July 27th, 2020
THE WEEK ON WALL STREET
Stocks slipped in the final days of trading last week on higher jobless claims and rising tensions in the U.S.-China relationship.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.76%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dipped 0.28%. The Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 1.33% for the week. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed stock markets overseas, rose 1.24%.1,2,3
Stocks Lose Momentum
Stocks marched higher to begin the week on progress with a COVID-19 vaccine and a string of upbeat corporate quarterly reports. Firming oil prices and the passage of a fiscal stimulus bill by the European Union also helped buoy investors’ spirits.
Market sentiment, however, turned negative after Thursday morning’s report of an uptick in new unemployment claims, which suggested a possible slowdown in hiring. The market was led lower by the technology sector ahead of quarterly reports from some of the sector’s biggest names.4
U.S.-China Tensions Escalate
Tensions escalated last week as the U.S. ordered China to close its consulate in Houston, which the White House claimed was stealing American information. A day earlier, the U.S. had accused China of attempting to steal COVID-19 research data. China responded by ordering the U.S. to close its consulate in the city of Chengdu.5,6
The markets appear more focused on the apparent deteriorating relations between the two nations, worried about a repeat of the trade battle in 2018. Whether the rancor is managed is likely to remain a top concern for investors in the weeks ahead.
Tip of the Week
Periodically review and/or rebalance your portfolio, to see that your investments are in sync with your objectives.
THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA
Monday: Durable Goods Orders.
Wednesday: Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Meeting Announcement.
Thursday: Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Jobless Claims.
Friday: Consumer Sentiment.
Source: Econoday, July 24, 2020
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: Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Visa (V), Pfizer (PFE), McDonalds (MCD), 3M Company (MMM), eBay (EBAY), D.R. Horton (DHI).
Wednesday: Facebook (FB), Boeing (BA), Qualcomm (QCOM), PayPal (PYPL), General Motors (GM), Shopify (SHOP), Teladoc Health (TDOC).
Thursday: Apple (AAPL), Ford (F), Alphabet (GOOGL), Mastercard (MA), Procter & Gamble (PG), Eli Lilly (LLY), United Parcel Service (UPS).
Friday: AbbVie (ABBV), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Caterpillar (CAT), Merck (MRK), Chevron (CVX).
Source: Zacks, July 24, 2020
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.
Quote of the Week
“Imagination is the eye of the soul.”
JOSEPH JOUBERT
Riddle of the Week
How many 9s are in the range of numbers from 1 to 100? (Remember, the number 99 has two 9s in it.)
LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: Is there a way that you can make the number seven even?
ANSWER: Take away the S, and seven becomes even.
Valley Oak Wealth Management can be reached at 415.898.4439 info@valleyoakwm.com or ValleyOakWM.com
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Tim Russell is a Wealth Advisor with, and securities offered through, LPL Financial member FINRA/SIPC
This material does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. The information herein has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All market indices discussed are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Indices do not incur management fees, costs and expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. MarketingPro, Inc. is not affiliated with any person or firm that may be providing this information to you. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.
CITATIONS:
- The Wall Street Journal, July 24, 2020
- The Wall Street Journal, July 24, 2020
- The Wall Street Journal, July 24, 2020
- NYTimes.com, July 23, 2020
- CBSnews.com, July 22, 2020
- APNews.com, July 24, 2020
- CNBC, July 22, 2020
CHART CITATIONS:
The Wall Street Journal, July 24, 2020
The Wall Street Journal, July 24, 2020
treasury.gov, July 24, 2020