Market Roundup: Positive Trade War Talks Boost Large Caps for Week

Published: Aug. 20, 2018, 5:52 p.m.

The major indices landed in red territory on Monday as the Energy, Materials, and Financial sectors led decliners in the S+P 500 Index. Stocks slipped on continued concerns over the economic troubles in Turkey. Consumer Discretionary and Financial sector stocks led advancers on Tuesday, stepping up on news that Turkey's currency crisis had stabilized. The major indices again reversed course mid-week and ended trading in the red zone despite rebounding off session lows. In economic news, retail sales ticked up in July, as sales climbed 0.5% in total and 0.6% discounting car sales. Industrial production increased just 0.1% in July, while the level for June was upwardly revised. The market traded into green territory on Thursday with Telecommunications and Consumer Staples stocks leading the advance. On another note, initial jobless claims decreased, as the Department of Labor data showed new claims fell by 2,000 to 212,000 for the week ended August 11. While the major indices closed with gains on Friday, Only the S+P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average posted gains for the week. The Large Caps of the Dow and S+P 500 likely got a boost from a tentative agreement between the United States and China to settle their trade dispute by November. The NASDAQ Composite fell slightly more than a quarter of a percent for the week.