The Week on Wall Street
Stock prices pushed higher last week, as investors remained hyper-focused on any new developments with the U.S. trade negotiations with China.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average picked up 0.91%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 0.62%. The Nasdaq Composite index gained 0.93% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 2.28%.[1][2][3]
Trade Winds
For nearly two years, investors’ moods have seemed to swing with each twist in the ongoing trade saga between the U.S. and China. Last week was no different.
On Tuesday, stock prices fell sharply on concerns that U.S.-China trade tensions had escalated. The White House announced the addition of 28 new Chinese companies to its list of firms that are banned from doing business in the U.S. Later in the day, White House officials confirmed that they had implemented travel bans on selected Chinese officials.[4][5]
But prices bounced back Thursday and surged higher Friday on White House reports that suggested the trade talks between the two countries were “going really well.” Near the close Friday, the White House confirmed that the U.S. has come to a “very substantial phase one deal” with China.[6][7]
Quarterly Earnings
Investors may start to get a better glimpse into third-quarter earnings this week, as more than 150 companies are expected to report on their operations.[8]
As “earnings season” get underway, some attention may shift from the U.S.-China trade negotiations and toward company reports.
What’s Next
Some U.S. financial markets will be open, and some will be closed, on Monday, October 14, in observance of the federal holiday Columbus Day. The U.S. bonds markets and most banks will be closed. But the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ will be open for regular hours.
[1] www.wsj.com/market-data
[2] www.wsj.com/market-data
[3] quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices
[4] www.yahoo.com/news/1-u-imposes-visa-restrictions-195007427.html
[5] finance.yahoo.com/news/u-bans-travel-chinese-officials-185734111.html
[6] www.cnbc.com/2019/10/10/trump-says-china-trade-talks-are-going-very-well.html?&qsearchterm=really%20well%20trump
[7] www.cnbc.com/2019/10/11/trump-says-us-has-come-to-a-substantial-phase-one-deal-with-china.html
[8] www.zacks.com/earnings/earnings-calendar
