The major indices rose last week despite declines on Friday.  Investment sentiment improved as the Russell 2000® Index led all the major indices (+4.33%) followed by the Nasdaq (+2.65%), S&P 500® Index (+2.42%) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (+2.36%).  Several factors, including strong corporate earnings and job gains, influenced the upturn.  Disappointing earnings reports tended to be company-specific; for example, Apple reported better-than-expected earnings even though iPhone s… View More
We all have noticed the pickup in market volatility; one could compare it to a game of Dodge Ball. Â One day the market is up and looks like all is well and the next you have to dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge again. One of the analysts/portfolio managers we follow is Bob Doll, Senior Portfolio Manager and Chief Equity Strategist at Nuveen asset management. Â We have followed Bob for more than a decade, and his insights to the markets have been very valuable to us and our clients in the past. Â… View More
With market volatility like we saw last week, we know everyone is wondering if this is the beginning of a prolonged sell off or even an economic recession. Here are a few key observations we see that lead us to believe this is a pause, and that the stock market is likely to reach higher market highs in the near future. A few bullish points you may find interesting While the cost of credit is getting more expensive, the supply of credit is plentiful and demand is robust. Bear markets typically … View More
After a big reversal from yesterday’s down opening, stocks recovered quite nicely to close modestly lower.  "Stocks ended sharply lower today, as losses accelerated into the close and put both the Dow and the S&P 500 into the red for the year, and the Nasdaq into correction territory. Upbeat results from Boeing Co. were credited with briefly pushing the Dow higher in early morning trading, before investors took an increasingly defensive stance, fleeing for the relative safety of utilit… View More
Companies including Adobe, Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble reported strong earnings last week.  Notably, Procter & Gamble reported that high demand, rather than price increases, drove its strongest quarterly sales growth in five years.  Of the S&P 500® companies which have so far reported earnings, approximately 90% have exceeded analyst estimates.  Company commentaries reveal the limited impact of tariffs to date while concerns remain if the impasse con… View More