Stock Markets and the Economy
Found 234 Articles.
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Central Bankers Pushing on a String
October 27, 2016 Central Bankers Pushing on a String Investors are becoming complacent just at the time when they shouldn’t. As bankers ramped up quantitative easing (QE) after 2008, many investors remained cautious. Surveys showed investors holding large allocations to cash as QE pushed the prices of stocks, bonds, and other assets higher. Now, it […]
Finding the Short-Term Tailwinds
The long-term economic and market picture still isn’t an attractive one. Many shorter-term trends, however, are positive. Too many investors and analysts are missing opportunities because they are worried about the long-term, how the presidential election might affect markets and other noise. The things that really matter to markets are pointing to several opportunities. The […]
The Third Quarter Surprises Analysts — Again
The third quarter was another one full of surprises for those trying to anticipate the markets. Let’s take a look at what the major asset classes did during the quarter. Despite a lot of negative headlines and pessimistic analysts, stocks had another good quarter across the globe. The S&P 500 rose 3.78% for the quarter, […]
An Update on the Effects of Brexit
Do you remember Brexit? That was when a majority of those casting votes in the United Kingdom were in favor of leaving the European Union. The initial forecasts were that the vote would be both a short-term and a long-term disaster for the United Kingdom and Europe. Global markets for risk assets (stocks, commodities, real […]
When Diversification Doesn’t Work
September 15, 2016 When Diversification Doesn’t Work There are times when diversification doesn’t provide the protection investors want. We saw an example in the last week. All, or almost all, assets other than cash decline when real interest rates are rising faster than expected returns on other assets. This situation usually occurs when central […]
Central Banks Surprise Investors and Themselves
There are a lot of problems to worry about over the long term. For a considerable time, economic growth and investment returns are likely to be less than the long-term averages. Developed economies are burdened with excess debt in both the private and public sectors. Populations are aging in the developed world. Central banks are […]
The Economy Slows a Notch
Just when most analysts were sure the pieces were in place for an interest rate increase in September (December at the latest), the monthly employment reports changed everything last Friday. The positive news is that the previous month’s large number of new jobs was revised higher, from 255,000 to 275,000. But there were several […]
The Fed Keeps Markets Jumping
The Federal Reserve’s annual policy symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, last week kept investor’s guessing. Stocks drifted lower during the week as early indications were that Fed Chairman Janet Yellin would promise higher interest rates soon. Stock prices recovered after her speech, apparently because she didn’t mention a higher probability of a rate increase at […]
