As we settle into the new year, we find the market influenced by an unexpected source, progress in vaccination distribution and new information on stimulus checks. Read on for additional information into these areas and more. Speculative trading among smaller retail investors raised concerns about how social media is influencing individual stock valuations. Recently popularized social news aggregation and discussion …
Macro Overview November 2020
With the election over, a lingering uncertainty has been removed as expectations of how fiscal policy and stimulus programs funded by government debt may evolve. Unfortunately, along with the increased clarity of possible new government policy, other things are becoming clearer as some economists and market analysts project eventual higher taxes along with an expanding fiscal debt. A politically divided …
Macro Economic Overview October 2020
Worries regarding a second wave of infections heading into the fall, election uncertainties, and wavering economic indicators contributed to a dubious September. Equities paused from their upward trajectory in September, with technology stocks repelling from their highs. Uncertainty surrounding vaccine deployment and the election are expected to influence market momentum and investor confidence. Election results will help determine the direction …
Equity Markets Driven Higher In August – Domestic Market Overview
A little good news in an uncertain world. The recovery of U.S. stocks from the depths of the market turmoil in March has been unprecedented. Equity values returned to where they were before the pandemic in August. The rebound in equity indices has been one of the strongest in nearly 90 years, propelling indices to new highs this past month. …
Macro Overview
A quick snapshot of where we stand at the end of 2019 and the past decade. Financial markets experienced a bountiful decade for stocks and bonds, as a low rate environment fostered by the Federal Reserve and technological advances driven by innovation, catapulted values higher. The 2010 decade was the first decade to avoid a domestic economic recession, with accelerated …
Macro Overview – August 2019
Trade tensions escalated as the U.S. announced a 10% tariff commencing September 1st on $300 billion of Chinese imports that haven’t yet been subject to any tariffs. The additional tariffs would essentially apply to nearly all imports from China. Another $250 billion in Chinese imports have already been subject to a 25% tariff for the past few months. While this …
Economic Update – January 28, 2019
Dear Friends, Clients and Associates, One of the many changes that technology has created in our modern lives, is that we can find news and headlines that support any political view we want to believe in. The same can be said about the economy, the markets, their health and direction. As we look forward into 2019, there are many reasons …
Economic Update – Third Quarter 2018
July 10, 2018 Dear Friends, Clients and Associates, I remember being told as a kid trying to learn the fine art of hitting a baseball, “Always keep your eye on the ball”. A similar idiom in investing would be “Always keep your eye on corporate earnings”. So far this year, S&P 500 companies returned 24.8% in the first quarter over …
Year–End 2017 Economic Update
January 22, 2018 Dear Friends, Clients and Associates, Market Recap We are running out of superlatives to describe the U.S. stock market, but put simply, 2017 was a truly remarkable year. Stocks rose each and every month (the first year ever that has happened) along with a 9th consecutive year of positive returns for the S&P 500 Index (21.7%) tying …
Economic Update – 2nd Quarter 2017
The past quarter and first half of the year were characterized by historically low stock market volatility, the strong performance of both stocks and bonds, and the reversal of several market trends. In this quarter’s commentary, we attempt to explain these phenomena, some of which may seem contradictory. Investment Environment The S&P 500’s actual realized volatility has fallen to among …
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