FINANCIAL MARKET  WEEK:  (as of market close August 04, 2023)

Financial Market Week Review:  Stocks endured a losing week for the first time since early July. Each benchmark index listed here lost value, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq suffering the steepest weekly declines since March. Investors dealt with the downgrade of the U.S. government's credit rating and evidence that job growth may be slowing (see below). Corporate earnings have generally matched or beaten expectations, but a couple of bellwether tech and communications companies proffered disappointing earnings. Bond prices fell, pushing yields higher. The dollar rose higher, while gold prices slid lower. Crude oil prices increased for the sixth straight week, the longest streak in more than a year.

Wall Street closed out the month of July on an uptick, with each of the benchmark indexes listed here posting gains by the close of trading last Monday. The Russell 2000 advanced 1.1% to lead the indexes, followed by the Global Dow and the Dow (0.3%).

The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 rose 0.2%. Ten-year Treasury yields closed the day where they began at 3.95%. Crude oil prices dipped marginally to settle at $81.65 per barrel. The dollar was flat, while gold prices fell 0.4%.

• STOCK MARKET INDEXES
• LAST WEEK'S ECONOMIC NEWS
• EYE ON THE WEEK AHEAD
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Wendy Nelson, CEO of Wind River Wealth Advisors, aims to provide beneficial investment management, retirement planning, financial planner, asset management, and portfolio management to protect your money with knowledgeable strategies and plans by utilizing a personal independent financial advisor.