Over the past nine years, we’ve been in our longest bull market in history, with annualized S&P 500 Index returns from Mar. 9, 2009 through the end of December 2018, coming in around 16.5%. And then the financial markets returned to their volatile ways. Since the high on Sept. 20, 2018, the S&P 500 has…
Compounding happens when you earn returns on your invested money and then you reinvest your returns so that money can also earn returns. It seems magical the longer you let it ride! Learn more in this week’s Financial Tip.
The reality is that each week there is another high-profile story like the incidents at Equifax, Target, and Yahoo. Unfortunately, there are many more that never make the headlines. The fact is business is online these days, from receiving eStatements from Schwab to buying your movie tickets for Friday night. One thing is clear: You…
The financial markets closed Monday mixed with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 Index ending fractionally down while the NASDAQ added slight gains. Indices experienced mixed moves again on Tuesday with the S&P 500 and NASDAQ trading to new record highs while the Dow shed some points.
Stocks closed Monday with mixed results on a slip in crude oil and anticipation of the Federal Reserve’s July meeting. Energy sector stocks led the way down. Tuesday, a handful of disappointing earnings brought the Dow Jones Industrial Average down. With nearly a third of the S&P 500 companies having reported quarterly results, earnings are on track to contract 4.5% in the second quarter from the prior year. Mixed moves continued mid-week with the Dow and S&P 500 shedding points while the NASDAQ landed in the green zone. U.S. stocks were little changed after the Federal Reserve held short-term interest rates steady. On Thursday, the Dow shed some points while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ closed with slight gains. Initial jobless claims ramped up last week as the Labor Department reported new claims increased by 14,000 to 266,000. Continuing claims climbed 7,000 to 2.139 million in the week ended July 16. In Friday’s mixed results, the Dow shed some points while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ added gains. West Texas Intermediate crude oil tacked on 1.1% to settle at $41.60 a barrel. Also on Friday, University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey declined for July, shedding 3.5 points for a reading of 90, marking a three-month low. Additionally, the advanced reading for second quarter GDP disappointed, rising just 1.2% compared to consensus estimates of 2.6%. Overall, the S&P closed the week down 0.05% while the Dow lost 0.75% and the NASDAQ gained 1.23% for the week.
Planning to launch your business via crowdfunding? The Securities and Exchange Commission has an opinion on that. We explain in this week’s Financial Tip.
Your condo association’s master policy isn’t enough. You still need an HO-6 policy for comprehensive protection. We explain in this week’s Insurance Tip.
The housing market has finally hit a comfortable stride, but home ownership is still more affordable than renting. Read all about it in this week’s Financial Tip.
Supreme Court clarifies how ERISA’s duty to monitor plan investments interacts with the six-year statute of limitations. We explain in this week’s Business Tip.
If you are offered a choice when selecting a managed health care system, learn the difference between an HMO and PPO. Read all about it in this week’s Insurance Tip.