25 Oct 2018
October 25, 2018

Third Quarter Observations

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It is difficult to think back on the 3rd quarter when the 4th quarter is beating down the door. But here goes. 3rd quarter results continued the market’s concern that tariffs and a trade war, coupled with the FED’s move to raise interest rates would drag down revenues and profits. There was progress on negotiation.. read more →

10 Jul 2018
July 10, 2018

Half Way Through 2018

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We’re half way through 2018. Amazing! Second quarter was not the jolt we experienced in the 2nd half of the 1st quarter but more of a give and take. Equities, especially emerging markets, pulled back. Bond proxy positions such as real estate and utilities rebounded. The factors ruling over the market continued to be the.. read more →

11 Apr 2018
April 11, 2018

First Quarter Volatility

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The first quarter was a gas, a real gas. Until it ran out of gas. Market traders burned their way through January as if there was no limit to their optimism. It was wonderful until it wasn’t. When the market got the jitters of a 14-year old on his first date you knew volatility was.. read more →

Happy New Year! Skipping ahead to the 1st quarter of 2018. Will this stock market ever stop going up? Yes. The 4th quarter results were driven by the expected FED decision to raise rates by .25%, the Republicans’ passage of a tax cut bill, the weakening of the U.S. dollar, investors from the sidelines throwing.. read more →

25 Oct 2017
October 25, 2017

3rd Quarter 2017

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It’s been a good year for the US stock market. The 3rd quarter was the first slow patch the market has hit. While 3rd quarter earnings are reflecting that slowdown, the major indexes still managed to report out new all-time highs. That even though the small caps briefly moved into the negative for the year.. read more →

19 Jul 2017
July 19, 2017

First half of 2017… In the Books

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The first half of 2017 is in the books.  And perhaps the best performing half of the year is behind us.  Or, maybe not.  The Trump presidential win and the market’s belief that his healthcare, tax, and regulation reform would drive positive market conditions was the driving force for the first 6 months of 2017. .. read more →

26 Apr 2017
April 26, 2017

A Ride to New Highs

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The 4th quarter of 2016 saw the equity markets ride to new highs on the strength of the so-called Trump rally.  While the equity markets were moving ahead solely on the hopes of President Trump’s campaign promises the gold market was going into a fizzle.  The 1st quarter of this year was the exact opposite. .. read more →

30 Jan 2017
January 30, 2017

2016 – The Rear View Mirror

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The 4th quarter of 2016 is now solidly in the rear view mirror.  Thank goodness.  The presidential election exposed raw nerves among the electorate and played havoc with efforts to position portfolios in preparation for the vote outcome.  The day following the election saw an immediate jump in the DOW average and interest rates.  The.. read more →

01 Nov 2016
November 1, 2016

3rd Quarter Continuation

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The 3rd quarter was in many ways a continuation of the downward tilt to the U.S. economy.  It now appears that 2016 will be the worst year economically since the financial crisis.  The GDP is now edging closer to a 1% annual rate than the hoped for 2%.  The stock market itself has entered a.. read more →

13 Sep 2016
September 13, 2016

Fed Market Jitters

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Since Thursday the stock market has been on a roller coaster ride with the majority of the ride in a downward direction.  Volatility was sparked by comments from several voting members of the Federal Reserve Bank that there might be a .25% bump in interest rates at the end of this month.  The upset in.. read more →