Like a Bull | March 4th, 2024

March came in like a bull for the stock market, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching record highs fueled by tech stocks and consumer-related issues, driven partly by declining Treasury yields and better-than-expected corporate earnings. Despite troubles at New York Community Bancorp, the regional bank index remained steady. Small caps led the market during the week, with the Russell 2000 surging 2.9%, while trading volume was heavy and advancing issues outnumbered declining ones. Looking ahead, upcoming earnings reports from companies like Target, Kroger, and Costco will offer insight into the health of the U.S. consumer, and the BLS jobs report for February may provide further indicators for the Federal Reserve's rate decisions.

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