Domestic stocks closed out the first half of the year with strong gains. The S&P 500 index return was 8.6% during the second quarter and 14.4% year to date. It was the 5th consecutive quarter the index returned at least 5%, a rare and remarkable performance by historical reference. Coincidentally, [...]
Spring is finally here. The pace of COVID-19 vaccinations in the U.S. has increased to three million doses administered daily and accelerating. We are on the road towards herd immunity from the pandemic and the prospect of returning to normal is on our horizon - doesn’t it feel great?! So [...]
We hope all is well and everyone is staying safe and healthy. When writing the Market Commentary, we go to great lengths to provide facts that explain our perspectives on the economy and markets. We generally avoid commenting on political or other current events because they seldom have a long [...]
Without a doubt, this has been a difficult and extraordinary year for the economy and investors. To recap, the pandemic triggered the worst global recession in over 80 years. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined 32% in the second quarter as much of our economy went into a self-imposed lockdown. The [...]
Although it seems like an eternity, it was just a little over six months ago when we first became aware of the novel coronavirus. Since then, there have been over ten million confirmed cases and more than a half million deaths from Covid-19 globally. In the U.S., there are three [...]
We are fighting two serious battles, a global pandemic and a necessary self-induced economic coma to slow the spread of the virus. The Pandemic COVID-19 may be the most significant global health threat of our generation. It has expanded rapidly and is now in all 50 states. According to a [...]
2019 was a spectacular year for investors, with every major asset class posting strong returns, despite many economic and geopolitical concerns throughout the year. At the beginning of the year, the federal government was partially shutdown, global manufacturing was declining and the trade war with China was becoming a meaningful [...]
Over the past few quarters, our views have remained consistent. The global economy is experiencing lackluster growth, inflation is subdued, the labor market remains strong, but uncertainty domestically and abroad has taken hold of markets and businesses. Strategically, we think it is prudent to be cautious with asset allocation, but [...]
The current economic expansion is in its 121st month and is the longest on record. The cycle will end eventually, but we have no idea when or what might trigger the end. We are beginning to see some indications the domestic economy is slowing, but growth is currently supported by [...]
Fear of missing out (FOMO) and fear of loss (FOL) can wreak havoc with investor’s portfolios. When stock prices are rising and investors are holding more cash than needed, there is a strong urge to increase risk and buy more stocks (FOMO). Likewise, when stock prices are falling, there is [...]
