It's The Economy Stupid: Market Close

U.S. stocks rose, extending a monthly rally, as reports indicated the American economy is growing at a pace that won’t hasten the end of Federal Reserve stimulus.

 

Japanese stock futures climbed after shares plunged in the regular session, while the dollar weakened.

 

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 0.4 percent to 1,654.44 and the Stoxx Europe 600 Index increased 0.4 percent

after tumbling 1.9 percent yesterday. Japan’s Topix Index slid 3.8 percent, taking its decline from the recent peak to more than 10 percent, the threshold for a correction. Gauges of currency-market and Treasury volatility jumped to the most in almost a year. The 10-year Treasury yield was little changed at 2.11 percent and the Dollar Index slid 0.8 percent. Gains in aluminum, silver, lead and gold helped the S&P GSCI commodities index erased most of an earlier 1 percent drop.

 

The U.S. economy grew at an annualized 2.4 percent pace in the first quarter, down from a preliminary reading of 2.5

percent, the Commerce Department said. Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said last week the central bank could reduce the pace of bond purchases if there is a sustained improvement in growth. Other reports showed fewer Americans than forecast signed contracts to buy previously owned homes and jobless claims increased.

 

Description	Ticker	Last	CHANGE	% Chg Today	Pct Chg 1Yr
STOCK MARKETS
Dow Jones Industrial Average	INDU Index	15324.530	21.7300	0.1420	23.3879
S&P 500 Index	SPX Index	1654.430	6.0700	0.3682	26.0934
S&P 400 Mid Cap Index	MID Index	1195.320	8.8600	0.7468	28.7656
S&P 600 Small Cap Index	SML Index	466.570	-2.3100	-0.4900	29.2984
NASDAQ 100 Index	NDX Index	3011.832	17.0110	0.5680	18.6976
NASDAQ Composite Index	CCMP Index	3491.297	23.7820	0.6859	23.0474
Russell 3000 Index	RAY Index	983.230	4.2000	0.4290	26.6429
Russell 1000 Index (Large Cap)	RIY Index	917.030	3.6700	0.4018	26.3332
Russell 2000 Index (Small Cap)	RTY Index	994.430	7.4700	0.7569	30.5026
Wilshire 5000 Total Market	W5000 Index	17443.420	68.2800	0.3930	26.6565
TREASURIES	% Yield
3 Month Treasury	0.0304		-0.0100	-28.5714
6 Month Treasury	0.0659		-0.0150	-20.0000
2 Year Treasury	0.2931	99.914	0.0000	0.0000
5 Year Treasury	1.0096	99.945	-0.0078	-0.0078
10 Year Treasury	2.1119	96.734	0.0000	0.0000
30 Year Treasury	3.2773	92.313	-0.2500	-0.2701
ENERGY
Crude Oil, Brent Index	Brent Crude	102.170	-0.2600	-0.2538	2.1087
Crude Oil, Louisiana Lt. Sweet	LA Lt Sweet	102.110	0.2300	0.2258	2.1700
Natural Gas, Henry Hub Index	Nat Gas	4.034	-0.1500	-3.5851	19.5665
PRECIOUS METALS
Spot Gold $/oz	GOLD	1413.710	20.6100	1.4794	-9.5409
Spot Silver $/oz	SILVER	22.744	0.2525	1.1227	-18.4302
CURRENCIES
Euro	EUR Curncy	0.767	-0.0060	-0.7764	-5.1694
Japanese Yen	JPY Curncy	100.690	-0.4800	-0.4744	-21.4463
British Pound	GBP Curncy	0.657	-0.0043	-0.6506	1.6251
Swiss Franc	CHF Curncy	0.953	-0.0081	-0.8425	1.8565
Canadian Dollar	CAD Curncy	1.030	-0.0051	-0.4927	0.0097
Chinese Renminbi	CNY Curncy	6.131	0.0042	0.0686	3.5655
FOREIGN INDICIES
FTSE 100 INDEX	UK	6656.990	29.8200	0.4500	25.6681
CAC 40 INDEX	FRANCE	3996.310	22.1900	0.5584	32.5221
DAX INDEX	GERMANY	8400.200	63.6200	0.7631	33.7441
NIKKEI 225 INDEX	JAPAN	13589.030	-737.4300	-5.1473	59.0713
HANG SENG INDEX	HONG KONG	22484.310	-70.6200	-0.3131	20.6918

 

 

 

John Broussard

Assistant State Treasurer

Chief Investment Officer

State of Louisiana

Department of the Treasury

Ph:  225-342-0013

Fx:  225-342-9721

Email:  jbroussard@treasusry.state.la.us

Street Address:

445 North Blvd, 7^th Floor

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 44154 Capitol Station

Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4154

Physical Location:

One City Plaza, 7th Floor

Corner of North Blvd & 4th Street

Exit 1B I-110 Convention Street,

Turn Left to get to North Blvd,

Turn Right on North Blvd