The stock market ended a volatile week on a high note.
(Updated: 4:20 p.m. EST, Jan. 10, 2020)
Topline: With stocks rising to new record highs on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged past the 29,000 mark for the first time ever, as investors shrugged off a weak jobs report and the ongoing geopolitical tensions with Iran.
- Despite the new milestone, stocks pared back gains later in the day: The Dow ended Friday down by nearly 0.5%, while the S&P 500 fell 0.3%.
- The index crossed the 28,000 mark just over a month ago, with the stock market continuing its great run of momentum into 2020. The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes all gained more than 20% in 2019, and all three are already up several percentage points this year.
- Despite a volatile week of trading, the market was boosted to new highs on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, amid diffusing geopolitical tensions with Iran as well as renewed optimism from an imminent phase one trade deal with China, which the Trump administration claims will be signed next week.
- Wall Street seems to be shifting its focus back to the November/December mindset, where positive economic growth and accommodative Federal Reserve policy can keep the market moving higher.
- New record highs in recent days were also the result of strong performances in sectors like technology and healthcare. Big tech companies in particular, like Apple, have hit new all-time highs recently, helping lead the Dow higher.
- Those gains helped offset a weaker-than-expected December jobs report, which was actually not as disappointing as it seemed, according to experts. Job creation and wage growth was slightly lower than forecast, but the unemployment rate held steady at its 50-year low of 3.5%, showing that the labor market is still a bright spot for the U.S. economy.
Crucial quotes: “Although there are some signs of deceleration, this was another solid month for job and wage growth,” says Ron Temple, head of U.S. equity at Lazard Asset Management. “The news reaffirms our expectation of continued economic growth through 2020.”
“Any time the market surpasses a nice round number (like 29,000), it has a positive effect on investor psychology,” says Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Independent Advisor Alliance. “All things being equal, it’s a signal that investors are more comfortable with the economy, the decrease in trade tensions and (now) the decrease in Middle East tensions.”
Key background: Global stocks started off 2020 on a positive note, before escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran derailed the markets late last week. The Dow and S&P 500 had their worst day of trading in a month last Friday, after a U.S. air strike killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. The market rebounded earlier this week on Monday, thanks to a “reduction in anxiety around the events in Iran,” according to Adam Crisafulli, founder of Vital Knowledge. Stock futures plunged on Tuesday, however, after a reported Iranian retaliation to U.S. air strikes—but the market pared back losses and recovered on Wednesday, as it became clear that Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes on U.S. bases in Iraq resulted in no casualties. Stocks breathed a sigh of relief and rallied on the news that both sides are diffusing tensions somewhat: Trump said in his press conference that Iran “appears to be standing down,” while also indicating there would be no armed response from the U.S.—though he did pledge new economic sanctions on the Iranian regime.
What to watch for: The phase one U.S.-China trade deal. Though both sides have confirmed the agreement will be signed next week, many on Wall Street are waiting for specific details: “It still isn’t clear what Trump and Liu He will affix their signatures to,” says Crisafulli. Serious doubts have also emerged over a critical part of the deal: Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products. Analysts are skeptical that China will reach Trump’s called-for $50 billion figure, and China hasn’t yet confirmed that figure or how it intends to boost purchases. According to an official statement from China’s vice minister of agriculture and rural affairs earlier this week, the country will keep its grain import quotas unchanged, despite the promise to buy more American farm goods.
Further reading: Here’s Why The Stock Market Hit New Record Highs After Trump’s Comments On Iran
Stock Market Rebounds, Shaking Off Geopolitical Fears For Now
How Middle East Tensions Derailed Stock Markets’ Strong Start In 2020
Here’s Why Stocks Plunged, Oil Prices Surged After U.S. Air Strike Kills Top Iranian General
