Never miss a story — sign up for PLANSPONSOR newsletters to keep up on the latest retirement plan benefits news.
Investing March 30, 2001
Market Commentary – Noon
March 30, 2001 - Stocks are churning in a narrow
range, with blue chips showing some strength in
end-of-quarter portfolio adjusting. The broader list is
struggling as the March Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index and
Chicago PMI painted a mixed picture of the economy.
Reported by editors@plansponsor.com
The DJIA is up 46 at 9846 as Intl Bus. Machines (IBM), Philip Morris Cos (MO), and oils rise. Nasdaq is off 3 at 1818, up from a low of 1794. NYSE breadth is 17-11 positive; Nasdaq breadth is 17-15 negative. Trading is moderate. Short-term technicals are bullish.
Bonds are up. The dollar is mixed. Oil futures are off.
“The economic slowdown is necessary and healthy as excess inventories are reduced,” said Thomas White, manager of Thomas White American Opportunity Fund (TWAOX). White thinks the stock market “is smarter than any economist,” because it anticipated the changed business cycle. The economy should be “flat” this year and pick up in 2002, according to White.
Since the stock market is a leading indicator, it should start climbing earlier, probably in May, White predicts. He noted that historically, the stock market usually bottoms out in May and September. A May turnaround would be reasonable, in White’s view, because the market decline would then reach the 14-month point.
Market Action | |
| S&P 500 | 1152.51 +4.56 |
| NASDAQ Composite | 1817.73 -2.84 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | 9845.54 +46.48 |
| 10-Year Treasury Yield | 4.91% (previous close, 4.98%) |
| Dollar | Mixed |
Copyright 2001, Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information, see our Terms of Use .