Happy Leap Year. When we entered 2020, I assumed the November presidential election would be the big topic of conversation for this year; however, I was wrong. This coronavirus, that no one saw coming, jumped to the forefront and is taking center stage. All I can say is, here we go again. Last year, it
The Noise is Deafening
In its latest update, Apple added a new app that sends an alert to yourApple Watch or iPhone when it identifies sound levels in your environment that may negatively affect your hearing. If you’ve been following the market news lately, you probably wish you had one of these for Wall Street. There’s been plenty of
Space Mountain and the Market
If you haven’t noticed, it’s been a volatile year in the stock market. In fact, it kind of feels like a roller-coaster ride. If you’ve never been to Disney World, Space Mountain is a space-themed, indoor roller coaster. You’re in total darkness, where you “feel the push and pull of gravity as you soar into
“This is the business we’ve chosen”
“This is the business we’ve chosen” – Hyman Roth, The Godfather: Part 2 It’s our final newsletter of the year. And, wow, what a year 2018 has been! In the spirit of the holidays, endless movie marathons, and our ever-changing stock market, now seems like the perfect time to reference The Godfather. (There’s never
Midyear Market Update: Navigating Volatility
Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines the word “volatility” as a tendency to change quickly and unpredictably. The first known use of the word was in 1626, right about the time the Dutch East India Company came into existence. Abbreviated to “VOC” in Dutch, the Dutch East India Company (VOC), was granted a 21-year monopoly on
Interest Rates Are Rising
Interest rates are on the move; so much so, that the 30-year mortgage rate is more than 4.5% (up from 3.7% a year ago). Not good for mortgage and credit card borrowers, but bond investors are elated. Similarly, the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond pays almost 3% (last year, it was at the 2% level).
2018: A Time of Rational or Irrational Exuberance?
Have you ever heard of “irrational exuberance”? Alan Greenspan coined the term in his famous 1996 speech “The Challenge of Central Banking in a Democratic Society.” In his address, Greenspan explained that low inflation: reduces investor uncertainty, lowers risk premiums, and implies higher stock-market returns. He gave this speech at the beginning of the
Deja Vu All Over Again. Maybe.
The question on everyone’s minds these days is whether the market is overheated or if it is different this time. It’s an uncertainty reminiscent of the banter during the 1990s stock market bubble; however, the technology bubble decade that peaked in 2000 may not be a fair comparison. Is this déjà vu all over again?
2016 Year In Review Market Update
If you’re familiar with the adage, “As goes January, so goes the year,” your radar may be up more than usual right now. Dubbed the January Barometer, the saying is based on market analyst Yale Hirsch’s research findings that were published in 1972
Dewey Beats Truman (and Other Inaccurate Predictions)
It’s not easy being human. Just when we think we have something figured out, reality shows us otherwise. Remember Thomas Dewey? Most people don’t; at least not by name alone. In 1936, a Gallup poll determined he would win that year’s presidential race by 4% against Harry Truman. Editors at the Chicago Tribune were so