What Happened Last Week

The Dow declined 2.2%. The S&P 500 declined 2.06%. The Nasdaq declined 3.35%.¹

Volatility Returns

Stocks were under pressure early in the week as investors appeared to focus on the Fed’s meeting, which ended on Wednesday. It was a big week for Q2 corporate reports, with five of the ten largest names in the S&P 500 (by market capitalization) reporting numbers. But attention was mainly on the Fed’s meeting.^2,3

Stocks rallied on Wednesday when Fed Chair Powell indicated a September interest rate cut was “on the table."⁴

But selling picked up on Thursday as investors' attention quickly shifted to disappointing corporate reports and weak economic data. Friday morning's disappointing June jobs report raised even more concerns about the economy's strength. The Nasdaq ended the week in correction territory, down more than 10 percent from its recent all-time high.^5,6

Weaker Than Expected Economic Data

Fresh economic data suggested weakening manufacturing, construction, and employment outlooks. On Friday, the Labor Department’s July jobs report showed a sharper-than-expected job growth slowdown and an unemployment uptick to 4.3 percent—the highest rate in 2½ years.

At Wednesday’s Fed press conference, investors welcomed Powell’s unusually candid and upbeat comments. However, as the week progressed, investors started questioning whether the Fed was misreading the economy and moving too slowly in adjusting interest rates.⁷

Economic Data To Watch

Monday: ISM Services Index. Fed Official Mary Daly speaks.

Tuesday: International Trade in Goods and Services. Treasury buyback announcement.

Wednesday: Consumer Credit. EIA Petroleum Status Report.

Thursday:Jobless Claims. Fed Balance Sheet.

^{Source: Investors Business Daily - Econoday economic calendar;  August 2, 2024.} 

Upcoming Earnings Reports

Tuesday: Amgen Inc. (AMGN), Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER), Airbnb, Inc. (ABNB)

Wednesday: The Walt Disney Company (DIS)

Thursday: Eli Lilly and Company (LLY), Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD)

^{Source: Zacks, August 2, 2024}

Footnotes and Sources

^{1. The Wall Street Journal, August 2, 2024}

^{2. The Wall Street Journal, August 2, 2024}

^{3. S&P Global, July 31, 2024}

^{4. The Wall Street Journal, July 31, 2024}

^{5. The Wall Street Journal, August 1, 2024}

^{6. CNBC.com, August 2, 2024}

^{7. The Wall Street Journal, August 2, 2024}