Weekly Market Update - Oct. 5, 2012
Domestic stock prices ended the week sharply higher, primarily as a result of today’s better-than-expected U.S. employment report. The S&P 500 reached a five-year high as investors became more optimistic about the growth outlook. The market was also buoyed by improving data on both manufacturing and non-manufacturing services. Global markets also rallied. World markets followed the lead of the U.S., gaining ground on the U.S. employment report. In addition, European investors were encouraged by the fact that the European Central Bank indicated that it is now ready to begin the bond-buying program it announced last month.
Treasury prices declined this week, and yields rose. Yields on the benchmark 10-year Treasury rose relatively sharply, as improvement in the unemployment rate may signal higher growth is ahead. Inflation expectations also heightened on the data.
Commodity indexes were mixed this week. Energy prices fell due to supplies exceeding demand. Gold and other precious metals advanced again as inflation expectations grow. Agricultural prices declined sharply.
| MARKET DASHBOARD | ||||
| Index |
Price |
Weekly Chg. |
% Chg. |
YTD % Chg. |
| S&P 500 |
1,458.63 |
24.97 |
1.7% |
16.5% |
| Dow Industrials |
13,610.15 |
194.37 |
1.4% |
11.6% |
| Nasdaq Composite |
3,136.19 |
37.88 |
1.2% |
21.1% |
| Russell 2000 |
842.86 |
12.41 |
1.5% |
14.7% |
| Euro Stoxx Index |
274.11 |
5.63 |
2.1% |
12.1% |
| Shanghai Composite |
2,086.17 |
59.48 |
2.9% |
-5.1% |
| 10-Year U.S. Treasury |
1.73 |
8 bps |
NM |
-2 bps |
| DJ UBS Commodity Index |
147.79 |
-0.80 |
-0.5% |
5.0% |
| Gold |
$1,781.44 |
$9.80 |
0.6% |
13.9% |
| Crude Oil |
$89.96 |
-$2.91 |
-3.2% |
-9.2% |
| U.S. Dollar Index |
79.37 |
-0.73 |
-0.9% |
-1.2% |
| VIX Index |
14.64 |
-1.32 |
-8.4% |
-38.4% |
| Source: Bloomberg | ||||
| As of October 5, 2012 | ||||