It was a good week to own stocks.
Not all financial news was good news last week, but that didn’t prevent U.S. stock markets from moving higher. Barron’s reported on the good news:
Last week, investors multi-tasked, pushing both U.S. bond and stock markets higher.
And the survey said...
In late 2016, Natixis Global surveyed 500 institutional decision makers representing corporate pension plans, public pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, foundations, and endowments. Survey participants said market volatility, geopolitics, and interest rates were their top risk concerns for 2017.
U.S. stock markets are sending mixed signals.
If you look at the performance of the CBOE Volatility Index (a.k.a. the VIX or fear gauge), which is a measure of market expectations for volatility in the near future, it appears all is well and investors expect no unexpected events. Barron’s explained:
Tax Planning
April 18th is just around the corner and unless you filed for an extension, the deadline to file your taxes for the year is quickly approaching. Here are a few things to consider in order to try to maximize your tax benefits.
Tax Withholding
Happy birthday!
Toward the end of the first quarter, the bull market celebrated its eighth birthday. David Kelly, Chief Global Strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management wrote:
You’ve read it before – and it’s true. Markets hate uncertainty.
Failure to pass the American Healthcare Act, which was supported by Republican leaders in Congress and President Trump, may have spooked U.S. stock markets last week.
Over the last six months investors have been focused on the political landscape, particularly on President Trump and the incoming administration; however, the Fed recently came back in focus as they raised interest rates by 25 basis points this month after a sequence of strong economic data (particularly unemployment below 5% and inflation approaching 2%).
Three steps and no stumble…
Technical analyst Edson Gould developed a market rule of thumb known as ‘three steps and a stumble.’ It states stock prices may fall after the Federal Reserve (Fed) raises the Fed funds rate three times in a row without a decline, according to Market Technicians Association. [1]
Rate hike ahead…maybe.
Last week’s U.S. employment report was better than expected. The United States added 235,000 jobs in February, which was a few more than economists had forecast.
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