Small Bumps in the Road

Small bumps in the road.  Stocks closed mostly mixed and bonds fell yesterday as investors weighed a number of newly emerging risk factors.  Stock indices spent most of the session in the red as a steady stream of questionable reports built up into a new wall of worry.WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:1)  Talks between President…

Nothing New

Nothing new.  In yesterday’s session, stocks closed mixed to modestly down on a lack of any new stimulants from the Fed or trade negotiations between the US and China.  Equities spent the day searching for reasons to resume their recent rise and with very little to go on, they bounced between black and red ultimately…

Stop and Stretch

Stop and stretch.  Markets slowed down the pace closing mixed yesterday after a fast paced run towards old resistance levels.  Stocks opened higher yesterday on an over-the-weekend Presidential tweet that he was delaying a pending tariff hike due to “substantial” progress but the news was not enough to keep stocks up and they faded into…

Keep on Truckin’

Keep on truckin’.  Stocks extended their gains once again on Friday on hopes of success in US-China trade talks, as body language and at least one sound bite from the President gave stock investors some more reasons to buy stocks.  Equity markets slowly worked their way up through Fridays session and a late day surge…

Time to pay the fiddler

Time to pay the fiddler.  After ignoring warning signs, stock traders were caught off guard by weak economic numbers causing an orderly selloff in yesterday’s session.  A collection of weak economic numbers in the morning session did not cause panic but rather a healthy reassessment of market valuation. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: 1)  President…

Doves in the House

Doves in the house.  Yesterday, stocks closed mostly unchanged, but not without a bit of turbulence. The highly anticipated FOMC meeting minutes were released midday which, for the most part, confirmed the market’s view of the dovish Fed. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: 1)  According to yesterday’s FOMC meeting minutes, the Fed governors unanimously voted…

Don’t Stop Believing!

Don’t stop believing!  Stocks closed virtually unchanged as the market had priced in only all good things. Equities bounced around the break even line throughout yesterday’s session ultimately closing unchanged to slightly higher as the trade war talks progressed in Washington DC. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: 1) US – China trade negotiations, well… they…

Going, Going, Gone!

Going, Going, Gone!  Equity markets fly to the edge of the ballpark and the NASDAQ Composite enters a new bull market.  On what would be negative news of a national emergency traders shrug off the   calamity and buy stocks… and bonds. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: 1)  Trump’s announcement that he will use his…

Not So Fast

Not so fast.  Stocks closed mostly down yesterday on bad retail data and earnings, despite upbeat notes from Washington.  Yesterday’s session was set for another celebration of trade and shutdown avoidance but a report of 4th quarter retail sales that showed a sizable slowdown re-kindled hidden fears causing traders to sell. WHAT YOU NEED TO…

Keep on Lovin’!

Keep on lovin’!  Equities continued their climb yesterday as more positive reports continued to flow out of the once thought to be deceased capital.  All of the major indexes traded up on in line inflation numbers and a diminishing fear of another shutdown. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: 1)  WHILE YOU SLEPT, “persons” close to…