Weekly Market Commentary: Boost Early in Week Keeps Markets Ahead

The Week on Wall Street

A powerful two-day stock rebound cemented a positive week for investors as a new trading month began.



The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.99%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 1.51%. The Nasdaq Composite index increased 0.73% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, gained 3.42%.1,2,3

Stocks Start Strongly

Stocks opened the week posting their best two-day rally since March 2020, as the U.K. prime minister’s decision to reverse a tax cut proposal that had upended financial markets the previous week lifted investors.4

Falling yields further lifted investor enthusiasm, as did new economic data indicating a cooling economy. Losses in the last two days erased much of the gains as concerns about higher rates and recession once again moved front and center. The selling pressure was due to a stream of hawkish comments by Fed officials and labor market data that suggested the Fed would likely stick with its rate-hike plans.

A Mixed Labor Picture

Employment-related reports offered conflicting signals on the state of the labor market. In a sign of cooling, the number of open jobs in August fell 10%, while a subsequent report from Automated Data Processing (ADP) showed continued labor market strength. ADP reported private employers added a higher-than-anticipated 208,000 jobs in September, and annual wages rose 7.8% from a year ago.5,6

Jobless claims rose to 219,000, up from the previous week’s 190,000 and in line with 2019’s average. September’s employment report showed that employers added 263,000 jobs–slightly lower than expectations. The combination of new hiring and lower labor force participation led to a drop in the unemployment rate to 3.5%.7,8

This Week: Key Economic Data

Wednesday: Producer Price Index (PPI). Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Meeting Minutes.
Thursday: Consumer Price Index (CPI). Jobless Claims.
Friday: Retail Sales.

Source: Econoday, October 7, 2022 - The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision.

This Week: Companies Reporting Earnings

Wednesday: Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL), PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP).
Thursday: Wells Fargo & Company (WFC), Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA), BlackRock, Inc. (BLK).
Friday: JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (UNH), Citigroup, Inc. (C), Morgan Stanley (MS), The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (PNC), U.S. Bancorp (USB).

Source: Zacks, October 7, 2022 - Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.

1. https://www.wsj.com/market-data
2. https://www.wsj.com/market-data
3. https://quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices
4. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/03/stock-market-futures-open-to-close-news.html
5. https://www.wsj.com/articles/job-openings-hiring-economy-august-2022-11664833689
6. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/05/adp-jobs-report-september-2022.html
7. https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-jobless-claims-rose-last-week-but-remain-historically-low-11665061396
8. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/07/jobs-report-september-2022.html

This content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information, and provided by Twenty Over Ten. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.