investment management

October marks the start of a fresh quarter — the 4th quarter, last one of the year. Knowing you only have 3 months left in 2022, what are you feeling pressed to accomplish? Entrepreneur Michael Altshuler captured the familiar 4th quarter feeling in this way: “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” Let’s get your goals off the ground and fly. 

Now is a great time to connect if you’re in need of a strategy session heading into the year’s final stretch or if you have any questions about what’s on the horizon for 2023. Where could you use additional information, encouragement, or support? I can assist. The content below summarizes what happened last week and what’s ahead.

Last Week

It was another rough week for U.S. equities as the tight U.S. labor market kept inflation pressures high in wild trading. The S&P 500 Index dropped 3% to reach a new year-to-date low. The Nasdaq fell 2.7% as Apple backed off plans to increase iPhone production due to low demand. The S&P 500 Index lost value for the sixth out of the last seven weeks. The Dow also finished down 2.9% for the week ending last Friday.

A midweek stock rally was quickly squashed on Thursday when jobless claims came in at 193K. This figure signals that the employment picture is strengthening even as the Fed tries to cool things off. The inflation stress continued, reflected in the August Core PCE Price Index, which rose 0.6% Month-over-Month and 4.9% Year-over-Year. Both inflation numbers came in above estimates and higher than the prior month. U.S. home prices tumbled in July at the quickest rate in the index’s history as pending sales fell to levels last seen in April 2020.

On the bright side, consumer confidence rose, supported by rising wages and lower gas prices. Personal income rose 0.3% in August and spending gained 0.4%. Five-year inflation expectations declined to 2.7%, the lowest since July 2021.

This Week – Beginning of 4th Quarter

This week is filled with more Fed speak along with the monthly U.S. employment data. Unless the employment figures start to drop or the economy starts to exhibit significant stress signals, the Fed is likely to stay on an aggressive hiking path. Many economists believe, rate hikes, which have already impacted the housing market, will likely cause a recession by the second half of next year, with some probability of it starting early next year and some probability it starts as late as 2024. There is more economic pain to come; in certain areas, like the labor market, the pain is almost completely in front of us.

Year-to-date index performance; Dow down 21.0%, S&P down 24.8%, and Nasdaq down 32.4% 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

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.

A high inflation report along with global recession fears sent equities falling, and transportation giant FedEx shook markets on Friday. Stocks fell for the fourth week in five, sinking to new September lows. The main indices all finished down last week; Dow -4.1%, S&P -4.7%, and Nasdaq -5.5%.

Last Week – Inflation reports

The S&P 500 Index returned -4.73% last week, posting its worst return since the week ending June 17. The S&P 500 Index returned -4.73% last week, posting its worst return since the week ending June 17. Consumer prices were expected to fall more than they did in August. Dropping energy prices did not offset the increasing food and shelter costs. This report confirms the Feds aggressive stance on continued rate hikes to slow down growth. At the end of the week, Fedex withdrew forward full-year guidance and reported the economic outlook was gloomy. In other data, Mortgage Rates moved over 6%, to 6.02% for the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. This is the highest rate in 14 years. Gas prices declined, and now average $3.69 per gallon.

Week Ahead

Three central bank rate decisions will be anticipated this week. All investors focus will be squarely on Wednesday’s Fed meeting. Annual inflation number did drop last month from 8.5% to 8.3%. But this is still very far from the Fed’s target inflation rate of 2.0%. Rumors of a 1% rate hike are floating around. Many traders are anticipating 0.75% rate increase and further increases at meetings to come. The U.S. labor market remains very strong. The tight labor market makes halting growth much more difficult. The Fed continues fighting the balance of slowing growth without pushing the economy into a recession.

Year-to-date index performance; Dow down 15.2%, S&P down 18.7%, and Nasdaq down 26.8% 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.

With school around the corner, the S&P 500 has retraced more than half its decline since the highs in January. The S&P 500 is now down less than 10% YTD including dividends. U.S. equities rose for a fourth straight week. Boosted by positive inflation news. Last week all indexes finished up. The Dow up 2.99%, S&P 3.31%, and Nasdaq 3.10%.

Last Week

The S&P 500 Index posted the fourth straight week of gains. The index has gained 13.3% since the mid-year mark. A large contrast to the index’s -19.96% return for the first half of 2022. Due to inflation and Ukraine-Russia War, equities have been volatile and experienced challenges for most of 2022. However, last week brought positive news as the year-over-year CPI figure in July and PPI numbers both came in lower than expected. The figures were also lower than the previous month. Investors interpret this information believing that the chance the Federal Reserve might lower their future rate hike response in combating inflation. The release of preliminary August data by the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index also gave stocks a boost. All sectors were in positive territory last week.

Week Ahead

Historically, August’s final weeks are slow as traders squeeze in their final vacations before the kids head back to school. Although the U.S. economic calendar is lighter compared to recent activity, there will be two important releases mid-week. Wednesday’s publication of the FOMC’s July meeting minutes will be reviewed closely as committee members have been publicly pushing back against the perceived dovishness from Chair Powell’s press conference. The retail sales report for July is expected to confirm that consumer spending is weakening as personal savings shrink and credit balances increase. Additionally, Walmart and Target will report earnings after both companies warned last month of decreasing margins and increasing inventories. Other events investors will keep an eye on include housing starts and existing home sales.

Year-to-date index performance; Dow down 7.09%, S&P down 10.2%, and Nasdaq down 16.6% through the close on Friday.

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

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.

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.

Stocks recorded their first back-to-back weekly gains since late January / early February. U.S. equities rose modestly, as strong economic data was checked by geopolitical tensions. Investors’ attention will be focused this week on inflation and jobs data. The Fed is betting on a soft landing for the economy, but the outcome is far from certain.

Last Week – Conflict Overseas Reaches 2nd Month

Last week, the Dow Jones Industrial average was up 0.3%. The S&P 500 was up 1.8%, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 2%. Year-to-date, the numbers are still negative. In housing news, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate reached a 3-year high of 4.5%. This is boxing out some buyers as new and pending home sales fell in February. Inventory remains limited, keeping asking prices high.

Nonfarm payrolls are expecting to be 450,000 for March, a drop from the 678,000 in February. The unemployment rate is expecting to be 3.7% for February. A slight tightening from the 3.8% the month prior. The consensus sees a slight rise in personal income to 0.5% for February. Personal spending is expecting to show a sharp slowdown at 0.6% in February, versus 2.1% in January. This goes along with inflationary pressures that consumers are feeling, especially elevated gas prices at the pumps.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell stated the Federal Reserve will be more aggressive with monetary policy. Key economic data out last week included: New home sales, durable goods orders, and UMich Consumer Sentiment. One significant weekly data point was initial jobless claims which posted at 187,000 for the week ending March 19, its lowest number in 50 years, and a sharp decline versus the week prior of 215,000.

New home sales came in at 772,000 SAAR for February versus a consensus of 825,000 and compared to a revised 788,000 SAAR in January. The final UMich Consumer Sentiment number posted at 59.4 for March, slightly lower than the 59.7 expected. Consumer sentiment of course has pressure from volatile oil prices and the conflict in Ukraine.

The Week Ahead

Key economic data releasing this week include nonfarm payrolls, the unemployment rate, personal income and spending, and Real GDP. In this time of inflation and geopolitical uncertainty, all of this data matters. The Federal Reserve is carefully considering each data point to help decipher the health of the overall economy. The labor market remained strong, with initial jobless claims falling to the lowest level since September 1969.

As the war in Ukraine enters its second month, and with negotiations seemingly at a stalemate, investors’ attention will focus on inflation and jobs data. The Fed is betting on a soft landing for the economy, but the outcome is far from certain. The labor market is tight. The Fed’s preferred inflation measurement, the Core PCE Price Index, is the main event on Thursday, while ISM Manufacturing PMI joins a busy end of the week.

In Europe, Germany will publish preliminary CPI for March along with monthly retail sales and consumer confidence. These numbers have turned pessimistic given the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Year-to-date index performance; Dow down 4.06%, S&P down 4.68%, and Nasdaq down 9.43% 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

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.