Good morning, Market momentum turned positive during the middle of last week – the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose over 200 points last Wednesday on easing tensions in Hong Kong – and jumped over 400 points on Thursday after the U.S. and China agreed to hold trade talks. The trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies has been escalating …

Good morning, Early last Friday morning when we began thinking about the topic for this memo, we thought we’d be discussing a decent week for the market and analyzing Fed Chair Powell’s comments at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium in Wyoming. As we know however, the mood of the market changes like the weather in New England – often, and …

Good morning, Trading last week can aptly be summarized (twice) with the acronym TGIF. First, Thank Goodness It’s Friday – when the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose over 300 points to bring us into the weekend on a positive note. Second, Thank Goodness It’s Finished, as a stressful and volatile week came to an end (the Dow plunged 800 points, …

Good morning, So much for quiet summer trading – volatility is back and the market has a “full plate” right now. Big picture items that are front and center for the financial markets right now include Federal Reserve policy, earnings season, and the US-China trade war. The Federal Reserve, as totally expected, cut interest rates by ¼ point last week. …

Good morning, We are in the heart of earnings season, and some specific stock action that stood out so far includes: Alphabet posted better-than-expected earnings and announced a share repurchase program, spelling out good news for the shares, with the stock rising almost 10%; Twitter shares flew higher after the company reporting an earnings beat and an increase in monetizable …

Good morning, Taking a look at the above in reverse order – Wall Street is certain the Federal Reserve is going to lower interest rates this month – as the CME FedWatch Tool puts the probability of a rate cut at 100%. The only debate at this point is whether it will be ¼ point or ½ point cut, with …

Good morning, The three major stock market indices all closed at record highs last week following congressional testimony by Federal Reserve Chair Powell that cemented expectations for an interest rate cut at the end of this month, and possibly more after that. The new record closing numbers are 27,332 for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 3,013 for the Standard & …

Good morning, A month ago we discussed how “bad news is good news” after disappointing employment data increased the likelihood the Federal Reserve would lower interest rates, which was good news for the stock market. Well, the June Jobs Report released Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor was better-than-expected, showing the economy added 224,000 jobs, versus expectations for a …

Good morning, The stock market is trading higher this morning after a cease-fire in the trade war between the U.S. and China. President Trump and Chinese President Xi agreed over the weekend not to impose any additional tariffs. Investors are feeling relieved with the fact the trade war is not escalating and with the cooperative tone. The positive opening this …

Good morning, Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines patient as bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint and manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain, when used as an adjective, or as an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment, when used as noun. Often in life, when one is or is not being patient, or is a patient, things are …