Profit Taking Finishes the Year

Quick Take: Stocks and bonds fell in December after the Federal Reserve projected fewer rate cuts in 2025 than markets had been expecting.[1] Equities finished a strong year with a whimper, as the S&P 500 fell 2.5% in December — the worst monthly loss since April. [2] This was just after stocks had just posted […]

Stocks Deliver Best Month of the Year

Quick Take: Post-election optimism led stocks to hit record highs to close November, while Treasury bond yields ultimately settled lower (prices up) after some volatility. [1],[2]  Stocks surged in November, posting their largest monthly gains of the year, as the removal of election uncertainty set off a powerful market rally.[3] The euphoria sent the S&P 500 […]

Giving Back Minor Gains

Quick Take:  Stocks erased early gains in October to finish lower on the month amid tech weakness.[1] Bond yields surged (prices went lower) following strong economic data. [2]    Stocks lost ground in October, with the S&P 500 declining 1% to snap a five-month winning streak in equities.[3] October was shaping up to be another positive […]

Rate Cuts Kick Off Continued Record Highs

Quick Take:  As the Fed delivered a surprising 50bps rate cut, stocks reached new heights again while bonds rallied.[1]  Expectations headed into September for market returns were somewhat low, in part because of historical seasonal underperformance.[2] Just a week before the September meeting, investors overwhelmingly expected the Federal Reserve (the Fed) to cut rates by […]

Forward March

Quick Take: Stocks overcame early volatility in the month to notch a fourth consecutive month of gains.[1] Bonds advanced after the Federal Reserve Chairman Powell endorsed imminent rate cuts. [2]     US stocks made modest gains in August, after a volatile month saw a series of positive economic data reports override concerns over the […]

Roaring First Half Gives Way to Tech Stumble

Quick Take: Stocks and bonds continued their upward trend in June, bolstered by mega technology companies and continued signs of cooling inflationary pressure.[1] Disappointing earnings led to a tech selloff in July, while the market now expects the first rate cuts in September.[2],[3] The summer kicked off in high gear, setting records. The US stock […]

The Potential Impact of the U.S. Presidential Election on the Markets—and What It Means for Investors

The stock market has seen its share of volatility in 2020. Through the first nine months of this year, the S&P 500 moved up or down by at least 2% on 42 days.1 This already makes it the most volatile year for U.S. stocks since the 2008–2009 Financial Crisis. We’ve been through a pandemic, disruption […]

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