Market Roundup: Positive Week Despite Beginning of Trade War

Published: July 9, 2018, 10:04 p.m.

The week’s market action started with a late afternoon rally in U.S. equities on Monday after futures were pressured into the open with the S+P 500 Index finishing up 0.31%. Participation was broad, but led by Technology. Tuesday’s trading was shortened by the Independence Day holiday, but still saw a significant sell-off in the final hour of trading, which left the S+P 500 0.49% lower on the day. Information Technology found its way to the bottom of the sectors, losing 1.37% while the otherwise lackluster Telecommunication Services sector charged ahead, gaining 1.16% on the day. Small company stocks rallied in late trading, finishing 0.97% higher. The yield curve flattened with the one-month Treasury rising 15.5 basis points (0.155%) since last Friday. After the holiday, U.S. stocks moved solidly higher Thursday as investors seemed to shrug off trade worries between the United States and China despite the Fed’s Minutes acknowledging the potential impact tariffs could have on the domestic expansion. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.75% while the S+P 500 and NASDAQ Composite rose 0.86% and 1.12%, respectively. The United States is scheduled to impose tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese imports Friday, which is expected to be countered with tariffs on U.S. imports. Stocks jumped on Friday following a solid June employment report, as 213,000 jobs were added to the economy in June. The data showed that the number of individuals seeking employment rose as well, forcing the unemployment rate a bit higher but still near an 18-year low. The United States slapped levies on $34 billion of China’s exports early Friday, while in response, China’s State Council said it applied tariffs on 545 U.S. items ranging from agricultural products to vehicles. Despite the beginning of the trade war, the Dow rose 0.4% while the S+P 500 and NASDAQ rose 0.8% and 1.3%, respectively. For the week, the Dow gained 0.8%, while the S+P 500 notched a 1.5% gain and the NASDAQ, 2.4% advance.