January 2020 Market Review

January 2020 Market Review -Darren Leavitt, CFA The markets started January with nice gains but gave back some of those gains later in the month on concerns related to the spread of the novel coronavirus and its effect on the global economy. During the month, the US...

December 2019 Market Review

December 2019 Market Review -Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets continued their ascent in December in what was an impressive showing for the markets in 2019.  Trade policy negotiation between the US and China continued throughout the month with an initial agreement...

December 2018 Market Review and Outlook

December 2018 Market Review and Outlook -Murray Titterington, CFP, CIMA Be careful what you wish for. Last month we hoped for a “Santa Claus” rally in the markets (defined as a rally beginning the day after Christmas and extends through the end of the year). Well, the...

November 2019 Market Review

November 2019 Market Review -Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets crushed it in November with substantial gains across all the major indices.  Record highs were inked for the S&P 500, up 3.4%, the Dow, up 3.72%, and for the NASDAQ, which gained 4.5% over the...

October 2019 Market Review and Outlook

October 2019 Market Review -Darren Leavitt, CFA Global risk assets were in favor during the month of October.  In October, investors continued to be hopeful that a trade deal between the US and China could be forged and also optimistic that a no-deal Brexit could be...

Third Quarter Market Review and Outlook

Third Quarter Check-Up: Is the US Consumer Still Healthy? -David Young, CFA It may seem like a simple question with a simple answer, but there’s a lot more to it than you might think. Financial trade publications and cable television networks often discuss the...

September 2019 Market Review and Outlook

September 2019 Market Review -Darren Leavitt, CFA Equity markets around the globe bounced back from the sell-off we had in August.  Uncertainties around trade continued to be in focus for investors as the US and China countered each other’s policies.  The continuing...

August 2019 Market Review and Outlook

Market Recap August 2019 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Investors endured a volatile month in August that saw most developed and emerging equity markets decline. The S&P 500 lost -1.81% during the month, the Dow lost -1.72%, the NASDAQ shed -2.60%, and the Russell 2000 lost...

2019 Mid-Year Review, Outlook and Expectations

US Consumer – Still Strong, Best is Behind Us Expected to contribute 1.5% (solid) of GDP growth, chugging along at 2%ish spending clip Nothing related to the consumer on the horizon that would force the Fed’s hand one way or the other. From the consumer standpoint, it...

May 2019 Market Review and Outlook

Market Review May 2019 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Equity markets did an about-face in May with the S&P 500 inking its first monthly loss of 2109.  Investors fled risk assets for safe-haven US treasuries as trade negotiations between the US and China soured.  Trade...

April 2019 Market Review and Outlook

Market Review April 2019 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Global risk assets continued to rally in April.  First quarter earnings are coming in better than expected, Central banks around the globe remain accommodative, economic data saw improvement, US & China trade...

March 2019 Market Review and Outlook

-Murray Titterington, CFP, CIMA Most of the major U.S. equity indices rose in March, and all of the indices notched their biggest quarterly gains in nearly a decade. The rise in US equity markets was attributed to signs of progress on U.S. – China trade negotiations...

February 2019 Market Review and Outlook

Murray Titterington, CFP, CIMA The US equity markets rose again during the second month of the new year, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 both posting their best two-month start to a year in nearly three decades. The indices’ rise was aided by...

January 2019 Market Review and Outlook

January 2019 Market Review and Outlook -Murray Titterington, CFP, CIMA It’s déjà vu all over again. 2019 is off to a good start, just like January of 2018. Stocks climbed during the first month of the year, with the S&P 500 rising the most in January since 1987,...

December 2018 Market Review and Outlook

December 2018 Market Review and Outlook -Murray Titterington, CFP, CIMA Be careful what you wish for. Last month we hoped for a “Santa Claus” rally in the markets (defined as a rally beginning the day after Christmas and extends through the end of the year). Well, the...

October 2018 Market Review and Outlook

U.S. stock markets closed out the month of October with the largest monthly losses we’ve seen in more than six years. All of 2018’s gains were essentially wiped out over just a few days of trading. Bond markets have been hurt all year as interest rates have continued...

August 2018 Market Review and Outlook

The US equity markets closed the month of August with gains despite apprehension concerning trade policy. The S&P 500, NASDAQ, and Russell 2000 all reached new highs during the month. The S&P 500 had its best August performance since 2014, while the NASDAQ...

June 2018 Market Review and Outlook

The US stock markets gyrated between gains and losses during the month of June, as investors assessed the impact of proposed trade tariffs, political turmoil in the Eurozone, and signals of a slowing global economy. Most of the major US stock indices had positive...

May 2018 Market Review and Outlook

The US stock markets had a roller-coaster ride during the month of May, as the month began with a rally after strong first quarter earnings were reports, trade war concerns subsided, emerging markets calmed, and political instability in Europe was shrugged off. Trade...

April 2018 Market Review and Outlook

All of the major US stock indices had positive returns for the month of April, as strong earnings reports allowed the markets to regain some of the earlier losses due to proposed tariffs and interest rate increase concerns. During the month, concerns about a hawkish...