U.S. stocks bounced back after Wednesday's decline. However, regional banks are down following New York Community Bancorp's dismal results. Initial jobless claims for the week ending January 27 were 224,000, up 9,000 from the previous week's revised level. Ongoing unemployment was 1,898,000, an increase of 70,000 from the previous weeks revised 1,833,000. The Dow rose 0.1%, the S&P 500 was up 0.3% and the Nasdaq gained 0.4%. Crude oil traded above $76 per barrel, while gold rose $7.50 to trade near $2075 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Friday morning following strong earnings from Amazon and generally positive inflation data. The Commerce Department said that its personal consumption expenditures price index, or PCE, rose 3.4% from the prior year in September, in line with the revised reading for August and the Bloomberg consensus forecast. Excluding food and energy prices, the core PCE, the Fed's preferred measure of inflation, rose 3.7%, down slightly from 3.8% in August and also in line with consensus. The Dow fell 0.4%, the S&P rose 0.2%, and the Nasdaq rose 1.1%. Crude oil rose to $84 per barrel, while gold fell $5 to $1992 per ounce.

We?ve gone through hundreds of stock charts, and things remain ugly for the majority of issues on the NYSE and the S&P 500 (SPX). For the Nasdaq 100, a good number of stocks are in at least short-term downtrends, but the charts generally are in better condition than those for the NYSE and SPX.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

Stocks rallied on Friday morning following new signs of moderating inflation. The Commerce Department said that its personal consumption expenditures price index (PCE) rose 3.0% on an annualized basis in June, down from 3.8% in May and the smallest increase since March 2021. Excluding food and energy costs, the core PCE rose 4.1% from the prior year, down from 4.6% growth in May and slightly below the Reuters consensus forecast of 4.2%. Growth in labor costs also slowed. The Labor Department said that its employment cost index rose 4.5% on an annualized basis in 2Q, down from 4.8% growth in the first quarter. The Dow rose 0.5%, the S&P 0.8%, and the Nasdaq 1.5%. Crude oil fell slightly to $80 per barrel, while gold traded near $1959 per ounce.

Stocks rallied on Friday morning following new signs of moderating inflation. The Commerce Department said that its personal consumption expenditures price index (PCE) rose 3.0% on an annualized basis in June, down from 3.8% in May and the smallest increase since March 2021. Excluding food and energy costs, the core PCE rose 4.1% from the prior year, down from 4.6% growth in May and slightly below the Reuters consensus forecast of 4.2%. Growth in labor costs also slowed. The Labor Department said that its employment cost index rose 4.5% on an annualized basis in 2Q, down from 4.8% growth in the first quarter. The Dow rose 0.5%, the S&P 0.8%, and the Nasdaq 1.5%. Crude oil fell slightly to $80 per barrel, while gold traded near $1959 per ounce.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

Stocks finished mostly lower on Thursday amid more signs of weakness at regional banks, continued debt ceiling concerns, and new inflation and employment data. The Labor Department's producer price index showed progress against inflation, as prices rose at a slower annual rate in April. First-time claims for state unemployment benefits also rose from the prior week, pointing to a tighter labor market. On the earnings front, Disney shares dropped nearly 9% after the company reported disappointing earnings and a decline in Disney+ subscribers. The Dow fell 0.66%, the S&P fell 0.17%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.18%. Crude oil traded near $71.50 per barrel, while gold fell $17 to $2021 per ounce.

Stocks rose strongly on Thursday as investors weighed more 4Q earnings reports and new GDP and employment data. The Commerce Department said that the U.S. economy expanded at a 2.9% rate in 4Q, helped by significant growth in inventories. The reading was above the consensus estimate of 2.6% growth, though down from 3.2% in the third quarter. On the employment front, first-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell by 6,000 to 186,000 for the week ended January 14. The Dow rose 0.61%, the S&P 1.10%, and the Nasdaq 1.76%. Crude oil traded near $81 per barrel, while gold fell to $1930 per ounce.

The Portfolio Selector features the Argus Focus List, a group of 30 "best idea" stocks generated and regularly updated by Argus' analysts and investment policy committee. It also includes the director of research’s monthly investment strategy column, stock recommendations and sector picks, economic forecasts, and an asset allocation model. This month, the Focus List additions are NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI); Equinix Inc (EQIX); HubSpot Inc (HUBS); Honeywell International Inc (HON) and the Focus List deletions are Flex Ltd (FLEX); Host Hotels & Resorts Inc (HST); AECOM (ACM); Splunk Inc (SPLK).

The Portfolio Selector features the Argus Focus List, a group of 30 "best idea" stocks generated and regularly updated by Argus' analysts and investment policy committee. It also includes the director of research’s monthly investment strategy column, stock recommendations and sector picks, economic forecasts, and an asset allocation model. This month, the Focus List additions are NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI); Equinix Inc (EQIX); HubSpot Inc (HUBS); Honeywell International Inc (HON) and the Focus List deletions are Flex Ltd (FLEX); Host Hotels & Resorts Inc (HST); AECOM (ACM); Splunk Inc (SPLK).

Stocks were mixed on Thursday morning following more 3Q earnings reports and new economic data. The Commerce Department, in its advance estimate, said that U.S. GDP rose at a 2.6% annualized rate in 3Q, up from a 0.6% decline in 2Q and above the Reuters consensus forecast of 2.4% growth. The strong reading was driven by growth in net exports, while consumer spending slowed. Meta shares plunged 22% on concerns about declining advertising revenue and heavy investment spending on the company's metaverse initiative, while McDonald's rose 4% following stronger-than-expected earnings and same-store sales. The Dow rose 1.4%, the S&P rose 0.3%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.5%. Crude oil traded near $89 per barrel, while gold fell slightly to $1665 per ounce.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The S&P 500 ran into key resistance recently at the 4,175 region and, so far, the pause looks like it could be a bull flag. The index has come a long way, so we will give the bulls the benefit of the doubt in the short term. Of course, a break of the flag to the upside would bring the next piece of resistance into view at 4,225, which is a 50% retracement of the bear market.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

Argus has published its latest Portfolio Selector, which features its popular Focus List. Each month, Director of Research Jim Kelleher, CFA, surveys the team of Argus Research industry analysts for their timeliest recommendations out of the company's fundamental universe of approximately 500 stocks. The Focus List typically includes 30 stocks: turnover is high, as Director of Research Kelleher typically adds three or four new stocks per month. Below are the latest additions, all of which are rated BUY at Argus Research.

The Portfolio Selector features the Argus Focus List, a group of 30 "best idea" stocks generated and regularly updated by Argus' analysts and investment policy committee. It also includes the director of research’s monthly investment strategy column, stock recommendations and sector picks, economic forecasts, and an asset allocation model. This month, the Focus List additions are SVB Financial Group (SIVB); Splunk Inc (SPLK); Flex Ltd (FLEX); TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX) and the Focus List deletions are Discover Financial Services (DFS); NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI); Target Corp (TGT); Sempra Energy (SRE); Cloudflare Inc (NET).

The Portfolio Selector features the Argus Focus List, a group of 30 "best idea" stocks generated and regularly updated by Argus' analysts and investment policy committee. It also includes the director of research’s monthly investment strategy column, stock recommendations and sector picks, economic forecasts, and an asset allocation model. This month, the Focus List additions are SVB Financial Group (SIVB); Splunk Inc (SPLK); Flex Ltd (FLEX); TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX) and the Focus List deletions are Discover Financial Services (DFS); NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI); Target Corp (TGT); Sempra Energy (SRE); Cloudflare Inc (NET).

Sentiment is increasingly bearish, from market professionals to small investors. The five-day CBOE equity-only put/call (P/C) jumped to 0.76 on May 12, the highest reading since the correction started. The good news, though, is that it is not near prior peaks during corrections/bear markets (when it has reached 0.85 to over 1.00). The smallest option traders spent 30% or more of their volume buying put options to open. They also spent more on put premiums than on call premiums. Both measures are very rare -- and most times when this happens, the market is higher over the next year.

Stocks plunged on Thursday amid weak earnings and disappointing guidance from Facebook owner Meta Platforms, which warned of increased competition and a substantial revenue hit from Apple's new advertising tracking policy. FB shares fell more than 26%. On the employment front, first-time jobless claims fell to 238,000 for the week ended January 29, down from 261,000 a week earlier and below the consensus forecast of 245,000. Continuing claims fell to 1.628 million, down from the prior week but slightly above consensus. The Dow fell 1.45%, the S&P 2.44%, and the Nasdaq 3.74%. Crude oil traded near $90 per barrel, while gold rose $2 to $1806 per ounce.

With major stock indices dancing around all-time highs (seemingly the result of a so-far solid earnings season), the volume of insider transactions is predictably low (also the result of earnings season, with associated trading restrictions). That said, the current low transaction volume is particularly low. Indeed, it is now six consecutive weeks that Vickers' Stock Research has processed fewer than 1,000 weekly insider trades that met the criteria for inclusion in the Weekly Insider Report. The last time we saw such a run was back in September of 2020. One can argue that insiders then and now were/are biding their time, with no sense of urgency to sell stocks but also no great reason to buy shares at lofty levels.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The stock market was up slightly last week, owing its success to a positive jobs Friday report and solid earnings throughout. Tech stocks modestly outperformed blue chips. During Friday's session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 144 points, or 0.41%. The S&P 500 was up 0.17%, and the Nasdaq Composite was down 0.40%. For the week, the DJIA was up 273 points, or 0.78%, the S&P 500 was up 0.94%, and the Nasdaq Composite was up 1.11%. Year-to-date, the DJIA is up 15.04%, the S&P 500 is up 18.12%, and the Nasdaq Composite is up 15.11%.

Stocks were mixed on Monday morning, with strong gains in the Consumer Staples, Industrial, and Utility sectors and losses in Technology and Communication Services. Marriott shares fell 3% after the company posted lower-than-expected 1Q earnings, reflecting weak bookings in its core U.S. market. Tyson shares also fell, despite better-than-expected fiscal 2Q results, after management warned that rising costs would weigh on margins in the second half of the year. The Dow rose 0.8%, the S&P was flat, and the Nasdaq fell 1.4%. Crude oil traded near $64.50 per barrel, while gold rose $9 to $1839 per ounce.

Stocks sold off last week, due in part to frenzied trading in certain corners of the market, along with FOMC commentary that highlighted a slowing recovery. The general public took special note of this week's equity market drama, with Google search interest for 'stock market' at its highest levels since March 2020. Blue-chips fared slightly better than tech stocks during the slide. On Friday, The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 621 points, or 2.03%. The S&P 500 was down 1.93% and the Nasdaq Composite was down 2.00%. For the week, the DJIA fell 3.27%, the S&P 500 dropped 3.31%, and the Nasdaq Composite sunk 3.49%.

Stocks rose strongly on Tuesday morning as American voters went to the polls and waited anxiously for the first returns this evening. Despite substantial uncertainty about the counting of mail-in ballots, tightening polls in several swing states, and control of the Senate, the rally suggested that investors were betting on a clear victory for Joe Biden and Senate Democrats, and on the economic boost that would come from a strong fiscal stimulus package. The Dow rose 2.5%, the S&P 2.3%, and the Nasdaq 2.1%. Crude oil traded near $38 per barrel, while gold rose $15 to $1908 per ounce.

Stocks rose strongly on Monday morning following positive manufacturing data as fiscal stimulus negotiations continued in Washington. The Institute for Supply Management said that its national factory index rose to 54.2 in July, up from 52.6 in June and above the Reuters consensus forecast of 53.6. The Dow rose 0.9%, the S&P 0.8%, and the Nasdaq 1.4%. Crude oil traded near $41 per barrel, while gold rose slightly to $1987 per ounce.

Stocks rose strongly on Monday morning following positive manufacturing data as fiscal stimulus negotiations continued in Washington. The Institute for Supply Management said that its national factory index rose to 54.2 in July, up from 52.6 in June and above the Reuters consensus forecast of 53.6. The Dow rose 0.9%, the S&P 0.8%, and the Nasdaq 1.4%. Crude oil traded near $41 per barrel, while gold rose slightly to $1987 per ounce.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are capitalization-weighted, while the DJIA is price-weighted. That did not matter much for years. The Dow is supposed to represent the U.S.A.'s mightiest companies. But the DJIA can no longer accommodate stocks that not only carry massive market caps, but also trade at very high stock prices. GOOG and AMZN, among others, lift the Nasdaq, while the DJIA is left behind with its roster of old-line names. Situated between the high-flying Nasdaq and the stodgy Dow, the S&P 500 is a better representation of the U.S. stock market.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are capitalization-weighted, while the DJIA is price-weighted. That did not matter much for years. The Dow is supposed to represent the U.S.A.'s mightiest companies. But the DJIA can no longer accommodate stocks that not only carry massive market caps, but also trade at very high stock prices. GOOG and AMZN, among others, lift the Nasdaq, while the DJIA is left behind with its roster of old-line names. Situated between the high-flying Nasdaq and the stodgy Dow, the S&P 500 is a better representation of the U.S. stock market.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are capitalization-weighted, while the DJIA is price-weighted. That did not matter much for years. The Dow is supposed to represent the U.S.A.'s mightiest companies. But the DJIA can no longer accommodate stocks that not only carry massive market caps, but also trade at very high stock prices. GOOG and AMZN, among others, lift the Nasdaq, while the DJIA is left behind with its roster of old-line names. Situated between the high-flying Nasdaq and the stodgy Dow, the S&P 500 is a better representation of the U.S. stock market.

There's a theme to our weekly review of insider trading activity, and that theme is 'benign.' That's a bit of a surprise, coming on the heels of a trading day on January 31 that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall by more than 600 points as investors (and the world at large) got more than just a little spooked by the latest news about the coronavirus. But 'benign' it is from our insider friends, and here are the numbers.

There's a theme to our weekly review of insider trading activity, and that theme is 'benign.' That's a bit of a surprise, coming on the heels of a trading day on January 31 that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall by more than 600 points as investors (and the world at large) got more than just a little spooked by the latest news about the coronavirus. But 'benign' it is from our insider friends, and here are the numbers.

So much for any benefits from the January effect. The S&P 500 closed January at 3,224.11, a bit more than six points below where it ended 2019, at 3,230.76. The January effect states that a positive performance in the first month portends a positive performance for the full year. Market bulls will need to seek their solace somewhere else than the calendar.

So much for any benefits from the January effect. The S&P 500 closed January at 3,224.11, a bit more than six points below where it ended 2019, at 3,230.76. The January effect states that a positive performance in the first month portends a positive performance for the full year. Market bulls will need to seek their solace somewhere else than the calendar.

Stocks rose strongly on Monday morning following positive manufacturing data as fiscal stimulus negotiations continued in Washington. The Institute for Supply Management said that its national factory index rose to 54.2 in July, up from 52.6 in June and above the Reuters consensus forecast of 53.6. The Dow rose 0.9%, the S&P 0.8%, and the Nasdaq 1.4%. Crude oil traded near $41 per barrel, while gold rose slightly to $1987 per ounce.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are capitalization-weighted, while the DJIA is price-weighted. That did not matter much for years. The Dow is supposed to represent the U.S.A.'s mightiest companies. But the DJIA can no longer accommodate stocks that not only carry massive market caps, but also trade at very high stock prices. GOOG and AMZN, among others, lift the Nasdaq, while the DJIA is left behind with its roster of old-line names. Situated between the high-flying Nasdaq and the stodgy Dow, the S&P 500 is a better representation of the U.S. stock market.

There's a theme to our weekly review of insider trading activity, and that theme is 'benign.' That's a bit of a surprise, coming on the heels of a trading day on January 31 that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall by more than 600 points as investors (and the world at large) got more than just a little spooked by the latest news about the coronavirus. But 'benign' it is from our insider friends, and here are the numbers.

So much for any benefits from the January effect. The S&P 500 closed January at 3,224.11, a bit more than six points below where it ended 2019, at 3,230.76. The January effect states that a positive performance in the first month portends a positive performance for the full year. Market bulls will need to seek their solace somewhere else than the calendar.

The major indices are mixed at midday on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq trailing after Alphabet announced an earnings miss, sending the stock down 2%. Industries doing well today include Automobiles, Health Care Providers & Services, and Real Estate Management & Development. Industries showing weakness include Wireless Telecommunication Services, Construction Materials, and Interactive Media & Services. The VIX is up 0.21 to 13.32 after the previous close of 13.11. The Dow was flat, the S&P rose 0.1%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.3%. Crude oil fell slightly to about $55.50 per barrel, while gold traded near $1492 per ounce.

The major indices are mixed at midday on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq trailing after Alphabet announced an earnings miss, sending the stock down 2%. Industries doing well today include Automobiles, Health Care Providers & Services, and Real Estate Management & Development. Industries showing weakness include Wireless Telecommunication Services, Construction Materials, and Interactive Media & Services. The VIX is up 0.21 to 13.32 after the previous close of 13.11. The Dow was flat, the S&P rose 0.1%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.3%. Crude oil fell slightly to about $55.50 per barrel, while gold traded near $1492 per ounce.

Stocks rose on Friday, aided by favorable earnings announcements, particularly from Technology companies, and a better-than-expected 2Q GDP report. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite added 1.1% and the S&P 500 rose 0.7%, with the latter two benchmarks hitting all-time highs. With no significant update on the trade front, second-quarter earnings again dominated the news flow last week. Generally favorable results provided a constructive backdrop for stocks, leading to rises of 0.1% for the Dow, 1.7% for the S&P 500 and 2.3% for the Nasdaq. Year-to-date gains improved to 16.6% for the Dow, 25.5% for the Nasdaq and 20.7% for the S&P 500.

Stocks rose on Friday, aided by favorable earnings announcements, particularly from Technology companies, and a better-than-expected 2Q GDP report. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite added 1.1% and the S&P 500 rose 0.7%, with the latter two benchmarks hitting all-time highs. With no significant update on the trade front, second-quarter earnings again dominated the news flow last week. Generally favorable results provided a constructive backdrop for stocks, leading to rises of 0.1% for the Dow, 1.7% for the S&P 500 and 2.3% for the Nasdaq. Year-to-date gains improved to 16.6% for the Dow, 25.5% for the Nasdaq and 20.7% for the S&P 500.

Stocks pared early losses on Wednesday morning as investors awaited what could be a decisive round of U.S.-China trade talks in Washington. If the two nations do not reach an agreement, President Trump has threatened to increase tariffs to 25% from 10% on $200 billion of Chinese goods. On the earnings front, videogame maker Electronic Arts rose 1.5% after posting better-than-expected sales and adjusted earnings in its fiscal fourth quarter. New York Times shares also rose strongly after the company posted higher 1Q earnings and an increase in digital subscriptions. The Dow and the S&P were flat, and the Nasdaq fell 0.1%. Crude oil rose more than 1% to $62 per barrel, while gold fell $4 to $1282 per ounce.

Stocks pared early losses on Wednesday morning as investors awaited what could be a decisive round of U.S.-China trade talks in Washington. If the two nations do not reach an agreement, President Trump has threatened to increase tariffs to 25% from 10% on $200 billion of Chinese goods. On the earnings front, videogame maker Electronic Arts rose 1.5% after posting better-than-expected sales and adjusted earnings in its fiscal fourth quarter. New York Times shares also rose strongly after the company posted higher 1Q earnings and an increase in digital subscriptions. The Dow and the S&P were flat, and the Nasdaq fell 0.1%. Crude oil rose more than 1% to $62 per barrel, while gold fell $4 to $1282 per ounce.

The strong January performance has been followed by an effectively flat early February. While the rally risks stalling, February 2019 is looking better so far than February 2018, when the S&P 500 dropped from 2,824 on 1/31/18 to 2,581 by 2/8/18. Last year, the world was getting used to the idea of tariffs. This year, hard deadlines are worrying investors. The government shutdown is set to resume on 2/15/19; and tariffs on Chinese imports are set to rise to 25% on 3/2/19.

The strong January performance has been followed by an effectively flat early February. While the rally risks stalling, February 2019 is looking better so far than February 2018, when the S&P 500 dropped from 2,824 on 1/31/18 to 2,581 by 2/8/18. Last year, the world was getting used to the idea of tariffs. This year, hard deadlines are worrying investors. The government shutdown is set to resume on 2/15/19; and tariffs on Chinese imports are set to rise to 25% on 3/2/19.

The strong January performance has been followed by an effectively flat early February. While the rally risks stalling, February 2019 is looking better so far than February 2018, when the S&P 500 dropped from 2,824 on 1/31/18 to 2,581 by 2/8/18. Last year, the world was getting used to the idea of tariffs. This year, hard deadlines are worrying investors. The government shutdown is set to resume on 2/15/19; and tariffs on Chinese imports are set to rise to 25% on 3/2/19.

Stocks moved mostly higher on Thursday afternoon as investors weighed another round of earnings reports and new employment and housing market data. The Commerce Department, catching up after the government shutdown, said that new home sales jumped a strong 16.9% to a seasonally adjusted 657,000 in November. On the employment front, the Labor Department reported that first-time unemployment claims rose by 53,000 to 253,000 for the week ended January 26, likely reflecting the impact of the shutdown. The Reuters consensus had projected a smaller increase to 215,000. The data came ahead of the government's January employment report on Friday morning. The current consensus calls for an increase of 165,000 jobs, down from 312,000 in December. The Dow fell 0.06%, the S&P rose 0.86%, and the Nasdaq rose 1.17%. Crude oil fell slightly to $54 per barrel, while gold rose $10 to $1,325 per ounce.

Stocks moved mostly higher on Thursday afternoon as investors weighed another round of earnings reports and new employment and housing market data. The Commerce Department, catching up after the government shutdown, said that new home sales jumped a strong 16.9% to a seasonally adjusted 657,000 in November. On the employment front, the Labor Department reported that first-time unemployment claims rose by 53,000 to 253,000 for the week ended January 26, likely reflecting the impact of the shutdown. The Reuters consensus had projected a smaller increase to 215,000. The data came ahead of the government's January employment report on Friday morning. The current consensus calls for an increase of 165,000 jobs, down from 312,000 in December. The Dow fell 0.06%, the S&P rose 0.86%, and the Nasdaq rose 1.17%. Crude oil fell slightly to $54 per barrel, while gold rose $10 to $1,325 per ounce.

Stocks rose on Friday, aided by favorable earnings announcements, particularly from Technology companies, and a better-than-expected 2Q GDP report. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite added 1.1% and the S&P 500 rose 0.7%, with the latter two benchmarks hitting all-time highs. With no significant update on the trade front, second-quarter earnings again dominated the news flow last week. Generally favorable results provided a constructive backdrop for stocks, leading to rises of 0.1% for the Dow, 1.7% for the S&P 500 and 2.3% for the Nasdaq. Year-to-date gains improved to 16.6% for the Dow, 25.5% for the Nasdaq and 20.7% for the S&P 500.

Stocks pared early losses on Wednesday morning as investors awaited what could be a decisive round of U.S.-China trade talks in Washington. If the two nations do not reach an agreement, President Trump has threatened to increase tariffs to 25% from 10% on $200 billion of Chinese goods. On the earnings front, videogame maker Electronic Arts rose 1.5% after posting better-than-expected sales and adjusted earnings in its fiscal fourth quarter. New York Times shares also rose strongly after the company posted higher 1Q earnings and an increase in digital subscriptions. The Dow and the S&P were flat, and the Nasdaq fell 0.1%. Crude oil rose more than 1% to $62 per barrel, while gold fell $4 to $1282 per ounce.

The strong January performance has been followed by an effectively flat early February. While the rally risks stalling, February 2019 is looking better so far than February 2018, when the S&P 500 dropped from 2,824 on 1/31/18 to 2,581 by 2/8/18. Last year, the world was getting used to the idea of tariffs. This year, hard deadlines are worrying investors. The government shutdown is set to resume on 2/15/19; and tariffs on Chinese imports are set to rise to 25% on 3/2/19.

The major indices are mixed at midday on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq trailing after Alphabet announced an earnings miss, sending the stock down 2%. Industries doing well today include Automobiles, Health Care Providers & Services, and Real Estate Management & Development. Industries showing weakness include Wireless Telecommunication Services, Construction Materials, and Interactive Media & Services. The VIX is up 0.21 to 13.32 after the previous close of 13.11. The Dow was flat, the S&P rose 0.1%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.3%. Crude oil fell slightly to about $55.50 per barrel, while gold traded near $1492 per ounce.

Volatility reigns in equity markets, with investors forced to react to a suddenly large (and seemingly growing) number of issues. Meanwhile, corporate executives, directors and beneficial owners are quietly going about their business -- and, in so doing, are making a very noticeable statement.

Volatility reigns in equity markets, with investors forced to react to a suddenly large (and seemingly growing) number of issues. Meanwhile, corporate executives, directors and beneficial owners are quietly going about their business -- and, in so doing, are making a very noticeable statement.

Volatility reigns in equity markets, with investors forced to react to a suddenly large (and seemingly growing) number of issues. Meanwhile, corporate executives, directors and beneficial owners are quietly going about their business -- and, in so doing, are making a very noticeable statement.