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Inflation Fears Give Way to Stock Market Cheers
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen suggests the Federal Reserve may need to increase Interest rates sooner to fight inflation. She then walked the statement back, sparking a debate about inflation and what it means for your portfolio...
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No April Showers for the Stock Market
Supply chain worries tempered a strong GDP report and better-than-expected company earnings reports as companies struggle to keep up with rising consumer demand: Something worth keeping an eye on...
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Earnings Season Is Off to a Great Start
So far, 84% of companies who have reported earnings have achieved better than expected results. Economic data continues to show that our country is coming out of its economic slumber. Why the muted response by the stock market...
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Earnings Season Expectations Combined with Higher-Than-Expected Retail Sales Fuel Stock Market Gains
Business Re-openings and Stimulus Checks Spur a Consumer Spending Splurge While Better Than Expected Results from America's Biggest Banks Kick Start Earnings Season. The Result - New Record Highs for the Stock Market...
Read MoreViacomCBS and Discovery Hit by the Short Sellers
Single company stock risk hits our portfolio as ViacomCBS and Discovery eat into our year-to-date gains. Here is a look at what happened...
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All Eyes on the Fed, Inflation, and the 10-year Treasury Yield
Last Wednesday, Fed Chairman Powell reiterated the “Lower for Longer” Interest Rate Policy. This appeared to calm the inflation and yield concerns, only for the worry to return to close out the week. Where do we go from here...
Read MoreMuted Inflation Data Helps Stabilize Interest Rates and Pump Up Stocks
Muted inflation data along with a quiet week for interest rates until Friday, and the official passing of the new stimulus bill helped push small-cap stocks to record highs...
Read MoreRate Fears Continue…
Fed Chairmen Powell believes the Federal Reserves' current approach is appropriate despite worries over inflation and troubling signs in the bond market. Are investment changes needed or, like the Fed, should you stay the course...
Read MoreStocks Drop as Interest Rates Rise
The rapid ascent of interest rates gave the stock market jitters last week. Will it continue…
Read MoreConsumer Spending Continues to Fuel the Markets
Stimulus checks juice spending as retail sales surge and lumber prices soar. What does it all mean for your portfolio...
Read MoreMuted Week for Stock Markets as Earnings Season Winds Down
Monday Morning QB - Market Observations: Last Thursday was the 9th Record Close of 2021 for the Stock Market Friday Became the 10th • Economist Survey Raised Expectations for 2021 GDP Growth Regulators Looking into GameStop Mania...
Read MoreVaccine and Stimulus Tailwinds Lift Markets
New fiscal stimulus, improving vaccine distribution, and a potential new vaccine help lead to a record-setting week for the stock market...
Read MoreStock Market Drops on Vaccine Issues
Vaccine supply and distribution concerns, combined with new virus variants, conjure up lockdown memories. The stock market reacted with its worst week since October. Healthy pull back or something more...
Read MoreMarkets Hit New Highs as Earnings Seasons Kicks into Gear
Earnings Reports take center stage. What to look for and the potential effect on your portfolio...
Read MoreMarkets Ignore Events at the Capitol
Stock Markets have another record-setting week in spite of the turmoil in DC...
Read MoreA Stimulus Bill is Finally Coming - Is the Bill Worth the Wait?
Stimulus negotiations are done, congress just needs to vote. Will economic fiscal stimulus provide a year-end boost to your portfolio...
Read MoreVaccine Ships
Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine en route to each state and immunizations to begin today. How will the stock market react...
Read MoreA Week of Hope
HOPE springs eternal - Vaccine news has investors looking beyond the rising coronavirus case numbers and setting stock market records. Can the rally continue...
Read MoreStock Market Grapples with Vaccine News and a Rising Case Count
Markets digest coronavirus related news - Good news on the coronavirus vaccine front found resistance in the surging coronavirus cases and their severity in many parts of the country. Can the post-election rally continue...
Read MoreClimbing COVID Cases Sour Vaccine News
US Reports More than 150,000 New Coronavirus Cases in a Single Day. Pfizer Vaccine Gives Hope for Stymieing the Advance of the Coronavirus. Stocks Rally Off Vaccine News with a Rotation from Growth to Value - New Trend?...
Read MoreAre We Europe? – Do More New Cases Equal More Shutdowns?
Monday Morning QB - Market Observations: Europe is Experiencing a Surge in Covid-19 Cases, Hospitalizations and Deaths Stocks Fall as Fear of New Covid-19 Cases Leading to Shutdowns Grips Our Stock Market Worst Pre-Election Week for...
Read MorePolitics Supersedes Good Earnings & Economic Data
Monday Morning QB - Market Observations: Stimulus Hopes Ride the Emotional Teeter-totter of Conflicting News out of Washington A Potential for Record-Setting Earnings is afoot for the S&P 500 Jobless Claims Continue to Show Economy is...
Read MoreS&P 500 Flirts with New Record High but Falls Short
Last week, the S&P 500 Index strained to reach new highs but fell short. Can the momentum of a hot start to August push the S&P 500 to a new all-time high...
Read MoreStocks Sour on Stimulus Uncertainty
President Trump issues executive orders as coronavirus stimulus negotiations fail to produce an agreement. It's an election year so look for a deal to get done soon. What does more stimulus mean for your portfolio?...
Read MoreTech Giants Thrive Despite Slowing Virus Economy
Investors react to a flood of quarterly earnings reports and some prominent economic data. While the Fed continues to be aggressive, Congress continues to debate the next stimulus package. Where does that leave your portfolio...
Read MoreVirus Surge Responsible for Rise in Unemployment Claims
Total coronavirus cases surpass 4 Million creating higher than expected first-time unemployment claims. Can the next round of government fiscal stimulus push the stock market higher....
Read MoreVirus Spread vs Economic Recovery Tug of War Continues…
Vaccine hopes announced by companies continue to be a stock market catalyst while the increasing COVID-19 cases play "Debbie Downer". What is important to your portfolio within our current Tug of War...
Read MoreVirus News Causes Choppy Week for Stocks
US virus cases climb above 3 million. Data suggest the pace of the virus surge is accelerating... Can more Fiscal Stimulus and Company Earnings Season keep the stock market climbing higher...
Read MoreStocks Fall as Infections Rise
Worries over the resurgence of the coronavirus pushed the markets into negative territory last week. How can we apply investment risk management techniques to improve our portfolio and help keep us safe during this coronavirus spike...
Read MoreRetail Sales Surprise Collides with Coronavirus Concerns
Relaxing Social Distancing Rules Sends Retail Sales Higher by Record 17.7%. Fiscal and Monetary Stimulus Keeps the Bulls Looking to Add on Market Pullbacks…While the Bears Look for Dips to Become Market Drops as the COVID-19 Case Count...
Read MoreFederal Reserve Cast Doubts About Quick Economic Recovery
Gloomy economic forecast and rising number of Covid-19 cases lead investors to take profits. What should investors be looking for going forward...
Read MoreJob Numbers Validate Stock Market Trajectory
Shocking good employment numbers fuel the stock market rally. Instead of more jobs lost, the economy created 2.5 Million jobs in May, Most jobs created in a single month on record...
Read MoreReopening of Our Economy Begins
The U.S. economy shows some signs of life from reopening. Let's hope protests, riots, and looting do not sack the economy’s restart...
Read MoreVaccine Hope Wrestles with Economic Crawl Back
Vaccine hopes lead to stock market gains for the week. All 50 states have eased social distancing restrictions in some way. How consumers & businesses react will determine the stock market's direction going forward...
Read MoreThe New Economic Reality - The "Swoosh" Recovery
A Swoosh Recovery is predicted to be our New Normal. The Swoosh Recovery suggests a long road ahead. How do you prepare your portfolio for a Swoosh...
Read MoreStock Market Rally Looks Past Our Crumbling Economy
The stock market climbs carefully over the wall of worry again, overcoming the crippling jobs number - 20.5 Million Americans lost their Job in April...
Read MoreDownbeat Data Causes a Stock Market Pause
Emerging economic data is starting to show the effects of the pandemic as the first-quarter GDP shrinks at the fastest pace since the great recession. Are we heading for a depression...
Read MoreThe Latest Virus Victim - Oil
The tumultuous week in the Oil Market witnessed for the first time negative prices for a barrel of oil. As the growing supply of oil meets a lack of demand and little capacity left to store it...
Read MorePromising Stock Market with a Suffering Economy
Investors try to square their hope in the progress being made to combat the Coronavirus versus the historical downturns in economic data...
Read MoreAdverse Effects of a Self-Induced Economic Coma
6.6 Million People Filed for Unemployment Benefits Last Week. The Two Week Unemployment Claims Total almost 10 Million. Non-Farm Payrolls Dropped 701,000 and the worst is yet to come...
Read MoreIs it Time to Buy or Time to Sell?
Dow posts the biggest weekly rally since 1938 but still down more than 20% year-to-date. What should an investor do now? --Buy before the opportunity is gone or Sell before the stock market goes on another losing streak?
Read More"Panic Selling" Needs to Remember Lessons from the Past
Panic, Panic, Panic! The Dow Index Dropped 17% last week. Can we apply lessons from the past to help navigate our current unchartered waters...
Read MoreStock Markets Have Become Unhinged as "The Bear Market" Takes Hold
The Dow & S&P 500 Indexes are Officially in Bear Market Territory. Fear has gripped the stock market causing extreme volatility. So what happens now...
Read MoreVolatility Induced Stress Has Taken Over the Stock Market
Volatility has taken over the stock market as 1,000 point swings are the new norm. How are you positioning your portfolio?
Read MoreStock Market Meltdown Was One for the Record Books
Panic Selling Drives S&P 500 Meltdown - S&P 500 Drops 10% in the Shortest Amount of Time Ever Recorded as Fears of a Pandemic and a Worldwide Economic Contraction Grip the Market.
Read MoreCoronavirus (COVID-19) Injects Confusion into Stock Market
Coronavirus fears, now COVID-19, grip global stock markets heading into the week. Why is there so much confusion and what is an investor supposed to do now?...
Read MoreMarkets Shrug Off Coronavirus Uncertainties
Last week, our stock markets continued to shrug off more bad news out of China. Can optimism continue to win the day for your stock portfolio?
Read MoreStrong Economic & Earnings Data Supplant Coronavirus Fears
The Monday Morning QB recognizes the significant news, from the noise, within the factual events of the previous week. Positive earnings reports and solid economic data helped quell coronavirus concerns...for last week, anyway.
Read MoreCoronavirus Concern Continues to Build
Markets Lost Ground for the week as concern over coronavirus builds Most Equity Indexes finished January in the red. Labor Markets remain robust Home prices continue to rise Confidence among consumers hit its highest level in five...
Read MoreMarkets Retreat on Coronavirus Fear
The Monday Morning QB recognizes the Significant news, from the noise, within the Factual events of the previous week. Coronavirus Concerns take Center Stage...How much will the virus infect your investment portfolio?
Read MoreMarkets Rally on Phase One Trade Deal Signing
The Monday Morning QB recognizes the Significant news, from the noise, within the Factual events of the previous week. The “Phase One” Trade Deal with China is in the books...So now what? Can the stock market momentum continue?
Read MoreConflict with Iran Fades
Monday Morning QB - Market Observations: U.S. stocks hit new record highs as tensions with Iran fade. Precious metals finished the week mixed. The jobs market ended 2019 on a sour note China will reach its target of economic growth of...
Read MoreMiddle East Tension Leads to a Stock Market Pause
Monday Morning QB - Market Observations: Middle East Tensions Pressured Stock Markets around the Globe Iranian Backed Militias Harass U.S. Forces in Iraq In Response, U.S. Targets and Kills Iranian General Iran Threatens Revenge for...
Read MoreU.S. Consumer Helps Stock Markets Reach More Records
Monday Morning QB - Thanks to Retail Sales the S&P 500 Rallies for 5th Week in a Row. Low Inflation, Low-Interest Rates, and Full Employment Continue to Boost the American Consumer. Healthy Consumer = Healthy Economy.
Read MoreMonday Morning QB - “Big Deal” but Where’s the Money?
Monday Morning QB - Market Observations: U.S. & China Sign a Vague “Phase One” Trade Deal No New Tariffs, at Least for Now & September Tariffs get Cut in Half “Big Deal” Gives Hope to US Farmers • The...
Read MoreMonday Morning QB - Trade Jitters Give Way to Jobs Report
Monday Morning QB – Market Observations: Trade Jitters Sparked Tuesday’s Sell-Off November Jobs Report Fuels Friday’s Rally Friday’s Strong Jobs Report Calms Recession Fears China & U.S. Posturing Ahead of 12/15...
Read MoreConsumer Driven Rally Continues
Monday Morning QB - Market Observations: U.S. Consumer Continues to Drive Economic Growth Black Friday Saw a Record $7.4 Billion in Online...
Read MoreStock Market takes a Pause
Monday Morning QB – Market Observations: Slow News Week Creates a Stock Market PausePositive Market Streak Ends at Six Weeks of GainsBusiness Activity Showing Signs of a Potential Pick Up to Finish Out the YearRetail Company...
Read MoreJobless Claims Rose More Than Anticipated
Monday Morning QB – Market Observations Higher Jobless Claims U.S. Retailers Rebounded Last Month Higher Prices for Gasoline, Vehicles and Medical Care Interest Rates On Hold for Now Closer Review of Jobless Claims Needed to...
Read MoreCould a Leary Consumer Steal Santa’s Merry Christmas?
Monday Morning QB - Market Observations: US Consumers are Reigning in Credit Card Purchases Is the Consumer on Pause Before the Holiday Season or For the Holiday Season? Trade Optimism Helped Push Stocks Higher for the Week. 3,100 on...
Read MoreThe Fed, Earnings & Jobs Combine to Push the Stock Market Higher
Monday Morning QB - Market Observations: The Fed Cuts Rates but Signals a Pause Ahead Jobs Report Shows Economy is Still Growing Poor Jobs Numbers from Last Two Months Revised Higher Better than Expected Earnings Dampen Recession...
Read MoreNew Trade War Anxieties Lead to Increased Volatility
Monday Morning QB – Market Observations: Volatility Returns to the Stock Market as a China/U.S. Trade Deal Takes a Major HitMonday’s Trade War Escalations from both the U.S. and China Lead to the First 3% plus Market...
Read MoreJune Momentum Continues for Stocks
Monday Morning QB – Market Observations: Momentum putting Stocks on Pace for Best June in 50 Years Federal Reserve Readies a More Accommodative Approach…A July Rate Cut is in the Air Hope and Enthusiasm Prevail ahead of...
Read MoreCan You Invest Like Warren Buffett?
Warren Buffett “Oracle of Omaha” – Three Tips to Investment Success! Can We Invest Like Him? Every year around the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, the investing world pauses to listen to the wisdom of Warren. And...
Read MoreThe Financial Weed Round Up Method
How to Go From Debt to Savings in the Least Amount of Time It’s that time of year; the annual lawn and flower bed beautification ritual to create the clean, crisp, weed-less yard for you and your neighbors to enjoy. Like most...
Read More‘Tis The Season for Tax Loss Harvesting
The holiday season is now in full swing. So what better time for a discussion about your potential 2019 tax bill. Or more appropriately, how to avoid paying additional taxes. We will assume most investors would rather pay less in taxes...
Read More9 Reasons to Avoid Mutual Funds
Let me start by saying this: not all mutual funds are bad. However, it takes effort to decipher the good from the bad. The financial industry has done an excellent job of selling the ease of investing in mutual funds and an even better...
Read MoreFree Tax Return Service – Really?
From an early age, we are taught that “nothing in life is free.” So, naturally, when people started asking about filing their taxes for free online, the hair on the back of our necks stood up. Companies offering these...
Read MoreIgnore the Headlines: Buy the Dips
One of the first rules of successful investing is to pick a management style that makes sense to you, and then to stay with it, even when other styles are outperforming. This either sounds easy or stupid; Easy, because if you feel you...
Read MoreDow 25,000: Should We Care
Dow 25,000: Should We Care? I’m not sure about the regular media outlets but I know the market commentary in our world has given Dow 25,000 its due. Some interesting points have been bantered about: How did we get here so fast?...
Read MoreThe Trouble with Diversification – 4 Investment Assumptions Sure to Go Wrong
Does Diversification limit your downside risk (chance of loss) The meaning’s behind overused words or phrases changes with time. The term “diversification” is one in the category. You will get different answers...
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