The 2nd quarter of this year had stock market up and down action aplenty.  But it ended with June being the best month and quarter since the mid 50’s.  That was a long time ago. What brought on that uptick?  Hope.  The Fed indicated a willingness at their June meeting to strongly consider reducing its.. read more →

What a difference a quarter makes.  The 4th quarter of 2018 was a historical low for the US stock market.  1st quarter of 2019 saw historically high percentage rate market increases.  That is what is expected but it is always celebrated when it happens.  Let’s quickly rehash what created problems for the market in 2018. .. read more →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →