Weekly market recap - Friday, 21-Nov

US equities were lower this week, with the S&P 500 down for a second week in the past three, and Nasdaq down for a third-straight week. Stocks finished the week lower with the momentum selloff the big focus amidst ongoing AI scrutiny/skepticism. Nvidia posted a beat and raise, but that was not enough to offset broader AI fears.

US equities lower in Thursday trading, near their worst levels. There was nothing specific behind the move, though stretched valuations, technicals, and the market simply falling back into the recent momentum unwind are all easy excuses. Thursday's jobs data also seemed to play into growth fears, including a negative revision for the August print, cooler wage growth than expected, the highest unemployment rate in four years, and continuing jobless claims setting a fresh cycle high

US equities finished higher in Wednesday afternoon trading, closing off worst levels, with the Dow Jones, S&P500, and Nasdaq closing up 10bps, 38bps, and 59bps respectively. Positive close followed a four-day slide for the S&P, with Nvidia higher ahead of its post-close print. October's FOMC minutes noted "many" participants suggested it would be appropriate to keep rates unchanged for rest of the year. Treasury auction of $16B in 20-year bonds tailed by 0.2 bp, with the bid-to-cover and foreign demand both weaker than recent trends. TJX and Williams Sonoma beat and raised, but Target missed and lowered FY EPS.

US equities were mostly lower in Tuesday trading, though ended off worst levels in fairly choppy trading. Select big tech and AI still under scrutiny while healthcare remains a preferred destination.

US equities finished lower in Monday trading, ending a bit off worst levels. There were a few moving pieces as the market waits for a number of higher-profile events this week, including Nvidia NVDA earnings, retail earnings, FOMC minutes, a barrage of Fedspeak, and September’s NFP and flash PMIs. In macro news, the Empire State manufacturing survey for November posted a surprise increase to 18.7, its highest since last November.

Major US equity indices logged mixed performance this week, with a recent momentum unwind seeing some stabilization on Friday. AI names, retail-investor favorites, most-shorted names, crypto-linked companies, and quantum computing came under some pressure. Among the big stories in the ongoing AI-scrutiny thread were Softbank's sale of its Nvidia stake, a continuing selloff in Oracle with focus on its debt-fueled AI buildout plans, and Coreweave weakness after lowering guidance on delays from a third-party developer.

US equities were lower in Thursday trading as stocks ended just a bit off worst levels. Momentum unwind the big story today. No one specific factor behind the move, though fits with recent pickup in AI sentiment volatility. Higher rate backdrop also in focus with recent bout of hawkish Fedspeak and dampened December easing odds

US equities finished mixed in Wednesday afternoon trading, and off best levels, with the Dow Jones and S&P500 closing up 68bps and 6bps respectively, while the Nasdaq closed down 26bps, in another session characterized by better breadth. AI sentiment helped by positive AMD analyst day takeaways and Foxconn earnings, though a number of big tech names were soft. Fedspeak for the day included Atlanta's Bostic noting he favors keeping funds rate steady until clearer evidence inflation moving lower, and Miran again noted his preference for a 50 bp December cut. Treasury's $42B 10-year note auction tailed by 0.6 bp with the lowest bid-to-cover since August of 2024.

US equities finished mostly higher in Tuesday trading, ending a bit off best levels. Rotation/better breadth the story today with select defensive and cyclical pockets of the market outperforming while some of the AI trade has come under renewed scrutiny after a big Monday bounce. 

US equities finished higher in Monday trading, ending near session highs. The bigger story for the market today seems to be the rebound in AI sentiment after last week's drawdown. Nothing on the US economic calendar today, but a busy day of Fedspeak.