The Markets:

Markets turned out another solid performance last week as all three major indices reached new highs. With minimal economic data for investors to chew on, earnings drove most of the market action last week. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 set a new high while the Dow notched its first close above the 15,000 mark. Industrials, technology, and consumer discretionary stocks led the gains while utilities and consumer staples dropped. For the week, the S&P 500 added 1.19%, the Dow gained 0.97%, and the Nasdaq increased 1.72%.[1]

As we near the end of earnings season, 90% of S&P 500 companies have reported in, with 67% beating earnings expectations. If all remaining companies post numbers in line with estimates, earnings will be up 5.3% over the first quarter of 2012. However, most companies are still missing their revenue estimates, with only 46% beating their own revenue projections. Next week, a handful of major retailers are due to report, which, along with Monday’s retail sales report, will give sector analysts a lot to think about.[2]

After markets closed for the weekend, Federal Reserve officials announced their strategy for unwinding QE3, their unprecedented $85 billion per month bond-buying program. While they didn’t confirm the timing of intended moves, officials said they plan to reduce bond purchases in careful, measured steps as they monitor the job market and inflation. Because it doesn’t look like the Fed intended this announcement to mark the end of quantitative easing, it appears they meant to signal their flexibility in managing the programs in the months ahead.[3]

Looking ahead, the bulls could keep running next week as long as economic reports on labor, retail sales, industrial production, and manufacturing don’t disappoint. However, with equities reaching new highs, there are plenty of opportunities for weakness to end the run. If investors think that markets are overbought, some consolidation might occur. The market activity thus far suggests that investors are betting on increasing economic growth, and the Fed’s announcement seems to indicate that officials aren’t too worried about the U.S. economy at this time. As always, we’ll keep an eye on the action and will keep you informed.

ECONOMIC CALENDAR:
Monday: Retail Sales, Business Inventories
Tuesday: Import and Export Prices
Wednesday: Producer Price Index, Empire State Mfg. Survey, Treasury International Capital, Industrial Production, Housing Market Index, EIA Petroleum Status Report
Thursday: Consumer Price Index, Housing Starts, Jobless Claims, Philadelphia Fed Survey
Friday: Consumer Sentiment

Disclaimers and Sources

Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Diversification does not guarantee profit nor is it guaranteed to protect assets. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.  The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology companies and growth companies. The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market. Google Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. You cannot invest directly in an index. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors. These are the views of Platinum Advisor Marketing Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative, Broker dealer or Investment Advisor, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer or Investment Advisor gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.  By clicking on these links, you will leave our server, as they are located on another server. We have not independently verified the information available through this link. The link is provided to you as a matter of interest. Please click on the links below to leave and proceed to the selected site.

[1]  http://briefing.com/investor/markets/weekly-wrap/weekly-wrap-for-may-6-2013.htm

[2]  http://www.cnbc.com/id/100727118

[3]  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324744104578475273101471896.html

[4]  http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/05/08/late-payment-rate-mortgages-1q/2143699/

[5]  http://www.cnbc.com/id/100727407

[6]  http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/10/usa-economy-budget-idUSL2N0DR3LK20130510

[7]  http://thedailyrecord.com/2013/05/12/u-s-shows-budget-surplus-for-april/#ixzz2TAvsbAQI

[8]  http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-lower-summer-gasoline-prices-20130508,0,996849.story