Weekly Market Update: June 27, 2022

U.S. stock prices snapped their three-week losing streak as major indices regained their footing after entering bear market territory. The S&P 500 gained 6.46% on the week as investors brushed aside lingering recession concerns and Fed Chair Powell's hawkish Congressional testimony matched market expectations. Growth stocks continued their outperformance, outgaining value, and larger companies generally outperformed their small company peers. Nearly every sector in the S&P 500 recorded strong gains with consumer discretionary and health care leading the way. The energy sector was the exception, returning -1.55%, as oil prices fell on weak economic data and demand concerns. Developed foreign and emerging market stocks advanced but lagged the U.S.

U.S. Treasury yields fell for the second consecutive week on the back of Fed Chair Powell's comments and weaker-than-expected economic readings. The 10-year U.S. Treasury fell to 3.14%. Returns were mixed across the quality spectrum as longer duration high yield bonds were the best performing segment. Yields on investment grade corporate bonds and high yield corporate bonds moved slightly lower, finishing the week at 4.7% and 8.4%, respectively.

Economic data releases were largely disappointing in what was a relatively light week. Existing home sales fell 3.4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.41 million in May, marking the fourth straight monthly decline. U.S. businesses suffered a sharp decline in June as high inflation has reduced demand. The S&P U.S. services index declined to a five-month low of 51.6 while the U.S. manufacturing index closed in on a two-year low of 52.4 in June. The final U.S. consumer sentiment index was revised unexpectantly to an all-time low of 50 in June as persistent inflation and record high gas prices have weighed on consumers. The 1-year U.S. inflation forecast was revised lower to 5.3% from 5.4%. U.K. inflation rose to a record 9.1% in May as food costs rose at the fastest rate in 13 years.

See it by the numbers
Back

Contact Us Today

Whether you have a question you'd like us to answer or a brilliant idea you're ready to share, the team at American Trust is here to listen.