In an Uncertain World S&P 500 Post Record Highs

$DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $VXX

Friday the S&P 500 Index marked a new record, as investors showed confidence corporate earnings will not derail a rally that finished its 4th week running.

The S&P 500 rose 0.5 percent to 2,175.03 at 4:30p in New York, its 7th all-time high in the last 2 weeks, The benchmark gained 0.6% on the week, the smallest such advance in its 4-week run.

The S&P 500 has marked the longest stretch of weekly gains since March. The benchmark on Wednesday posted its 6th record in 8 sessions, the DJIA rose for 9 straight sessions, its longest rally since Y 2013, before halting the advance Thursday.

Speculation that central banks will act to cushion any fallout from Brexit, and signs of a strengthening US economy have driven stocks higher in recent weeks.

This earnings season has boosted optimism corporate results will support equities near records.

About 25% of S&P 500 firms have released figures so far, of which 82% exceeded profit forecasts and 60% beat sales expectations. The flow is set to accelerate, with more than 180 companies scheduled to report results next week.

Analysts forecast net income among S&P 500 members will slide 4.5% in Q-2, improving from a 5.8% fall predicted a week ago for a 5th straight Quarterly decliner.

While better-than-forecast data has helped push stocks to fresh highs, it has also lifted odds of a US Fed interest-rate increase. Traders are pricing in a 46% chance of higher borrowing costs by December, up from about 21% 2 weeks ago, and a less than 8% probability after the 2-day equity selloff following the Brexit vote.

Friday, the US major stock market indexes finished at: DJIA +53.62 at 18570.85, NAS Comp +26.26 at 5100.16, S&P 500 +9.86 at 2175.03

Volume: Trade was light with about 733-M/shares exchanged on the NYSE

• Russell 2000 +6.8% YTD
• DJIA +6.6% YTD
• S&P 500 +6.4 YTD
• NAS Comp +1.9%

Have a terrific weekend.

  Brexit, DIA, DJIA, expectations, Fed, profits, QQQ, record, S&P 500, sales, SPY, stocks, VXX

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