MeritKapital News

The first half of 2022 has been a historically bad stretch for markets as stocks and bonds have sold off in tandem. Investors who for years have relied on the 60-40 portfolio (holding 60% of stocks and 40% bonds) have struggled to find respite from the selling. The U.S markets were shut on Monday for…

US stocks closed higher Friday, shaking off earlier weakness that came after a disappointing gauge of manufacturing activity underlined fears that aggressive monetary policy tightening by the Fed Reserve could lead to a sharp slowdown. Meanwhile US equity futures fell ahead of US Independence Day holiday today. Subsequently Dow Jones increased 1% to finish at…

U.S. stocks traded lower on Thursday in response to yet another bunch of data suggesting that consumer spending is weakening in the face of a slowing economy and the most aggressive of inflation in 40 years. Subsequently Dow Jones declined 0.8% to 30,775.43, S&P 500 declined 0.9% to 3,785.38 while Nasdaq 100 declined 1.3% to…

U.S stocks ended mixed Wednesday as earlier gains for U.S stock benchmarks faded, as investors monitored corporate earnings and remarks from central bankers to battle high inflation by tightening monetary policy. Subsequently, Dow Jones increased 0.3% to finish at 31,029.31, while S&P 500 declined 0.1% to finish at 3,818.83 and Nasdaq 100 declined 0.1% to…

US stocks finished lower on fresh apprehension about economic growth as the Federal reserve continues to pursue its monetary policy tightening campaign to quell mounting inflationary pressures. Consequently, the S & P 500 lost 2.01%% to close at 3,821.55, DOW declined 1.56% to close at 30,946.99 while Nasdaq 100 dropped by 2.98% to 11,181.54. The yield…

U.S stock indexes posted their biggest declines in more than a week on Monday as investors weighed stronger-than-expected data on durable goods against expectations for a slowing economy that could limit the magnitude of Fed Reserve rate increases. Stocks struggled to hang on to opening gains even after data showed U.S. durable goods orders rose…

U.S stocks rallied to put a positive finish to a sharp weekly gain. All three major U.S. stock benchmarks closed sharply higher on Friday with Nasdaq 100 gaining more than 3%, as investors reassessed the expected path of Fed Reserve interest- rate hikes. Subsequently, the S&P 500 increased 3.1% to finish at 3,911.74, its biggest…

U.S. stocks closed higher Thursday despite concerns about a potential sharp economic downturn as the Fed Reserve gets more aggressive in tightening monetary policy. Fed Chair Jerome Powell reiterated that he doesn’t think a recession is inevitable, but he also has an “unconditional” commitment to fight inflation, on his second day of testimony to Congress…

U.S stocks declined in a choppy trade yesterday, after Fed Reserve chair Jerome Powell reiterated his commitment to combat inflation through higher interest rates and tighter financial conditions. He said, “The American economy is very strong and well positioned to handle tighter monetary policy.” Meanwhile President Joe Biden also called on a three-month temporary gas-tax…

U.S stocks are bouncing to start the holiday-shortened week on a high note after posting the worst weekly decline last week since March 2020. After last week monetary policy tightening by the Fed which led to a sharp loss to equities last week, U.S stocks bounced on Tuesday. However, Treasury’s weakened Tuesday, pushing up yields.…