September 14, 2018 Weekly Market Recap
Wall Street returned to its winning ways this week, powering through trade-related headlines and Hurricane Florence, one of the strongest storms to hit the Carolinas in decades. The S&P 500 advanced 1.2%, the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose 1.4%, and the blue-chip Dow Jones climbed 0.9%.
September 7, 2018 Weekly Market Recap
The Three-Week Rally Comes to an End as Tech Shares Slide. Investors returned from the extended Labor Day weekend in a selling mood, pulling stocks away from last week’s record highs. The S&P 500 ended the week with a loss of 1.0%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average showed relative strength, but still finished lower by 0.2%.
August 31, 2018 Weekly Market Recap
After returning to record territory last Friday, the S&P 500 headed even higher this week, adding 0.9% in total. The tech-heavy Nasdaq outperformed, adding 2.1%, and the Dow also advanced, tacking on 0.7%.
The Longest Bull Market in History
The current bull market is now officially the longest on record, surpassing the 1990’s bull run. Over the past nine and a half years, the S&P 500 index has risen 325%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average 294%, and the NASDAQ Composite 526%.
August 24, 2018 Weekly Market Recap
The S&P 500 clawed back to record territory this week, closing Friday at a new high for the first time since January 26. Political uncertainty, trade ambiguity, and strengthened expectations for two more rate hikes this year all failed to dissuade motivated buyers, who pushed stocks higher in three of the week’s five sessions.
Where’s the Value?
From 1928-2017 the value premium (value stock returns minus growth stock returns) in the US had a positive annualized return of approximately 3.5%. In seven of the last 10 calendar years, however, the value premium in the US has been negative.
August 17, 2018 Weekly Market Recap
The S&P 500 advanced 0.6% this week, recouping last week’s modest decline, amid a host of retail earnings, more volatility in the Turkish lira, and another chapter in the U.S.-China trade war saga.
Crisis in Turkey
This is a difficult time for international stocks, especially in developing countries. At the moment, political and market events in Turkey are sparking volatility across emerging markets.
August 10, 2018 Weekly Market Recap
The S&P 500 started the week on a positive note, extending last week’s winning streak and coming within 0.5% of its January 26 record high. However, the index struggled in the back half of the week, especially on Friday amid a sharp drop in the Turkish lira.
What it Means to be a Fiduciary
Financial Synergies Wealth Advisors is an independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). More importantly, we are a Fiduciary – legally and ethically bound to act in the best interests of our clients. Most financial advisors are not fiduciaries.
The Real Impact of Inflation
When the prices of goods and services increase over time, consumers can buy fewer of them with every dollar they have saved. This erosion of the real purchasing power of wealth is called inflation. Inflation is an important element of investing.
August 3, 2018 Weekly Market Recap
U.S. stocks edged higher Friday, lifting the S&P 500 to its fifth consecutive weekly gain, after a string of upbeat earnings helped reassure investors that the market is on solid footing.
What Do Last Week’s GDP Numbers Mean?
In a nutshell, the U.S. economy continues to grow at a blistering pace. Last week’s GDP (gross domestic product) report estimates that the economy grew by 4.1% in the second quarter, the fastest quarterly pace since 2014.
July 20, 2018 Weekly Market Recap
There were a ton of headlines out of Washington this week, but Wall Street kept its cool, finishing little changed. The S&P 500 finished flat, while the Dow Jones finished a bit higher (+0.2%), and the Nasdaq finished a tick lower (-0.1%). The small-cap Russell 2000 outperformed, rallying 0.6%.
2nd Quarter 2018 Newsletter
Below you’ll find our 2nd Quarter 2018 Newsletter, which includes articles on the economy, markets, and financial planning topics. We hope you find them helpful and informative. Hopefully you are enjoying your summer!
