Market Recap: August 2014
By Mark FisselPosted on September 4th, 2014
Investors regained an appetite for risk in August, seeming to focus on generally encouraging Q2 economic data and corporate earnings reports rather than tensions overseas. The optimism took the S&P over 2,000 for the first time and gave the index its 32nd record close of 2014. Both the Dow industrials and the small caps of the Russell 2000 regained positive territory for the year, while the Nasdaq widened its year-to-date lead. And despite global conflicts, the Global Dow rebounded from its losses of the previous month.
Despite some volatility during the month, gold ended August at $1,285 an ounce, not far below where it began. The price of oil slid roughly $2 a barrel to end just under $96 a barrel. And the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield fell to a level it hasn’t seen in more than a year as demand pushed prices up.
Market/Index | 2013 Close | Prior Month | As of 8/29 | Month Change | YTD Change |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DJIA | 16576.66 | 16563.30 | 17098.45 | 3.23% | 3.15% |
Nasdaq | 4176.59 | 4369.77 | 4580.27 | 4.82% | 9.67% |
S&P 500 | 1848.36 | 1930.67 | 2003.37 | 3.77% | 8.39% |
Russell 2000 | 1163.64 | 1120.07 | 1174.35 | 4.85% | .92% |
Global Dow | 2484.10 | 2579.30 | 2618.91 | 1.54% | 5.43% |
Fed. Funds | .25% | .25% | .25% | 0 bps | 0 bps |
10-year Treasuries | 3.04% | 2.58% | 2.35% | -23 bps | -69 bps |
Chart reflects price changes, not total return. Because it does not include dividends or splits, it should not be used to benchmark performance of specific investments.