Ivana Lotoshynski, CFP®
People Wealth Matters
Financial Advisor
https://peoplewealthmatters.com
[email protected]
Monthly Market Insights | June 2024
U.S. Markets
Stocks rose in May as investors cheered upbeat Q1 corporate reports and signs that the economy was still strong while not overheating.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.30 percent, while the S&P 500 Index added 4.80 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite picked up 6.88 percent.1
“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.”
Alan Lakein, American author, on personal time management, including How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life.
Q1 Corporate Reports
May wrapped up the Q1 company report season. The S&P 500 is on track to post a 5.9 percent growth rate for the quarter, which will be the highest year-over-year earnings growth rate since Q1 2022.2
Mid-month, mega-cap tech names rallied in anticipation of the Q1 corporate report from Nvidia, which makes semiconductors for artificial intelligence and is one of the largest stocks in the S&P 500 by market capitalization. Nvidia’s upbeat report helped lift the Nasdaq to a fresh record.3
Nvidia’s corporate report should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the company’s stock.
Investors See Goldilocks
Gains over the month were also driven by a delicate balance of “Goldilocks” economic data that were not too cold and not too hot. For example, 175,000 jobs were created, which was a solid number but less than the 240,000 jobs that economists had expected.4
In addition, a cooler-than-expected Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released mid-month sparked a broad-based rally as the news raised investors’ hopes that the Fed might adjust interest rates at some point this year. The news helped push the Dow above 40,000 for the first time.5
Sector Scorecard
Ten out of the 11 S&P 500 sectors ended in the green, led by Utilities (+8.98 percent), Technology (+7.08 percent), and Communication Services (+6.94 percent). Real Estate (+5.11 percent), Materials (+3.28 percent), and Financials (+3.25 percent) also posted solid gains. Consumer Staples (+2.45 percent), Health Care (+2.40 percent), and Industrials (+1.68 percent) and Consumer Discretionary (+0.20 percent) rounded out the winners. Energy (-0.32 percent) ended the month lower.6
Yahoo Finance, May 31, 2024. The market indexes discussed are unmanaged and generally considered representative of their respective markets. Individuals cannot directly invest in unmanaged indexes. Past performance does not guarantee future results. U.S. Treasury Notes are guaranteed by the federal government as to the timely payment of principal and interest. However, if you sell a Treasury Note prior to maturity, it may be worth more or less than the original price paid.
What Investors May Be Talking About in June
In the month ahead, attention is expected to shift to Apple for its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, scheduled for June 10 through 14.7
Apple is expected to release its latest iPhone software and preview what is coming for the second half of the year. Apple will tease new features of upcoming software releases, and investors are expecting to gain insight into Apple’s artificial intelligence strategy.7
Apple’s corporate event should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the company’s stock.
While AI mentions from S&P 500 companies have steadily increased, Apple has not provided many updates on its AI strategy. Some anticipate that Apple will give more details about its approach at the conference.8
World Markets
The MSCI–EAFE Index gained 3.29 percent in May as markets rallied globally.9
European stocks performed well, with Germany picking up 3.16 percent and the United Kingdom tacking on 1.61 percent. Spain led, gaining 4.31 percent, while France was flat (+0.10 percent).10
Pacific Rim markets were mixed. Australia rose 0.49 percent, and China’s Hang Seng Index rose 1.78 percent. However, Korea was down 2.06 percent, and Japan’s Nikkei was flat (+0.21 percent).11
Yahoo Finance, May 31, 2024. The market indexes discussed are unmanaged and generally considered representative of their respective markets. Individuals cannot directly invest in unmanaged indexes. Past performance does not guarantee future results. International investments carry additional risks, which include differences in financial reporting standards, currency exchange rates, political risks unique to a specific country, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. These factors may result in greater share price volatility.
Indicators
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The second estimate of economic growth in the first quarter was revised downward, from 1.6 percent to 1.3 percent.12
Employment
Employers added 175,000 jobs in April compared with the 303,000 jobs created in March and less than the 240,000 expected. The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9 percent, while average hourly earnings increased 3.9 percent year over year in April. Both unemployment and wage growth were less than expected.13
Retail Sales
Retail sales remained unchanged in April, following a revised increase of 0.6 in March. The April figure was below expectations.14
Industrial Production
Industrial output fell 0.3 percent in April, driven by declines in durable consumer goods (cars and car parts) and electrical equipment and appliances. The April number missed expectations.15
Housing
Housing starts rose by 5.7 percent in April, as builders anticipated pent-up demand from buyers on the sidelines.16
April existing-home sales dropped 1.9 percent from March 2024 as demand exceeded available inventory. April sales were down 1.9 percent from a year earlier. The median sales price was up 5.7 percent from a year earlier to $407,600.17
New home sales fell 4.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted rate of $634,000, as higher mortgage rates appeared to take a toll on demand.18
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Consumer prices rose 0.3 percent in April over the previous month and 3.4 percent compared with a year prior, both in line with expectations. Core inflation (CPI minus volatile food and energy prices) rose 0.29 percent for April and 3.6 percent year over year—the lowest increase in three years and just below expectations. It was the first time in three months that core CPI was lower than forecast.119
Durable Goods Orders
Orders of manufactured goods designed to last three years or longer rose 0.7 percent in April compared with a 0.8 percent increase in March. The April increase exceeded expectations.20
The Fed
Minutes from the April/May Federal Open Market Committee meeting, released on May 22, stated that some Fed officials worried about the lack of progress on inflation. At that meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) kept the Fed funds rate steady at the 5.25–5.50 percent target range.21
The next two-day FOMC meeting concludes on June 12.
By the Numbers: All About Oceans
The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG Suite, LLC, is not affiliated with the named representative, broker-dealer, or state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. 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.
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.
Any companies mentioned are for illustrative purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, timeframe, and risk tolerance.
The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, subject to revision without notice, and may not materialize.
The market indexes discussed are unmanaged and generally considered representative of their respective markets. Individuals cannot directly invest in unmanaged indexes. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an unmanaged index that is generally considered representative of large-capitalization companies on the U.S. stock market. The S&P 500 Composite Index is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the Nasdaq stock market and considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology and growth companies. The Russell 1000 Index is an index that measures the performance of the highest-ranking 1,000 stocks in the Russell 3000 Index, which is comprised of 3,000 of the largest U.S. stocks. The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) and serves as a benchmark for the performance in major international equity markets, as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index. The return and principal value of stock prices will fluctuate as market conditions change. And shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
International investments carry additional risks, which include differences in financial reporting standards, currency exchange rates, political risks unique to a specific country, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. These factors may result in greater share price volatility.
The Hang Seng Index is a benchmark index for the blue-chip stocks traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The KOSPI is an index of all stocks traded on the Korean Stock Exchange. The Nikkei 225 is a stock market index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The SENSEX is a stock market index of 30 companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. The Jakarta Composite Index is an index of all stocks that are traded on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The Bovespa Index tracks 50 stocks traded on the Sao Paulo Stock, Mercantile, & Futures Exchange. The IPC Index measures the companies listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange. The MERVAL tracks the performance of large companies based in Argentina. The ASX 200 Index is an index of stocks listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. The DAX is a market index consisting of the 30 German companies trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The CAC 40 is a benchmark for the 40 most significant companies on the French Stock Market Exchange. The Dow Jones Russia Index measures the performance of leading Russian Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) that trade on the London Stock Exchange. The FTSE 100 Index is an index of the 100 companies with the highest market capitalization listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Please consult your financial professional for additional information.
Copyright 2024 FMG Suite.
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