The Markets (as of market close October 28, 2016) As the presidential election draws near, news about the candidates may be affecting the markets. Word of an FBI investigation into more Clinton emails, coupled with some earnings reports that were weaker than expected, sent equities into the red for the week. Of the indexes listed [...]
The Markets (as of market close October 21, 2016) Last week began with a whimper as equities closed down (the Dow fell 0.3%), while the 10-year Treasuries yield dropped 4 basis points and bond prices increased. Oil (WTI) fell below $50 per barrel before rallying to around $50.50 per barrel last Tuesday morning. Midweek saw [...]
Will vs. Trust: Is One Better Than the Other? When it comes to planning your estate, you might be wondering whether you should use a will or a trust (or both). Understanding the similarities and the differences between these two important documents may help you decide which strategy is better for you. What is a [...]
The Markets (as of market close October 14, 2016) Oil prices reached a one-year high early last week, as Russia expressed its support of OPEC in its efforts to limit production, prompting stocks to post early week gains. With corporate earnings season upon us, early reports from some major companies were not encouraging. Globally, China's [...]
Tips for Retooling Your Portfolio Like a closet that isn't reorganized from time to time, a portfolio that isn't reviewed regularly can leave you feeling like the pieces no longer fit. Last year, for example, stocks, as measured by the S&P 500 had annualized returns of 13.69%.1 U.S. investment grade bonds gained 5.97%, while international [...]
The Markets (as of market close October 7, 2016) Equities took a tumble early last week as the Dow, the Nasdaq, the S&P 500, and the Russell 2000 lost value. Only the Global Dow saw gains, largely feeding off the fading value of the British pound. Oil (WTI) opened last week on an uptick, gaining [...]
The Markets (as of market close September 30, 2016) The third quarter provided a bumpy ride for investors. Following the upheaval caused by the Brexit vote in June, July kicked off the third quarter by ending the month in favorable fashion, as each of the indexes listed here posted month-to-month gains, led by the Russell [...]
The Markets (as of market close September 30, 2016) Last week equities started off well enough, still feeding off the Fed's decision to leave interest rates alone for the time being. But fear of financial instability for one of the world's largest banks may have prompted many investors to sell, causing the market to tumble [...]
Top Year-End Investment Tips Just what you need, right? One more time-consuming task to be taken care of between now and the end of the year. But taking a little time out from the holiday chores to make some strategic saving and investing decisions before December 31 can affect not only your long-term ability to [...]
The Markets (as of market close September 23, 2016) Buoyed by news from the Fed and the Bank of Japan that measures intended to stimulate the economy would continue — at least in the short term — U.S. stock and bond prices posted gains for the week. While the response last Wednesday and Thursday was [...]
