financial preparedness Archives - Stuart Financial Group

Weekly Update: January 26, 2021- Optimism Stimulates Markets, SFG News and Events

Optimism Stimulates Markets

Anticipation of a new fiscal stimulus and improved vaccine distribution powered stocks to fresh record highs last week with technology stocks leading the way.p>

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.59%, while the Standard &
Poor’s 500 picked up 1.94%. The Nasdaq Composite index led, gaining
4.19% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed
overseas stock markets, rose by …p>

January 19, 2021- Market Insights, SFG News and Events

Market Insights

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.91% while the Standard & Poor’s
500 slid 1.48%. The Nasdaq Composite index stumbled 1.54% for the
week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock
markets…

Weekly Update: January 11, 2021-Markets Start 2021 on a High Plus SFG News and Events

Markets Start 2021 on a High

Shrugging off COVID-19 infections and the disruption at the Capitol on January 6, stocks powered higher to kick off a new year of trading.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.61%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 increased by 1.83%. The Nasdaq Composite index, which led throughout 2020, picked up 2.43%. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, rose 1.45%.

Fireworks to Start the New Year
Stocks got off to an inauspicious start amid the stuttering pace of vaccine distribution and concern that the economic recovery might take longer than anticipated. Uncertainty over the looming Senate runoff election in Georgia added to the broad retreat that marked the first day of 2021 trading.

From there markets turned higher, aided by firming oil prices with subsequent support provided by the Georgia Senate election results, which lifted hopes of additional fiscal stimulus. Stocks managed through political unrest mid-week, with banks, economically sensitive stocks, and technology shares leading the way.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose above 1% for the first time since March as investors fled bonds in anticipation of…

Weekly Update: January 4, 2021 – The Year in Review and SFG News

The Year in Review and SFG News

Stocks moved higher during a holiday-shortened week of trading, capping off a turbulent, but otherwise strong year for equity investors.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.35%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 increased by 1.43%. The Nasdaq Composite index, which led all year, added 0.65%. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, rose 2.02%.

The Year in Brief
The global pandemic disrupted economies, financial markets, and daily life in 2020. Households and businesses were put to the test during the toughest and grimmest years in decades. The winter brought a resolution to the U.S.-China tariff dispute, the Brexit referendum, and the first U.S. appearance of…

Weekly Update: December 21, 2020 – Vaccine Rollout Spurs Markets and SFG News

Vaccine Rollout Spurs Markets and SFG News

Stocks climbed higher amid the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and an improving outlook for a fiscal stimulus bill.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which has lagged all year, gained 0.44%. The Standard & Poor’s 500 picked up 1.25% while the Nasdaq Composite index surged 3.05%. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, rose 2.44%.

Stocks Climb Higher
In a week that celebrated the national rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine, market enthusiasm was tempered by worries of infection caseload and fresh economic lockdowns.
Investors turned their focus to the fiscal stimulus negotiations in Washington, D.C., with the hope that a relief bill may be the bridge that gets the economy over its near-term troubles until…

Weekly Update: December 14, 2020 – Cases Rise, Stocks Retreat and SFG News

Cases Rise, Stocks Retreat

Stocks retreated last week on rising COVID-19 infections and slow progress on an economic relief bill.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.57%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dropped 0.96%. The Nasdaq Composite index fell 0.69% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, declined 0.05%.

Stimulus Stalls, Stocks Stumble
The market grappled all week with worries over rising COVID-19 cases and the
economic restrictions that followed. Nevertheless, there were moments of optimism—
such as the starting of vaccinations in the U.K.— that drove markets to record highs.

But gains could not be sustained as an agreement on a fiscal stimulus bill remained
elusive and daily news regarding COVID-19 cases undermined investor sentiment.

Markets were also challenged by having to absorb a number of new and secondary
stock offerings last week, including two high-profile technology IPOs. The Energy sector
continued its…

Weekly Update: December 7, 2020 – “Is Stimulus Near?” and Upcoming SFG Events

“Is Stimulus Near?” and Upcoming SFG Events

Stocks marched higher last week on an improving outlook for the passage of a fiscal stimulus package.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.03%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 tacked on 1.67%. The Nasdaq Composite index gained 2.12% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, gained 0.78%.

A Record Week for Stocks
After opening the week with moderate losses amid rising COVID-19 infections, stocks turned higher as investor sentiment was buoyed by the resumption of fiscal stimulus negotiations. As lawmakers discussed various…

Weekly Update: November 30, 2020 – Dow Hits 30,000 and Upcoming SFG Events

Dow Hits 30,000 and Upcoming SFG Events

Stocks surged last week, ignited by another COVID-19 vaccine announcement, encouraging economic data, and the easing of political uncertainty.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.21%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 2.27%. The Nasdaq Composite index, which has led all year, gained 2.96%. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, climbed 1.54%.

Dow Breaks 30,000
For the third consecutive week, markets opened on Monday to yet another announcement of…

Weekly Update: November 23, 2020 – New Infections Increase Anxiety and Upcoming SFG Events

New Infections Increase Anxiety and Upcoming SFG Events

Despite news of another COVID-19 vaccine candidate, stocks were mixed amid investor anxiety over an increase in new infections and economic lockdowns.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.73%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined 0.77%. The Nasdaq Composite index rose 0.22% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, gained 1.42%.

Groundhog Week
The announcement of another potential COVID-19 vaccine ignited strong gains to begin the week. But, like the week that preceded it, the gains sparked by the vaccine news were eroded in the following days as worries over the…

Weekly Update: November 16, 2020 – Vaccine Triggers Rally and Upcoming SFG Events

Vaccine Triggers Rally and Upcoming SFG Events

News of a COVID-19 vaccine ignited a rally in economically sensitive stocks and a broad retreat in technology companies last week, though enthusiasm was tempered by reports of rising new infections and fresh lockdowns.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 4.08%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 2.16%. The Nasdaq Composite index fell 0.55% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, jumped 4.01%.

Vaccine Hopes
Reports of an effective COVID-19 vaccine sent stocks soaring on Monday as the end to economic uncertainty appeared to be in sight. Stocks that had been pummeled by economic lockdowns surged on the news, while the stay-at-home stocks suffered steep declines. Bond yields and oil prices both moved…

Table of Contents

Optimism Stimulates Markets

Table of Contents

Market Insights

Table of Contents

Markets Start 2021 on a High

Table of Contents

The Year in Review and SFG News

Table of Contents

Vaccine Rollout Spurs Markets and SFG News

Table of Contents

Cases Rise, Stocks Retreat

Table of Contents

“Is Stimulus Near?” and Upcoming SFG Events

Table of Contents

Dow Hits 30,000 and Upcoming SFG Events

Table of Contents

New Infections Increase Anxiety and Upcoming SFG Events

Table of Contents

Vaccine Triggers Rally and Upcoming SFG Events