March 2024
It’s back! The S&P 500 returned to within a whisper of its previous all-time high in December of 2023. The problem…the last high-water mark had been set almost exactly two years ago in December of 2021. It has been a long wait, but as we often see in times of market volatility, patient investors have been rewarded.
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Which should we cheer for… good news or bad news? As we enter the homestretch of 2023, investors are in a peculiar place. Inflation has come down significantly from the readings of late last year, but the U.S. Consumer Price Index appears to have leveled off in the 3.5% to 4.0% range. Will the Federal Reserve keep rates "higher for longer"? Two more inflation releases this year may help complete the picture and provide some insight on the path forward for interest rates and the economy in 2024.
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July 2023
Markets finished the second quarter on another positive note as investors around the globe seem to be willing to maintain their risk appetite even in the face of potential interest rate increases ahead and inflation that remains stubbornly high. Stocks overcame many obstacles in the first half of 2023, but through it all, consumers continue to spend, and unemployment is still historically low.
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May 2023
The U.S. national “debt ceiling” has garnered much attention in the media of late. Whenever those words make their way into headlines, they tend to trigger anxiety for investors, politicians, and government employees. But what is the “debt ceiling”? Why is everyone talking about it? And how might it impact your investment strategy?
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April 2023
Still going! Like the energizer bunny, the labor market and the overall economy continued their forward momentum this quarter, even in the face of some startling headlines. The markets finished the quarter on a strong note, and we will have to wait a bit longer to see if the widely predicted recession of 2023 actually comes to fruition.
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January 2023
As 2023 gets underway, the markets seem to be signaling a bit of optimism. Investors saw a fourth quarter rebound that was much needed after a year of down markets and worrisome inflation and growth trends around the globe. All eyes rest on Fed Chair Jerome Powell as he and the board of governors attempt to steer the U.S. economy toward a soft landing where inflation cools and growth can be maintained.
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