U.S. stock markets have exhibited a high degree of volatility in recent weeks. There are lots of factors contributing to the turmoil, which will ebb and flow, probably for the rest of our lives. So let’s just circle back to why we’re here: here...
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The Federal Reserve is expected to lower interest rates this week, with a likely announcement on July 31. The stock market has fully priced in a rate reduction, which means if the Fed fails to lower rates, investors can expect the market to for...
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Last week’s economic reports delivered good news, presuming that you are rooting for a stable or strong U.S. economy. June retail sales rose 0.4% vs. May, when economists expected an 0.2% increase; and retail sales also rose 3.4% vs. a year ago.
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From a stock market point of view, I suggest avoiding homebuilder stocks in the coming years. Companies that build single-family homes will be competing with a glut of existing homes on the market.
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The news media continues to whip investors into a frenzy over the direction of interest rates. Depending on where you look, you can find knowledgeable financial pundits making the case for steady, unchanging interest rates or for the Fed to lower the fed rate...
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Last week’s much-awaited pronouncement by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) turned out to be a big “nothing burger.” I did not personally expect a cut in the fed funds rate.
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All across America, but especially in the Northeast and the Midwest, Boomers will be putting their homes up for sale, and often leaving those areas for warmer climates.
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We’re looking at economic data that could push interest rates upward (rising food price inflation and business expansion) and we’re also looking at economic data that could push rates downward (GDP potentially falling due to China tariffs, and slowing employment numbers).
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Many of our stocks are still recovering from the steep stock market downturn that occurred in the fourth quarter of 2018. As long as their fundamentals (profits, valuation, etc.) remain strong, I’m going to give those stocks some rope and allow them to recover.
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After rising 25% from its December low to its May high, the S&P 500 index is finally taking a breather. I don’t expect a shocking price drop like we saw in December. Rather, I anticipate the S&P 500 receding to 2,750, which would down...
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When a famous company’s stock falls, there are lessons to be learned that can help you improve your game. Shares of 3M Co. (MMM) fell last week when first-quarter results revealed revenue and profits that did not meet the market’s expectations.
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The shares of this pharmaceutical stock is seeing new analyst coverage.
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There are three changes to the portfolio today.
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We have obviously lived through a very difficult period in the stock market recently, from which most of the portfolio stocks are recovering or have already recovered. Hopefully we will not see another similarly ugly stock market downturn for several years, but there no...
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You may have noticed that the price of West Texas crude oil is up about 48% since it bottomed in late December.
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The March flooding in Nebraska and neighboring Midwest and Great Plains states is devastating to farmers, crops and livestock. Consumers can expect prolonged food price inflation that reaches around the globe.
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U.S. stocks markets are now continuing their rebound from the horrendous fourth-quarter 2018 market action. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ indexes look quite bullish, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) lags a bit.
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I’m as “political” as they come, but I don’t make investing decisions based on politics. I make my decisions based on corporate successes (which show up via profit and revenue growth), economic facts (definitely not economic speculation) and stock market trends.
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I haven’t added any new stocks for a while because we’ve already got 30 stocks in the portfolios. Our current stocks have mostly been rising: the good, the bad and the ugly. However, I always have a good list of stocks that are in...
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U.S. stocks continue to defy gravity, with their audacious 2019 year-to-date gains mirroring their equally extreme fourth quarter 2018 descent.
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