Inflation, Rising Interest Rates and Stock Prices

Inflation is in the news, as are rising interest rates. Can stock prices hold up against this backdrop of rising interest rates?  Read on to learn more. >> To subscribe to this monthly newsletter, click on Subscribe! Inflation Report Sends Interest Rates Up This week the markets got another hot inflation report.  This sent interest rates…

Financial Themes for 2022

This first newsletter of 2022 not only addresses four financial themes to watch in 2022 (including one about dogs of the market) but also explores COVID and inflationary pressures while reminding you of three determinants of stock prices. >> To subscribe to this monthly newsletter, click on Subscribe! COVID and Inflationary Pressures Unfortunately, COVID is still…

Investing in Times of 20+ P/Es

As a value investor, you must be asking yourself how best to go about investing in a time of 20+ P/Es. With over 90% of companies in the S&P500 reporting their 3rd quarter earnings, US corporate profits seem strong.  According to FactSet, about 80% reported better than expected earnings per share, and about 75% posted…

Processing Investment Advice, Predictions, and Risks

How seriously do you take market voices? By that, I mean advice, predictions, and risks not always grounded in common sense? This newsletter explores this conundrum. Market Commentators Have No Accountability for Advice, Predictions and Risks Realize that there’s an important disconnect between the “advice”, “predictions” and “risks” people hear from market commentators and actual…

Cash and Unemployment Report Reactions

What does the latest unemployment report say about the economy? This article explores reactions from the Federal Reserve, and the Stock Market. It also examines how much cash investors should hold in their portfolios. >> To subscribe to this monthly newsletter, click on Subscribe! The 9/3/21 Unemployment Report The Employment Report issued on Friday, September 3rd…

Stocks Are Up, While Bond Rates Are Down?

Stocks are up, and bond rates are low, making volatility front and center for investors. The market seems to have no memory from one day to the next.  On Thursday, July 8 stocks dropped on fears of the Delta COVID variant only to rally on Friday.  >> To subscribe to this monthly newsletter, click on Subscribe!…

Stock Market Reacts Inconsistently

Inflation talk has been featured in the business news as well as in this newsletter for a few months now, and most recently in Market Volatility, Expectations & the Global Markets. Despite all the inflation talk, you’ll notice as you read this article that the stock market reacts inconsistently. >> To subscribe to this monthly…

Market Volatility, Expectations & the Global Markets

This newsletter explores market volatility including stock ‘air pockets’, market expectations, inflation, and GDP with perspective from global markets. Increased Volatility in the Markets Markets saw increased volatility following first a disappointing jobs report and then a higher than expected level of inflation in the CPI release.  During the week of May 10-14, the S&P500…

The Stock Market: Marching Higher

The stock market has continued its march higher.  New Records in Closes, Retail Sales & Corporate Profits New record closes were reached for the Dow Jones Industrials and the S&P500.  The NASDAQ is very close to an all-time high.  Many European exchanges and the TOPIX Japanese index hit fresh highs as well. Retail sales this…

Concerned About Inflation?

With COVID-19 vaccinations underway and a new stimulus/relief package in the works, investors have begun to worry about inflation. The concern has manifested itself in a recent rise in longer-dated bond yields.  Higher Rates Reduce Asset Value There is some math involved but the simple short of it is that higher rates reduce the value of…