by J.J. Schenkelberg, CFA | Oct 10, 2024 | Uncategorized
IndexThird Quarter 2024Year To-Date 2024S&P 5005.5%20.8%Dow Jones Industrial Average8.2%12.3%Russell 20009.2%10.0% MSCI All Country World Index ex-US7.7%13.8% Aggregate Bond5.2%4.6%...
by J.J. Schenkelberg, CFA | Oct 10, 2024 | Uncategorized
While all years seem to advance at a rapid pace these days, it felt like 2024 sped by at lightning speed. I love to talk with younger moms who are excited for their childrens’ milestones of rolling over, first steps and first words. As our family celebrates milestones...
by J.J. Schenkelberg, CFA | Oct 10, 2024 | Uncategorized
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is the policymaking body of the Federal Reserve System. This committee lowered its fed funds rate by 50 basis points, or 0.50%, on September 18, 2024 to a range of 4.75% to 5.0%. The fed funds rate is the rate at which...
by J.J. Schenkelberg, CFA | Jul 10, 2024 | Market Commentary, Market Performance, News
At the end of 2023 I highlighted the dominance of the top 10 stocks in the S&P 500. It is worth revisiting this topic. These 10 stocks continue to dominate the S&P 500 on into 2024. So far in 2024, other major indices have not achieved nearly as strong returns...
by J.J. Schenkelberg, CFA | Jul 10, 2024 | Market Commentary, Market Performance
IndexSecond Quarter 2024Year To-Date 2024S&P 5003.9%14.5%Dow Jones Industrial Average-1.7%3.8%Russell 2000-3.9%0.8% MSCI All Country World Index ex-US1.0%5.6% Aggregate Bond0.1%-0.6%...
by J.J. Schenkelberg, CFA | Jul 10, 2024 | Market Commentary
June marked a milestone for me. My 50th birthday was June 16th. Actually, it isn’t too bad. It still feels like I’m in a building phase. It also feels like the middle of a teeter totter. A teeter totter is all about balance. In life we balance a lot, most...
by J.J. Schenkelberg, CFA | Apr 3, 2024 | Market Commentary, Market Performance
IndexFirst Quarter 2024Year To-Date 2024S&P 50010.4%10.4%Dow Jones Industrial Average6.0%6.0%Russell 20005.1%5.1% MSCI All Country World Index ex-US5.0%5.0% Aggregate Bond-0.8%-0.8%...
by J.J. Schenkelberg, CFA | Apr 3, 2024 | Market Commentary, News
Looking at returns during different government configurations tells investors little about why markets or the economy performed the way they did, and give little indication of how this could play out in the future. The charts below highlight real GDP growth and...
by J.J. Schenkelberg, CFA | Apr 3, 2024 | Market Commentary, Market Performance
A key investment mantra is “buy low sell high.” Based on this key mantra, it is best to buy investments at low prices in order to sell them at higher prices. This is a quality investment strategy for generating positive returns. The Standard and Poor’s 500 Index...
by J.J. Schenkelberg, CFA | Jan 5, 2024 | Market Commentary, Market Performance
Top performing U.S. S&P 500 sectors as reported by Koyfin for the Fourth Quarter of 2023 include Real Estate (18.8%), Technology (17.7%) and Financials (13.9%). Laggards for the Fourth Quarter include Energy (-6.4%), Consumer Staples (5.5%) and Health Care (6.4%)....
