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The government is open, at least until February 15

by Fortem Financial January 29, 2019

The equity markets ended this holiday-shortened week essentially unchanged.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average (+0.12%) and the Nasdaq (+0.11%) led with modest gains followed by the Russell 2000® Index (+0.02%) while the S&P 500® Index fell 0.22%.  Shortly before the markets closed on Friday, President Trump announced a deal with lawmakers to approve a bill which would reopen the federal government until February 15th while negotiations continue.  State unemployment claims for last week (199,000) were the lowest since 1969.  And, the Flash manufacturing PMI, an early indicator of manufacturing, rose slightly in December.  This indicator, though, weakened considerably in Europe and Japan.  On Friday, European Central Bank president Mario Draghi warned of persistent “uncertainties related to geopolitical factors . . . and market volatility” while business morale in Germany fell for the fifth consecutive month.  Investors are closely monitoring trade negotiations between U.S. and China; while headlines may say otherwise, some commentary suggests that talks may lead to a détente.  The Federal Reserve indicated that it may decide to hold more Treasury securities in its inventory than previously planned; the policy adjustment would leave more liquidity in the economy.      

Companies such as IBM, Procter & Gamble, United Technologies, American Airlines, Starbucks and Lear, in a variety of sectors, are reporting solid revenue and earnings growth.  The outlook for 2019 remains positive as companies reaffirm earlier guidance.  For example, a mid-cap regional bank, beat earnings estimates for the fourth quarter and year; and commented favorably on its outlook for 2019.  The bank serves Chinese investors in the U.S. market, especially single family mortgages.  Activity rose 7% in 2018 and the pipeline remains strong.  The bank believes trade discussions with China will progress although negotiations may take a long time.  During December, the stock fell 25% on concerns over its exposure with China; the stock has regained these losses yet remains about 20% below analysts’ estimates.  The impact of tariffs varies considerably; some have outsourced to other countries, some are sharing the cost of tariffs with manufacturers, while others have absorbed the tariffs.

Many stocks remain oversold; the markets, though, are rewarding companies with good earnings reports.  Cash remains on the sidelines as balances in money market funds are reportedly at the highest level in ten years.   Rebuilding investor confidence will take time; and yet, the upside remains compelling.

Source:  Pacific Global Investment Management Company

Chart reflects price changes, not total return. Because it does not include dividends or splits, it should not be used to benchmark performance of specific investments. 

 

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Brian Amidei, along with Partners Joseph Romano and Brett D'Orlando have also been named *2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Five Star Wealth Managers!

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Awards and recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, companies, and/or publications should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if Fortem is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services; nor should they be construed as a current or past endorsement of Fortem or its representatives by any of its clients. Rankings published by magazines and others are generally based on information prepared and/or submitted by the recognized advisor. Awards may not be indicative of one client’s experience or of the Firm’s future performance. Neither Fortem nor the recognized advisor has paid a fee for inclusion on a list, nor purchased any additional material from the award provider. The criteria for each award is listed below:

Five Star Professional Disclosure:
The Five Star Wealth Manager award is based on 10 eligibility and evaluation criteria: 1) Credentialed as an investment advisory representative (IAR) or a registered investment advisor; 2) Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years; 3) Favorable regulatory and complaint history review; 4) Fulfilled their firm review based on internal firm standards; 5) Accepting new clients; 6) One-year client retention rate; 7) Five-year client retention rate; 8) Non-institutionalized discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9) Number of client households served; and 10) Educational and professional designations. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or the magazine. The award methodology does not evaluate the quality of services provided. Additional information about this award is available at: fivestarprofessional.com/2016FiveStarWealthManagerMethodology.pdf
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Data Sources: News items are based on reports from multiple commonly available international news sources (i.e. wire services) and are independently verified when necessary with secondary sources such as government agencies, corporate press releases, or trade organizations. Market Data: Based on reported data in WSJ Market Data Center (indexes); U.S. Treasury (Treasury Yields); U.S. Energy Information Administration/Bloomberg.com Market Data (oil spot price, WTI Cushing, OK); www.goldprice.org (spot gold/silver); Oanda/FX Street (currency exchange rates). All information is based on sources deemed reliable, but no warranty or guarantee is made as to its accuracy or completeness.

Neither the information nor any opinion expressed herein constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities, and should not be relied on as financial advice. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not represent those of Fortem Financial, LLC or any of its affiliates. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any investing strategy will be successful. Forward looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions, the economy, and future conditions. As such, forward-looking statements are subject to inherent uncertainty, risks, and changes in circumstance that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from the anticipated outcomes. Carefully consider investment objectives, risk factors and charges and expenses before investing. Fortem Financial is a registered investment adviser with the SEC. Advisory services are offered through Fortem Financial.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a price-weighted index composed of 30 widely traded blue-chip U.S. common stocks. The S&P 500 is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-value weighted index of all common stocks listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The Russell 2000 is a market-cap weighed index composed of 2,000 U.S. small-cap common stocks. The Global Dow is an equally weighted index of 150 widely traded blue-chip common stocks worldwide. Market indices listed are unmanaged and are not available for direct investment.

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