FINANCIAL STOCK MARKET  WEEK "Stocks finished the month of March in solid fashion" 04/1/2024 by Wendy Nelson" 

The Markets (as of market close March 29, 2024)

Stocks finished the month of March in solid fashion.  Each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted gains, with the exception of the Nasdaq.  Bond yields dipped lower.  Crude oil prices advanced, while energy shares ended up being a top performer.  The dollar inched higher, while gold prices continued to climb.

Investors seemed to take a breath to begin last week, as stocks ticked lower by the close of trading last Monday. Of the benchmark indexes listed here, only the Russell 2000 was able to eke out a minimal 0.1% gain.  The Dow fell 0.4%, while the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 dipped 0.3%, and the Global Dow lost 0.1%.  Ten-year Treasury yields gained 3.5 basis points to 4.25%. Crude oil prices reached $82.02 per barrel after gaining $1.39.  The dollar slipped 0.3%, while gold prices rose 0.6%.

Last Tuesday saw stocks lose steam after a favorable start to the day, ultimately closing lower for the second straight day. The Nasdaq fell 0.4%, the S&P 500 lost 0.3%, the Russell 2000 dropped 0.2%, the Dow slipped 0.1%, while the Global Dow broke even.  Ten-year Treasury yields settled at 4.23%.  Crude oil prices lost $0.50 to close at about $81.46 per barrel. The dollar and gold prices inched up minimally.

Stocks finally rebounded last Wednesday, ending a short-lived slump. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted notable gains, led by the Russell 2000, which rose 2.1%.  the Dow climbed 1.2%, followed by the S&P 500 (0.9%), the Global Dow (0.8%), and the Nasdaq (0.5%).  Ten-year Treasury yields declined 3.8 basis points to 4.19%.  Crude oil prices ticked up marginally to $81.70 per barrel.  The dollar was flat, while gold prices rose 0.7%.  Real estate and utilities led the market sectors.

Wall Street closed the holiday week on Thursday, with equities generally advancing.  The Russell 2000 gained 0.5%, while the Dow and the S&P 500 eked out 0.1% increases.  The Nasdaq dipped 0.1%, while the Global Dow was flat.  Ten-year Treasury yields inched up 1.0 basis point to close at 4.20%.  The dollar rose 0.2%, while gold prices jumped 1.3%.

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Wendy Nelson, CEO of Wind River Wealth Advisors, aims to provide beneficial investment management, retirement planning, financial planning, asset management, and portfolio management to protect your money with knowledgeable strategies and plans by utilizing a personal independent financial advisor.