The S&P 500 Index closed November +3.6%, its best monthly performance since June. Investor confidence in a healthy consumer, low inflation, and optimism on U.S.—China trade talks continue to buoy stocks. With only a month left in 2019, there are a few remaining milestones to monitor as we move into the end of the …
Thankful
Stocks retreated from record levels last week. The third quarter earnings season is near finished with 476 of 500 companies having reported earnings. The earnings reporting season has materialized better than first thought a few months ago. Earnings should finish with a mild year-over-year decline of less than 0.5% versus expectations of a 2.2% …
Trade Optimism Driving Equity Returns
Stocks remain at record levels on optimism for a partial trade truce. As we head into the final leg of corporate earnings season, we anticipate that macroeconomic and geopolitical headlines should continue to dominate market direction day-to-day. Earnings have shown a more positive picture than was expected in late September. Of the 461 companies …
Tracking the Consumer
Optimism on U.S.—China trade helped markets extend gains for the third straight week. Stocks are at record levels as the third quarter earnings season slows into its final weeks. Of the 446 companies in the S&P 500 that have reported 3Q earnings, 74% have exceeded expectations, 7% have met expectations and 19% have reported …
Earnings Tricks and Fed Treats
The corporate earnings season has so far been less negative than originally anticipated. Of the 199 companies that have reported 3Q earnings, 78% have exceeded expectations, 7% have met expectations, and 15% have reported below expectations. This has improved current earnings estimates for the quarter to a 2.0% decline in year/year earnings on 3.4% …
Flip Flop
It was a volatile week in the stock and bond markets with each day providing a different catalyst to change market direction. The week started with continued concern over U.S. dollar / Chinese yuan exchange rate and trade/tariff issues. Optimism reigned on Tuesday as the White House announced a delay to some tariffs until …
Earnings Take Center Stage
Second quarter earnings season takes center stage this week as 56 companies in the S&P 500 Index are scheduled to report earnings results. Most major banks will report earnings and we can see how they are navigating the current interest rate environment. Several industrial companies will also report earnings results and we can get …
Balancing Act
An upside surprise to the June employment report last week tempered expectations that the Federal Reserve would be reducing short-term interest rate at the July FOMC meeting. The Labor Department reported that Non-Farm Payrolls increased by 224,000 in June versus an expectation of 160,000. This was a sharp reversal from May’s disappointing jobs report …
Positive GDP Surprise
The advance report on First Quarter U.S. Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) was reported at +3.2%. This was an upside surprise to the 2% widely anticipated by most economists. Part of the surprise was in net trade (exports versus imports) which was refreshing to see given the concern over the U.S.—China trade standoff. Personal consumption …
Save Taxes and Build Retirement Assets
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