Weekly Market Update - January 18, 2012
Domestic stock prices rose modestly this week. Stock prices worked their way higher on generally positive earnings news and encouraging economic data from China. According to Bloomberg, about 72% of companies reporting quarterly earnings so far have beaten estimates. Global markets were also higher on the week. The positive news emanating from China, which reported better-than-expected GDP growth in the fourth quarter, helped lift world markets. It was the first time in two years China's growth had accelerated, and economists project further growth in 2013.
Treasury prices rose slightly this week. Yields on the benchmark 10-year Treasury ended the week slightly lower, as traders begin to calculate the prospects for a debt ceiling agreement by the deadline in mid- to late February. Prices were supported by concerns a deal may not materialize, but improving economic data suppressed gains.
Commodity indexes were sharply higher on the week. All three of the primary commodities complexes – energy, precious metals and agricultural commodities – surged on strong economic data, particularly the China GDP report.
| MARKET DASHBOARD | ||||
| Index |
Price |
Weekly Chg. |
% Chg. |
YTD % Chg. |
| S&P 500 |
1,485.00 |
11.25 |
0.8% |
4.0 % |
| Dow Industrials |
13,649.70 |
147.56 |
1.1% |
4.1% |
| Nasdaq Composite |
3,134.71 |
7.31 |
0.2% |
3.8% |
| Russell 2000 |
892.80 |
11.57 |
1.3% |
5.1% |
| Euro Stoxx Index |
287.03 |
-0.05 |
0.0% |
2.6% |
| Shanghai Composite |
2,317.07 |
74.07 |
3.3% |
2.1% |
| 10-Year U.S. Treasury |
1.84 |
-3 bps |
NM |
1 bps |
| DJ UBS Commodity Index |
141.48 |
2.93 |
2.1% |
1.7% |
| Gold |
$1,684..51 |
$21.35 |
1.3% |
0.5% |
| Crude Oil |
$95.55 |
$1.87 |
2.0% |
3.9% |
| U.S. Dollar Index |
80.03 |
0.48 |
0.6% |
0.3% |
| VIX Index |
12.32 |
-0.99 |
-7.4% |
-31.4% |
| Source: Bloomberg | ||||
| As of January 18, 2013 | ||||