As we approach the final weeks of the year, one thing is clear: 2024 has been an extraordinary year for the stock market. The S&P 500 is currently up over 26% year-to-date. Even with potential volatility, it’s on track to close out the year with gains exceeding 20%. This is remarkable as 2023 also saw […]
With the dust settling from Tuesday’s presidential election, many investors are asking: What does a Donald Trump presidency mean for their portfolios? The initial post-election market surge indicates a clear risk-on appetite among investors, but is this behavior typical? A Look at History Since 1928, there have been five instances where the presidency switched from […]
On Monday, the S&P 500 recorded its 51st all-time high of the year. If that sounds impressive, it is! Since 1950, only 7 years have had more all-time highs, and with over a month to go, 2024 could climb even higher in the rankings. A little historical perspective: Out of the 75 years since 1950, […]
Yesterday, small caps, as represented by the Russell 2000, closed up an impressive 5.8%, marking the 27th best one-day return since 1979. Let’s put this into context and explore what it might mean for the market moving forward. How Rare Are These Moves? Over the past 45 years, spanning more than 11,500 trading days, daily […]
While the market often attempts to predict election outcomes, the party that wins the White House has historically had less impact on long-term wealth accumulation than many might think. The chart below illustrates what happens when we invest $10,000 on November 1st of each election year since 1948 and hold it for ten years. In […]
The chart below provides a powerful reminder of the stock market’s phenomenal growth since the 1920s, regardless of which party holds office. If you had gone to cash or adjusted your investment strategy based on political biases, you would have missed out on some incredible periods of market growth. As we often say: your time […]
It’s common for investors to link their views on the stock market’s future to how much they like—or align with—a particular president. However, the data suggests otherwise. When we break down presidencies based on their average Gallup approval ratings, an interesting pattern emerges: the four most popular presidents saw average annualized stock market returns of […]
With just three weeks to go until the presidential election, it’s natural to see heightened concerns among clients and advisors. Many wonder if they should pull out of the market, fearing potential volatility or negative outcomes. But history shows us a different perspective. Market reactions to elections are often unpredictable, and trying to time your […]
Yesterday, I discussed how 10-Year Treasury yields respond to the initial rate cut in a Fed easing cycle and its impact on consumers. Today, let’s take a deeper look at the connection between 10-year yields and 30-year mortgage rates following the beginning of a Fed easing cycle. Historically, the median change in longer-duration Treasury yields […]
When the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by fifty basis points last week, the bond market took notice. While many believe that the start of an easing cycle can signal a decline in yields across the board, it’s important to remember that not all bonds respond the same way. The short end of the yield […]