An Investment Fiduciary

The Markets   Uncertainty abounds.   Investors were skittish last week. Share prices jolted higher and lower amid concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) data center spending, upcoming Federal Reserve rate decisions, and the strength of consumer spending, reported Phil Serafino and Natalia Kniazhevich of Bloomberg. These issues will affect the future performance of companies, and investors are trying to anticipate what may be ahead.   In the third quarter, companies were

The Markets   It was another turbulent week.   Investors cheered the end of the shutdown, pondered strong third-quarter earnings, and questioned the artificial intelligence (AI) spending spree. Some reduced their exposure to risky assets, while others bought the dip. Here are a few of the factors that influenced markets last week.   Doubts about rates . The shutdown ended, but the White House said the official inflation and employment reports for October may never be released

The Markets   There were bearish undercurrents in the bullish sea.   While there are many reasons to be optimistic about the long-term prospects for U.S. stocks, investor concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) spending and the possibility of a market correction roiled markets last week.   “All eyes were on the parade of earnings reports from the technology behemoths this past week. But what grabbed the markets’ attention were the implications of their massive capital inv

The Markets   Like walking on cobblestones…   If you’ve ever walked down a road paved with cobblestones, you know the uneven surface can be challenging. Today, financial markets are paved with a variety of challenges and concerns. A recent survey from Charles Schwab found that its clients remain bullish; however, they have concerns about how the political landscape, market valuations, and geopolitical and macroeconomic issues will affect markets over the next three months. Th

The Markets   Stock markets celebrated, but bond markets were cautious.   Last week, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed that inflation for September was lower than economists had anticipated. Both headline and core inflation (the latter excludes volatile food and energy prices) rose 3.0 percent year over year.   “While the September figure is still a full percentage point above the Fed’s 2 [percent] target—and the highest level of inflation seen since January—it signals th

The Markets     Emotions were running high in financial markets.   You may recall the week before last ended with the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index falling more than two percent after a flare-up in the trade war between the United States and China. It marked the end of the longest streak of trading days without a move of one percent or more since 2020, wrote Connor Smith of Barron’s.   “On Monday, [stocks] bounced much of the way back after President Donald Trump said ove

The Markets     Filling the data void.   Ancient Greek Philosopher Aristotle theorized that nature abhors a void and fills it. Anyone who has ever cleared a garden patch and delayed planting understands the idea. Before long, the empty ground is teeming with opportunistic plants.   The government shutdown created a data void. Usually, the government delivers robust economic data that analysts and investors rely on to better understand where the American economy has been, wher

The Markets     It was a stellar quarter for investors.   The last three months have delivered stock market gains amid signs the economy...

The Markets     The economy is all right.   Last week, revised economic figures showed the United States economy grew faster from April...

The Markets   The Markets   The bulls were running.   Last week, investors rejoiced after the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee...

The Markets   What are your expectations for inflation?   Inflation occurs when the prices of goods and services increase. Last week, the...

The Markets Was the jobs report good news or bad news for the stock market?   In financial markets, sometimes bad news is good. It looked...

The Markets Will the bull market in stocks continue?   There is always a diversity of opinion about whether stocks are headed higher or...

The Markets Was inflation higher, lower, or steady?    Will the Fed lower rates?    Last week, in a much-anticipated speech, Federal...

The Markets Was inflation higher, lower, or steady?    Perspective has a tremendous influence on how we perceive the world around us. If...

The Markets  U.S. companies have been hitting it out of the park!   Earnings season happens four times every year. It’s the period of...

The Markets   Fast as a snail.   In July, the weather in Norfolk, England, was perfectly rainy as Bilbo Sluggins won the World Snail...

The Markets   How fast will an AI-powered economy grow?   Global economic growth has not always been robust. Until the 1700s, economic...

The Markets   This is not the inflation you’re looking for…   In general, everyone who buys goods or services in the United States would...

The Markets   Are financial markets too complacent?   In Aesop’s fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf , a young shepherd repeatedly raises a...