Stocks advanced last week despite mixed inflation data, lurching oil prices, and lingering anxiety about the Middle East.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.11 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.13 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average picked up 1.21 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 0.23 percent.1,2
Up And Down Week
Stocks slipped on Monday as oil continued to rise but moved higher on Tuesday as the technology sector showed the way. Oil prices fell back as investors took a wait-and-see stance concerning Middle East tensions.3
The S&P 500 and Dow Industrials hit fresh record highs on Wednesday but dipped Thursday morning after the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data showed inflation was warmer than expected.4,5
Earnings season kicked off Friday, and update reports from a few money center banks injected some enthusiasm into markets. Also, the Producer Price Index (PPI) report showed wholesale prices stayed flat last month, a welcomed update for investors. All three averages closed higher for the fifth consecutive week.6
Inflation Moves Markets
Despite news that showed retail inflation continued to decelerate in September, anxious investors focused on the fact that CPI came in slightly warmer than economists expected for September. Meanwhile, Friday’s PPI reading came in slightly better than economists expected, adding a layer of complexity for the Fed as it evaluates the inflation story.7,8
Footnotes and Sources
- The Wall Street Journal, October 11, 2024
- Investing.com, October 11, 2024
- CNBC.com, October 8, 2024
- MarketWatch.com, October 9, 2024
- The Wall Street Journal, October 10, 2024
- The Wall Street Journal, October 10, 2024
- The Wall Street Journal, October 11, 2024
- MarketWatch.com, October 11, 2024
