Financial News and Portfolio Management Discussion through May 19th

US stocks fell over the week on concerns about global trade policies. The S&P 500 and Dow dropped 0.5% for the week. Internationally, Japan gained 0.8% and Europe rose 0.6% for the week. The yield on the 10 year Treasury rose 0.10% to end the week at 3.07%, near its highest level since 2011. Oil continued to gain, finishing the week at $71.28 a barrel and is now up 18% this year.

Retail sales rose 0.3% in April and March’s reading was revised up.  Article

Growth in the Eurozone slowed over the first quarter to 0.4% from 0.7% in the fourth quarter.

US firms have ramped up capital spending with a 24% increase in the first quarter over the prior year.

Japan’s economy shrank 0.6% in the first quarter for the first time in two years. The contraction was greater than expected.  Article

The average US 30 year mortgage rate hit a 7 year high of 4.61%.

 

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