Q2 2024
Global equity markets posted another quarter of solid gains and added to a dramatic 18-month performance rebound. A continued rally in the stock prices of the largest U.S. companies by market capitalizations (mostly Technology stocks) once again drove the U.S. equity market’s gain. The S&P 500 index was up 3.9% in the quarter and is […]
Taking Your Politics Out of Investing
In case you weren’t aware, 2024 is an election year. With Super Tuesday’s results behind us, it looks almost certain (barring a surprise 3rd party candidate) that voters will have the same choice they had in 2020 – Donald Trump or Joe Biden. In our experience, politics often becomes a key source of anxiety for […]
Q4 2023
After a difficult 2022, financial markets staged a big recovery in 2023 with much of that recovery coming during a strong, risk-on rally in the fourth quarter. All major asset classes contributed meaningfully positive returns, ranging from 5% at the low end to almost 25% at the high end. Large cap U.S equity markets led […]
Q3 2023
After a strong first half of the year, all major equity markets experienced losses in the third quarter. U.S. stocks, as measured by the S&P 500, were down 4.9% in the quarter, though they are still up 11.7% for the year (both excluding dividends). Foreign stocks, as measured by the MSCI ACWI Ex USA Index, […]
Q2 2023
In our 2022 year-end letter we referenced a Buddy Holly song (Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie) and its message – look to the future, it’s going to get better – in an effort to instill confidence that financial markets would eventually recover from the difficulties experienced last year. Even as we wrote those words, […]
Q1 2023
After a difficult 2022, both stocks and bonds got off to a strong start in the new year. Softer-than-expected data on inflation in January led to falling long-term interest rates and optimism that the Federal Reserve rate-hiking cycle was coming to an end. This led the S&P 500 to post its second strongest return for […]
2022 End of Year Letter
Each year on the last day of trading, the traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange close out the year by singing the song Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie by Buddy Holly. The basic message of the song – look to the future, it’s going to be better – seems particularly […]
4th Quarter of 2021
If you follow U.S. financial media, you might be surprised to know that financial markets turned in somewhat mixed results in 2021. U.S. equities, which dominate the news coverage, did indeed generate very strong returns in 2021. However, fixed income returns were flat-to-negative for the year and international stocks lagged the performance of U.S. stocks […]
2nd Quarter of 2021
Financial markets followed through on recent momentum to generate strong returns for investors in the second quarter of 2021. Equity markets in the U.S. led the way once again with the S&P 500 index up 8.2% in the quarter (excluding dividends), while foreign stocks and the stocks of smaller U.S. companies were up a little […]
First Quarter of 2021
After one of the most volatile years in history, financial markets began 2021 in relatively quiet fashion. Equity markets around the world generated solid returns in the quarter. U.S. stocks, as measured by the S&P 500 index, were up 5.8% (excluding dividends), while developed and emerging international equities were up 2.8% and 1.9%, respectively. In […]