Investment Commentary
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Q2 2022 Investment Commentary
The bad news in the investment markets continues. U.S. stocks entered true bear market territory in the middle of the second quarter, and finished with the worst first six months’ returns since 1970. Meanwhile, bond rates rose, causing bond investors to suffer paper losses as well. Losses were spread across the full investment spectrum. The Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index—the broadest measure of U.S. stocks—lost 16.77% in the second quarter,…
May 2022 Investment Commentary
The Markets (as of market close May 31, 2022) May was a volatile month for Wall Street. Stocks began May where April ended, with losses. In fact, it wasn’t until the last week of May that stocks posted gains. Throughout the month, investors had to face the prospects of an economic slowdown impacted by accelerating inflation, rising interest rates, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and lukewarm corporate earnings reports. Despite…
April 2022 Investment Commentary
The Markets (as of market close April 29, 2022) April saw rising COVID cases in China prompt the shutdown of some of its biggest cities, causing global supply-chain issues. The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to exacerbate pressure on food and energy prices. While first-quarter earnings data was moderately favorable overall, several major companies reported disappointing results. And inflation continued to rise, leading to an almost certain 50-basis point interest…
Q1 2022 Investment Commentary
There’s no sugar‐coating the news: the U.S. and global markets took a hit in the first three months of 2022, offering investors an experience that they haven’t been accustomed to during the long bull market: a bit of red ink on their performance statements. The only bright spot is commodities—but it is doubtful that anyone with recent experience at the pump is cheering the turmoil in global oil prices. Just…
February 2022 Investment Commentary
The Markets (as of market close February 28, 2022) Wall Street opened the month on a high note, with each of the benchmark indexes advancing. A stronger-than-expected jobs report and solid fourth-quarter corporate earnings data helped support equities. Nevertheless, concerns about the Russia-Ukraine situation began to worry investors. Natural gas and crude oil prices climbed higher. Throughout much of February, the impending crisis in Eastern Europe seemed to displace thoughts…
January 2022 Investment Commentary
The Markets (as of market close January 31, 2022) Stocks ended January lower as investors dealt with concerns over inflation, the prospects of rising interest rates, and the pace of global economic recovery. The start of fourth-quarter corporate earnings season in January was positive, but not as robust as was seen in December. While the economy advanced at an annualized rate of nearly 7.0% in the fourth quarter, 2022 is…
Q4 2021 Investment Commentary
Investment Commentary Report (January 3, 2022) We have been seeing a lot of cartoons and jokes lately about how it has felt like Groundhog Day, with 2021 being a repeat of 2020. The reference, of course, is to the Covid pandemic, which raged through 2020 and then, when we all expected a return to normalcy, once again peaked (twice) during 2021 with the Delta and Omicron variants. However, the Groundhog…
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