The first quarter of 2019 started strong for both the stock and bond markets. Large cap U.S. stocks, measured by the S&P 500 index, were up 13.6% for the quarter, offsetting much of their decline in the previous quarter, while small cap stocks, measured by the Russell 2000, rose 14.6% for the quarter. Foreign stocks again trailed the US indexes - the FTSE Developed all cap ex-US index (Europe, UK, Australia [...]
The financial markets were volatile in the final quarter of the year as investors worried about the trade negotiations with China, the Fed raising rates too aggressively and the potential for a slowing global economy in 2019. Interest rates fell sharply the last three months of the year; the 10-year treasury started the quarter yielding 3.07% and finished the quarter at 2.69%. The Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index was up 1.6% [...]
The U.S. economy continued to show momentum during the Third Quarter of 2018. Corporate earnings were strong, unemployment declined, inflation remains tame and most indicators show improving financial conditions. The stock market had a good quarter, as measured by the S&P 500, with a 7.2% return. Small stocks, as measured by the Russell 2000, returned 3.13% during the last three months. Growth stocks continued to outpace Value stocks – the Russell 2000 [...]