Day Traders Diary

6/21/21

The major averages surged as the market recouped some of the steep losses caused by the Federal Reserve's policy shift last week. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 586 points, or 1.7%, rebounding from its worst week since October. The S&P 500 gained 58 points or 1.4%, sitting just within 1% from its record high. The Nasdaq Composite rose 111 points or 0.79% with a number of key tech names including Amazon, Nvidia and Netflix still traded in the red.

Commodity stocks that were hit hard last week led the market comeback on Monday as the S&P 500 energy sector rallied nearly 3%. Devon Energy and Occidental Petroleum jumped 4% each, while Exxon and Chevron were both up 2% apiece. Reopening plays including Norwegian Cruise Line, Gap and Boeing were higher. Banks including JPMorgan, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs also rebounded.

These sectors tied to the economic recovery led last week's sell-off in stocks. The S&P 500 financials and materials sectors lost more than 6% on the week, while energy fell more than 5% and industrials dropped more than 3%.

U.S. stocks fell last week as investors digested new economic projections from the Fed and worried rate hikes could come sooner than expected. The central bank on Wednesday raised its inflation expectations and forecast rate hikes in 2023.

St. Louis Fed President Jim Bullard told CNBC Friday that it was natural for the central bank to tilt a little more "hawkish" and saw higher interest rates as soon as 2022.

The Dow dropped 3.5% last week, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq dipped 1.9% and 0.2%, respectively, on the week.

The U.S. market on Monday was resilient in the face of an overnight drop in Asian markets and a big decline in bitcoin. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell as much as 4% at one point on Monday with automakers Nissan and Honda leading the way. It closed 3.3% lower.

Meanwhile, bitcoin fell more than 7% to $32,500 as China continued its crackdown on cryptocurrency mining.

The Treasury yield curve flattened last week, hitting banks and sending a signal of a potential economic slowdown. The yields of shorter-term Treasurys, like the 2-year note, rose — reflecting expectations of the Fed raising rates. Longer-term yields, like the 10-year note, retreated — a sign of less optimism toward economic growth.