This article is original content written by Manchester, CT Financial Advisor Thomas Scanlon, CFP®, CPA You don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving to be grateful. You can be grateful every day. It’s your choice. Life might not be going swimmingly well for you every day. I get it. I truly hope you didn’t expect it … Read more
For months prior to the presidential election, investors remained in a holding pattern, poised to see how the domestic and global markets would react. Many international markets saw pullbacks, but U.S. stock markets surprised to the upside, rewarding investors after showing signs of volatility in pre-trading hours following Election Day. The domestic market rally after … Read more
The New Normal was a term to describe the financial conditions after The Great Recession of 2008-2009 by Mohamed El-Erian, currently the chief economic advisor at Allianz. The concept of the New Normal is that the economy would remain sluggish and take many years to recover. The Old Normal The Old Normal for many … Read more
After a tumultuous summer, the markets seemed to downplay worries in October about China’s economic slowdown and uncertainty over the Federal Reserve timing for raising short-term interest rates. In fact, it was a banner month for the major equity indices – the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ – whose positive … Read more
Last quarter, many investors watched closely as the Greek debt drama played out on a global stage. Three months later, investors once again are warily watching how international economic conditions impact domestic markets. Headwinds include worries over slower growth in Europe and Asia; the effects of lower commodity prices; uncertainty over the Federal Reserve’s rate … Read more
The second quarter ended with all eyes on Greece after the country failed to reach an agreement with its creditors. The impasse resulted in shuttered banks and imposed capital controls, at least until a July 5 referendum on whether to accept further austerity measures in exchange for a European bailout. The Mediterranean country also … Read more
May brought a flurry of market and economic information for investors to mull. First-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) fell at a 0.7% annual rate, revised down from a lackluster 0.2% gain. Corporate profits also fell, reflecting a stronger dollar, weakness abroad, adverse winter weather and possibly some seasonal adjustment issues. Pending home sales, however, climbed … Read more
January 9, 2015 New Year Rings With (Cautious) Optimism Investors who weathered the volatility of the domestic stock market in 2014 were rewarded come year-end. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 ended up more than 10% each, and the Dow Jones finished with a respectable 7.5% gain. The final three months were a boon, as … Read more