Welcome to the first "Quarterly Market Focus" podcast.  This is hopefully a more insightful market recap than my previous podcast, the "Market Monthly".  This inaugural "Quarterly Market Focus" provides stock market highlights of Q2 and offers insights for the market in the quarter ahead.  The historical rebound in the major stock indexes from their April 7 lows was remarkable.  John calls this a "Rocky Balboa market...."   With  history as a guide, there's a good chance for a 4th consecutive gain for the US stock market in July.  Since 1897, July has been the best month of the year for the Dow Jones Industrial Average.  Enjoy the highlights and insights.  Happy 4th of July! 

April was the wildest month in the U.S. stock market since March of 2020.  Kicking off with "Liberation Day", stock market action in April was overwhelmed with seemingly daily tariff news.  As investors were without clarity, they lost confidence.  As investor sentiment plunged,  trade war uncertainty sparked a spike in volatility.  In the end, the stock market did what it historically does - it climbed the wall of worry.  After falling about 15% in the month, the Nasdaq index climbed all the way back up to close with a small gain in April.  Now in May, investors might here the echo of the old Wall Street adage, "Sell in May and go away."  While May is known as the first of the WSM's (Worst Six Months), May has averaged over 1.5% in the SP 500 since 1950 in post-election years.  

Energy was the one bright spot in the U.S. stock market in March.  Tech stocks led all the major market indices lower for the month and the quarter.  March Madness on Wall Street was less fun than the NCAA's version.  The word of the year so far has been "Tariffs".  The lack clarity on what is unfolding as a contentious trade war has caused heightened uncertainty among investors and decision makers globally.  With the increased uncertainty has come a spike in market volatility and weakening investor and consumer sentiment.  Hopefully "Liberation Day" , April 2, will bring some clarity and renew stock market confidence.  Since 1950, April has been one the best months for the U.S. stock market - especially in post-election years....

February is over and stock investors are likely happy about that.  March has historically been the 5th best month of the year for the SP 500, so that should also be happy news for investors.  February brought a lot of what had been missing in the stock market - - volatility!  While the US major stock market indices closed down for the month, they went out on a strong rally today.  

Tune into John Gardner's highlight of the most past and insights for March in his Market Monthly podcast.

Happy New Year!  

As fast as 2024 flew by, it seems as if 2025 is moving even faster...

With January ending today, John's Market Monthly podcast features the highlights of the past month in the stock market and he shares some insights for the market in the month ahead.   Post-election years, like 2025, have historically been good years for the SP 500.  This year, though, is likely to bring increased volatility.  As John likes to say, "Proper portfolio planning produces positive performance."

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
With back-to-back gains of over 20%, what will the stock market do in 2025?
Tune into John Gardner's Market Monthly podcast for his insights for the market in the new year and the highlights of the market's action in December and last year.
The market has both tailwinds and headwinds which could change its course or thrust it higher.  John's 41st peer into a new year calls for a bit of caution ...

So many highlights in the month just past for the U.S. stock market.  And, positive insights for the stocks in the month ahead bode well for the bull market to continue its run in December. 
With the 2024 Presidential Election resulting in a decisive victory for the GOP, the stock market's rally has strengthened.  Tune into John Gardner's highlights of the market's action in November and his insights for December.
As always, "Prudent portfolio planning produces positive performance."

Halloween may have scared the stock market this year with some less-than-stellar earnings reports from a couple of the Magnificent 7, but the market held on to its 2024 strong gains.  November brings us some comfort and some uncertainty for the stock market.  First, November kicks off what Wall Street calls the "Best 6 Months".  But, November 5th's election brings a lot concern to investors.   Then the Fed speaks on the 7th regarding their take on the economy and action they may take with interest rates.  Market indicators point to 25bps...
Tune into John Gardner's Market Monthly podcast for his October highlights and insights for November in the stock market.

After the first winning month in a September since 2019, the stock market faces the "spooky month" -  October.  October has delivered some very scary times to stock market such as the 1929 Stock Market Crash, Black Monday in 1987 and a market meltdown in 2008.  It has also been the month with more rallies of 10% or greater than any other month.  Tune into John Gardner's September Market Monthly to hear his insights for the month ahead and the highlights of September's market action.

After a volatile August, the U.S. stock market enters its historically worst month of the year.  September has not been good for stocks since 1928, on average scoring a negative return.  In the last 10 years, September has been a down month for the SP 500 7 times.  So, expect more market volatility.  After the August 5 "Yen Carry Trade" global stock market drop and big earnings announcements behind us, September may have less bite.  All eyes and ears will be on the September 18 Federal Reserve FOMC meeting to learn if they cut interest rates for the first time since 2020 and, if so, by how much.