STATE OF THE MARKET Written By Mark Martiak
S
tock Market declines have investors wondering what their next moves should be. The main questions this year for many is how much volatility remains and at what cost to their investment portfolios. The numbers aren’t pleasant. As of May 27, the S&P 500 is down 13.3 percent from its January 3rd peak, and on May 20 it briefly fell below the 20 percent threshold that defines a bear market on Wall Street.
Stocks closed higher by 6.6 percent the week ending May 27, 2002, ending a seven-week slide. More upbeat corporate news and favorable economic data helped quell investor angst, at least temporarily. The S&P 500 posted its best week since November 2020 and is headed for a positive month in May. A few factors may have helped increase investor confidence. Several large retailers released quarterly earnings results that largely exceeded Wall Street estimates. The personal consumption expenditures price index (the Fed’s preferred inflation indicator)
