Wednesday. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here lost value. The Nasdaq extended losses, dropping more than 10.0% from a November high, falling into correction territory. The small caps of the Russell 2000 declined 1.5%, followed by the Nasdaq (-1.2%), the Dow and the S&P 500 (-1.0%), and the Global Dow (-0.8%). Ten-year Treasury yields dipped, despite projections that yields will cross the 2.0% threshold, possibly within the first six months of the year. The dollar also slipped lower. Crude oil prices continued to climb, reaching $86.50 per barrel. Consumer staples and utilities were the only market sectors to gain ground. Consumer discretionary and financials each fell 1.7%.
Higher-than-expected jobless claims didn’t help investor confidence, as equities dipped lower again last Thursday. Dip buyers sent stocks higher earlier in the day, but the rally did not last as each of the benchmark indexes listed here gave back any gains to close in the red. The Russell 2000 (-1.9%) led the declines, followed by the Nasdaq (-1.3%), the S&P 500 (-1.1%), the Dow (-0.9%), and the Global Dow (-0.3%). Crude oil prices moved slightly lower on Thursday, down 0.7% to around $86.29 per barrel. Ten-year Treasury yields and the dollar crept higher.  Stocks fell again last Friday, with tech shares leading the sell off following shaky corporate earnings data. The S&P 500, which slid 1.9%, closed below its 200-day moving average for the first time since 2020. The Nasdaq dropped 2.7% and the Russell 2000 lost 1.8%. The Dow (-1.3%) and the Global Dow (-1.6%) also ended the day in the red. Ten-year Treasury yields, the dollar, and crude oil prices also declined to end the week. Click here for the full article: Winthrop Partners’ Market and Economic Update 1-24-22