John Hancock Weekly Market Recap: Week Ended June 29.

Midyear checkup

The S&P 500 and the Dow posted mixed results in the first half of 2018, while the NASDAQ was a standout performer. On a price basis, the S&P 500 was up nearly 2% through Friday and the Dow was down nearly 2%. In contrast, the NASDAQ posted a year-to-date gain of nearly 9%.

A touch of turbulence

Although the major U.S. stock indexes’ weekly declines were modest, daily volatility was significant. The Dow saw two triple-digit point declines: 328 points on Monday and 165 on Wednesday. The Dow rose on Thursday and Friday, with shares of financials sector stocks leading the broad market.

Tech power

The NASDAQ owes much of its year-to-date outperformance and recent record highs to its heavier weighting in information technology stocks relative to the S&P 500 and the Dow. Tech and consumer discretionary are the only two sectors in the S&P 500 that have posted double-digit total returns so far in 2018.

Panda bear market

Trade tensions with the United States have weighed on China’s equity market in recent months, and a Chinese stock index declined 20% from a recent high—a drop that signifies a bear market. The index fell more than 10% in the second quarter alone, sinking to a level last seen in 2011.

Source: jhinvestments.com, John Hancock Investments