Steve Bruce

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Here Comes Black Monday?

A hot topic this weekend has been whether we’re in for a Black Monday-style crash following Friday’s aggressive selloff. For those unfamiliar, Black Monday refers to October 19, 1987, when the S&P 500 plunged over 20% in a single day—still the largest one-day drop in market history. This has fueled the old Wall Street saying: […]
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Is the S&P 500 really the only game in town?

We’ve all heard it: “Just buy an S&P 500 ETF, and you’re set.” There’s no denying that U.S. large caps have dominated for the past decade. But what if I told you that a non-crypto, mainstream, easily investable commodity has actually outperformed the S&P 500—even on a total return basis—over the past three years? The […]
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The January Effect: A Bullish Signal for 2025?

With the S&P 500 closing January in the green, a powerful historical precedent was triggered—one known as the January Effect. Made famous by Yale Hirsch in the Stock Trader’s Almanac, this market phenomenon suggests: “As January goes, so goes the rest of the year.” Historically, when January is positive, the full year tends to follow […]
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Inflation’s Next Move: A Headwind for Risk Assets?

After steadily cooling through 2023 and 2024, inflation—measured by Core PCE—has begun trending higher again. On Friday, Core PCE came in at 2.79% year-over-year, marking the third straight month of elevated levels. While still below its long-term average, rising inflation can create headwinds for risk assets. What is Core PCE? It’s the Federal Reserve’s preferred […]
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The Housing Affordability Crisis Deepens

Earlier this week, the Case-Shiller Composite-20 Home Price Index hit yet another all-time high—the 22nd consecutive month of record-breaking prices. This index, which tracks home prices in 20 major U.S. cities, paints a clear picture: homeownership is becoming increasingly unattainable. 13 out of 20 cities in the index are at all-time highs, a discouraging reality […]
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But What Changed – January 2025

2024 was nothing short of extraordinary. The S&P 500 capped off the year with back-to-back 20%+ annual gains, a rare feat in market history. Domestic equities dominated international markets, and growth once again outperformed value in a commanding fashion. Will 2025 mirror last year? Unlikely. Since 1929, there has only been one streak of more […]
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