By any measure, the world’s stock markets have had one of the worst starts to a year in history.  The markets are dealing with a slowing Chinese economy, geopolitical concerns in the Mideast, growing political and economic pressures in Europe and a downdraft in global commodity prices, especially energy…  

NOVEMBER 2015 IN REVIEW   ECONOMY: SHARP RISE IN JOB CREATION SURPRISES MARKET November economic data, which mostly capture economic activity from October, continue to signal slow but steady growth by the U.S. economy.  With labor markets continuing to improve, wage growth strengthening, and household wealth growing, the U.S. consumer remains strong…

Volatility is the name of the game in today’s financial markets as the gripping effects were felt by one and all. The third quarter started slowly with Greece’s “No” vote to the EU bailout, unsettling the broader markets. This doubt was quickly quelled weeks later as Greece blinked, stepping back from the ledge, yielding to…

Alas, another quarter came and went without action by the Federal Reserve. Unfortunately, the Fed’s lack of movement was overshadowed by the mid-quarter devaluation of the Chinese yuan. The biggest event of the third quarter, the devaluation and subsequent market crash heightened fears of the already opaque Chinese economy. It became clear that the country’s…

SEPTEMBER 2015 IN REVIEW   ECONOMY: U. S. DATA MODERATE BUT REMAIN EXPANSIONARY Economic reports received in September, which are largely based on economic activity in August, reflected steady overall U.S. economic activity and a healthy consumer, but with moderating strength in the labor market and greater weakness in the manufacturing sector, as a strong…

In recent days we have seen the broader equity markets decline swiftly in reaction to several events that have taken place.  We remain firm that long-term fundamentals remain positive and these market disruptions are not systemic of a broader global failure…  

STILL WAITING FOR SPRING SNAPBACK   Economic Data Economic headlines in July were dominated by global risk hotspots (Greece, China) and falling commodity prices, but behind the headlines, U.S. economic data told a story of slow but steady economic improvement…  

In the second quarter of 2015, the possibility of a June rate increase by the Federal Reserve came and went quietly, with markets unsurprised when rates remained the same. Speculation continues for the date of “liftoff” and there are plenty of arguments for and against rate increases. In the short term, it appears the Fed will raise rates 0.25%…

The second quarter of 2015 brought with it the tenth consecutive quarterly gain for stocks; unfortunately that gain was only 0.3%. After positive economic news helped drive gains throughout much of the quarter, stocks surrendered nearly all of those gains in June when concerns about Greece, China, and Puerto Rico all contributed to a 1.9% drop in the S&P…

MORE SIGNS OF A SPRING ECONOMIC REBOUND   Economic Data Stronger and more consistent signs of an economic rebound from first quarter weakness were the main themes in June’s data releases (which largely reflect economic activity in May). An upward revision to Q1 2015’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth, from -0.7% to -0.2%, also shed a somewhat more positive light on the prior quarter…