Index Performance

S&P 500 Index:  0.2%

Dow Jones Industrial Average:  0.1%

Nasdaq Composite:  0.8%

US and International Equities

Markets generally finished higher this week, the third straight weekly gain for the S&P 500 Index and capped off by a strong retail sales report that helped give stocks a boost on Friday. Gains came despite ongoing investor concerns related to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the United States—and even more so in Europe—as well as Washington, DC, gridlock on the stimulus front. Large cap growth topped its value counterpart while technology bested all sect

The 10-year Treasury yield has stayed in a narrow range since April 2020, helped by a supportive Federal Reserve and ongoing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. As shown in LPL’s Chart of the Day, the 10-year Treasury yield actually is sitting below inflation right now as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) excluding food and energy. A negative real yield (a yield lower than inflation) was once rare, occurring periodically in the 1970s and early ‘80s due to high inflation, but since the start of 2011 the 10-year Treasury real yield has been negative almost 40% of the time.

“Negative real rates may be an

This earnings season, corporate America will get closer to the return of earnings growth—which is likely in the first quarter of 2021. We probably will have another decline in profits for third quarter 2020, though potentially only about half as big as last quarter’s. And we will undoubtedly hear more about uncertainty—both COVID-19 and election-related. We also highlight three things investors can watch this earnings season.

Moving in The Right Direction

How investors evaluate this earnings season will depend on their perspectives. We are likely to get a much smaller year-over-year decline in S&

Index Performance

S&P 500 Index: 3.7%

Dow Jones Industrial Average: 3.3 %

Nasdaq Composite: 4.6%

US and International Equities

The S&P 500 Index posted its best week in more than three months, boosted by renewed stimulus talks and the potential for targeted business-aid, and all major sectors finished in the green. Energy, after struggling the past month, was the best performing sector. Materials, utilities, and industrials were also among the sector leaders. Growth and value performed in-line, though small caps stole the show with the Russell 2000 posting a more than 6% gain.

“T