عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ
لَيْسَ الْغِنَى عَنْ كَثْرَةِ الْعَرَضِ، وَلَكِنَّ الْغِنَى غِنَى النَّفْسِ
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Wealth is not in having many possessions, but rather (true) wealth is feeling sufficiency in the soul.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, #6446)
Market Snapshot
▼ S&P 500 -2.30%
▼ SPUS -3.25%
▼ MSCI World Islamic -0.99%
*Market data for last week ending Friday
Last Week’s Review
Market Leaders Emerging Post-Election: While the broader market has cooled off after its initial rally following the U.S. presidential election, some sectors continue to climb. Energy, finance, and cryptocurrency are leading the way, driven by anticipated deregulation and support for traditional energy.
EU Economic Forecast: On November 15, the European Commission projected 0.8% GDP growth for the euro area in 2024, with inflation easing to 2.4%. Growth is expected to reach 1.6% by 2026, driven by recovering domestic demand despite weak global trade.
Shopify Reports Strong Growth: Shopify shares surged 25% after the company delivered a strong holiday sales forecast and exceeded third-quarter revenue estimates. Its focus on AI-powered tools, which attracted more merchants across diverse categories, and its ongoing expansion into new markets have driven its impressive outperformance in the e-commerce sector.
This Week’s Outlook
NVIDIA Earnings (November 20): NVIDIA’s upcoming earnings report is highly anticipated as investors look for indications of continued growth amid the AI boom. The results could significantly influence tech sector sentiment, following poor earnings from some competitors.
Retail Giants’ Earnings (Week of November 18): Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and Lowe’s will report earnings this week. Walmart and Target are expected to report steady revenue growth, while Home Depot and Lowe’s may see mixed results due to softer home improvement trends.
Curated Reads
Big Oil Benefits from Tougher Regulations
Strict environmental rules may seem like a hurdle for the energy sector, but they often strengthen the position of larger oil companies. With the resources to adapt, these giants can outlast smaller competitors, consolidating their market share and maintaining long-term dominance in the industry. [Read]
Nvidia’s Earnings Anticipation Fuels Market Buzz
Nvidia’s upcoming earnings report has captured market attention, as its GPUs remain essential for advancing AI technology. With its stock more than doubling this year, investors are eager to see if the company can sustain its momentum amid rising expectations and competition. This earnings release will be closely watched for insights into Nvidia’s ability to meet the growing demands of the AI-driven market. [Read]
Chart of the Week
Market Momentum Across the Board
This week’s chart isn’t about a single company but the market as a whole. The chart above provides a snapshot of how stocks are performing relative to their 50-day and 200-day moving averages—two key tools for understanding momentum. The 50-day average reflects short-term trends, while the 200-day average gives a sense of longer-term direction. Stocks trading above these averages are typically seen as bullish, and when these averages are rising, it indicates sustained strength. Additionally, when the 50-day average is higher than the 200-day, it suggests short-term momentum is outpacing longer-term trends.
What does it all mean? Financials are the clear leader, with more than 90% of stocks above both their 50-day and 200-day moving averages, reflecting broad strength across the sector. On the other hand, Real Estate is the weakest, with less than a third of stocks above their 50-day average, showing persistent bearishness. Technology, however, offers mixed signals—its short-term averages suggest some recovery, but long-term trends remain uncertain.
The most important conclusion you can draw from this chart is the importance of sector rotation. While it’s tempting to chase sectors performing well in the moment, markets often rotate leadership, and piling into the current winners can leave investors exposed to reversals. Diversification ensures your portfolio is much less dependent on the boom or bust cycles of being heavily concentrated in one sector. Not everyone has the time or resources to check for undervalued sectors, and diversification remains the best way to protect your wealth.
Disclaimer: This information is accurate as of the date of publishing and is not intended as investment advice.
Your Questions
Is it okay to invest in a company that passes one shariah standard, but fails others?
Yes, you can. Although you may want to be cautious to see if the debt, for example, will be coming down in the future or going up. In the latter case, it may become non-compliant. (Answered by Faraz Omar, AAOIFI Certified Shariah Advisor and Auditor)
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