David Sivel |
This report features world capital market performance and a timeline of events for the past quarter. It begins with a quarterly topic, followed by a global overview. It then features the returns of stock and bond asset classes in the US and international markets.
David Sivel |
Investors are often conflicted about record-high stock prices. They are pleased to see their existing equity holdings gain in value but apprehensive that higher prices somehow foreshadow a dramatic downturn in the future.
David Sivel |
One of the most prevalent concerns among investors today is where inflation is heading next. The Fed watches inflation expectations closely, in part because expectations can be a self-fulfilling prophecy.
David Sivel |
This report features world capital market performance and a timeline of events for the past quarter. It begins with a global overview, then features the returns of stock and bond asset classes in the US and international markets. The report also illustrates the impact of globally diversified portfolios and features a quarterly topic.
The path of the pandemic impacts the level of economic activity in the United States, and fluctuations cause a lot of uncertainty. However, the approval and distribution of several very effective vaccines in the U.S. should allow for life to largely return to normal by the summer of 2021.
Democrats have officially secured two additional Senate seats in the GA runoff election, splitting the chamber 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats (including 2 independents that caucus with Democrats).
David Sivel |
Sitting down with your advisor to discuss Tax & Estate planning can be stressful enough for most families. After all, not many are willing to recognize, let alone prepare for their own mortality.
David Sivel |
In yet another failed attempt at discussing household financial austerity over dinner, my wife cleverly shifted the conversation toward the subject of government stimulus and spending.
With interest rates at all-time lows, estate planning techniques in vogue after that Great Financial Crisis are returning to favor by wealthy Americans that have exhausted or nearly exhausted their lifetime gift tax exemption.
In just one month, US Large Cap (S&P 500), International Developed (MSCI EAFE), and Emerging Market (MSCI Emerging Markets) stocks have managed to rally 30%, 23%, and 20% respectively off of their coronavirus driven March 52-week lows, following federal government and central bank-led stimulus measures, flattening coronavirus incidence rates across the globe, and a first look at the impact of foreign nations beginning to reopen their manufacturing and service economies.
David Sivel |
Stock market slides over a few days or months may lead investors to anticipate a down year. But a broad US market index had positive returns in 15 of the past 20 calendar years, despite some notable dips in many of those years.
How do you eat an elephant? With daily briefings from the White House Coronavirus Task Force and state Governors, emergency meetings held by global Central Banks, and weekly conference calls from equity strategists and economists across the major Wall Street asset management firms, GDP and Earnings forecasts are being revised faster than information can realistically be consumed and properly analyzed by bottoms up investors.
Disruptions to Daily Life Accelerate Over the past few weeks, the lives of ordinary Americans have been disrupted by the temporary closure of businesses, colleges and public schools, museums, theme parks, restaurants, bars, gyms, community centers, music venues and festivals, live TV studio audiences, professional sports, public transportation, and other activities that result in gatherings of 10 people or more.
On Tuesday March 3, 2020 the US Federal Reserve instituted its first emergency inter-meeting interest rate cut since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in the fall of 2008. This latest reduction brings the target Federal Funds rate to the range of 1.00%-1.25%, from the previous range of 1.50%-1.75%.
Market volatility has been a consistent investment theme of ours now for the past 2 years, and the confluence of last week’s headlines has only helped perpetuate the matter, leading to a market decline of 3% since the January 17, 2020 closing high of the S&P500.
David Sivel |
This report features world capital market performance and a timeline of events for the past quarter. It begins with a global overview, then features the returns of stock and bond asset classes in the US and international markets.
David Sivel |
Dear Friends, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Seasons Greetings to you and your families!
Last month, following the July 31 Federal Open Markets Committee‘s (FOMC) decision to cut interest rates by 0.25%, we sent a Special Market Update describing the Fed’s return to monetary stimulus, and described how this type of action was meant to protect the US economy from the risk of a recession.
David Sivel |
Over the course of a summer, it’s not unusual for the stock market to be a topic of conversation at barbeques or other social gatherings.