Market Update – March 11th, 2024

Last week, equities slipped amidst mixed signals from the US job market. February’s nonfarm payroll report exceeded expectations with the addition of +275,000 jobs, yet the unemployment rate unexpectedly rose to 3.9%. The ISM Manufacturing Index indicated the 16th consecutive month of contraction in the sector, while the ISM Services Index showed continued resilience. Consumer credit rose in January, particularly revolving credit, raising concerns about increased debt reliance.

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Market Update – March 4th, 2024

Equities continued to rally last week, fueled by January’s PCE inflation data showing headline inflation at 2.4% YoY, propelling major indexes to new all-time highs, with both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite reaching record levels. Additionally, personal income rose while spending declined, leading to a slight increase in the savings rate. Durable goods orders fell by -6.1%, mainly due to a drop in transportation. February’s Consumer Confidence Index unexpectedly dropped by -3.8%. Meanwhile, Bitcoin rallied to over $60,000, driven by anticipation of the upcoming halving event in April 2024.

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Unlocking the Potential: A Deep Dive into Bitcoin and the Impact of Bitcoin ETFs 

David Stryzewski talks Bitcoinn Halving

As you approach the end of your working years, creating a comprehensive retirement plan becomes increasingly critical. One of the biggest challenges of retirement is the ability to actually STAY retired. In this guide, we outline a plan that can serve as a financial roadmap, guiding you through your golden years with financial stability and peace of mind.

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Market Update – February 26th, 2024

The S&P 500 and Dow Jones closed at record highs last Friday, ushered in by Nvidia’s impressive earnings report, while economic indicators such as January’s Leading Economic Index reflected a bearish tone ahead and existing home sales demonstrate a slower, more historically normal market. Additionally, Amazon has officially joined the Dow Jones Industrial Average, marking a notable accomplishment for the ecommerce giant. Panning back and looking holistically at the state of the US economy and the Fed’s potential next steps, investors are expecting a rate cut by the June FOMC meeting.

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Market Update – February 20th, 2024

Markets fell last week after a higher-than-expected January CPI report, showing a 3.1% annual inflation rate, triggering a selloff with the S&P 500. The increase was fueled by rising transportation, shelter, and food away from home costs, though energy and used vehicle prices dropped. This unexpected inflationary pressure pushed back expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut.

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Market Update – February 12th, 2024

Markets saw large price swings this week, starting with a sharp selloff in equities after Fed Chair Powell indicated that a rate cut in March was not their base case scenario. Despite this, markets rebounded later in the week, driven by a robust January jobs report that exceeded expectations. The labor market’s strength, coupled with positive consumer confidence, coincide with the realities of a delayed Fed rate cut. Q4 earnings reports showed better earnings growth this week, as Meta’s impressive Q4 performance was surprisingly marked by a new dividend and share buyback plan, leading to a 20% increase in its stock on Friday.

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Market Update – February 5th, 2024

Markets saw large price swings this week, starting with a sharp selloff in equities after Fed Chair Powell indicated that a rate cut in March was not their base case scenario. Despite this, markets rebounded later in the week, driven by a robust January jobs report that exceeded expectations. The labor market’s strength, coupled with positive consumer confidence, coincide with the realities of a delayed Fed rate cut. Q4 earnings reports showed better earnings growth this week, as Meta’s impressive Q4 performance was surprisingly marked by a new dividend and share buyback plan, leading to a 20% increase in its stock on Friday.

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Market Update – January 19th, 2024

Equity markets showed mixed results amid concerns that strong retail sales data may delay the anticipated March rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Furthermore, markets reflected this data, with the probability of a cut by the March meeting falling from 81% to just 51.3% in a single week (as of January 19th). The NY Empire State Index fell sharply below expectations and existing home sales in December continued to show lower volumes of homes being sold at modest appreciation rates compared to a year ago. Finally, consumer sentiment surged in January, marking the greatest two-month rise in the index since 1991.

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Market Update – January 12th, 2024

This week, the SEC approved 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs, following months of anticipation and a hack on the SEC’s social media, X, account. December’s CPI surprised economists to the upside with a 3.4% annual Headline CPI and a 3.9% annualized Core CPI. December’s Producer Price Index showed a slight decrease, influenced by lower food and energy costs. November’s consumer credit data revealed a +5.7% increase, driven by a rise in revolving credit.

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