Week of May. 2 through May. 6, 2022 The S&P 500 index slipped by 0.2% last week as sharp daily gains and losses almost canceled each other out in a week that included the largest federal funds rate increase since 2000. The market benchmark ended Friday's session at 4,123.34, down from last Friday's closing level of 4,131.93. Last week's move came as the market began May searching for direction following a tough April in which the S&P 500 fell by 8.8%. April's loss marked the S&P 500's third monthly decline out of the first four months of 2022; only March has had a gain so far last year. The S&P 500 is now down 13% for the year to date. Over the first three days of the week, the S&P 500 climbed 4.1%. Much of that climb came Wednesday as the index jumped 3% amid signals from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell that while the central bank's policy-setting committee was raising its benchmark federal-funds rate by half a percentage point -- the largest such increase since 2000 -- it isn't "actively considering" a larger increase for an upcoming meeting. Still, the positive Wednesday reaction was wiped out Thursday as the S&P 500 slid 3.6% amid questions and concerns over the potential impacts of the higher rate environment. While upcoming rate increases may be smaller than previously feared, investors are still uneasy about rates rising as much as they are. The S&P 500 continued to decline Friday, even as the Labor Department reported nonfarm payrolls rose by 428,000, more than the 380,000 jobs increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. The unemployment rate held steady at 3.6%, compared with a 3.5% rate expected, while the labor force participation rate fell to 62.2% from 62.4% in the previous month as the size of the labor force contracted. By sector, real estate had the largest percentage drop of the week, down 3.8%, followed by a 3.4% drop in consumer discretionary and a 1.3% slip in consumer staples. Other decliners included technology, materials and health care, down by less than 1% each. The energy sector had the largest percentage increase of the week as it jumped 10%, but the other sectors in the black were up by a much smaller amount: Utilities climbed 1.2%, communication services rose 1.1%, financials gained 0.6% and industrials edged up 0.3%. The real estate sector's decliners included Public Storage (PSA), which reported Q1 core funds from operations above analysts' mean estimate but missed analysts' expectations for the quarter's revenue. Shares of the real estate investment trust that focuses on self-storage facilities fell 9.3% on the week. In consumer discretionary, shares of Expedia (EXPE) fell 24%. The online travel company reported a slightly narrower Q1 adjusted loss than analysts expected but revenue slightly missed the Street view while analysts noted the company is grappling with rising inflation and geopolitical concerns. The energy sector's advance came as futures in crude oil and natural gas climbed amid a proposal by the European Union to phase out imports of Russian crude over the next six months. Among the energy gainers, shares of Devon Energy (DVN) climbed 20% last week as the oil and gas producer reported Q1 core earnings and revenue above year-earlier results and analysts' mean estimates. The company also boosted its fixed-plus-variable quarterly dividend by 27% and expanded its stock buyback plan by 25%. Next week's earnings calendar features companies such as Tyson Foods (TSN), Simon Property Group (SPG), Hyatt Hotels (H), Wendy's (WEN) and Walt Disney (DIS). On the economic calendar, inflation data will be in focus, with the April consumer price index due Wednesday and the April producer price index due Thursday. Other data expected next week include March wholesale inventories on Monday and University of Michigan consumer sentiment for May on Friday.
Provided by MT Newswires
The information contained in this message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the Quantum Private Wealth clients. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail, and delete the original message. Please remember to contact Quantum Private Wealth, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you want to impose, add, modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services, or if you wish to direct that Quantum Private Wealth effect any specific transactions for your account. Please be advised that there can be no assurance that any email request will be reviewed and/or acted upon on the day it is received-please be guided accordingly. A copy of our current written disclosure statement discussing our advisory services and fees continues to remain available for your review upon request.
Securities offered through Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Member FINRA/SIPC Headquartered at 80 State Street, Albany, NY 12207. Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Quantum Private Wealth are not affiliated companies.