Weekly Market Insights | Pre-Holiday Optimism Lifts Markets

Stocks advanced last week, powering ahead with pre-holiday optimism despite geopolitical tensions and two disappointing Q3 corporate updates.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.68 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index gained 1.73 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average led, picking up 1.96 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, was flat (-0.05 percent).^1,2

Stock Push Ahead

Stocks showed mixed results during the first half of the week due to geopolitical tensions that boosted precious metals and put pressure on Treasury yields.³

The Dow Industrials jumped out in front midweek and never looked back. Disappointing earnings on Tuesday from a large box retailer held back some gains in the broader S&P 500. A mixed Q3 update report from the nation’s leading AI chipmaking company also tempered gains a bit.⁴

Year-end optimism, especially around consumers driving a healthy holiday shopping season, supported the rally for much of the week. Fresh data that weekly jobless claims dropped to a seven-month low also lifted spirits.^5,6

Small-Cap Focus

For several weeks, investors have favored small-cap names over larger-cap issues. This trend was again on display last week.

The Russell 2000, an index of 2,000 small-cap companies widely used as a benchmark for U.S. small-cap stocks, rose 4.50 percent for the five days of trading. In the month-to-date through November 22, the Russell is up nearly 9 percent.⁷

Footnotes and Sources

^{The Wall Street Journal, November 22, 2024}
^{Investing.com, November 22, 2024}
^{MarketWatch.com, November 19, 2024}
^{CNBC.com, November 20, 2024}
^{CNBC.com, November 21, 2024}
^{MarketWatch.com, November 21, 2024}
^{The Wall Street Journal, November 22, 2024}