The Dow Jones Industrial Average today climbed higher despite rising geopolitical concerns between the United States and China. The dispute is over an underwater drone.
There were also reports Russia's ambassador to Turkey had been shot in the Turkish capital of Ankara.
But investors mainly kept an eye on U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and what to do after the Fed's recent rate hike. Yellen spoke at the University of Baltimore in a speech titled "The State of the Job Market."
Yellen said it was the strongest time in roughly a decade for young Americans to be entering the job market.
The markets are trying to keep up the momentum after six straight weeks of positive gains.
Let's look at the numbers from Monday for the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq:
Dow Jones: 19,883.06; +39.65; +0.20%
S&P 500: 2,262.53; +4.46; +0.20%
Nasdaq: 5,457.44; +20.28; +0.37%
Now, here's a look at today's most important market events and stocks, plus a preview of Tuesday's economic calendar.
DJIA Today: Dow Rallies After Janet Yellen Speech in Baltimore
The Dow Jones rallied again as technology stocks pushed the markets higher. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) - widely considered the market's fear gauge - dipped over 3% and fell below 12.
Since the November 2016 election, the S&P 500 has rallied on increased optimism that President-elect Donald Trump's plans to bolster infrastructure spending and reduce red tape, regulations, and bureaucracy will help fuel economic growth. As Trump's cabinet continues to sharpen its knives to cut the Dodd-Frank Act and other regulations, his team should take some precautions. Money Morning Capital Wave Strategist Shah Gilani offers his plan to streamline Washington and avoid another financial crisis. Be sure to check out his insight, right here.
Don't Miss: Double Your Money as This Company Takes the Fight to America's Enemies
A new report by the Committee for a Responsible Budget suggests that rising interest rates could create a new set of headaches for Congress and worsen the nation's financial conditions. The watchdog group argues that interest rate payments on debt could become one of the government's largest line items in the years ahead. This would force the nation to increase taxes, slash entitlement spending, or borrow even more money to address the financial shortfalls.
The report comes a week after the U.S. central bank increased interest rates for the second time in a decade. While this could create problems in Washington, investors should learn the best way to improve their own financial situation by knowing how to invest after an interest rate hike.
Crude oil prices were flat on Thursday as a rising dollar weighed on trader sentiment.
The WTI crude oil price today was mostly flat as investors await last week's inventory reports from industry association American Petroleum Institute on Tuesday and the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Brent crude eased below $55.00 per barrel thanks to improving strength of the U.S. dollar. Investors continue to monitor the progress of the OPEC crude oil deal designed to cap excessive production among global oil producers. Money Morning Global Energy Strategist Dr. Kent Moors has already forecast a stronger oil price in the year ahead. However, investors need to pay attention to a major energy crisis about to grip one of Europe's largest economies.
Money Morning Resource Specialist Peter Krauth has broken down the recent decline in silver prices after the Federal Reserve's rate hike and argues that the tough times for the industrial metal could soon be coming to an end. More importantly, he offers his 2017 silver price forecast.
Today also featured another major financial leader who found herself in very hot water.
This morning, a French court found International Monetary Fund (IMF) head Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence charges. The case dates back to a 2008 event when she was the nation's finance minister. Lagarde had failed to oppose an unusual 400 million euro ($417 million) payout to a business tycoon. Though Lagarde received no sentence, she is the third consecutive head of the international agency to find herself in legal trouble. She has denied any negligence.
Top Stock Market News Today, Dec. 19, 2016
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- It was a great day for entertainment giant Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS). Shares climbed more than 1.6% after a huge opening weekend for its "Star Wars" film "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." The new "Star Wars" film earned a whopping $155 million in North America over its opening weekend. That figure is the most revenue ever collected in a December opening weekend. What does this mean for investors? We tackle that question, right here.
- Shares of Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) added nearly 1% after the aviation giant announced plans to cut its costs in 2017. Boeing will cut its workforce and offer a dividend hike.
- In earnings news, shares of Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) are in focus after the company topped Wall Street expectations. The firm reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.34, while Wall Street expected $1.28. The company reported revenue of $3.38 billion, topping expectations of $3.3 billion. The homebuilder said that it anticipated the U.S. housing market to continue its recovery despite the Federal Reserve's plans to hike interest rates three additional times in 2017.
- Finally, the holiday shopping season is in full swing, which means it's time to take advantage of the biggest trends this year. And Money Morning guru Tom Gentile encourages you to treat your portfolio to the most lucrative "Christmas stock" out there. Here's Gentile's latest stock recommendation.
Tuesday's U.S. Economic Calendar (all times EST)
- Redbook at 8:55 a.m.
- Four-Week Bill Auction at 11:30 a.m.
An $80 Billion Cover-Up? Feds use obscure loophole to threaten retirees... Under the watchful eye of Congress, the government will soon be implementing a controversial plan that threatens the retirement of millions of Americans. And they're using an obscure loophole buried in Title 29 of the U.S. Labor Code to do it. If you have a 401(k), IRA, or any type of retirement account, this could cause you to miss out on $68,870 or more. Full Story
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About the Author
Garrett Baldwin is a globally recognized research economist, financial writer, consultant, and political risk analyst with decades of trading experience and degrees in economics, cybersecurity, and business from Johns Hopkins, Purdue, Indiana University, and Northwestern.