The holiday-shortened week was chock full of drama … all centered around both the market’s current mania (artificial intelligence) and the market’s favorite pandemic era mania (cryptocurrency). A strong third quarter earnings season, favorable inflation data and a moderation of long-term interest rates have all contributed to a stellar month for the stock market which is now within 5% of its all-time high, which was reached in December 2021. We will all be giving thanks if recent momentum continues into the end of the year.
Early Holiday Cheer
Further evidence of slowing inflation amid moderating retail sales lent additional credence to the economic soft landing narrative this week, exactly 18 months after the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates to combat high prices. Meanwhile, retailers book-ended third quarter earnings season in generally encouraging fashion, putting finishing touches on a surprisingly upbeat reporting period that now tallies positive revenue growth for the S&P 500 and over 6% earnings per share expansion.
Smoke on the Water
As the Western states struggle with wildfires and the Southeastern states get pounded by hurricanes, the stock market quietly made new highs. The S&P rallied this week 1.4 percent, closing in on the psychologically important 2,500. Conversely, bonds felt the swing into equities with rates on the 10-year U.S. Treasury rising 13 basis points to 2.20 percent.
No Respect for this Bull Market
The stock market was up for the week with the S&P 500 returning .20 percent. During the week, the S&P 500 climbed to an all-time high on Thursday. Bonds were higher in price and lower in yield with the 10-year Treasury moving from a