Weekly Market Commentary
February - The Markets
Central Banks Take a Turn.
February 11, 2019
At its first policy meeting of 2019, the U.S. Federal Reserve changed direction. After four rate increases in 2018, Chair Jerome Powell announced interest rates were on hold. Last week, banks in the United Kingdom, Australia, and India followed suit by either reducing rates or cautioning rate reductions were likely, reported Sam Fleming and Jamie Smyth of Financial Times.
And, U.S. Stock Markets Celebrated.
February 4, 2019
Last week, the Federal Reserve put itself on hold. The Federal Open Market Committee met on Wednesday, January 30, 2019, to discuss the state of the economy and determine policy. After the meeting, Fed Chair Jerome Powell offered a positive assessment of U.S. economic strength that was leavened with a few concerns.
Investing during the month of December was like traversing an icy mountain stream. It delivered a staggering shock to the senses that triggered the instinct to, “Get Out!”
December 31, 2018
When it comes to investing, that instinct is called loss aversion. For many people avoiding a loss is more important than realizing a gain. Simply put, not losing $100 is more important than gaining $100.
OUCH!
December 17, 2018
The Markets
It never feels good when the stock market heads south, and that’s what happened last week. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500), Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite all moved into correction territory, which means the indices have fallen 10 percent or more from their previous peaks.
We’re Off to A Slow Start
December 10, 2018
The Markets
December is usually the best month of the year for the stock market. It has been since 1950, according to Randall Forsyth of Barron’s, but not so far this year.
Hold on To Your Hats!
December 3, 2018
The Markets
Recently, stocks have delivered a wild ride. During Thanksgiving week, U.S. stock markets took investor uncertainty on the chin, suffering a 3.8 percent drop, which was the worst performance in eight months. Then, last week, stocks reversed course.
November
It Was A Turkey of a Week
November 26, 2018
The Markets
The United States and China continued to spar over trade and other issues. An expert from Moody’s told Frank Tang of the South China Morning Post (SCMP) the United States-China dispute will not be easily resolved:
Keep Your Eyes on The Horizon
November 19, 2018
The Markets
Motion sickness happens when your body receives conflicting signals from your eyes, ears, and other body parts. One way to manage the anxiety and queasiness that accompany the condition is by keeping your eyes on the horizon.
How Are You Feeling About Financial Markets?
November 12, 2018
The Markets
Some votes are still being counted but investors appear to be happy with the outcome of mid-term elections. Major U.S. stock indices in the United States moved higher last week, and the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) Sentiment Survey reported:
Stocks Recovered Some Ground Last Week and Then Stumbled Over Unemployment
November 5, 2018
The Markets
Major U.S. stock indices faltered Friday after the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on a popular ‘lagging’ economic indicator – unemployment. (Remember, lagging indicators describe what has happened in the past.) The BLS reported:1, 2, 3
October
Why Did the Stock Market Fall When The Economy Is Doing Well?
October 29, 2018
The Markets
The answer is that one reflects the past and the other anticipates the future.
The World Remains Full of Opportunities And Challenges
October 22, 2018
The Markets
Although we’ve seen global markets moving in tandem in recent years, Sara Potter of FactSet pointed out, “…we’re starting to see the end of the synchronized global growth that has prevailed over the last two years.
Like An Unexpected Gust Of Wind That Blows The Hat Off Your Head Or Flips Your
Umbrella Inside Out, Last Week’s Stock Market Performance Startled Investors. October 15, 2018
The Markets
Like An Unexpected Gust Of Wind That Blows The Hat Off Your Head Or Flips Your Umbrella Inside Out, Last Week’s Stock Market Performance Startled Investors.
The Stock Market Tends to Be A Leading Economic Indicator.
October 8, 2018
The Markets
Last week offered some insight to economics and stock market behavior. The U.S. unemployment rate reached its lowest level since 1969 and wages moved higher, yet major U.S. stock indices lost value.
It Wasn’t Headline News…
October 1, 2018
The Markets
But, if newsprint was still popular, last week’s key economic news would have appeared below the fold.