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Starting Now – Market Brief February 28, 2022

jim Financial advisor, Investment Management, Market Brief, Retirement Income Planning, Retirement Planning, wealth management February 28, 2022February 28, 2022financial advisor, investment management, market brief, retirement income planning, retirement planning, wealth management

Starting now, when is the best time to plant a tree? According to the old Chinese proverb, the best time was 20 years ago, but the second-best time is now. There’s such great wisdom in that proverb when it comes to your financial strategy, especially when you consider the bumpy start the economy has taken so far this year. Volatility can cause anxiety. Maybe you’re worried you aren’t on track for the retirement you envision. Maybe you think it’s too late to start. I’m here to tell you that it’s not.

Starting now, we can work together on a strategy that puts you in the best path possible to pursue your long-term goals. We can modify our existing strategy to meet new economic realities or as your goals evolve. Starting now, we can build your confidence in the financial future you want for yourself and your family. Let’s keep the conversation flowing, schedule a time to talk, and reach out with your thoughts.

Last Week – Starting Now

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes both gained on the week after being down more than 5% at the week’s lows. The large focus last week was on the Russian invasion of the Ukraine. Despite the invasion and following sanctions against Russia, the Fed is likely to remain focused on inflation, and sticking to the plan to raise rates.

Consumer spending, wages, and durable goods orders all surged higher. Rising home prices and and higher mortgage rates led to a 4.5% decline in new home sales. Pending home sales also dropped 5.7% in January. The Dow down 0.03%, S&P up 0.84%, and Nasdaq up 1.1%.

Week Ahead

Human and economic assessment is taken into account this week. Along with what actions world leaders take beyond the already imposed sanctions against Russia. From the economic standpoint, eyes are on the U.S. employment report coming out on Friday. Over 1.6M jobs have been created the past 3 months despite the impact of Covid variants, and another strong report may put further pressure on the Fed’s tightening schedule.

Year-to-date index performance; Dow down 6.3%, S&P down 8%, and Nasdaq down 12.5% through the close on Friday.

Click here if you would like to learn more about your options and if we can assist you with your wealth management, investment, and retirement planning.

Financial Advisor Erie CO focus on investment and wealth management, retirement planning; Boulder, Louisville, Niwot, Lafayette, Windsor, Berthoud, CO

This website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be specific advice or recommendations. For specific advice or recommendations you would need to meet directly with one of our advisers.

Market Brief February 22, 2022 – Sloppy Spring?

jim Financial advisor, Investment Management, Market Brief, Retirement Income Planning, Retirement Planning, wealth management February 22, 2022February 22, 2022financial advisor, investment management, market brief, retirement income planning, retirement planning, wealth management

Is a sloppy spring in store this year? Tax season is underway and it may be a little more complicated this year due to a backlog at the IRS. As we continue to recover from the pandemic’s effects on the economy and our individual finances, you may be facing some complicated situations or a backlog yourself.

Whatever questions you have, know you’re not going it alone. A problem shared is a problem halved. Together, we can tackle each issue you’re up against – whether it’s concerns about your tax return, an aging parent, or even strategies around how best to save for more of life’s unexpected changes. Even the most complicated situations can be simplified into actionable next steps. And I can be a great resource for you. Reach out and let’s talk about it.

Last Week

The stock market fell last week as the attention changed from inflation to the potential Russian invasion of Ukraine. The geopolitical uncertainty renewed investor interest in safe assets going into President’s Day weekend. The invasion does not necessarily impact corporate profits in the U.S. Therefore, a stock market drop due to the invasion could be viewed as a buying opportunity. For the week, the DJIA was down 1.9%, the S&P 500 was down 1.6%, and the Nasdaq was down 1.8%.

Trading remained volatile and inflation pressure remains. Amid supply-chain crisis and strong demand, January all-items producer price index was up 1.0% m-o-m and up 9.7% y-o-y. Consumer spending remains strong too. On Wednesday, January retail sales surprised with a 3.8% increase from December’s decline. And better than the 2.0% consensus estimate.

Also on Wednesday, U.S. Industrial production rose 1.4% following December’s decline. On Thursday, January housing starts slipped. Permits went the other way, rising to an above-consensus figure, suggesting that the spring building season may be strong. On Friday, existing home sales for January were also strong. Existing home sales were up 6.7% month-over-month, though down 2.3% year-over-year as available-homes inventory remains near record lows. Mortgage rates continued to rise, and new home construction fell 4.1% in January. Resulting from tight labor and materials but permits to build lifted to the highest levels since 2006.

Week Ahead – Sloppy Spring?

The current holiday-shortened data week kicks off today with the Case-Shiller home price index. Economists look for a 1.1% monthly gain. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence index expects a decline for February as inflation adds to consumers’ concerns. On Wednesday, the weekly mortgage application report expects to continue the downward trend. Rising interest rates are forcing more would-be homebuyers out of the market. Thursday brings the second (preliminary) estimate of 4Q21 GDP. The report expects the forecast to edge up to 7.0%. Thursday also brings January new home sales, which are expected at an 801,000. On Friday, U.S. durable goods orders and core capital goods orders are both forecast up 0.5% month-over-month. The industrial sector continues pushing out all the goods it can to reach high demand amid the supply chain crisis.

This week marked two years since the pre-COVID-19 market high and the stay-at-home trade may have finally run its course. Many pandemic favorites indicated slowing growth including Shopify, Etsy, and Roblox. Fun investment nugget, Hilton Worldwide is now outperforming Zoom Video Communications since the pre-pandemic market peak in February 2020. Year-to-date index performance; Dow down 6.2%, S&P down 8.8%, and Nasdaq down 13.4% through the close on Friday.

Click here if you would like to learn more about your options and if we can assist you with your wealth management, investment, and retirement planning.

Erie CO Financial Advisor; investments, wealth management, retirement income planning; Boulder, Broomfield, Louisville, Niwot, Windsor, Berthoud CO

Market Brief February 14, 2022 – Love & Money Connection

jim Financial advisor, Investment Management, Market Brief, Retirement Income Planning, Retirement Planning, wealth management February 14, 2022February 14, 2022financial advisor, investment strategy, market brief, retirement income planning, retirement planning, wealth management

This week I couldn’t resist sending out a fun finance-related “Love & Money” market brief on Valentine’s Day. This particular holiday can be tricky, as many people tend to have mixed emotions about their love life at times – and you could say the same goes for how people feel about their financial strategy.

Sometimes the matters closest to our heart are the most difficult to discuss, and that’s all the more reason to address it. Working with a trusted financial professional can give some great insight on how to break through psychological barriers to understand what’s truly behind your money behavior. I hope it sparks that need-to-have talk with the someone you trust.

Last Week

The stock market returned to its bearish ways. January CPI posted its highest annual increase in 40 years. For the week, the DJIA was down 1.0%, the S&P 500 was down 1.8%, and the Nasdaq Composite was down 2.2%. The S&P 500 fell hard at the end of the week, falling on both Thursday and Friday. The two-day loss was 3.7%, the worst since 2-day’s since Q4 2020. Interestingly, the index fell 9.6% in 2020 while the current decline is 9.8%.

Weekly mortgage applications tanked 8.1% last week thanks to rising interest rates. With the 10-year yield rising, stocks’ forward 12-month P/Es have been falling. On Thursday, the January all-items CPI was up 0.6% month-over-month and 7.5% year-over-year. Core CPI was up 6.0% from a year ago. That represented the greatest increase in annual core CPI since 1982. Used-car prices jumped 40% from last January and were a major contributor to the overall increase.

The rising price news puts additional pressure on the Fed, as markets are now pricing in a better than 50% probability of a 0.50% rate hike in March and creating whispers of an inter-meeting move. Some analysts are anticipating up to seven 0.25% increases for the year.

In a market looking for good news, weekly initial jobless claims came in at 223,000, below the 230,000 consensus; continuing claims continue to set new post-pandemic lows, at 1.621 million. Consumers confidence is down, pointing to one major concern – inflation… superseding any good news, wages, or Omicron.

Week Ahead

Kicking off with V-day today, bulls will be anxious to see if investors can rediscover their love for stocks. Unfortunately, Tuesday brings the January PPI. In this period of supply-chain crisis, expectations are for an annual change of 9.2% in all-items producer prices.

The Fed also has a scheduled “closed-door” meeting today focused on the “advance and discount rates”, fueling speculation of potential action between scheduled meetings. Whatever the outcome, it seems the only certainty is continued volatility, especially with the Russia-Ukraine situation sparking additional fears late last week. A Russian invasion on the Ukraine would likely set off a rush to lower-risk assets. However, it does not change the outlook for corporate profits over time, so any drop in equities will likely be temporary.

The end of the week presents housing data with existing home sales and construction spending. Some home buyers have pulled back as mortgage rates have jumped to near 4%, with applications dropping last week. Year-to-date, the Dow is down 4.40%; the S&P 500 is off 7.29%; and the Nasdaq Composite is back in correction territory, down 11.85% as of last Friday.

Click here if you would like to learn more about your options and if we can assist you with your wealth management, investment, and retirement planning.

Financial Advisor Erie CO focus on investment, wealth management, and retirement planning; Boulder, Louisville, Niwot, Lafayette, Windsor, Berthoud, CO

Market Brief January 31, 2022

jim Financial advisor, Investment Management, Market Brief, Retirement Income Planning, Retirement Planning, wealth management January 31, 2022January 31, 2022financial advisor, investment management, market brief, retirement income planning, retirement planning, wealth management

U.S. equities rallied late in volatile trading as investors worried over Fed policy, rising interest rates, and high inflation. Investors may be looking for some relief after a bumpy January. This week kicks off another busy week of economic data. Three central bank meetings are on the calendar along with the monthly U.S. jobs report.

Last Week – Fed & Inflation

Despite wild intraday gyrations in the stock market last week, the S&P 500, the Nasdaq, and the Nasdaq 100 were all basically flat for the week. But at the end of it all, that was an improvement relative to recent weeks. The market saw a huge rally on Friday, with the S&P 500 soaring 2.4%, while both the Nasdaq and QQQs rocketed 3.1% higher. It was the largest daily gain for the “500” since June 2020 and the biggest jump for the other two indices since March 2021.

The stock market finally had a winning week, the first of the year, though January remains deeply in the loss column. Equities are under pressure from inflation, supply chain, Fed decisions, and Covid-19 restrictions. Last week was one of the busiest of the 4Q earnings season. Earnings were overshadowed by the GDP data, which in turn was overshadowed by the Fed meeting. Last Tuesday, the Case-Shiller Home Price index showed unrelenting home-price inflation, with prices up 1.2% month-over-month for November and up 18.3% year-over-year. December new home sales on Wednesday came in at an 811,000 SAAR, topping expectations for 760,000.

The Federal Reserve’s policy statement from last week plus Jerome Powell’s post-meeting press conference made it abundantly clear it is ready to start raising short-term interest rates in March. The futures market is now pricing in 5 rate hikes in 2022, 25 basis points each. Some believe there could be more. This would not be surprising as the Fed is behind the inflation fighting curve. The December Consumer Price Index rose 7% in 2021, the largest yearly increase since 1981.

Week Ahead

The current week mercifully says goodbye to January, which has been the worst opening month for stocks since 2009. On Tuesday, the ISM’s manufacturing PMI is forecast to signal continued expansion. But, at a consensus 57.5 reading for January, this series is likely below the 60 level that prevailed for almost all of 2021. This results from the given current realities of inflation, supply chain, and COVID.

On Tuesday, construction spending is forecast to rise 0.7% for December. The JOLTs job openings for December is forecast to remain north of 10 million. On Wednesday, ADP’s private payrolls report is expected to come in at 225,000 for January. This is down from the prior 807,000 for December. On Thursday, economists will watch initial unemployment claims for signs that Omicron impacts are receding; from a prior 260,000, economists are looking for as few as 230,000 new initial claims. On Friday, January nonfarm payrolls are forecast up by 200,000, in line with December’s 199,000 gain. Unemployment is expected to hold steady at 3.9%. And hourly wages are forecast up 5.2% year-over-year.

Earnings season is under way and announcements expected this week include Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., Exxon Mobil Corp, and many more. Year-to-date through Friday; the Dow is down 4.4%, S&P 500 down 7.0% and Nasdaq Composite down 12.0%.

Click here if you would like to learn more about your options and if we can assist you with your wealth management, investment, and retirement planning.

Market Brief January 24, 2022

jim Financial advisor, Investment Management, Market Brief, Market Review, Retirement Income Planning, Retirement Planning, wealth management January 24, 2022January 24, 2022financial advisor, investment management, market brief, Market Review, retirement income planning, retirement planning, wealth management

A new year, a new tune? So far that is the trend…

With all the speculation around what this year will bring, including the effects of inflation and an ongoing pandemic, whether markets will continue to soar, along with predicting when the Fed may raise interest rates (and how many times), a quote from the late Donald Rumsfeld, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, comes to mind:

“There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don’t know we don’t know.”

The idea of known unknowns is helpful in forming your financial strategy.

What do we know already (known knowns)?

Are we conscious of what we are not exploring (unknown unknowns)?

What about biases and unconscious decisions (unknown knowns)?

As this year unfolds and we move into a potentially volatile time in the economy, let’s work closely together, examining your goals and adjusting if needed as conditions change to keep you on track.

Here is a review of last week and what to look forward to this week…

Last Week

The Nasdaq fell 7.5% due to disappointing earnings results. The drop put the Nasdaq below its 200-day moving average for the first time since April 2020. The S&P 500 fell 5.5% and is off 8.25% from its early January highs. Every S&P 500 sector lost ground, with consumer discretionary, technology, and financials all down between 6-8%. Concerning inflation and corporate profits accelerated an overall risk off movement by investors.

Globally, anxieties rose over Russia making a move against Ukraine. In the U.S., a surprise drop into negative territory for January’s Empire State manufacturing survey revealed the economic damage that the omicron variant has done. Weekly jobless claims took an unexpected turn higher, totaling 286K as illness-related absences increased.

Reported housing data came in mixed as mortgage rates ticked up, reaching the highest levels since March 2020. New home construction ended 2021 on a positive note and annual housing starts were the highest since 2006. Homebuilder sentiment slipped slightly in January as lumber prices have soared back to near last summer’s highs, while existing home sales sank 4.6% in December on record low inventory. Overseas, China’s central bank moved to shore up a slowing economy hurt by the real estate sector, cutting several benchmark lending rates. China’s economy grew by 8.1% in 2021, below forecasts of 8.4%.

The Week Ahead

Investor sentiment has been pushed to levels not seen in a long time. The latest AAII survey showed bullish sentiment at 21%, an 18-month low, while bearish sentiment jumped to 47%, a 16-month high. Readings at those extremes may suggest an oversold market in the short term. However, this week is packed with potential big-impact announcements. The largest being the FOMC’s statement to be released mid-day Wednesday. Will Powell change his hawkish tone given recent risk-asset performance, or stay the course laid out in December? Reaction may be volatile either way.

Manufacturing and services PMIs, along with consumer confidence numbers, will precede the Fed’s account. Thursday brings the first look at Q4 GDP, where consensus forecasts have slowly come down and currently sit around 5.3%. Durable goods and pending home sales will also report on Thursday, and then Friday an inflation update lands with the Core PCE Price Index. And don’t forget earnings season is in full swing as 108 names in the S&P 500 are expected to report quarterly results.

Click here if you would like to learn more about your options and if we can assist you with your wealth management, investment, and retirement planning.