• Market Commentary 06/25/2024

    Market Commentary 06/25/2024

    The Markets Are we at an inflection point? The transition to renewable energy has been moving forward and may be reaching an inflection point. In 2023, global renewable energy capacity increased by almost 50 percent, reported the International Energy Agency (IEA). Renewable capacity reached all-time highs in the United States, Europe and Brazil. However, the…

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  • Market Commentary 06/18/2024

    Market Commentary 06/18/2024

    The Markets Inflation is lower – and so are some retail prices. There was a lot of good news last week about the cost of products and services in the United States. In May, prices for gasoline and fuel oil, new cars, and clothing moved lower, while the cost of shelter, medical care, and eating…

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  • Market Commentary 06/11/2024

    Market Commentary 06/11/2024

    The Markets Another record high for the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index! Last week, the S&P 500 Index hit its 25th record high for 2024. Investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence helped drive the index to a new high. About 30 percent of the Index is information technology stocks. The S&P 500 also benefitted from…

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  • Market Commentary 06/04/2024

    Market Commentary 06/04/2024

    The Markets Overall, May was a good month for investors. The adage, “Sell in May and go away,” would have been poor advice last month. Major stock indices in the United States finished the month higher. Connor Smith of Barron’s reported: Despite the positive returns, May was also a volatile month for stocks as investors…

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  • Market Commentary 05/29/2024

    Market Commentary 05/29/2024

    The Markets Perception versus reality. A recent Harris poll, conducted on behalf of The Guardian newspaper, found that there is some confusion about the state of the American economy and U.S. stock market performance. A significant proportion of the Americans who participated think the economy and the stock market are in rough shape. Here are…

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  • Market Commentary 05/21/2024

    Market Commentary 05/21/2024

    The Markets Reading the economic tea leaves. Tasseography practitioners read tea leaves to forecast the future. Some economic data serve a similar purpose. Policymakers, central bankers, economists, and investors look at leading economic indicators to forecast where the economy may be headed. Classic leading indicators include: Consumer confidence. Consumer spending is the largest contributor to…

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  • Market Commentary 05/14/2024

    Market Commentary 05/14/2024

    The Markets Higher rates are doing what they’re supposed to do. Last week, Federal Reserve officials spoke about keeping the federal funds rate higher until it becomes clear that inflation will reach the Fed’s two percent target rate. While people typically don’t mind earning more interest on their saving and investment accounts, higher rates are…

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  • Market Commentary 05/07/2024

    Market Commentary 05/07/2024

    The Markets What will the Federal Reserve do? Uncertainty about the direction and timing of Fed rate cuts is causing stock markets in the United States to charge and retreat. U.S. stocks rallied for five consecutive months (anticipating rate cuts early in 2024) before retreating in April after higher-than-anticipated inflation suggested the Fed might delay…

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  • Market Commentary 04/30/2024

    Market Commentary 04/30/2024

    The Markets The economy appears to be slowing down. Last week, many investors were focused on economic data. The Personal Consumption report offers information about Americans’ income and spending over the previous month. It includes one of the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauges, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index. The March report showed: What…

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