Weekly Global Perspectives

U.S. stocks closed lower on Friday to cap off an overall softer, holiday-shortened week, as a growing mass of worries, notably the Delta variant, among others began to take its toll.

U.S. stocks delivered mixed results in a range-bound week of pre-holiday trading. Markets ticked down on Friday after a weaker than expected jobs report.

The major U.S. stock indexes posted solid weekly gains, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq setting fresh closing highs on Friday. The small-cap Russell 2000 had its best week since March. Market in Asia and Europe also advanced.

Stock markets around the world retreated during a week of volatile trading. Risk-off sentiment was stoked by a slew of worries including resurgent Covid-19 infections, slowing economic growth and Federal Reserve tapering plans.

U.S. markets were mixed: the Dow and the S&P 500 advanced but the Nasdaq retreated. Trading was range-bound as investors weighed the Delta variant surge and weakening consumer sentiment against signs of easing inflation and new fiscal stimulus.

After a slow start to the week, global stocks regrouped for gains. Strong job gains for July eased concerns about a slowing economy as investors set aside worries about the coronavirus Delta variant.

U.S. stocks declined for the week but gained for the month of July. Market sentiment weakened on worries about slower economic growth, lofty earnings expectations, Delta variant contagion and China’s crackdown on internet/technology firms.

After plunging on Monday, the major U.S. equity indexes rebounded to finish the week at record highs. Investors bet that concern about the economic impact of the coronavirus Delta variant was overdone.

U.S. stocks posted modest weekly gains; market volatility increased as investors moderated their outlooks for near-term economic growth, spurring a rally in technology and growth company shares and pressuring U.S. Treasury yields downward.