US stocks closed the week with strong gains on Friday, pushing the major averages to their highest level since early May 2010. The S&P and Dow are currently on track for their best September since 1939, when they rose 14.4% and 11.7%, respectively.
What follows is a summary of this week's statistics on the markets.
Dow Jones Industrial Average
- The Dow ended up 252.4 or 2.38% for the week, logging 4-consecutive weeks of gains
- Up 709.61 points or 6.99% in the last 4 weeks
- Biggest 4-week % gain since 7/30/10 when it gained 8.05% in that 4-week period
- Last time the Dow traded up for 4-straight weeks was on 4/23/10 when it gained 3.26% in that 4-week streak
- 27 of the Dow 30 components increased for the week
- On Friday, the Dow settled up 197.84 or 1.86% at 10,860.26, its highest closing level since 5/12/10 when it settled at 10896.91
- Up 8.4% month-to-date, and up 11.1% quarter-to-date
- On track for its best September percent increase since 1939 when it gained 11.7% for this month
- On track to its best monthly percent gain since 7/2009 when it gained 8.6%
- In the past 10 years, the Dow has closed up in September only 4 times (In ’05-’07 & ‘09)
- There have only been 4 occurrences in where the Dow has posted September gains of 8% or higher (In 1896, 1915-16, & 1939)
- Off by -3,304.27 or -23.3% from the market peak on October 9, 2007 of 14,164.53
- Off by -742.26 or -6.6% from its 2010 closing high of 11,205.03 reached on 4/26
S&P 500
- The S&P 500 ended up 23.08 or 2.05% for the week, logging 4-consecutive weeks of gains
- Up 84.08 points or 7.9% in the last 4 weeks
- Recorded its biggest 4-week % gain since 8/07/09 when it gained 14.94% in that 4-week period
- Last time the S&P traded up for 4-straight weeks was on 4/09/10 when it gained 3.86% in that 4-week streak
- 418 (~84%) of the S&P 500 components rose for the week
- On Friday, the S&P settled up 23.84 or 2.12% at 1148.67 its highest closing level since 5/13/10 when it settled at 1157.43
- Up 9.47% month-to-date, and up 11.4% quarter-to-date
- On track for its best September percent increase since 1939 when it gained 14.4% for the month
- On track to its biggest monthly percent gain since 3/2000 when it gained 9.67%
- In the past 10 years, the S&P has closed up in September 5 times (In ’04-’07 & ‘09)
- There has only been 1 occurrence in where the S&P has posted September gains of 9% or higher (In 1939)
- Off by -416.48 or -26.6% from the market peak on October 9, 2007 of 1,565.15
- Off by -68.6 or -5.6% from its 2010 closing high of 1217.28 reached on 4/23.
NASDAQ Composite
- The NASDAQ Composite ended up 65.61 or 2.83% for the week, logging 4-consecutive weeks of gains
- Up 227.6 or 10.57% in the last 4 weeks
- Recorded its biggest 4-week % gain since 8/07/09 when it gained 13.91% in that 4-week period
- The last time the NASDAQ traded up for 4-straight weeks was on 4/23/10 when it gained 5.64% in that 4-week streak
- (~83%) of the NASDAQ 100 components rose for the week
- On Friday, the NASDAQ settled up 54.14 or 2.33% at 2381.22 its highest closing level since 5/13/10 when it settled at 2394.36
- Up 12.64% month-to-date, and up 12.89% quarter-to-date
- On track for its best September percent increase since 1998 when it gained 12.98% for this month
- On track to its biggest monthly % gain since 10/2002 when it gained 13.45%
- In the past 10 years, the NASDAQ has closed up in September only 4 times (In ’04, ’06, ’07 & ‘09)
- There has only been 1 occurrence in where the NASDAQ has posted September gains of 12% or higher (In 1998)
- Off by -477.9 or -16.7% from its 6-year + high reached on October 31, 2007 of 2,859.12
- Off by -148.93 or -5.89% from its 2010 closing high of 2,530.15 reached on 4/23
S&P 500 Sectors
All ten S&P sectors closed the week in positive territory, with technology and industrial companies leading the way to the upside.
- NVIDIA was the biggest percent gainer in the technology sector, up 16% for the week
- Industrial stocks were helped by Caterpillar, up 9% this week
- Year-to-date, seven sectors are trading to the upside, with consumer discreationary and industrial stocks up the most
