MI Market Updates Articles
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Market Update – January 2025
Stocks Rally as Market Leadership Shifts in Early 2025 Monthly Market Summary The S&P 500 Index returned +2.7%, marginally outperforming the Russell 2000 Index’s +2.5% return. Seven of the eleven S&P 500 sectors outperformed the index, as AI-related news led to a sell-off in Technology stocks. Corporate investment-grade bonds produced a +0.6% total return as […]
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Market Update – Q4 2024
Key Updates on the Economy & Markets There was no shortage of market-moving events in Q4. The stock market opened the quarter with a slow start in October, but the outcome of the presidential election triggered a broad rally in November. The rally faded as the year ended, although the S&P 500 trades only a […]
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Market Update – Q3 2024
The major development in 3Q24 was the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates by -0.50%, the first rate cut of this cycle. It came as the Fed shifted its focus, with unemployment rising to a 33-month high and inflation moving back to target.
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Market Update – August 2024
Federal Reserve Set to Begin Cutting Interest Rates in September. The S&P 500 Index returned +2.3% in August, outperforming the Russell 2000 Index’s -1.7% return. Nine of the eleven S&P 500 sectors traded higher, led by Consumer Staples, Real Estate, Health Care, and Utilities.
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Market Update – July 2024
The Stock Market Experienced a Big Rotation in July Monthly Market Summary The S&P 500 Index returned +1.2% in July, underperforming the Russell 2000 Index’s +10.3% return. Ten of the eleven S&P 500 sectors traded higher, led by Real Estate, Utilities, and Financials. Technology was the only sector to trade lower, reversing a portion of […]
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Market Update – Q2 2024
Key Updates on the Economy & Markets The topic of interest rate cuts continues to dominate the financial markets. Investors are focused on when the Federal Reserve will lower rates, all while keeping a close eye on corporate earnings and valuations. Economists are analyzing inflation and labor market data to determine their impact on the […]
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Market Update – May 2024
Global Markets Trade Higher After April Sell-Off Monthly Market Summary The S&P 500 Index gained +5.1%, slightly outperforming the Russell 2000 Index’s +5.0% return. Ten of the eleven S&P 500 sectors traded higher, led by Utilities. Corporate investment-grade bonds produced a +2.2% total return as Treasury yields fell, outperforming the corporate high-yield bond index’s +1.6% […]
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Market Update – Q1 2024
Key Q1 2024 Updates on the Economy Stocks continued their upward trajectory in early 2024. The S&P 500 returned more than 10% for a second consecutive quarter, setting multiple new all-time highs along the way. Notably, this quarter saw a significant shift in sentiment, as investors now only expect three interest rate cuts this year […]