Archive for February 2025

Markets cooled down last week as weak guidance from Walmart heightened concerns about a potential slowdown. Existing home sales showed record-high prices for the month of January. Meanwhile, Q4 earnings remained broadly positive.

Stocks climbed last week despite hotter-than-expected inflation and softer retail sales, as investors took comfort in the apparent delay of additional tariffs. January CPI and PPI data reinforced concerns about persistent inflation, particularly in food and energy, raising expectations that the Fed may keep rates higher for longer.

Stocks fell last week as weaker-than-expected job growth and a sharp drop in consumer sentiment, driven by tariff-related inflation concerns, overshadowed a slight decline in the unemployment rate.

We understand that many of you are concerned about the potential impact of proposed tariffs and how they might affect your financial goals. In response, we’ve prepared a brief paper outlining the key considerations surrounding tariffs and their potential implications for investors.

Markets declined last week amid concerns over China’s technological advancements and renewed tariff tensions. The Federal Reserve held rates steady in its January meeting, citing inflation risks, while GDP growth for Q4 came in at 2.3%, slightly below expectations. Consumer confidence weakened in January, and personal spending outpaced income growth, leading to a decline in the personal savings rate.