Stocks advance in February on positive macroeconomic and technical data

March 1, 2017

What happened in February?

Positive momentum continued in global equities as U.S. and international stocks advanced for a 4th and 3rd straight month, respectively. The S&P 500 Index gained on 18 of the 21 trading days in February. The shortened month witnessed a reduction in negative geopolitical headline noise and continued positive macroeconomic data releases – U.S. consumer prices (key indicator of inflation) increased the most since February 2013, retail sales gained, and existing home sales rose to their highest level in nearly a decade. Across the pond, U.K. unemployment declined to its lowest rate in ten years, Eurozone PMI increased to a six-year high and Chinese factory activity expanded for an 8th straight month.