Market Recap: August 2014

By
Posted 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.