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Earnings Remain Strong while Fed Begins to Taper
Friday, September 3, 2021
Stocks have impressively gained 20% year-to-date, with the S&P 500 making 53 new all-time highs before the end of August—another new record. All of this has happened with very little volatility, as the S&P 500 hasn’t had so...
Read MoreStocks Post Gains Despite Supply Chain Issues
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Six months and counting. That is the current monthly winning streak for the S&P 500 Index. To take that a step further, this key equity benchmark has posted gains in 13 of the last 16 months—dating back to the March 2020 low....
Read MoreThe Uneven Path to Normalcy
Thursday, June 17, 2021
As we move into June, a path to normalcy is coming quickly with stadiums allowing full capacity, restaurants filling up, and summer vacations in full swing. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy continues to recover remarkably quickly and the...
Read MorePost-Pandemic Normal is Approaching
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
It’s now been over a year since COVID-19 first hit American shores. While the pandemic has affected everyone to varying degrees, we can all agree that everyone’s life is different today than it was a year ago. It’s...
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2021 and the COVID Economy
Thursday, January 14, 2021
A new year offers a welcomed turn of the calendar and a fresh start. However, it’s difficult to put 2020 completely behind us just yet because the COVID-19 pandemic still presents a significant threat. Healthcare workers continue...
Read MoreKeys to Sustaining the Economic Recovery
Sunday, December 6, 2020
As 2020 comes to a close, we are already looking forward to a new year—and to a world very different from the one we’re leaving behind. Areas of the economy have been damaged and may never fully recover, but other areas...
Read MoreMarkets and the Democratic Process
Thursday, November 5, 2020
The American people have voted, casting a record number of ballots under extraordinary circumstances, which is a testament to the enduring resilience of our democracy. Determining the outcome of our elections is a process, but it...
Read MoreElections and the Market
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Speculation has been increasing that the November election results may be delayed or disputed, or both. A contested election might affect financial markets in several ways. Also, the news that President Donald Trump has tested positive...
Read MoreVaccines, Tech and the Economy
Thursday, October 1, 2020
Autumn has arrived, with students back in school, baseball playoffs beginning, and football in full swing. Life is trying to get back to as normal as possible despite the ongoing impact from COVID-19. The number of new daily cases and...
Read MoreThe Economic Recovery May Be Leveling Off
Monday, August 31, 2020
Signs that the economic recovery may be leveling off have not prevented corporate America from delivering earnings well above expectations. Leaders like Apple, Amazon, and Facebook reported extremely strong results in the second...
Read MoreA Gradual Recovery, Not a Snapback
Friday, July 24, 2020
At the midpoint of 2020 were mindful that its been an extremely challenging year so far in the United States and around the globe. Were in the midst of a pandemic that continues to impact all of us our communities and our economies....
Read MoreEconomy Turns a Corner but the Fight is Far From Over
Thursday, July 2, 2020
The July Fourth holiday will be very different this year. Although it is certainly a time to enjoy family and friends, and maybe even watch some fireworks, social distancing and a new wave of COVID 19 cases also may take a seat at the...
Read MoreLooking Beyond the Economic Weakness
Friday, June 12, 2020
As we look ahead to the summer months, we can’t help but think what a challenging year it’s been so far. At the same time, we’re encouraged by the resiliency and accelerated innovation among US businesses and the...
Read MoreThe Lifeblood of the US Economy
Sunday, May 24, 2020
The economic struggles in our country are among the worst we’ve ever seen. In April, a record 20 million people lost their jobs, and 36 million people have filed for unemployment since the COVID-19 pandemic struck in mid-March....
Read MoreThe 'Great Disconnect' Between Stocks and the Economy
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Investors like labels for the economy and financial markets—many of them with the word “great” in them. The Great Depression. The Great Recession. The Great Lockdown. Well, we’ve moved into what we might call...
Read MoreA Recession Unlike Any Other
Monday, April 27, 2020
22 million people have filed for unemployment in the past four weeks, nearly wiping out all the jobs created during the record 10-year economic expansion. Historic drops in consumer confidence, retail sales, industrial production, oil...
Read MoreThe Playbook for Investing in Bear Markets
Sunday, April 12, 2020
These are challenging times, and this week may be the toughest as we wait for COVID-19 to reach its peak in the United States. As the war against COVID-19 wages on, we continue to be inspired by the tremendous bravery shown by...
Read MoreConcern Remains Elevated and Market Volatility Reigns
Thursday, April 2, 2020
The world continues its battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, which now has likely impacted, either directly or indirectly, nearly every person on Earth. This is far more than just a health crisis—this is a human crisis. It is...
Read MoreEfforts to Flatten the Curve Come at a Cost
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Our everyday lives have changed dramatically over the last few weeks as we work together to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know these efforts are necessary, but they also have come at a cost. Global economic growth...
Read MoreHas This Market Already Priced In An Economic Slowdown?
Monday, March 16, 2020
Fears over the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) have gripped the country and sent stocks in the US and around the world into bear markets. What makes pandemics so much more personal than other crises is how they are felt by everyone,...
Read MoreDon't Try to Buy Snow Tires in the Middle of a Snow Storm
Monday, March 9, 2020
In your investing lifetime, you may only see a situation like the recent novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a few times. The truth is that we can’t yet gauge the full economic impact, and by the time we can, the volatility may have...
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A Historical Perspective on Market Corrections
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Every virus outbreak is different, but looking back at other major global outbreaks over the last three decades (SARS, bird flu, swine flu, Zika, etc.), we can see that the impact to the U.S. and global economies has tended to be...
Read MoreCoronavirus and the Market
Saturday, February 8, 2020
The start of 2020 has brought increased stock market volatility. The uncharacteristically calm market environment we experienced for much of the past four months was bound to end but identifying the catalyst for a potential sell-off...
Read MoreWhat a Difference a Year Makes
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Happy New Year! What a difference a year makes. In December 2018, dropping stocks were suggesting an increased risk that a recession, or market crisis, might be on the horizon. Confidence in investing fundamentals coupled with...
Read MoreInvestment Outlook for 2020
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
As we look forward to the year 2020 and a new decade, some key trends and market signals will be important to watch. These include progress on U.S.-China trade discussions, slowing global growth, an encouraging outlook from corporate...
Read MoreMarket Reaches Fresh Highs, Uncertainty Looms
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
The S&P 500 Index reached a fresh new high October 28, eclipsing the previous high of 3,025 set July 26, 2019. Recent gains have been impressive amid heightened economic and geopolitical uncertainty, and we believe fundamentals are...
Read MoreTrade Talks Resume, Will We Get a Deal?
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Summer has turned to fall, and there’s already a little chill in the air. Three-quarters of the year is behind us now, and both stock and bond markets have had a strong year so far, although we expect to see regular—but...
Read MoreYield Curve Inverts Plus Trade Tensions Persist
Thursday, September 19, 2019
After reaching new record highs in late July, the S&P 500 Index dropped approximately 1.8% in August as trade concerns pressured investor sentiment around the world. Impacts of U.S.–China trade tensions reverberated throughout...
Read MoreEconomic Update and US China Trade Deal
Monday, August 5, 2019
In a normal economic environment, stocks, bonds and gold typically do not experience simultaneous growth. But, these are not normal times: Domestic economic growth is steady, global demand is weakening, trade uncertainty prevails, and...
Read MoreGood Start for the Market in 2019, Will it Continue?
Thursday, May 2, 2019
If it seems like the financial markets have been off to an unusually strong start to the year—you are correct. The S&P 500 Index has risen for four consecutive months, resulting in the strongest start to a year in more than 30...
Read MoreEconomic Update
Saturday, April 20, 2019
April brings showers, baseball, and historically, the best month of the year for the S&P 500 Index (for the last 20 years). On top of that, the S&P 500 had its best first quarter since 1998, and in March we celebrated the 10-year...
Read MoreMarket Volatility Returns
Thursday, February 8, 2018
After more than 18 months of nearly uninterrupted advances, the U.S. equity markets started declining last week, followed by even more extreme selling on Monday. Although it is always difficult to endure declines when they’re...
Read MoreDecember Market Update 2017
Friday, December 29, 2017
This time of year often presents an opportunity for some additional rest and relaxation, but there is always the possibility for activity in the markets—or as was the case last week, the government. Last Friday, December 22, 2017...
Read MoreNovember Market Update 2017
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Traditional business cycle drivers are expected to take a larger role in spurring further economic and market growth in 2018, as we have experienced a fundamental shift in the forces behind this continued economic expansion. For the...
Read MoreOctober Market Update 2017
Monday, October 30, 2017
This time of year can seem quiet with summer vacations behind us but the buzz of the holiday season still a few weeks away. Although this sense of calm may be a welcomed break, there is plenty of activity in the U.S. and around the...
Read MoreSeptember Market Update 2017
Saturday, September 30, 2017
During the past several weeks, we’ve seen news headlines dominated by everything from extreme weather to heightened geopolitical risks, with speculation on policy changes in the U.S. an ongoing hot topic.
Read MoreAugust Market Update 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
As summer winds down, vacations come to a close, and kids head back to school, the calendar is relatively quiet in terms of major market events. And while expectations are high for a strong back-to-school shopping season, there has...
Read MoreJuly Market Update 2017
Sunday, July 30, 2017
The hottest part of the summer has arrived across the U.S., with many feeling the effects of heat and humidity with temperatures well into the 90s in many places. At the same time, the stock market has put together a pretty impressive...
Read MoreJune Market Update 2017
Friday, June 30, 2017
It’s still early in the year, but a lot has been happening both in markets and the economy. The Dow’s first close ever above the 20,000 level drew a lot of attention to the granddaddy of the three major indexes, but the...
Read MoreDecember Market Update 2016
Friday, December 30, 2016
At this time last year, the market had finally recovered from an August swoon that left the S&P 500 more than 10% off its all-time highs, the first 10% correction in more than four years, with the worst still ahead in January and...
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