Market insights and analysis

U.S. equity markets posted losses in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 lost 2.41%, the NASDAQ Composite lost 2.8%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2.14%.

Last week, the gold spot price was down 3.82% and the U.S. Dollar Index was up 0.87%.

Last week, gold prices slid down to previous support levels.

The Beatles sang of it in their first American hit. And nearly 60 years later, on May 3, Lady Gaga released a new single with the same subject matter for the movie “Top Gun: Maverick.” Hand-holding. We learned to do it innocently as children. Then as teens, it took on a different meaning. Throughout adulthood and into senior life, it still remains meaningful.

The major U.S. stock market indexes were down last week. The S&P 500 was down 0.21%, and the NASDAQ Composite lost 1.54% for the week. The 10-year Treasury bond yield rose 19 basis points to 3.13%, continuing a strong upward trend for the year. Spot gold closed the week at $1,883.81, down 0.69%.

U.S. equity markets posted losses in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 lost 0.21%, the NASDAQ Composite lost 1.54%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.24%.

Last week, the gold spot price was down 0.69% and the U.S. Dollar Index was up 0.68%.

Last week, the price of gold continued to consolidate between its 50-day and 200-day moving averages.

April ETF Deathwatch contains 380 zombie ETFs and ETNs.

The major U.S. stock market indexes finished down for the third week in a row. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2.4%, the S&P 500 Index fell 3.2%, the NASDAQ Composite dropped 3.9%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index gave back 4.0%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield rose 1 basis point to 2.913%, sending bond prices lower for the week. In fact, the long-term Treasury bond ETF (TLT) fell 0.5% last week. Gold futures closed at $1,891.30, down $43.00 per ounce, or 2.22%.

I’ve always been a huge baseball fan—whether as a player myself or following a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. With the MLB season at risk of significant postponement earlier this year, it has been a pleasure to see the early-season action proceed in pretty normal fashion throughout April.

U.S. equity markets posted losses in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 lost 3.27%, the NASDAQ Composite lost 3.93%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2.47%.

Last week, the gold spot price was down 1.79% and the U.S. Dollar Index was up 1.72%.

Last week, gold prices retraced back to previous support levels before turning back up on the daily chart.

U.S. equity markets posted losses in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 lost 2.75%, the NASDAQ Composite lost 3.83%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.86%.

Last week, the gold spot price was down 2.13% and the U.S. Dollar Index was up 0.9%.

The major U.S. stock market indexes were down last week. The S&P 500 decreased by 2.75%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.86%, the NASDAQ Composite was down 3.83%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index gave back 3.21%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield rose 7 basis points to 2.90%, taking Treasury bonds lower for the week. Spot gold closed the week at $1,931.60, down 2.13%.

I can still feel the doorjamb pressed hard against the back of my head, each move causing a painful tug against an errant strand of hair. But I wanted to be there, and I strained to stretch my body upward, fighting the urge to resort to tiptoes. Dad took the ruler and balanced it evenly on the top of my head. He then quickly penciled in a line at its intersection with the molding behind me.

Last week, the price of gold broke above $2,000 per ounce and then retraced back to its 50-day moving average.

U.S. equity markets posted losses in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 lost 2.13%, the NASDAQ Composite lost 2.63%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.78%.

Last week, the gold spot price was up 1.34% and the U.S. Dollar Index was up 0.53%.

Rising inflation and geopolitical concerns loomed large during the first quarter. Viewed by some as “transitory” in late 2021, inflation has persisted, rising to levels not seen in over 40 years. The Federal Reserve is expected to increase interest rates several times over the remainder of the year in an effort to manage inflation. These rate hikes will likely slow economic growth relative to where growth was at the beginning of the year. Slowing the economy is designed to bring the high inflation rates down in the future.

To many, there is nothing more meditative and relaxing than building and nurturing a garden. As Rutgers University professor Joel Flagler explains it, “There are certain, very stabilizing forces in gardening that can ground us when we are feeling shaky, uncertain, terrified really. It’s these predictable outcomes, predictable rhythms of the garden that are very comforting. …”

Last week, gold prices broke out from their consolidation, climbing steadily upward.

The major U.S. stock market indexes finished down last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.3%, the S&P 500 Index fell 1.3%, the NASDAQ Composite dropped 3.9%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index gave back 4.6%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield rose 3 basis points to 2.704%, sending bond prices lower for the week. In fact, the long-term Treasury bond ETF (TLT) fell 5.5% last week. In contrast, gold futures closed at $1,948.50, up $24.80 per ounce, or 1.29%.

Recently, I was listening to an expert on investor psychology who stated, “Investors feel comfortable investing when markets are behaving as they expect.” That made me think about my article about the emotions of fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) and their often negative influence on investors’ decisions. It also made me think back to the many conversations I have had with investors and advisers about the wide range of uncertainties we all have to face throughout life.

Last week, the gold spot price was up 1.14% and the U.S. Dollar Index was up 1.18%.

U.S. equity markets posted losses in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 lost 1.27%, the NASDAQ Composite lost 3.86%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.28%

Last week, gold prices consolidated above their support level at $1,900 per ounce.

March ETF Deathwatch contains 364 zombie ETFs and ETNs.

Did you know that April is Financial Literacy Month? Financial Literacy Month was designated officially by the United States Senate in 2004 via Resolution 316, during the administration of George W. Bush. According to Forbes, “The campaign began as Youth Financial Literacy Day, first introduced by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE). In 2000, NEFE handed over the reins to the Jump$tart Coalition, which expanded the one-day campaign to an entire month called Financial Literacy for Youth Month. The event’s name was eventually changed to Financial Literacy Month.”

The major U.S. stock market indexes were mostly up last week. The S&P 500 increased by 0.06%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.12%, the NASDAQ Composite was up 0.65%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index gained 0.63%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield fell 9 basis points to 2.38%, taking Treasury bonds higher for the week. Spot gold closed the week at $1,925.68, down 1.67%.

Last week, the gold spot price was down 1.67% and the U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.16%.

U.S. equity markets posted gains in two of the three indexes last week.

Gold prices once again tested the support level at $1,900 per ounce.

The major U.S. stock market indexes finished mostly up last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.3%, the S&P 500 Index rose 1.8%, the NASDAQ Composite picked up 2.0%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index dropped 0.4%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield jumped 34 basis points to 2.493%, sending bond prices lower for the week. Spot gold closed the week at $1,959.90, up $26.00 per ounce, or 1.34%.

When we think of our lives or just talk about what we have been doing lately with a friend, we tend to focus on big events. If we have just started a new job or a baby was born, the event dominates our conversations. Similarly, political and economic news can consume the headlines and color what we think is occurring around us.

Last week, the gold spot price was up 1.91% and the U.S. Dollar Index was up 0.57%.

U.S. equity markets posted gains in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 gained 1.79%, the NASDAQ Composite gained 1.98%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.31%.

Gold prices climbed after testing support at $1,900 per ounce, closing the week at $1,954.20 per ounce.

February ETF Deathwatch contains 360 zombie ETFs and ETNs.

The calendar says that now it’s spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It arrived at 11:33 a.m. EST on Sunday. On Saturday, it was winter. On Sunday, it was spring. Just like that, an overnight change in seasons.

The major U.S. stock market indexes were up last week, rebounding from downward movements that pulled the NASDAQ into bear market territory. The NASDAQ posted the strongest performance with an 8.18% gain, the S&P 500 rose 6.16%, the Dow climbed 5.50%, and the Russell 2000 jumped 5.38%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield rose 16 basis points to 2.15%, continuing a strong upward trend for the year. Spot gold closed the week at $1,921.62, down 3.36%.

U.S. equity markets posted gains in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 gained 6.16%, the NASDAQ Composite gained 8.18%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 5.50%.

Last week, the gold spot price was down 3.36% and the U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.90%.

Gold prices tested support at $1,900 per ounce before rallying to close the week at $1,929.30 per ounce.

The major U.S. stock market indexes were down last week. The S&P 500 decreased by 2.88%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.99%, the NASDAQ Composite was down 3.53%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index lost 1.06%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield rose 26 basis points to 1.99%, taking Treasury bonds lower for the week. Spot gold closed the week at $1,988.46, up 0.90%.

Some time ago, I listened to an interview on Bloomberg radio with Thomas Gilovich, a well-known professor of psychology at Cornell University. He has conducted research in social psychology and behavioral economics, with a focus on human biases in decision-making. He is the author of several books, including “How We Know What Isn’t So: The Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life.”

Last week, the gold spot price was up 0.9% and the U.S. Dollar Index was up 0.48%.

U.S. equity markets posted losses in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 lost 2.88%, the NASDAQ Composite lost 3.53%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.99%.