03|04|2016

Taper, Taper, Taper… Sick of it yet???

The Federal Reserve Board (FRB) has finally reduced its bond purchase program, but what needs to be remembered is that the program was reduced from $85 Billion in monthly...

03|04|2016

Week and Year in Review…

We’ll get to last week in the next paragraph, however I would like to start this week’s Market Thoughts with a quick look at 2013 performance (through 12/27/2013). –       ...

03|04|2016

2014 Headwinds and Tailwinds

2013 posted the strongest market performance since the 90’s and the New Year began with some apprehension.  Let’s look at headwinds that could persist and tailwinds that could drive...

03|04|2016

Unemployment data decrypted

This past Friday we saw the unemployment rate fall to 6.7%, its lowest level since October of 2008.  That’s reason to celebrate, right?  Wrong!  It’s kind of like when...

03|04|2016

Can the big game predict stock market returns for the coming year???

There is a very high correlation between strong stock market performance for the year and the success of heritage NFL teams (now NFC teams) versus weak market performance when...

03|04|2016

If emerging markets jump off a bridge will the US follow??

This last week we saw the US markets shutter in response to concerns over emerging markets (EM) growth prospects.  China’s Manufacturing PMI fell from 50.5 to 49.6 in December...

03|04|2016

5 Years of Growth

Over the last 5 years we have seen the Dow Jones index grow from a low of 6547.10 on 03/09/2009 to a recent high of 16,576.66 on 12/31/2013[2].  Quite...

03|04|2016

So… How ’bout that weather?

In recent weeks I find myself day dreaming about market data whenever I start having the obligatory weather conversation with an acquaintance.  I’m not trying to be rude, but...

03|04|2016

Did “Sell in May and go away” come early this year?

Over the last several years we have gotten use to the adage of “Sell in May and go away” being all too true.  While I caution vehemently that this...

03|04|2016

The good, the bad, and the non-existent

Domestic stock prices fared well last week despite a mixed bag of data.  We saw positive PMI, consumer debt, and leading indicator data.  While we saw negative housing data,...