Summary The stock market’s recovery from the COVID-influenced market sell-off in March accelerated last quarter as multiple pharmaceutical companies announced successful vaccine trials.  This news enabled investors to put a timeline on a return to normalcy.  They responded by shifting…

Summary  The U.S. stock market gained 8.9%[1] last quarter as investors gained confidence that the worst of the COVID 19 crisis was behind us.  Ten of the eleven industry sectors gained ground, four of them by more than 10%.  The…

SUMMARY It probably comes as a surprise to no one, but the first quarter of 2020 was the worst first quarter in modern market history.  The stock market lost -19.6%[i] during the quarter, but even that fact masks the truly…

Summary Stocks had a rough quarter worldwide.  In fact, 2018’s poor performance has raised the question as to whether or not the post-financial crisis bull market was over.  Stocks declined during the summer of 2011 and again from late summer…

Summary Stocks rebounded last quarter - at least here in the U.S.  Trade war fears drove up the value of the dollar on the idea that tariffs would lower America’s trade deficit, which would mean fewer (and therefore more valuable)…