The Economy As we approach the end of the third quarter, we are stepping back to look at a few primary variables in the economy and investment markets. We have prioritized and outlined our thoughts and investment initiatives. The Delta Variant – In spite of the re-opening, economic growth is slowing. The spread of the […]

The current period feels like we are in the proverbial “calm before the storm.” The markets are quiet at elevated valuations, trading in a tight range. Bond yields are trending lower. The economic recovery appears to be running out of gas. Congress is trying to address the next round of fiscal stimulus wrapped up in […]

Just as the economy should be accelerating, it is beginning to show signs of slowing. The Covid-19 variant is hitting the U.S. and, combined with supply chain disruptions and labor market dislocation, is hampering efforts to re-open. The momentum in economic growth is petering out, resulting in several negative effects Third quarter earnings growth will […]

Top Five Stock Picks With the S&P 500 trading near 39 times earnings, equity valuations are extended. This makes it more difficult for investors to identify stocks that have the potential to post the growth rates we have seen over the past four years. Here are our top five stock ideas as we head into […]

We are half way through the quarter and likely heading into a difficult period for investors. Here’s why. 1. The Covid-19 Pandemic Continues The US economy is still recovering from the impairment caused by the pandemic. First quarter GDP increased 6.3%, while second quarter GDP increased 6.5%. While the recovery is slower than anticipated, the […]

Fifty years ago, on August 15, 1971, President Nixon announced the suspension of the dollar’s convertibility into gold at the fixed rate of $35 per ounce. Up until that point, anyone owning a U.S. dollar had the right to exchange the currency for a fractional share of gold at a fixed rate. While the fractional […]

The economy surged at a 6.5% annual rate in the second quarter according to the Commerce Department. Gross Domestic Product now exceeds its pre-pandemic level, and much of the economy is still hibernating, which should provide a catalyst for a further surge heading into the end of the year. The potential for a surge includes […]

Economy During the second quarter, we expect the U.S. economy likely recovered completely the output lost during the pandemic. Prior to the onslaught of COVID-19, total real GDP was roughly $19.2 trillion. The impact of the pandemic forced GDP to fall to $17.3 trillion, a decline of nearly -10%. However, following 1Q 2021 GDP growth […]

The Economy We believe there is a disconnect between economic activity, the equity market, the bond market and what to expect in the future. The economy is strong. GDP grew at 6.4% in the first quarter of 2021. Whether growth has peaked or not is irrelevant, we expect a strong follow through into the third […]

The domestic economy continues to show strong growth with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis posting first-quarter GDP growth of 6.4%. This reflects the continued recovery throughout the economy and the reopening of restaurants and entertainment following the pandemic. The strength of the recovery continues to be supported by the government’s response, through both fiscal […]