Key Takeaways With the 2020 presidential election less than a year away, the relationship between politics and stock markets is likely to be dissected endlessly by pundits. Historically, the strength of the economy matters more than politics...
Read moreAre we near a recession?
Is the U.S nearing a recession? That remains the key question on the minds of investors. One of the most closely watched predictors of a potential recession in the bond market, known as the inverted yield curve flashed red. Key Takeaways An...
Read moreMaking Sense of the Fed’s Latest Decision
Making Sense of the Fed’s Latest Decision The U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) left interest rates unchanged Wednesday but signaled it is ready to cut interest rates in the future to address rising global uncertainty. The last time the Fed cut interest...
Read moreMixed Signals on the Economy from Stocks and Bonds
Mixed Signals on the Economy from Stocks and Bonds The stock market kicked off 2019 with a bang as investor confidence in the U.S. economy rose, due to an accommodative fed, higher corporate earnings and a truce on the trade war with China. At...
Read moreIs the U.S. Economy Still the Greatest?
Is the U.S. Economy Still the Greatest? The U.S. GDP increased by 2.9% crossing $20.5 trillion in 2018. On the surface, the data of 2.9% growth may hardly seem encouraging, perhaps even meager compared to the 6% growth China has experienced, but...
Read moreThe Rally in 2019 – A Tale of Two Assets
The Rally in 2019 – A Tale of Two Assets So far, 2019 has proven to be a very different year in markets compared to 2018. Prospects of a U.S./China trade deal and a “patient” Federal Reserve (Fed) have led to a sharp rally, reversing the losses...
Read moreUnderstanding the Impact of the Government Shutdown
Understanding the Impact of the Government Shutdown Rating agency Standard and Poor’s estimates the overall impact from the partial government shutdown could shave a modest $1.2 billion off the $19 trillion U.S. economy for each week the...
Read moreMarket Correction vs. Bear Market
Market Correction vs. Bear Market October 2018 was a spooky month. The S&P 500 Index once again entered correction territory as it declined -10% from its peak during the summer. The continued pattern of declines again raises the question: Is...
Read moreInternational Stocks – Opportunity or Landmine?
International Stocks – Opportunity or Landmine? International stock markets were the star in 2017 and outperformed the U.S. stock markets. However, 2018 paints a very different picture for international equities. Both developed equity...
Read moreTariffs Schmariffs?
Tariffs Schmariffs? Once again tariffs and trade wars dominated the headlines. This week, the trade war between the United States and China escalated with the imposition of additional tariffs on more than $260 billion of goods. The domestic...
Read moreU.S. the World’s #1 Oil Producer
U.S. the World’s #1 Oil Producer The United States is likely the world’s largest producer of crude oil, according to preliminary estimates by U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released this week. The Lone Star State of Texas is...
Read moreEmotions and investing don’t mix
Emotions and investing don’t mix Synopsis: Emotions and investing don’t often mix well. Investing is difficult, and being human makes it even more challenging. Even the smartest people can make emotional judgments when it comes to...
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