The year got off to a good start on the heels of a strong earnings season in which 77% of S&P 500 firms reported higher than expected sales. While the economy continued to grow, fears of inflation, growth peaking, and potential trade disputes startled the market enough to give up its January gains and usher [...]
As we look forward to 2018, let us reflect on how remarkable the last twelve months were for the major market indices. Contrary to the usual roller-coaster ride we experience with stocks, 2017 was an amazingly smooth journey to new all-time highs. The S&P 500 was so consistent that the index finished every month of the calendar year [...]
While the temperature outside cools as we move into the fall and winter seasons, stock markets remain red hot. Despite three of the most powerful hurricanes to ever hit the U.S., political divisiveness in Washington, and threats from North Korea, U.S. stocks rose another 4.5% in the third quarter, bringing year-to-date returns on the S&P […]
Despite distracting headlines out of Washington, domestic equity markets marched to new record highs (for the S&P 500 & Nasdaq) during the quarter. Equity markets focused on the upward trend in GDP growth and robust corporate earnings (up over 15% year-over-year) that recorded the most profitable period in over five years. Historically, such periods of […]
The stock market opened the year in a “risk-off” mode over fears of global growth slowing, falling oil prices, and a U.S. corporate earnings recession. By mid-February equities were down more than 10%. Although markets rebounded through the spring, the negative sentiment and volatility persisted for much of the first half. A quiet summer vacation […]
In an election night shocker, Donald Trump emerged from the presidential election as the victorious candidate. The Republican Party also retained control of both chambers of Congress. As the election night drama unfolded, the markets initially plunged -5% with the Dow futures trading down over 700 points. But it didn’t last long. In a year [...]
Whether it’s a national election or a Fed vote on interest rates, markets hate uncertainty. Check out what’s been happening over the last quarter and our thoughts on where we go from here. Key themes from the third quarter Low Quality Dominates Brushing aside evidence of a global economic slowdown and political uncertainty, investors appear [...]
Key themes in the first half of 2016 Brexit The surprise result of the U.K.’s “Brexit” vote to leave the European Union shocked financial markets and left Europe stocks down -3.8% for the quarter. Global equities initially reacted with sharp declines, but recovered into quarter-end to finish up slightly. [...]
Say you are going to buy a car and walk into a Ford dealership with a list of features that you want in a new car. You hand the list to the Ford sales associate and ask them for a recommendation. Do you think their recommendation would be the best car for you or the [...]
