George Hosfield, CFA, discusses Ferguson Wellman's quarterly strategy titled, "Inflation's Flame Flickers," which addresses the narrow market leadership, the impact of higher interest rates on inflation and how assets are priced at this stage of the economic cycle.
George Hosfield, CFA, discusses the firm's quarterly strategy titled "Stalemate," which highlights the Fed's ongoing battle to tame inflation along with our views on the health of the banking industry and capital market expectations for the balance of the year.
Director and Chief Investment Officer George Hosfield, CFA, discusses the Fed raising interest rates, peaking inflation and our view on equities and volatility across all asset classes in our Investment Strategy titled, “Balancing Act.”
Earlier this week we celebrated the one-year anniversary of the 2022 stock market bottom. At that time, inflation was hitting multi-decade highs while 100% of economists surveyed by Bloomberg were forecasting a recession within 12 months. Fortunately, the U.S. economy has held up better than expected, resulting in a strong bounceback in stocks.
Last week, the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury bond yield reached 4.8%, the highest since June 2007. Bonds reached another milestone last week when the aggregate bond index posted its 38 consecutive monthly drawdown, marking this the longest bond bear market on record. The specific forces pulling the levers of the bond market are numerous, and the math is complex.
George Hosfield, CFA, discusses Ferguson Wellman's quarterly strategy titled, "Inflation's Flame Flickers," which addresses the narrow market leadership, the impact of higher interest rates on inflation and how assets are priced at this stage of the economic cycle.
Presenting our fourth quarter 2023 publication of Market Letter titled, “Inflation’s Flame Flickers.”
Presenting the fourth quarter 2023 publication of Wealth Management Insights titled, “Gifting IRA Funds to Charity and Other Smart Philanthropic Strategies.”
Ferguson Wellman and West Bearing were recently named by CNBC and Financial Advisor to their “FA 100: Top-Rated Financial Advisory Firms of 2023” ranking. The firm was listed at 21 of 100 companies.
We have consistently messaged our belief the Fed would accomplish its goal to bring inflation down to 2%, and this week’s latest reading on its preferred measure of the price level supports our thesis. The core version of the personal consumption deflator moderated again in the August reading, rising 3.9% from last year’s level, in line with expectations and moderating from the 4.2% increase registered in July.
As the seasons change and we move into fall, the focus shifts from summer vacation to back to school and football. And just like the calendar, the markets stay true to history. The S&P 500 is down over 3% this month, led by technology stocks which are down 7%. While there is some angst, these declines are normal.
Gracing the cover of Time Magazine in 2017, famed political author and Eurasia Group founder, Ian Bremmer claimed “China Won.” This statement was not necessarily controversial, as economists and political pundits all but guaranteed a new age of geopolitical and economic dominance led by the fast-growing nation.
With summer winding down and fall ramping up, many households are looking towards a change in the seasons and fall activities. For those older than age 65 and on Medicare, an annual review of medical insurance coverage may reduce medical costs over time.
For almost two years now, investors have been waiting for one of the most anticipated recessions—and understandably so. After 11 rate hikes in the past 18 months, the most aggressive rate hike period in over six decades, the U.S. has defied the odds of a hard economic landing so far. When the Fed has raised rates this aggressively in the past, it’s typically been followed by a recession or “something breaking.”
Krystal Daibes Higgins, CFA, was on KOIN AM Extra's Wallet Wednesday to discuss the unemployment rate, high cost of living and the possibility of another rate hike.
As we celebrate Labor Day this weekend, we thought it appropriate to look at the current employment situation in the United States. The job market has been surprisingly robust since the elevated unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic shutdown.
This week, yields on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury rose to their highest level since 2007. Earlier this spring, market stress linked to the banking sector led safe-haven buyers to the safety of U.S. Treasuries, and the 10-year Treasury hit a year-to-date low of 3.30% in early April.
According to a 2013 study from the University of Cambridge, money habits are formed from 0 to 7 years of age, and once the habits are formed, it can be difficult to change that behavior later in life. Despite the results of this study, there is never a wrong time to teach your child about healthy money habits. Below are tips to help kids learn about money at a young age.
Having already digested 90% of the S&P 500’s second quarter results, investors this week parsed earnings for the major retailers still left to report. Despite the likes of Home Depot and Wal-Mart continuing the recent trend of companies delivering better-than-expected earnings, the recent rise in longer-term bond yields is dampening investors’ enthusiasm for stocks.
The economic data released month after month follows a rhythm we have become quite accustomed to, and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) release is an integral part of this familiar cadence. July’s CPI report showed U.S. inflation rose 3.2% in July from a year earlier.
For years, our clients have worried about the ballooning debt situation with the U.S. federal government. Fitch Ratings, which is one of the three main credit rating agencies, verified these worries earlier this week when they lowered the U.S. government’s credit rating from AAA to AA+. While many called this a surprise move, others have been expecting this for some time.
As expected, the Federal Reserve raised its target interest rate this week by 0.25% to 5.25 – 5.50%, marking the eleventh increase since March of 2022, bringing the interest rate to its highest level in 22 years.
