Insights
Trick or treat: A mixed bag
October could best be described as a mixed bag: some good, some bad, but certainly eventful. The month’s headlines and market reactions once again reinforced our Clear Air Turbulence theme, as investors navigated through some spooky developments: renewed government...
The Fed Talks the Talk, Walks the Walk: Investors Embrace the Fed’s Decision
Mark Twain once said that September is a particularly difficult month to invest in stocks. Of course, he went on to comment jokingly that the other 11 difficult months included all other 30-day periods that comprise the calendar. Well, not true this September. The...
The “Center Stage” Question: To Cut or Not to Cut? Market Implications
The current market set-up and drama surrounding the Federal Reserve (the Fed) is center stage right now and about as Shakespearean as it gets. In this unfolding monetary policy play, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is seemingly cast in the role of Hamlet. Taking some...
Federal Reserve Sovereignty – An Important Issue
On July 16, capital markets went through a period of whipsaw trading as speculation emerged that President Donald Trump might “fire” Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Later that day, the president stated he wasn’t going to remove Powell unless he found “cause.”...
Sprinting Into the Locker Room at Half-Time! Is this Real or Fear of Missing Out?
No doubt about it, the market is exhibiting some mojo as we close out the first half of 2025. The S&P 500 had an outstanding June, with a total return of roughly 5% for the month. This was on the heels of a more than 6% total return in May, which made for one of...
A Roller Coaster Start to 2025 — Time to Regroup for the Second Half
“Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens,” said legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix—a fitting reminder as we reflect on the wild ride that has been the first half of 2025. It turns out we were quite serious when we discussed the likely virulent swings in policy rhetoric out...