Negative Indices | Weekly Abstract February 1

Weekly summary January 25 to 29

The U.S. equity market closed the week in the negative. The main US stock market indexes closed the worst week since October 2020.

In Europe, the main financial markets closed the week negatively. With these movements, most European indices are approaching the lows of last December.

To be taken into account

About 36% of the companies comprising the S&P 500 index have already reported fourth-quarter 2020 results. Approximately 85% of the companies have beat analysts' estimates during the last quarter of the year. This week's highlights include Amazon, Alphabet, Alibaba, Merck, BP and Exxon Mobil, among others.

On the week, the January employment report and U.S. nonfarm payrolls are expected. Both could give investors a first glimpse of the health of the labor market inherited by U.S. President Joe Biden.

After a week that saw a historic showdown between hedge funds and retail investors over some stocks that had a large volume of short positions, investors will be watching to see if this event could portend a new wave of high volatility for the overall market or if it was simply a one-time event.