In this week’s recap: Mixed feelings and mixed earnings.
Weekly Economic Update
February 13, 2023
THE WEEK ON WALL STREET
Stocks drifted lower as a week of mixed earnings reports and resurgent worries over Fed monetary policy dragged on investor sentiment.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.17%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined 1.11%. The Nasdaq Composite index lost 2.41%. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, dipped 0.30%.1,2,3
RALLY STALLS
Stocks struggled last week, weighed down by rising bond yields, a firming U.S. dollar, geopolitical tensions, and generally unimpressive corporate earnings reports. Perhaps the most consequential overhang was the potential direction of monetary policy.
Initially,
traders were relieved by comments made by Fed Chair Jerome Powell earlier in
the week that he had not struck a more aggressive tone following the strong
employment report released after the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)
meeting. The relief was short-lived, however, as anxieties over future monetary
policy resurfaced, exacerbated by comments by one Fed governor who suggested restrictive
monetary policy would be necessary for a few years to tamp down inflation.
POWELL REPEATS HIMSELF
Investors were particularly eager on Tuesday to hear Powell’s first comments following the strong employment report the previous Friday. The concern was that the surprise job number would change Powell’s outlook coming out of the last FOMC meeting.
Powell instead repeated his post-FOMC meeting remarks, which were that a disinflationary trend was underway, and there remained a distance to travel before the measures taken tamed inflation. The Fed would be data-dependent in making future rate decisions. Powell also pointed out that the robust job growth showed why it might take so long to reduce inflation to the Fed’s target level.4
T
I P O F T H E
W E E K
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THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA
Tuesday: Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Wednesday: Retail Sales.
Thursday: Jobless Claims. Producer Price Index (PPI). Housing Starts.
Friday: Index of Leading Economic Indicators.
Source: Econoday, February 10, 2023
The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision.
THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS
Tuesday: The CocaCola Company (KO), Zoetis, Inc. (ZTS), Marriott International, Inc. (MAR).
Wednesday: Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO), Shopify, Inc. (SHOP), Albemarle Corporation (ALB).
Thursday: Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT), The Southern Company (SO).
Friday: Deere & Company (DE).
Source: Zacks, February 10, 2023
Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.
Q U O T E O F T H E W E E K
“Thinking about what you can’t control only wastes energy and creates its own enemy.”
SANDY FRIES
T H E W E E K L Y R I D D L E
They have no bodies, but you could say they have tails and heads. What are they?
LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: What is the beginning of sorrow and the end of sickness? Something you cannot express happiness without? Something that is always in risk, but never in danger?
ANSWER: The letter “s.”
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Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost.
The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, may not materialize, and are subject to revision without notice.
The market indexes discussed are unmanaged, and generally, considered representative of their respective markets. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Indexes do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses. Individuals cannot directly invest in unmanaged indexes. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an unmanaged index that is generally considered representative of large-capitalization companies on the U.S. stock market. Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of technology and growth companies. The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) and serves as a benchmark of the performance of major international equity markets, as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. The S&P 500 Composite Index is an unmanaged group of securities that are considered to be representative of the stock market in general.
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CITATIONS:
1. The Wall Street Journal, February 10, 2023
2. The Wall Street Journal, February 10, 2023
3. The Wall Street Journal, February 10, 2023
4. The Wall Street Journal, February 7, 2023