The Dow Jones New York Stock Exchange closed lower on Friday (December 30), the last trading day of 2022 and the market’s worst year since 2008, which was hit by rising interest rates. war and growing concern about the number of COVID-19 cases in China.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 33,147.25 points, down 73.55 points or -0.22%, the S&P 500 Index closed at 3,839.50 points, down 9.78 points or -0.25%, and the Nasdaq closed at 10,466.48 points, down 11.61 points or -0.11%.
this week the Dow lost 0.2%, the S&P500 0.1% and the Nasdaq 0.3%. The Dow lost 8.8%, the S&P 500 19.4% and the Nasdaq 33.1%.
All three indexes closed year-on-year lowers in 2022 for the first time since 2018, under pressure from the Federal Reserve which raised interest rates at the fastest rate since the 1980s.
Sam Stovall, Chief Investment Analyst at CFRA Research says, “The market is under pressure from negative factors such as ongoing supply chain disruption since 2020, rising inflation. and the Fed’s tightening of monetary policy to curb inflation.”
He also noted negative factors, including leading economic indicators pointing to a recession, geopolitical tensions including the war in Ukraine. as well as the number of people infected with COVID-19 on the rise in China and tensions between China and Taiwan.
Growth stocks face pressure as Treasury yields rose for most of 2022 and underperformed value stocks adjusted for economic conditions. This is a reversal of a trend that has been going on for most of the last 10 years: shares of Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, India, Amazon and Tesla are, shares that have fallen sharply by 28-66% in 2022.
Growth stocks in the S&P 500 are down about 30.5% this year, while value stocks are down 7.7%, with investors flocking to stocks with high dividend yields and stable earnings.
Communications stocks have fallen the hardest this year. with a drop of more than 40%
Ten of the 11 S&P 500 groups closed lower on Friday. Led by real estate and utility groups
Investors will focus on earnings prospects for listed companies in 2023 amid growing fears about the prospect of a recession.
However, signs of recovery in the US economy have raised concerns. Interest rates could continue to rise. The easing of inflationary pressures also raised hopes for a slowdown in rate hikes.
Financial markets expect a 65% probability that the Fed will raise interest rates by 0.25% at its February meeting. And the interest rate is expected to peak at 4.97% in mid-2023.
The Wall Street Stock Market will be closed on Monday, January 2, 2023 for New Year’s Day. And it will reopen as usual on January 3rd
