After a dismal 2022 for the four major North American indexes, it was great to see they closed out 2023 with big gains in the fourth quarter, leading to record highs. The three American indexes – the S&P 500 Index (S&P), the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), and the Nasdaq Composite Index (Nasdaq) – all ended the year riding a 9-week weekly winning streak. The Toronto Stock Exchange Composite Index (TSX) was not as hot but still concluded the year with three straight weeks of gains.
Despite initial concerns about inflation and recession, 2023 turned out to be a remarkable year for stock market performance. This unexpected rally was led by mega-cap technology stocks and other growth companies that had faced significant losses during the bear market in 2022.