- Featured CommentariesMarket Daily UpdatesStock Market Today: August 16, 2019Harvey S. Katz, CFA and Mario Ferro | 08/16/2019The major U.S. equity indexes started the last session of a volatile trading week firmly in positive territory, and stocks ended the day up sharply. In economic news, the Commerce Department reported that housing starts were down 4%, to an annual rate of 1.19 million. However, building permits (a more forward-looking indicator) increased 8.4%, to a yearly rate of 1.34 million. The markets, though, largely looked past these numbers, and continued to bob and weave along with developments on the U.S.-China trade situation.Market Daily UpdatesStock Market Today: August 15, 2019Harvey S. Katz, CFA and John E. Seibert III | 08/15/2019While the early read on the futures indicated that yesterdays selloff may continue, things turned around before the opening bell. News broke that Chinas spokesperson at its foreign ministry hopes the U.S. side will meet China halfway. Traders took this to mean a potential softening of Chinas trade stance and an increased likelihood of a deal. The market shot up quickly both in the premarket and early in the trading session. Still, the market could not hold these gains, so it fell and briefly traded in the red. All told, the Dow closed up 100 points, the S&P 500 rose by seven points, but the NASDAQ eased slightly, falling seven points.StockHighlightsDow 30 Earnings: Walmart Inc. Fiscal Second Quarter 2019Kevin Downing | 08/15/2019Walmart shares trade modestly higher on the release of the retail giants solid fiscal second-quarter financial results and increased guidance.StockHighlightsDow 30 Earnings: Cisco Systems Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2019Kevin Downing | 08/15/2019Networking equipment and software provider Cisco Systems (CSCO) reported in-line results for the fiscal fourth quarter (year ended July 31st). However, guidance was below expectations and the shares are down moderately in response.Market Daily UpdatesStock Market Today: August 14, 2019Harvey S. Katz, CFA and Adam Rosner | 08/14/2019Stocks turned sharply lower this morning, and encountered further selling during the midday hours, and into the afternoon. Investors were rattled by some disturbing developments in the bond market, which stoked fears of a possible economic slowdown or even a recession. Specifically, the yield on the governments 10-year Treasury moved below the yield on the two-year note, creating a situation known as an inverted yield curve.