Stocks moved higher last week, continuing to build on the momentum generated after the Federal Reserve decided to cut short-term rates by 0.50 percent.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.59 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.95 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.62 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, gained an eye-catching 3.53 percent.1,2
Congress Passes Spending Bill
Stocks started the week tepidly but in the green, as investors mostly shrugged off Tuesday’s weak consumer confidence report. Then, at midweek, markets put on the brakes as investors appeared to take profits after a four-day winning streak.3,4
On Thursday, markets rallied on news that the final Q2 gross domestic product estimate showed the economy increased at an annual rate of 3.0 percent. Then Friday, the PCE, or Personal Consumption and Expenditures Index, showed inflation had cooled slightly more than expected in August, which some believe may influence the Fed’s decisions on short-term rates at its November meeting.5
Finally, a continuing resolution was passed by both houses of Congress last week and signed by President Biden Friday morning, assuaging concerns over a government shutdown. The resolution funds the government until December 20.6
China’s Stimulus Package
This week, the head-turning performance came from outside the U.S.
As measured by the MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australia, and Far East) Index, international stocks rose more than 3 percent following news of China’s stimulus package, which could be as much as 2 trillion yuan, or $284 billion. China’s program also cut banks’ reserve requirements and lowered a key short-term interest rate.
While the EAFE Index doesn’t track stocks from Mainland China, the stimulus package had far-reaching implications for other countries.7,8
Footnotes and Sources
- The Wall Street Journal, September 27, 2024
- Investing.com, September 27, 2024
- CNBC.com, September 24, 2024
- CNBC.com, September 25, 2024
- BEA.gov, September 26, 2024
- The Wall Street Journal, September 22, 2024 OR
The Hill, September 25, 2024 - The Wall Street Journal, September 27, 2024
- The Wall Street Journal, September 27, 2023
