market outlook

In the first half of the year, the U.S. stock market has mostly moved sideways.  The S&P 500 has returned a mere 1.2% in the first six months while posting monthly swings as low as -3.0% and as high as 5.8%.  During the quarter, the market stabilized in the first … Read more »

During the 2014 year, and particularly in the last quarter, market volatility returned to uncomfortable levels.  In October, a sudden and swift selloff sent stocks down nearly 10% over the course of just a few weeks.  But despite the volatility and increased investor anxiety, the widely followed S&P 500 closed the … Read more »

Although the S&P 500 returned 8.3% for the year through the end of the third quarter, overall returns across the broader market have been very uneven, and for the most part, lack-luster.  Small company stocks, as measured by the Russell 2000, have fallen 4.4% so far this year as have … Read more »

Despite volatility in the market during the first part of the year, returns in the market so far have been better than average.  For the first six months, the S&P 500 was up 7.1%.  Interestingly, this is better than the average gain for the first half of the past 20 years, … Read more »

In the fourth quarter, U.S. equity markets extended their gains with the S&P 500 reaching a remarkable gain of 32.4% for the year.  This was the best year for the index since 1997.  Further, the rise occurred with very little disruption; not only did the S&P 500 set 45 new … Read more »

In the third quarter, U.S. equity markets extended their gains for the year, bringing the year-to-date return for the S&P 500 to an impressive 19.8%. The strong performance, so far this year, brings the total return for the S&P 500 since the market bottomed in March of 2009 to 174%. … Read more »

For the quarter, which ended June 30, 2013, the S&P 500 rose 2.9%. International stocks declined with the MSCI EAFE returning –1.0%. Bond returns were also negative for the quarter with the Barclays Aggregate Bond Index returning –2.3%. In the most recent quarter, U.S. equity markets extended their first quarter … Read more »

For the quarter, which ended March 31, 2013, the S&P 500 rose 10.6%.  International stocks also advanced with the MSCI EAFE increasing 5.2%. Bond returns were negative for the quarter with the Barclay’s Aggregate Bond Index falling –0.1%. The U.S. equity markets began the year with a bang, with the … Read more »