Stocks saw steep declines early in the second quarter as the severity of the April 2nd tariff announcements caught investors by surprise. These new tariffs included broad-based import duties as well as targeted levies on steel, aluminum, and autos. By April 8th, the S&P 500 was down 11.2% from the start of the quarter and […]
Continue Reading ›May 2025 Monthly Market Update
Stock markets recovered in May with the S&P 500 closing up 6.3%. Year-to-date the S&P 500 is now up, albeit only 1.1%. A stronger than expected earnings season and favorable tariff news were contributors to the recovery. News related to U.S. budget deficits also impacted markets. The last of the three major credit rating agencies, […]
Continue Reading ›January 2025 Monthly Market Update
Markets rebounded in January from a December pullback as investors digested Trump’s day-one executive orders and solid earnings results from the banking sector. At the very end of the month, tariffs for Mexico, Canada, and China were announced. In response, each nation announced or said they will announce retaliatory tariffs or other trade restrictions. Uncertainty […]
Continue Reading ›August 2019 Economic Dashboard
August was a more volatile month than usual, triggered by both an escalation of the trade war with China and more indications that the US economy may be slowing more than expected. The S&P 500 had daily changes of over 1% on 11 of the 22 trading days in response to both rhetoric and economic […]
Continue Reading ›July 2019 Economic Dashboard
After a relatively good month for the stock market in July, the one-two punch of a disappointing Fed rate cut on July 31 and more tariffs on Chinese goods and its retaliatory currency devaluation in the first days of August have sent stock prices sharply lower. Markets like predictability (which usually comes at a premium) […]
Continue Reading ›May 2019 Economic Dashboard
Rising trade tensions with China and a surprise threat to impose tariffs on Mexico (related to the migrant crisis on the southern border) derailed the stock market in May. Indeed, the Dow Jones 30 Industrials ended the month on its longest weekly losing streak in eight years. Investors are fearing the multi-front trade disputes will […]
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