Congratulations!  We just survived another volatile quarter.  The S&P, the broad index of US stocks, barely eked out a positive return for the quarter.  The ups and downs were driven by the usual suspects, the FED, China trade, a short-lived inverted yield curve and efforts by the media to talk up recession and a contraction.. read more →

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 →