Stocks and Markets

Although U. S. companies topped earnings expectations, stocks broke their three-week uptrend on fading prospects of a new stimulus bill before the election.

The bulls and bears battled as impasse over stimulus and mixed COVID19-related news offset better-than-expected third quarter earnings.

U. S. stocks scored their biggest weekly percentage gain since July on optimism Congress will pass another stimulus package at least after the election.

Hopes of new COVID19 relief legislation helped the S&P 500 buck economic and health concerns, ending its five-week losing streak.

The S&P 500 suffered its fourth straight weekly loss as negatives on the economic, health, and political fronts weighed on stock prices.

The S&P 500 suffered its third straight weekly loss on worries of a sluggish economic recovery and rising tensions between the U. S. and China.

The S&P 500 suffered its second straight weekly loss in the Labor Day-shortened trading week. Materials stocks added to their prior week’s gains.

After starting September on a strong note, valuation concerns tripped stocks and ended the S&P 500’s five-week-long winning streak.

Positive COVID19-related news and a new policy framework from the Federal Reserve pushed the S&P 500 above 3,500 for the first time.

Led by large-cap technology stocks, the S&P 500 set new records last week despite the Fed’s concerns on economic recovery and mixed economic data.