Treasury Bond Prices Jump While Stock Prices FallChipotle shares bounce back from losses last week.

ByAndrew Osterland

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

richcano | Getty Images

Investors continue to flock to the safety of U.S. Treasury bonds as signs of a slumping U.S. economy accumulate.

Stock prices were down again today with the Dow and S&P 500 indexes falling 0.93 percent and 0.84 percent respectively. The Nasdaq Composite index fell 0.39 percent while theEntrepreneur Index™closed the day off 0.09 percent.

U.S. Treasury bond prices, on the other hand, jumped sharply, resulting in a six basis point drop in the yield on the 10-year Treasury bond. At 2.27 percent, the 10-year yield is the lowest it's been in nearly two years and almost nine points below the return on the three-month Treasury bill. Morgan Stanley's chief U.S. equity strategist Michael Wilson warned that it could be a sign of a looming recession. In a report released today, he wrote that growing trade tensions and falling consumer and business confidence suggest that the U.S. economy could slow dramatically.

The investment bank lowered its estimate for second quarter GDP growth to 0.6 percent compared to 3.2 percent in the first quarter. Wilson also warned that the yield curve (which plots yields on U.S. debt against their duration) inverted last November and that a recession could be nearer than many expect. A yield curve inversion -- when short-term interest rates are higher than long-term rates -- often indicates a coming recession.

Thetechnologysector was generally positive today, though most gains were modest.Facebook(1.77 percent) andAdobe Systems Inc.(1.27 percent) had the biggest jumps in the sector. Chip-makersNVIDIACorp. (-1.25 percent) andAnalog Devices(-1.33 percent), both very sensitive to trade concerns, continued to slide.TripAdvisor Inc.was also down sharply, falling 2.25 percent.

Chipotle Mexican Grill是唯一的其他企业家指数股票吗狗万官方™ up by more than one percent today, gaining 2.64 percent. Shares in the restaurant chain fell sharply last week after several analysts gave cautious outlooks on the company. Many suggested that African swine fever and rising meat prices could hurt Chipotle's operating margins. The stock is one of the best performing on the Entrepreneur Index™ this year, up 57.5 percent.

Other gains on the index includedEstee Lauder Companies(0.88 percent) and O'Reilly Auto Parts (0.67 percent).

J.M Smucker Company shares fell 2.38 percent. The food-maker has also been a strong performer this year, rising 32.3 percent. RetailerBed Bath & Beyond, seen as vulnerable to the tariff battles between the U.S. and China, was down 2.6 percent. The shares were up dramatically in the first three months of the year, but have fallen more than thirty percent since April 10. For the year, they are now up 19.7 percent.

Other notable losses on the index includedCapital One Financial(-2.24 percent),L Brands(-1.93 percent) and REITsMacerich Company(-2.35 percent) andKimco Realty Corp.(-2.2 percent).

TheEntrepreneur Index™collects the top 60 publicly traded companies founded and run by entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurial spirit is a valuable asset for any business, and this index recognizes its importance, no matter how much a company has grown. These inspirational businesses can be tracked in real time onEntrepreneur.com.

Wavy Line

Andrew Osterland is a contributing writer forCNBC.com. He specializes in capital markets, personal finance and taxes.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

What Is a 'Lazy Girl Job'? New TikTok Trend Empowers Women to Work However They Want

The trend began as a way for women to find more free time during their days.

Growing a Business

3 Solutions That Help Alleviate Everyday Pressures Small Business Owners Face

We live in a world with increasing pressures from stakeholders, constantly changing customer expectations and volatile financial conditions — which for many, especially business owners — can make it hard to create clear distinctions between professional and personal emotions.

Business Ideas

The Top 10 Home Business Ideas for 2023

Can't figure out which enterprise you should launch in 2023? Check out 10 stellar home business ideas to get inspiration.

Starting a Business

10 Common Obstacles to Avoid When Starting a Business

Starting a new business can be an exciting and rewarding venture, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Here are some common obstacles to avoid when starting a new business.

Business Models

Tap Into Boundless Success Potential With These Remote Business Ideas

Are you tired of getting up in the morning, getting in your cold car, and driving to work? Then don't. Check out these remote business ideas.