Day Traders Diary

11/22/19

The major averages finished higher on the day even as the S&P 500 posted its first weekly decline in over a month amid lingering worries around U.S.-China trade talks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 107 points, or 0.4%. The S&P 500 gained 0.2% while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.16%.

For the week, the S&P 500 lost about 0.3% and snapped a six-week winning streak. The Dow declined 0.5% and had for its first one-week pullback in five. The Nasdaq ended a seven-week winning streak, dropping 0.3%.

President Donald Trump told Fox News both sides were "very close" to reaching a trade agreement, nothing: "We have a very good chance to make the deal."

His comments came after Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that Beijing wants to work for a trade deal with the U.S. but is not afraid to "fight back." Xi also told a visiting U.S. business delegation that China holds a "positive attitude" toward the trade talks.

For the week, the S&P 500 lost about 0.3% and snapped a six-week winning streak. The Dow declined 0.5% and had for its first one-week pullback in five. The Nasdaq ended a seven-week winning streak, dropping 0.3%.

Retailers have wrapped up the earnings week with another batch of mixed results. Nordstrom closed up 10%, JM Smucker rose 4% while Gap rose 4% following earnings. Williams-Sonoma dropped 2% and Foot Locker fell 3% on lackluster earnings.

Tesla was a dog down 6% after their Cybertruck pickup was met with some confusion and mixed reviews. Ultimately, it appeared to be a sell-the-news case after the stock climbed about 40% in the past month.

U.S. Treasuries ended the week on a flat note. The 2-yr yield increased two basis points to 1.63%, and the 10-yr yield was unchanged at 1.77%. The U.S. Dollar Index increased 0.3% to 98.26. WTI crude declined 1.2%, or $0.70, to $57.88/bbl.