Passing the Baton

July 26, 2021

  The market succumbed to COVID Delta variant fears last Monday, then snapped back to a record close by week’s end. All major averages closed higher for the week with the S&P 500 Index +2.0%, the NASDAQ +2.9% and the Dow +1.1%. The U.S. 10-year Treasury bond yield decreased to 1.28% at Friday’s close versus …

Consumers, Start your Engines

June 1, 2020

  Despite the widespread economic displacement from the COVID-19 lockdown, an optimistic case can be made for a rebound in consumer activity over the next few months. The U.S. consumer accounts for approximately two-thirds of economic activity, so a healthy consumer is the engine of the U.S. economy. With the continued phase-in of activity, workers …

Stepping Out

May 25, 2020

  What did you do this weekend? Some consumers purchased groceries, got takeout food, or dined at a restaurant. Some would-be travelers stayed home, where as others drove or flew on trips. Some consumers went to a mall or big box store, shopped at a small business, or received packages at their homes. The U.S. …

Roaring into the 20’s

December 30, 2019

  Barring any significant disruption happening over the next two days, the equity market will be closing 2019 at, or near, record highs. Many of the worries from a year ago, such as global trade and a hawkish Federal Reserve, have dissipated. Consumer spending has been a key component of economic growth for the year. …