US markets end significantly lower on Friday

22 Jan 2022 Evaluate

The US markets ended significantly lower on Friday with Nasdaq falling around 3 per cent amid weak earnings report from Netflix, which set off a cascade of selling pressure among the other markets. Surging bond prices also drove the markets lower, exacerbating interest rate concerns; most of the market participants believe a rate hike of at least 25 basis points from the FOMC is imminent in March. Also on Friday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen offered her view that U.S. economic policy improves on Reagan-era supply-side economics. Yellen said ‘Modern supply-side economics seeks to spur economic growth by both boosting labor supply and raising productivity, while reducing inequality and environmental damage’.

On the economic front, the Conference Board's leading economic index ticked slightly higher and was in line with expectations. A gauge of future U.S. economic activity increased solidly in December, suggesting the expansion would continue despite challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and anticipated interest rate increases from the Federal Reserve to tame high inflation. The Conference Board said its Leading Economic Index rose 0.8% last month after advancing 0.7% in November. The Conference Board estimated that gross domestic product growth would slow to a 2.2% annualized rate in the first quarter. It is forecasting growth of 3.5% this year.

Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 450.02 points or 1.30 percent to 34,265.37, Nasdaq fell 385.10 points or 2.72 percent to 13,768.92 and S&P 500 was down by 84.79 points or 1.89 percent to 4,397.94.

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