Market Watch | Interest Rates | Retirement Adjustments

Market Watch: Not surprisingly, the majority of market indexes finished lower as the Eastern European conflict continued. Inflation concerns remain. International equities also fell during the week. Retail sales eked ever so slightly higher, with the energy sector remaining the leader for 2022.

We continue to monitor the markets and remain available for any questions you have or help you might need. It’s not easy to watch the market’s volatility, but we continue to encourage a long-term view. The above charts are such an excellent addition to the narrative. Despite inflation, look at retail sales in 2022 compared to 2019—pre-pandemic! It will level out. It might just be slightly bumpy getting there!

Speaking of Studying: You’ve probably heard it said that you should be a student of your spouse (or child, or friends, etc.). It seems that the assignment is never complete! In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Sherry Mendelson shares her real-life adjustment to retirement. In a crazy turn of events, the aim of the American dream—to retire happily without a care in the world—was fraught with difficulty right in the rooms of her own home as she and her husband learned to relate in their new roles. It’s an interesting read. To check out the entire article, click here.

Business Briefing:

• Mortgage Rates: The average U.S. interest on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage reached 5 percent for the first time in a decade, government-mortgage company Freddie Mac said Thursday. (Wall Street Journal)
• Twitter Takeover: Tesla CEO Elon Musk admitted that he has a Plan B if Twitter rejects his $43 billion hostile takeover offer. Speaking at the TED 2022 conference, Musk said he was “not sure that [he] will actually be able to acquire” the company, even though he can “technically afford it.” Musk recently revealed he had purchased a 9.2 percent stake and refused an offer to sit on the board. (Fox Business)
• Texas Border: After a little over a week of disrupted trade from commercial trucks crossing into Texas from Mexico due to Gov. Greg Abbot’s orders that state troopers inspect all commercial traffic, the White House weighed in. The snarled truck traffic eased a bit as Abbott said he’d suspend inspections for commercial vehicles coming from three Mexican states.

Another Brick in the Wall: Pink Floyd has only hit the number one spot once at the height of their career with the song, “Another Brick in the Wall.” Released during the popularity of disco, this song couldn’t have been further from those sounds. The subject of the song? Problems plaguing the British school system at that time. Well, the band has reunited! Three of the original five have come together to write a protest song as a show of “anger at a superpower invading a peaceful nation.” It’s their first new material in 28 years. You can listen to it here.