Monthly Market Commentary
April 2024
Stocks will Need to Deliver on Earnings, but Remember, the Fed has Rate Cuts in its Back Pocket
Equity Markets Post Worst Month of 2024 Amid hotter inflation, hawkish Fed commentary, and geopolitical tensions, all three major stock market indices were down in April. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (-5.0%) had its worst month since September 2022 while both the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 posted their largest monthly declines since September 2023 […]
Read MoreMarch 2024
Strong Economic Data Gives Reason to be Constructive on Markets
S&P 500 & Nasdaq Notch Best February in Nearly a Decade Amid a resilient economy and strong AI-related earnings, equities shrugged off inflation worries in February. All three major indices posted new all-time highs, and both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted their best February since 2015. US growth (+7.2%) was among the best performers, […]
Read MoreFebruary 2024
Is AI a Bubble? It’s More Prudent to be Fully Invested in a Balanced Portfolio
S&P 500 Hits New All-Time High in January Amid a resilient labor market, strong economy, and moderating inflation, major stock market indices were up in January. With the help of gains from the Magnificent Seven, the S&P 500 Index reached a new all-time high during the month. US growth (+2.9%) and US large-caps (+1.6%) were […]
Read MoreDecember 2023
With Interest Rate Cuts on the Horizon, How Should Investors Position Portfolios in 2024?
Major Indices Post Gains in 2023, with Many Erasing 2022 Losses. Amid a resilient economy, declining inflation, and increasing probabilities of a soft landing, equities were up in 2023. Though narrow market leadership via big technology stocks ensued for most of the year, market participation broadened in the final two months of 2023 as rates […]
Read MoreNovember 2023
Part 2: Once in a Decade Opportunity to Diversify Away From the “Magnificent Seven”
Markets Rally in November. Amid increasing hopes that the Fed is done raising rates, softer inflation data, lower yields, and better than expected Q3 earnings, equities were up in November as all three major US stock market indices snapped a three-month losing streak. The Nasdaq Composite was up 10.8% while the S&P 500 gained 9.1%, […]
Read MoreOctober 2023
Are Higher Interest Rates Beginning to Impact Growth Expectations?
October Scares Markets. Although US economic growth was stronger than expected, equities were down in October amid geopolitical conflict, rising longer-term US bond yields, and mixed earnings takeaways. All three major US stock market indices were down for the third straight month. Both the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average had their worst […]
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