It was a strong quarter for stocks and a relatively flat one for bonds. According to Bloomberg, stocks (defined by the S&P 500) had their best first quarter in 5 years. Profits rose 3.1% from a …
4th Quarter 2023
4th Quarter 2023
What a difference a year makes. At the start of 2023, market pessimism was widespread, investors braced for a recession, and many expected another down year in stocks. Instead, the economy proved …
3rd Quarter 2023
3rd Quarter 2023
After a strong first half of the year, there were not many places to hide in the third quarter. As the Green Day song goes, many investors wanted to tell their investment advisers to “wake me up when …
2nd Quarter 2023
2nd Quarter 2023
Wow, what a first half of the year it’s been! Whoever would have predicted such an incredibly strong market rally, with the stock market rising 20% from its most recent lows? The second quarter …
1st Quarter 2023
1st Quarter 2023
The first quarter began with investors feeling largely upbeat. Inflation appeared to be subsiding, and many bet that would lead the Federal Reserve to switch quickly from raising interest rates to …
4th Quarter 2022
4th Quarter 2022
The past year was a tough one for investors. Stocks tumbled and bonds were hit by their worst selloff ever. The S&P 500 index fell 18.1% for the year, the 3rd worst year for the S&P going back …
3rd Quarter 2022
3rd Quarter 2022
Stocks sustained deep losses during the first nine months of the year as central banks increasingly made clear that interest rate increases and monetary tightening will continue. Still, some financial …
2nd Quarter 2022
2nd Quarter 2022
The markets closed out their most bruising first half of a year in decades, fueled by accelerating inflation and rising interest rates. Few sectors of the market were left unscathed. The S&P 500 …
1st Quarter 2022
1st Quarter 2022
The Russian war against Ukraine is a seminal event that has worsened the shortages and inflation pressures already felt as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if peace breaks out tomorrow, Russia …
