The Best Quarter Since 1998

Market Blog What a quarter the second quarter was, with the S&P 500 Index adding 20.0%, for the best quarter since 1998 and the best second quarter since 1938. Of course, stocks fell 20% in the first quarter, so what we really have is a bad case of whiplash in 2020 thus far. “A 20% […]

July 1, 2020

Real-Time Data Plateaus As COVID-19 Cases Jump

Economic Blog We check in again today on some of the real-time economic data that LPL Research is monitoring to provide valuable insights into the current state of the US economy, even as traditional economic data is too slow to pick up the changes that are occurring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of […]

Market Update: Thur, Jul 2, 2020 | LPL Financial Research

DAILY INSIGHTS Stocks opened solidly higher. Stocks are adding to very strong gains for the week this morning after a strong June jobs report. Markets continue to shrug off the pause in re-openings in response to rising COVID-19 cases and are focusing more on improving economic data and vaccine prospects. European markets are eclipsing US gains […]

July 2, 2020

Market Update: Mon, Jul 6, 2020 | LPL Financial Research

DAILY INSIGHTS LPL Research in the news. LPL Financial Senior Market Strategist Ryan Detrick was on Bloomberg Radio recently to discuss current market action. (Ryan’s part starts at the 22:00 mark). Additionally, Ryan was quoted on Fox Business. We apologize that the links to these interviews were not included in the July 2 Keeping You Up to Date announcement. U.S. stocks […]

July 6, 2020

Labor Market Continues Its Momentum

Economic Blog Following the massive beat in May nonfarm payrolls, many wondered if last month’s job gains pulled forward hiring ahead of the expiration of the Paycheck Protection Program to ensure small business loans were forgivable. Recall that the US labor market added 2.5 million jobs in May (revised up to 2.7 million in the […]

Weekly Market Commentary — Election Preview

2020 is an election year, and history shows that the US economy has had major bearings on presidential election. How stocks and the economy are performing prior to the election may forecast the winner. The Makeup of Congress is very important Although all election years feel different, 2020 no doubt may be one of the […]

July 7, 2020

Taking Stock at the Halfway Mark

Markets Blog Posted by lplresearch It’s certainly been a wild ride for stocks in 2020. Barely past the halfway point, the year has already brought the worst pandemic to hit the US in over 100 years, an unprecedented government-induced recession as much of the country was locked down, some stomach-churning market volatility, and massive, unprecedented stimulus […]

July 8, 2020

Market Update: Wed, Jul 8, 2020 | LPL Financial Research

DAILY INSIGHTS The win streak is over. US stocks opened modestly higher after the S&P 500 Index’s five-day win streak was snapped Tuesday. It is a very quiet day, with the usual concerns over COVID-19 cases and potential impact, along with discussions on challenges to the widely expected stimulus bill. Overnight, China continued recent outperformance, while Europe […]

Does a Weak First Six Months Mean Trouble?

Posted by lplresearch The wild ride of 2020 continues, with the S&P 500 Index down 20% in the first quarter and up 20% in the second quarter. Much like dropping a 20 dollar bill and picking it up, this doesn’t mean you are 20 dollars wealthier. Down 20% and then up 20% actually comes out to […]

July 9, 2020

Street View: A Paparazzi View Of PPP

Posted by lplresearch Market Blog The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is in the news again, as the list of the small businesses who received loans and for how much, is officially in hands of the public. Nearly 5 million small businesses took more than $650 billion in loans as of the end of June, used a […]

July 10, 2020