On the eve of the U.S. election, we want to share our perspective on potential effects the elections may have on the markets and your investment portfolios. As we have noted periodically over the past several months, heightened volatility is normal around key elections because markets dislike uncertainty. This year, we also are contending with | Read More +
Category: Our Perspective
Update On The Markets, The Fed, and Fiscal Policy
Market Returns The bond market was a source of relative stability this week, as the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index finished up 0.6%. This week’s equity market performance, however, was more negative than it has been in recent weeks. Trading was choppy during the first half of the week, followed by sharp selling on Thursday | Read More +
End-of-Week Market Update for June 6
Investor optimism continued this week, and financial markets maintained an upward trajectory. The S&P 500 finished the week up 4.9%, the technology-focused Nasdaq rose 3.4%, the small cap Russell 2000 advanced 8.0%, and international stocks, as represented by the MSCI ACWI Ex-USA, rose 7.2%. Investment-grade bonds, as measured by the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, | Read More +
An Update on the Markets for Week Ending 5.30.2020
Financial markets continued their upward trajectory this week. The S&P 500 finished the week up 3.6%, the technology-focused Nasdaq rose 1.3%, the small cap Russell 2000 advanced 4.1%, and international stocks, as represented by the MSCI ACWI Ex-USA, rose 4.5%. Investment-grade bonds, as measured by the Barclays Aggregate Index, finished the week up 0.2%. Continued | Read More +
End-of-Week Market Update for 5.16.2020
Market Update The financial markets were mostly down this week, following six mostly positive weeks since the beginning of April. While Investment-grade bonds, as measured by the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, finished the week up 0.5%, the S&P 500 finished the week down 2.3%, the technology-focused Nasdaq declined 1.2%, and the small-cap Russell 2000 | Read More +
End-of-Week Update on the Markets and COVID-19 for 5.8.2020
This week was positive overall for financial markets. The S&P 500 finished the week up 3.5%, the technology-focused Nasdaq rose 6.0%, the small cap Russell 2000 advanced 5.5%, and international stocks, as represented by the MSCI ACWI Ex-USA, rose 3.0%. Investment-grade bonds, as measured by the Barclays Aggregate Index, finished the week down 0.4%. | Read More +
Update On The Markets & COVID-19: US, China Soften The Rhetoric
Market Update Financial markets have started the week on an upbeat note. Through Tuesday’s close, the S&P 500 has risen 1.3%, the Nasdaq has advanced 2.3%, the small cap Russell 2000 has climbed 1.0%, and International stocks, as represented by the MSCI ACWI Ex-USA, have risen by 1.0%. The Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index has | Read More +
End-of-Week Update on the Markets and COVID-19 for 5.1.2020
Market update This week was relatively busy in terms of incremental developments associated with COVID-19. The financial markets were choppy, but ended the week essentially flat. The S&P 500 finished the week down 0.21%, while the technology-focused Nasdaq fell 0.34%. The small cap Russell 2000 rose 2.23% and international stocks, as represented by the MSCI | Read More +
End-of-Week Update On The Markets and COVID-19
In this communication, we provide updates on financial markets, government policy, and some statistics on how coronavirus infection numbers are shaping up. Market Update In the rapidly changing world of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pace of news and developments this past week was relatively slow compared to the pace in March and early April. While | Read More +
An Update On The Markets and COVID-19: Reopening The Economy
Market Update Equity markets have trended down so far this week largely for two reasons: (1) extended negotiations in Congress to expand relief for small businesses and (2) lower oil prices (discussed in the next section). The S&P 500 has fallen 4.7%, Nasdaq is down 4.4%, and the small cap Russell 2000 down 3.2%. International | Read More +
