Market Review The benchmark S&P 500 index posted a 7.0% headline gain to start the year, though performance varied widely by sector and a small group of large, Technology-driven stocks provided the bulk of the gains. Investors sought the perceived safety of robust and resilient cash flows and balance sheets. As expected, the Federal Reserve…

Market Review The benchmark S&P 500 index posted a welcome 7.1% gain to close out a challenging calendar year. Earnings results continued to surprise to the upside, although overall growth was more modest, with a 3.5% rise outpacing expectations for no growth. Revenue growth topped estimates by 2.5%, expanding 11.4%. Despite a flurry of four…

Market Review After a 2nd quarter most investors want to forget, the smaller 5.3% S&P 500 drop experienced in the 3rd isn’t any easier to swallow. The net move masks a tale of two markets, with a sharp rally followed by a slightly sharper pullback. Stubborn inflation kept the Federal Reserve on a path toward…

Market Review As one market observer noted, the best news about the 1st half of 2022 is that it has ended. The S&P 500 posted a 16.4% decline for the 2nd quarter as nagging inflation compelled the Federal Reserve to raise their target rate a cumulative 1.25%, including the largest single move since 1994. Elevated…