Market developments
Equities:
U.S. equities had a strong week, with the S&P 500 Index rising 1.8%. The solid jobs report underscored the strength of the economy, despite increasing probabilities of a new interest rate hike. Additionally, the Nasdaq 100 Index gained momentum, climbing 2.0% for the week. The rebound was further supported by the passage of the debt-ceiling increase. The tech sector played a prominent role in the market gains, pushing the S&P 500 to its highest levels since August 2022.
Fixed income:
The bonds market experienced fluctuations during the week. Mixed economic reports and anticipated month-end flows influenced price action. Treasuries rallied later in the week, driven by lower-thanexpected labour costs and manufacturing data. However, a sharp sell-off occurred following the strong May jobs report, leading to extended losses and a flattening of the Treasuries curve as investors anticipated a rate pause in June and a potential rate increase in July.
Commodities:
Oil also experienced a volatile week, initially declining due to concerns over China’s economic recovery but later rebounding alongside equity markets. Attention shifted to the upcoming OPEC+ meeting, where output levels would be discussed. Despite recent price declines, there was speculation that OPEC+ would maintain current output levels. Overall, oil ended the week down 0.95%.