Category Archive

Last week, the S&P 500 declined to 10.1% below its high on February 19, pushing it into a correction – a term for when an index falls 10 percent or more from its most recent peak. Further, President Trump and his advisors have stated in recent weeks that the short-term pain of a potential recession may be necessary for longer-term economic gains. Regardless …

As you’ve likely read, this week President Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico and an additional 10% tariff on China, on top of the 10% tariff imposed on Chinese goods in February. Here’s a sampling of headlines since Monday, March 3, regarding their impact on the markets: “Nasdaq Slides as Investors Brace for Mexico, Canada Tariffs” – Wall Street Journal “Markets …

Despite ongoing geopolitical and economic turmoil around the world, the stock and bond markets finished 2024 with substantial gains. Vanguard’s US total stock market fund rose 23.7% for the year, the developed country index fund was up 3.1%, and the developing country index increased 10.6%. Interest rates also rose, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury up to 4.53% from 3.97% at the …

During the early part of each year, the financial press is full of predictions for the coming year by “authorities” and “experts.” Presumably, this material helps fill the large amounts of space devoted to financial matters, but in our view, all these predictions should be ignored. Otherwise, these opinions may induce investors to make changes in their investment portfolios that we …

The 2024 presidential election has come and gone. What was projected to be a very close race turned out to be less so. Republicans have re-taken the US Senate and appear poised to retain control of the House of Representatives as well. Whatever your political preference, it appears clear that there will be very different priorities for the US government …