2018 will be remembered by stock market investors as the year of the mental recession.  The underlying US economy appears to be on sound footing.  US company profits are up, and unemployment is down to historic lows.  But the market itself spent the year in a tizzy worrying over US-China trade talks, the very real.. read more →

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 →

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 →

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 →