The Investment Management Group at Duncan Williams Asset Management is led by a team with extensive experience in investment management, financial planning, and client service. President David Scully, CFA®, CFP®, has more than 20 years of experience and is active in Memphis civic organizations. Chief Investment Officer Kyle Gowen, CFA®, CFP®, oversees investment strategy and is engaged with the local community. Investment Analyst Jack Eason, CFA®, provides research and supports charitable initiatives. The IMG team is committed to professional standards, client service, and community involvement. No statement is intended as an offer of investment advice or a guarantee of future results.
After four down sessions, U.S. equities firmed into the close as August CPI matched expectations, easing the week’s rate jitters sparked by hotter PPI and a spike in crude. The relief rally was broad with tech in the lead, even as the 10‑year Treasury stayed near the 5% line and oil, though off intraday, remained elevated on the week.
Key Headlines & Market Movers
Inflation relief, not victory: CPI steadies nerves but rates remain the boss: Headline CPI came in as expected, which was enough to calm a market rattled by the prior day’s firmer PPI and energy surge. Stocks took the cue, but the message from bonds didn’t change much: the 10‑year yield is still pressing toward 5%, keeping financial conditions tight and the Fed firmly in focus for next week. The dollar’s tendency to firm alongside long-end yields remains a watchpoint—if that persists, it can sap risk appetite even on good inflation prints.
Tech leads the bounce; AI and hardware names out front: Leadership rotated back to big tech and AI-adjacent hardware, with optical networking and select PC/server names pacing gains. Dell rallied sharply and semi-adjacent pockets outperformed, helping the Nasdaq climb alongside the broader tape. The move signaled better breadth than earlier in the week, when rate sensitivity and energy shocks had dominated factor moves.
Energy swings and deal talk add texture to the tape: Crude eased from the week’s highs, removing some immediate pressure on rate expectations, but prices are still up notably on the week amid Middle East supply risks. That backdrop kept a floor under inflation anxiety even as stocks rallied. Elsewhere, M&A headlines in autos/auctions added a micro catalyst, supporting risk sentiment beyond mega-cap tech.
Into next week, watch whether long-end yields finally back off the 5% threshold and whether oil’s pullback has legs—those two will set the tone for risk. With the Fed decision up next, the market will reward any confirmation that inflation is moderating without choking growth; conversely, a renewed climb in crude or yields could quickly test today’s bounce.
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