Click here to download this commentary in PDF format. Layoff announcements are ramping up as companies adjust to slowing sales and profitability. So far, major job cuts have been concentrated in technology and consumer-related industries due to overhiring during the pandemic recovery when demand was unusually strong. Whether this spills into the broader economy is the subject […]
To see this commentary in PDF form, click here. Over the past week, there has been nonstop news coverage on the federal government hitting the $31.4 trillion borrowing limit known as the debt ceiling. This once again puts Washington drama on center stage as the Treasury Department enacts “extraordinary measures” to not default on its obligations. Although this […]
The bear market in bonds last year was a shock to markets and raised questions around the role of fixed income securities in portfolios. This is because, until 2021, inflation had been steadily falling for 40 years, pushing interest rates lower and bond prices higher. This period supported the idea that bonds act as a stable foundation to […]
January 11, 2023 Click here to download PDF version. Only one full week into 2023, news headlines have already sparked concern among some investors. From the protracted House Speaker battle in Congress to layoff announcements across industries, markets have been on edge. Despite these challenges, the pivotal issue continues to be whether the Fed will cause a recession […]
2022 was a challenging year for investors. Markets fell into bear market territory and experienced the worst annual performance since 2008. The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq declined 19.4%, 8.8% and 33.1%, respectively, last year. Interest rates swung wildly with the 10-year Treasury yield jumping from 1.51% at the start of the year to a […]
Click here to download this commentary in PDF format. Inflation, interest rates and the Fed have been the driving forces behind the market in 2022. These factors broke a number of trends that have influenced portfolio decisions over the past several decades, creating an uncomfortable investment environment. This has kept many investors guessing at what might […]
The global economy has faced many setbacks this year due to inflation, the war in Ukraine, China’s zero-Covid policy, and many other factors. Unlike the U.S. which largely rebounded from the pandemic, many countries have faced a tougher road to recovery. The effects of high energy prices and supply chain problems have only added to these difficulties. Still, there […]
Perhaps no sector of the economy has been impacted by rising interest rates as much as housing. The declines in both housing activity and prices have wide-ranging effects on households and the economy, as well as across financial markets. Like many other sectors, the housing market surged during the pandemic and is now experiencing a hangover. […]
November 23, 2022 2022 has been a historic year for financial markets and a challenging one for investors. With inflation rising at the fastest pace in over 40 years, both stocks and bonds fell into bear markets and reversed some of the strong gains made during the pandemic recovery. As we approach the end of the […]
All investors understand that markets operate in cycles. This is even more the case for technology stocks which depend not only on the underlying business cycle, but also experience waves of hype and exuberance. Benjamin Graham, often considered to be the father of value investing, famously stated that “in the short run the market is a voting machine but […]