Hope for Holiday Easing

December 8, 2025

  Confidence in an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve at its meeting this week continued to carry stocks. The S&P 500 Index finished last week +0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.6%, and the NASDAQ +1.0%. The Energy, Technology, and Consumer Discretionary sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Utility, Health Care, and …

What’s in Store

December 1, 2025

  A continued shift in expectations toward a Federal Reserve rate cut at its December meeting supported upside in equities last week. The S&P 500 Index finished the week +3.7%, the Dow Jones Industrials +3.2%, and the NASDAQ 4.9%. The Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, and Technology sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Energy, …

Well Fed

November 24, 2025

  Equity markets rallied Friday on December rate cut optimism but closed lower for the week. The S&P 500 Index finished the week -1.9%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.8%, and the NASDAQ -3.0%. The Communication Services, Health Care, and Consumer Staples sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Energy sectors …

No Cents

November 17, 2025

  Equity markets were mixed last week with value-focused stocks outperforming growth-focused stocks. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.4%, and the NASDAQ -0.2%. The Health Care, Energy, and Materials sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Consumer Discretionary, Utilities, and Industrial sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. …

Time to Reopen

November 10, 2025

  Uncertainty about the economy due to the government shutdown and profit taking in the technology sector caused a decline in stocks last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.2%, and the NASDAQ -3.1%. The Energy, Health Care, and Real Estate sectors led the S&P 500 Index, …

Still Reserved

November 3, 2025

  The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates, the U.S. and China made progress on trade and tariffs, and earnings were generally upbeat from several technology companies. This all led to higher equity markets. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.7%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.8, and the NASDAQ +2.0%. The Technology, Consumer Discretionary, …

Restless Calm

October 20, 2025

  A continued U.S. government shutdown kept investors in the dark on economic data last week and potential weakness in some areas of the credit market raised the concern over potential contagion. Still, for the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.7%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.6%, and the NASDAQ +2.5%. The Communication Services, Real …

Flare Up

October 13, 2025

  A flare up in U.S. – China trade led to a sharp decline into Friday’s close. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -2.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials -2.7%, and the NASDAQ -2.3%. The Utility, Consumer Staples, and Health Care sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Energy, Consumer …

Maximizing Debt Payoff Strategies

September 30, 2025

  Introduction – The journey to becoming debt-free can feel daunting, but with the right strategies and financial planning tools at your disposal, achieving that goal is not only possible but also more efficient. High-interest debt can be a heavy burden, siphoning away hard-earned income through fees and charges that seem to grow each month. …

Shutdown Drama

September 29, 2025

  Stocks took a break from the recent rally. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.1%, and the NASDAQ -0.5%. The Energy, Utility, and Real Estate sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Communication Services, Materials, and Consumer Discretionary sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. …