45 Search Results for: covid
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Market Commentary: Unemployment Continues Slow Recovery as U.S. Corporations Beat Earnings Expectations
The lack of progress on a federal stimulus bill weighed on markets last week while economic and earnings data provided investors some good news. Initial unemployment claims finally dipped below 800,000. The improvement and adjustments to previous weeks’ estimates suggest the labor market is continuing to recover. Corporate earnings also provided a positive surprise. While many companies are still to report, initial results show 84% of S&P 500 companies are beating estimates.
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Market Commentary: Retail Sales Spike, but Unemployment Claims Still on Rise
Retail sales rebounded as U.S. consumers continued to put salaries and money left over from the CARES Act into the economy. Retail and food service sales surged 1.9%, more than doubling expectations of 0.8%. The gains raised overall retail sales 5.4% above year-ago levels as consumers make up for consumption lost during the early days of social distancing (Figure 1).
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How the 2020 Election Could Impact the Markets and Your Financial Plan
Every election season, political emotions run high. Candidates tell us that this is the most important election in our lifetimes. Advertisements vilifying the opposing candidate seem to never end. Political chatter on social media picks up. Through it all, it can be hard to keep our emotions under control.
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Market Commentary: Stocks Rallied in Hopes of Potential Stimulus Package
U.S. stocks rallied on expectations that a stimulus package will be passed in the coming months and additional packages will be easier to pass. The Trump administration offered proposals closer to the most recent Democratic offer. Even if no deal is reached prior to the election, polls suggest the Democratic Party may control the presidency and both houses of Congress. One-party control makes it significantly easier to pass legislation.
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Market Commentary: Markets Face Uncertainty as Economy Recovers, Tension Grows in Washington
Politics created the biggest market headlines last week. Investors wrestled with the tone of the presidential debate and how it contributes to political uncertainty. Stimulus negotiations between the House and the Trump administration narrowed the gap between the two parties, but they were unable to produce a deal. The president contracting COVID-19 contributed to the sense of uncertainty.
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How Financial Scams Work, and How to Keep Yourself Safe No Matter Your Level of Wealth
In the late 1920s, an enterprising Bostonian started selling subdivisions in the sunny ‘burbs of Florida. Promising orange trees in the backyard and rolling waves out the front door, he sold plots – sometimes 23 an acre! – near bustling towns like Nettie. Unfortunately, the entrepreneur’s name was Charles Ponzi, and Nettie, like his other locales, was a work of lucrative fiction.
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Market Commentary: S&P Continues Decline, but Home Sales on the Rise
The S&P 500 declined for the fourth straight week. On Wednesday, the index of large U.S. companies had declined just more than 9.5% but rallied late in the week. The S&P 500 is 7.8% below its Sept. 2 high. The four-week decline has matched the characteristics of a price adjustment after a large run-up in markets.
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Charitable Gift Planning Strategies for 2020
Charitable Gift Planning Strategies for 2020 Charitable gifts can make a significant impact on your community and your tax situation – especially in 2020. If you are in a situation where you can give a charitable gift this year, this webinar is for you. You’ve probably received hundreds of emails about these unprecedented times. COVID-19 has brought more changes than we can count – some bad, some good. Let’s talk about how we can maximize our charitable inclinations to make the most of these changes. Watch Jamie Hopkins, Director of Retirement Research at Carson, lead this telling webinar, “Charitable...read the full article
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5 Steps to Care for Your Credit
By John Corron, Wealth Advisor – A read through of the New York Fed’s Q2 2020 Household Debt and Credit Report revealed some surprising changes, including: Overall debt held by U.S. Households has climbed steadily since 2013 to just below the Q1 2020 all-time high of $14.3 Trillion. Credit card balances decreased by $76 billion (largest drop since the measure has been recorded). Delinquencies have been steadily declining since 2009 to just under 4% of all outstanding debt. The percentage of consumers currently in collections is at its lowest level (just over 8%) since 2013 where just over 14% of…read the full article
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Market Commentary: Restaurants are Rebounding, but S&P Still Lags
Retail sales figures continued a string of economic data pointing toward slowing growth accompanied by a gradual reopening of state economies. Consumers seem willing to take some risks. Retail and food service sales rose 0.6% last month. (See Chart 1.) Increased sales at restaurants contributed most to the monthly gains.
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