Corporate Stock Buybacks Aren’t the Problem
The environment on Capitol Hill has made populism a bipartisan affair, with Republican Senator Marco Rubio now joining the fray with a call to tax corporate stock buybacks.
Ten Years Ago
It’s March 8, 2009. The market’s down 56% from its all-time high, unemployment is over 8% and hurtling toward 10%, it’s just been reported that real GDP dropped at a 6.2% annual rate in Q4 of 2008, and it feels like the world is coming to an end.
Spare Us the GDP Agony
Real GDP grew at a 2.6% annual rate in the fourth quarter, and while some analysts are overly occupied with this “slowdown” from the second and third quarter, we think time will prove it statistical noise.
How to Get Over Your Fear of Investing
When it comes to investing, millennials are a cautious group. In fact, nearly half think it’s too risky to invest, according to the BlackRock Global Investor Pulse Survey. Rather than buying stocks and bonds, 70 percent of adults ages 25 to 36 are clinging to cash assets.
Don’t Fear a “Hard Brexit”
The clock is winding down, and the United Kingdom has some major decisions to make. Should it stay in the European Union or should it go? If it goes, under what terms? Some analysts and investors are concerned about a “Hard Brexit,” in which the UK supposedly plunges into chaos as they crash out of the EU without an agreement.
How TARP and QE Led to the “Green New Deal”
Where’s the Recession?
Whatever happened to the recession calls? Seems like just a few weeks ago that the correction in the stock market, as well as the partial government shutdown, had convinced many analysts and investors the US was about to enter a recession.
2008, Myth and Reality
We’ve written about it over and over, and while many advisors seem to understand, the media, politicians, and many analysts don’t…or won’t. So, we thought we’d try again to explain why so many people don’t understand the nearly ten-year-long bull market in U.S. equity values.
Don’t Obsess About the Federal Reserve
When it comes to monetary policy, one thing looks certain for 2019 – journalists, pundits, investors, and analysts will pay it way more attention than it deserves. The spotlight is currently on Wednesday, when the Federal Reserve will issue their first statement of the new year. The consensus expects no changes in rates, and we agree.
Solid GDP Growth to Finish 2018
Normally, the end of January sees the government’s first estimate of real GDP growth for the fourth quarter. But with no end in sight for the shutdown, which has already seen numerous other data releases postponed – including figures on retail sales, international trade, inventories, construction, and durable goods – it’s very unlikely the GDP report will arrive on time.