This week in the markets
- The S&P 500 slipped on Wednesday after a five-day winning streak, possibly due to investor concerns about the global economy and trade.
- Corporate earnings continue to be upbeat. This week, two of the big winners were Snapchat and The New York Times.
- Facebook will now allow you to delete texts from conversations. No more regrettable late-night DMs!
S&P 500 slips after a five-day winning streak
US stock indexes were slightly down Wednesday after five straight days of wins for the S&P 500. The downturn may have been caused by investor concerns about the strength of the global economy. The Bank of England announced that the British economy is set for its weakest period of growth in decades, and the Trump administration indicated that the US-China trade deal has a ways to go before reaching completion. At Thursday’s close, the S&P 500 decreased 0.97%, the Nasdaq fell 1.18%, and the DJIA declined 0.87%.
As a MoneyLion investor, it’s important to stay focused on your long-term goals. Despite short-term market volatility, the economy continues to show signs of strength: low unemployment rates reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in January, a strong fourth-quarter (of 2018), Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 2.6%, and higher-than-expected corporate earnings this earnings season (see below for more). Woohoo! ?
The beat goes on for corporate earnings
Corporate earnings for the fourth-quarter of 2018 continue to be upbeat. According to analysts, 62% of companies (that have released earnings reports) have reported earnings exceeding expectations. Remember, there is sometimes a difference between what investors expect and what companies actually report. If a company “beats” expectations, this often results in higher stock prices. When investors are pleasantly surprised, they often flock to purchase the stock of the company that does better-than-expected. #Winning
One of the big winners this week was Snapchat. The social media platform’s stock skyrocketed 24% on Wednesday after reporting that its fourth-quarter revenue increased by 36%. Who else is obsessed with Snapchat filters? ?♀️ The New York Times also reported revenue growth that beat analysts expectations, and the American newspaper’s stock rose 12% as a result. Investors agree: Reading is fundamental! ?
Facebook adds a delete feature to chat
Ever sent a late-night Facebook message you regret? If so, you’re in luck. This week, the social media giant released a feature that allows users to delete texts from conversations within 10 minutes of sending — think quick! Last April, it was found that CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s messages had mysteriously disappeared. When questioned, Facebook confirmed that Zuckerberg’s messages expired over time due to security measures. Sounds like Mark was holding out on us.
And now for your weekly Lionomics wrap-up. ?
Lionomics: Finance made easy
This week in Lionomics, we discussed how you can choose mutual funds almost in the same way you select restaurants using Yelp — by viewing their fund ratings. We also looked at how bonds are given credit ratings based on their risk levels. Find out why you may want to include a few high-risk bonds in your portfolio.
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