Market News – February 17, 2020

Market News

U.S. MARKETS SHAKE OFF CORONAVIRUS:  I assumed that if the coronavirus news kept getting worse, U.S. stocks would suffer.  Factories have closed, spending has been curbed and supply chains disrupted in the world’s second largest economy.  U.S. stocks are being affected, but not by much.  Among the S&P 500 companies, 5.8% of sales are generated…

February 18, 2020

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Market News – February 10, 2020

Market News

CORONAVIRUS BRINGS A VERY STRONG WEEK TO A HALT:  U.S. stocks enjoyed a four day winning streak until Friday when Coronavirus fears came back into focus and ended it.  The virus is beginning to impact China’s economy, and that has markets worried.  Estimates for China’s GDP growth are now being lowered.  Up until Friday, continued…

February 10, 2020

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Market News – January 3, 2020

Market News

WATCHING AN OUTBREAK:  We have seen this movie before.  In real life, we have seen flu outbreaks originate from the Far East as well as SARS.  There have also been lots of movies on this subject, so it is easy to imagine the worst.  As the spread of this disease unfolds, and more facts come…

February 3, 2020

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Market News – January 27, 2020

Market News

I COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF:  I read an article by Paul Merriman on MarketWatch’s website this week.  The title was “The No. 1 Secret to Long-Term Investment Success.”  Before you read on, stop and see if you can think of what he says it is……Okay, time’s up.  He says, “The key to…

January 27, 2020

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Market News – January 21, 2020

Market News

HERE COME THE NEW HOMES:  “Housing starts” measures the number of new residential construction projects begun in any particular month.  Housing starts in December were over 16% better than the month before, and 40.8% better than December of 2018.  December’s number was the highest it has been since December of 2006 (end of the bubble). …

January 21, 2020

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Market News – January 6, 2020

Market News

THE OLD YEAR ENDS WITH GREAT NUMBERS AND THE NEW YEAR BEGINS:  We had another holiday-shortened week which included portions of both 2019 and 2020.  For the week, stocks were down a tad (the S&P 500 was down 0.2%).  This was largely due to the dip in prices on Friday.  That decrease was caused by…

January 6, 2020

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Market News – December 30, 2019

Market News

SHORT AND SWEET:  We had a short week for the markets due to the holiday, and it ended well, once again in record territory.  Easing trade tensions and improving economic data have created a positive stock trading environment.  Strong consumer spending data was the latest data point to buoy investors.  Amazon was a natural beneficiary…

December 30, 2019

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Market News – December 23, 2019

Market News

STRONG INCREASE IN PERSONAL INCOME IN NOVEMBER:  In November, personal income for the average American increased by 0.5% from the prior month.   THE U.S. CONSUMER IS SPENDING:  U.S. consumers increased their spending by 0.4% in November from the prior month.  November spending was 2.4% higher than one year ago.  Durable goods including automobiles, led…

December 23, 2019

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Market News – December 16, 2019

Market News

A LIMITED TRADE DEAL:  Apparently, the U.S. and China have agreed to a “first-stage” trade deal.  China will agree to buy more products from the U.S., and in particular agricultural products ($40 billion per year).  The U.S. will not impose certain threatened tariffs, and reduce some existing ones.  Tariffs on smartphones, toys and consumer electronics,…

December 16, 2019

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Market News – December 9, 2019

Market News

STRONG JOBS REPORT REVIVES THE MARKETS:  After a very solid U.S. jobs report (see below), markets jumped on Friday, turning a negative week into a positive one.  Up until Friday our old friend, U.S./China trade relations, reared its ugly head and sent markets sideways to negative for most of the week.  The jobs report provided…

December 9, 2019

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