A Wandering Market
Financial markets can have phases of directionless wandering as investors await more information. We may be in one of those moments right now.
Weather Patterns and Market Storms
Q4 2022 Market Commentary
Financial markets, much like our weather, are usually mild and uneventful. What sticks in people’s minds, however, are the extreme events.
Finding Inflation’s Silver Lining
As inflation emerges from a long hibernation, the impact on consumers is acute. It's important to acknowledge that inflation has been a normal and recurring part of economic growth throughout history - and can have some silver linings.
When Good News is Bad News
Market movements can feel chaotic over the short term, and the noise of daily market headlines can make investors question whether the historical patterns of growth will continue to hold true.
Midterms and Markets
While financial markets may breathe a sigh of relief following midterm election results, the present reality is that ongoing concerns about global recession, high inflation, and tighter central bank policies could limit the enthusiasm of any post-election rally.
The Role of Relief Rallies
It is human nature to assume that a current trend will continue unimpeded and that equity prices will continue to fall without relief. Reality rarely unfolds in such straight lines.
The Essence of Elasticity
Q3 2022 Market Commentary
The essence of elasticity is reversibility. While financial markets don't behave in such simplified ways, the same concept can be helpful to consider during periods of dramatic price appreciation or decline.
For Whom the Earnings Bell Tolls
The question facing investors in the near term is how to interpret the interconnectedness of the broad economy when presented with quarterly earnings data from a single company.
Precarious Expectations
Investors often expect the status quo to continue indefinitely but markets can change course rapidly. There are measurable benefits to balancing historically-rooted optimism and a timeframe that extends beyond the present moment.
Sustainable Investing: Going Mainstream
Consumer demand for ESG funds signals that the long-term trajectory for sustainable investing is on solid footing despite growing pains and political noise from both sides about imperfections.
A Recession by Any Other Name
Although there’s confusion around the definition of a recession, it’s helpful to remember that periods of economic slowdown – whether they are officially deemed a recession or not – are a normal part of the economic cycle.
Double-Edged Dollar
Similar to other assets, currency markets have cycles and are sensitive to the near and intermediate-term outlook for the global economy. As the US dollar gains strength on global markets the results of the appreciating currency remain complex.
The Tedious Middle
Q2 2022 Market Commentary
Reflecting on past periods of economic and political turbulence won’t provide a precise roadmap for the current moment, but it can provide a comforting reminder about the longer arc of progress.
Invested for the Long-Term, Living in the Short-Term
For investors, watching the value of their portfolios decline is often uncomfortable, which highlights a fundamental challenge during periods of market turbulence: we are invested for the long-term, but we live our lives in the short-term.
Change Under the Surface
Being a long-term investor means tolerating periods of uncertainty, and knowing that they will also lay the foundation for the growth that will follow.
From Cacophony to Symphony
While we can't predict how long stock price declines will last, we are committed to calmly maintaining stock exposure and regular rebalancing.
The Pace of Change
The current pace of change has disoriented investors and put downward pressure on prices and this volatility may not subside in the short-term.
A Lot Can Change in a Quarter
Q1 2022 Market Commentary
We expect commodity prices to remain elevated in the near term and any recovery in stock and bond prices to be tempered while investors reevaluate growth expectations in a less interconnected world.
Patience Amidst Inflation
Inflationary pressures on consumers are likely to persist in the near term. As we look past moments of heightened market volatility, remaining invested and diversified has provided the most resilient outcomes for our clients.
Geopolitical Gyrations
Even though risks feel elevated in current headlines, the reality is that there are always risks, and opportunities, for financial markets. We focus on taking the appropriate amount of risk based on your situation, not based on market unknowns.