The Week on Wall Street
Stocks returned to record territory, with both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite closing at historic highs. The S&P gained 1.20% for the week; the Nasdaq, 1.85%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged, losing 0.06%. The MSCI EAFE index of international stocks lost 0.52%.[1],[2]
The S&P took only 17 weeks to fully rebound from its December low.[3]
A Shift in Focus
Last month, Wall Street fixated on trade, reacting to even the slightest hint of progress in U.S.-China negotiations. This month, the trade talks have taken a back seat, and the fixation is on earnings.
Anxieties about a possible earnings recession may be fading. So far, first-quarter results for S&P 500 firms are 5.3% above expectations; that compares to a 5-year average of 4.8%.[4]
At some point, trade talk will come back, or other developments will lead Wall Street to chase other trends. The thing to remember is that Wall Street is fickle: what preoccupies it one week may be shrugged off the next. Short-term trends ultimately amount to background noise during the long-term pursuit of your financial goals.
A Strong First Quarter
Friday, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said that the economy expanded at a 3.2% pace in Q1. The number surprised to the upside. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones estimated Q1 gross domestic product would increase 2.5%.[5]
What’s Ahead
Investors have all kinds of news to consider this week. There will be a plethora of earnings calls, plus important reports on consumer spending and hiring. Also, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell will hold a press conference following the central bank’s May meeting.
THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA
Monday: March personal spending figures from the Department of Commerce.
Tuesday: The Conference Board’s April consumer confidence index.
Wednesday: The Federal Reserve announces its latest interest rate decision.
Friday: The April jobs report from the Department of Labor.
Source: Econoday / MarketWatch Calendar, April 26, 2019
The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision. The release of data may be delayed without notice for a variety of reasons, including the shutdown of the government agency or change at the private institution that handles the material.
THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS
Monday: Alphabet (GOOGL), Kemper (KMPR)
Tuesday: Amgen (AMGN), Apple (AAPL), Cummins (CMI), McDonalds (MCD)
Wednesday: Allstate (ALL), CVS Health (CVS), Humana (HUM), Public Storage (PSA)
Thursday: CBS (CBS), Cigna (CI), Dunkin’ Brands (DNKN), Gilead Sciences (GILD)
Friday: Fiat Chrysler (FCAU)
Source: Morningstar.com, April 26, 2019
Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.
Tax Credit for the Elderly or Disabled
You may be able to take the credit if you are 65 years of age or older or if you retired on total and permanent disability and have taxable disability income. There are certain limits that your income cannot exceed.
Claiming the Senior Tax Credit If You’re 65 Years or Older
Based on your filing status, there are certain qualifications. If you are married, you and your spouse must file a joint return to claim the credit.
Claims for Those Under 65 and Permanently Disabled
You’ll need to procure a physician’s certification stating that you cannot engage in gainful activity due to your mental or physical condition, and in addition, that the condition has existed or is expected to exist continuously for a minimum of 12 months or if it is expected to result in your death.
You May Not Qualify Due to Taxable Income
You may meet the above qualifications detailed above and may still be ineligible for the credit if your taxable income exceeds certain limitations. To find out more visit https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p524.pdf.
* This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.
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The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.
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[1] https://markets.wsj.com/usoverview
[2] https://quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices
[3] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-23/abyss-averted-in-stocks-as-valuations-and-rates-restore-bull-run
[4] https://insight.factset.com/earnings-season-update-april-26-2019
[5] https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/26/gdp-q1-2019-first-read.html
[6] https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p524.pdf
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