The longest economic expansion in U.S. history came to a brutal end in February after persevering for more than 10 years. Its end came as a result of a self-inflicted, massive shut down of businesses and consumer mobility to thwart the COVID-19 global viral pandemic. Engineered by the federal and state governments to protect the [...]
The U.S. stock market ended the final quarter of 2018 with a sell-off of historic proportions. The decline was swift and sent the S&P 500 Index down 14% lower than where it began the quarter. December’s performance was notably the worst on record since 1931. It was an exclamation point to the worst calendar year [...]
If you were one of those people beginning to wonder if market volatility was gone to stay, well, think again. On Monday, February 5, the Dow Jones Industrials Average saw its greatest intraday point drop ever, falling 1,597 points from its high before closing 1,175 points lower. It was the biggest drop in more than [...]
The market continues to grind higher since the election. From the day of the election through July 31, 2017, the S&P 500 Index is up more than 17%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has advanced 21%, and the NASDAQ Composite is 23% higher. Optimism over the pro-business Trump agenda seems to be the catalyst for [...]
Executive Summary: Optimism is running high because of the pro-business reforms the Trump Administration has on its agenda. The stock market has been on a tear since the election and a global synchronized improvement in economic strength is helping to fuel the gains. Further near-term upside in the U.S. stock market may hinge on progress [...]
In the waning days of 2016 we approach a new year, a new President and a Republican Party that holds a majority in both Houses of Congress with an ambitious new policy agenda. The S&P 500’s strong 6.2% advance since the election seems to express investors’ hopes and expectations of some favorable changes forthcoming; possibly [...]
The Federal Reserve left rates unchanged yet again last Wednesday. Fed Chair Janet Yellen explained that overall economic trends remain favorable and strengthen the case for tightening. But she also noted the economy’s slow growth rate gives the Fed a little room to let the economy run a bit further before any risk of excessive [...]
Baseball is America’s favorite pastime. It’s the scrawny schoolboy playing catch with his dad in the front yard. It’s a hotdog and a Coke in the bleachers before the big game. It’s a present day Babe Ruth swinging for the upper deck or players making that critical double play. THAT’s baseball. It’s two or three [...]
Stocks high... bond yields low... what's next? The first half of 2016 is behind us. Where does the time go! And it’s been three weeks since a surprising vote by the UK to exit the European Union. This historic decision caught most by surprise. As with many unexpected events, markets reacted with volatility and weaker [...]
Last month I spoke of the disappointingly slow economic growth the US experienced in the first quarter of 2016, along with a stall in corporate earnings. The good news is that since then the first quarter growth rate has been revised upward—from 0.5% to 0.8%. Our GDP cup runneth over! Seriously though, the better news [...]