The first half of 2021 is behind us. As life emerges from the pandemic to a “new normal,” a mid-year financial checkup may be more important than ever this year. Here are some ways to make sure that your financial situation is continuing on the right path. Reassess your financial goals At the beginning of […]
Read MoreMonth: July 2021
Weekly Update as of market close July 23, 2021
Last week proved to be a choppy one for stocks. The week began with stocks trending lower on news of a spike in the number of coronavirus cases. However, strong corporate earnings reports helped support the perception that the economy is continuing to advance, despite the cloud of the Delta variant hanging overhead. By last […]
Read MoreNew Global Tax Accord Takes Shape
After more than four years of international negotiations taking place mostly behind the scenes, 132 countries — representing more than 90% of worldwide gross domestic product (GDP) and including the Group of 20 (G20) large economies — recently agreed to a new plan to reform international tax laws in an effort to “ensure that multinational […]
Read MoreWeekly Update as of market close July 16, 2021
Stocks suffered their worst week in quite some time, as each of the major indexes ended the week lower. Last week was the start of the second-quarter corporate earnings reporting period. Attention will be paid to reported earnings to gauge whether corporate profits can support equity valuations. Despite Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s repeated statements that […]
Read MoreWeekly Update as of market close July 9, 2021
The holiday-shortened week can best be described as volatile. Some observers suggest investors may be retreating from stocks over uncertainties surrounding the pace of economic recovery coupled with easing inflation expectations. For much of the week, stock values road a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs, while Treasury prices climbed, pulling yields lower. The market […]
Read MoreShould You Be Concerned About Inflation?
If you pay attention to financial news, you are probably seeing a lot of discussion about inflation, which has reared its head in the U.S. economy after being mostly dormant for the last decade. In May 2021, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), often called headline inflation, rose at an annual rate of 5.0%, […]
Read MoreWeekly Update as of market close July 2, 2021
Stocks opened last week mixed. Tech stocks surged, driving the Nasdaq to an all-time high. The S&P 500 inched ahead, while the Global Dow (-0.8%), the Russell 2000 (-0.5%), and the Dow (-0.4%) fell. Besides technology, other sectors performing well last Monday included communication services, utilities, and consumer discretionary. Energy, financials, and industrials dipped lower. […]
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