In last year's letter to shareholders, Warren Buffett sagely counseled, "If you mix your politics with your investment decisions, you're making a big mistake." We've long recognized such wisdom. As markets care little for party politics. Preferring to focus on earnings, productivity, efficiency, and other achievement-oriented metrics that rarely resonate within the political spectrum. Unfortunately, […]
Mercifully, the stock market continues to ignore the Goat Rodeo transpiring in Washington D.C. A testament to the power of markets. And to the strength of the current fundamentals. Granting investors opportunity to focus on that which remains most important -- health, wealth, family and friends -- despite the fuliginous pettifoggery in which both sides […]
The universe we inhabit is infinite. The unknown expanse of which renders our cozy little nook as a grain of sand floating in an ocean of inestimable scope. Scientists estimate that 68 percent of the universe is dark energy. 27 percent is dark matter. The rest -- everything on earth or at least capable of […]
Last week saw stocks finish higher. Though small caps lost ground. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished its strongest two-week stretch since February. A sign that the inflation and trade-related anxieties that caused the index to stumble have abated. Nor do we believe things will change in the near term. Empirical evidence reveals too many […]
Some people say It's what we deserve For sins against g-d For crimes in the world I wouldn't know I'm just holding the fort Since that day They wounded New York Some people say They hate us of old Our women unveiled Our slaves and our gold I wouldn't know I'm just holding the fort […]
Welcome to September. A month in which seasonality works against us. Ranking historically as the worst month of the year for equity performance. In fact, September stands as the only month that, since 1928, has seen more negative than positive returns. Further distinguishing itself by posting the largest average monthly loss over that time frame. […]
An ancient Arab fable features a Bedouin camel herder who allowed one of his camels to stick its nose into his tent. Gradually, the camel had half its body inside. And before long, the Bedouin herder realized that the entire camel was in the tent. And there was nothing he could do to get the […]
Domestic markets finished mostly higher last week. While foreign stocks drifted lower. And the Nasdaq posted a slight decline. Pushing aside trade-war reports, Q2 earnings were the story. With 91 percent of S&P 500 companies having reported, 79 percent have beaten earnings estimates. While 72 percent posted positive sales surprises. Bringing the earnings-growth rate for […]
The S&P 500 hit a weekly peak on Wednesday's close. Then drifted lower. Closing up 0.6 percent on the week. And reaching its highest point since January. Up 4.56 percent YTD. And back within 2 percent of January's record high. It was a tough week for many big tech and media stocks. As valuation always […]
Jeff S. Vollmer interviewed about Closed-End Funds, and the role they can play in investor's efforts at this point in the market cycle. Read the article
