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Insights and research on global events shaping the markets

As the U.S. election approaches tomorrow, history shows little long-term S&P 500 impact from election outcomes, while global economic forces like SNB profits and ChatGPT’s energy demands drive market dynamics. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.

The Nasdaq Composite reached record intraday highs on Wednesday before falling back sharply on Thursday. Over the week, growth stocks generally lagged value shares. Small-caps also held up much better than large-caps. 42% of the companies in the S&P 500 Index reported their Q3 earnings over the week, including five of the Mag 7. Microsoft and Apple were the biggest losers of the week whereas Amazon and Google gained. On the macro side, the Labor Department reported “essentially unchanged” nonfarm payrolls over the month, with employers adding only 12,000 jobs—the lowest number since December 2020. It included a decline of 44,000 jobs due to the Boeing strike.

Kamala Harris boosted by The Magnificent 7, global gold reserves surpass the euro as central banks' second most held asset, and de-euroisation vs. de-dollarisation. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.

The S&P 500 Index finished lower after posting gains in each of the six previous weeks as rising Treasury yields weigh on U.S. stocks. Large-cap stocks held up better than small-caps, and growth stocks outperformed value as the Nasdaq Composite Index gained slightly. Tesla was the best performer in the S&P 500 and led the Magnificent Seven, helping to keep the broad index from a steeper decline. The EV car maker posted better than expected quarterly earnings while Elon Musk projected strong sales growth in 2025. The stock recorded its best daily gain (22%) in more than 11 years on Thursday. Meanwhile, Apple dumped as Wall Street analysts downgraded their views on the stock. In Fixed Income, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield climbed about 10 bps on Monday to 4.20% and stayed around that level for the rest of the week.

Nvidia's market capitalisation possibly overtaking the Nikkei index, investors back the Magnificent 7, and global easing accelerates. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.

US equities recorded another week of gains. Banks were big winners this week while Energy stocks pulled back in sympathy with oil prices, which retreated as fears of possible Israeli attacks on Iran’s oil and gas infrastructure subsided. The small-cap Russell 2000 Index and the S&P MidCap 400 Index outperformed large-caps.  After lagging for much of the week, the Nasdaq Composite rallied during Friday’s trading session. Strong quarterly results from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing boosted AI-related stocks. The Nasdaq also received a lift from Netflix, which grew its subscriber numbers and expanded its operating margins by more than expected in the third quarter. On the Macro side, US retail sales and weekly jobless claims surprised positively while industrial production dropped 0.3% in September after increasing 0.3% in the preceding month.

The S&P 500 is set to deliver its best performance of the 21st century, even as September inflation in the U.S. jumps unexpectedly. Meanwhile, debit interest rates soar past 23%, adding pressure to consumers. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.

The S&P 500 Index and the Dow Jones both moved to record highs over the week, helped by some upside surprises to kick off earnings season. Shares in JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo rose on Friday after they reported smaller-than-feared declines in Q3 profits. A solid rise in NVIDIA shares helped growth stocks outperform value stocks and compensate for a decline in Google parent Alphabet. Tesla was also weak following a skeptical response to the company’s highly anticipated unveiling of its new “robotaxis” and “robovans.” The earnings focus arguably offset several disappointing economic reports over the week: headline and core (less food and energy) inflation rose in September by 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively, both a tick above expectations.

Abundant liquidity in the market is supporting gold and stocks and may even lead to a new bear market rally in China, while the Fed's rate cut may have minimal impact on U.S. equities.

Thanks to a rally on Friday, US blue chips stocks recorded a 4th consecutive weekly gain despite growing tensions in the Middle East and the dockworkers’ strike at Eastern seaports. Escalating Middle East tensions sent oil prices to their highest level in about a month, benefiting energy shares. The S&P 500 pulled back sharply (-1.38%) on Tuesday, as Iran fired nearly 200 missiles directly at Israel. While many of the missiles were intercepted, there were several hits in the southern and central parts of the country and threats of “more devastating attacks” if Israel responded. Markets stabilized on Wednesday, however, perhaps because worst-case scenarios failed to materialize.

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