Looking Back at July Worldwide economies have not been as robust in recent months as the United States economy. During the month of July, the U.S. economy was very strong, and the market reflected this with the S&P hitting all-time highs, passing the previous 2950 mark. This discrepancy between the U. S. economy and the…
Looking Back at March Thinking that the United States and China might be close to a trade deal caused the market to be relatively quiet in March – until the last week when the yield curve inverted. Essentially this means shorter term interest rates became higher than longer term rate. This yield curve inversion caused…
A real estate investment trust, known as a REIT, is a company that owns income-producing property. As a small investors, you can purchase shares of a REIT (if they are publicly traded) through an ETF or mutual fund. There are several types of REITS. Two of the most common are Equity REITS and Mortgage REITS.…
Looking Back at December I’m sure we’ve all had a few sleepless nights over the market the last few months. And, being anxious over the swings is understandable. There are several reasons for the volatility – some, somewhat logical; others, emotional: 1) Computer algorithms that trigger buy or sell signals when certain limits are hit…
In today’s society, people are constantly bombarded with messages telling them what they need and why they need it. Whether through the media or advertisements (via billboards, print, online, TV, etc.), our culture has become unphased at being talked at, rather than listened to. Yet, it is critical that service providers really listen if they…
Looking Back at August The second quarter growth rate for our gross national product was reported at 4.3%. This and other indicators imply that our economy is growing, our labor market is strong and wages have risen slightly. Despite some “noise” about jitters, the economy is growing and consumer spending and sentiment are very strong.…
Looking Back at July The second quarter 2018 Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) was first reported at a 4.1% annual growth rate. Many analysts are projecting that the US will end up the year with 3% growth. While the economy is very strong and the market is still trending upward, the ‘earnings season’ beginning on…
Looking Back at June The U.S. economic data for June 2018 was very strong. While it should indicate a strong upward market movement, trade and tariff policies currently in play have slowed the rise of the market. Investors are caught between a strong economy and uncertain trade policies. As new policies were addressed, the market…
Looking Back at May As expected the market volatility has continued throughout this month. Some positives for the market were: Oil prices have receded from their highs, the ten-year treasury bill has temporally dropped below 3%, and a new law was signed into effect which should give the smaller banks a less stringent regulatory environment.…