November Market Commentary from Vanguard & Co

There weren’t many tea leaves to read for the U.S. economy in this week’s relatively short list of economic reports. Retail sales rose modestly, as did inventories. But there was news from abroad with potentially significant impacts for the global economy. During President Obama’s trip to China, progress was announced on eliminating tariffs on a […]

October Market Commentary from Vanguard & Co

It was a good week for economic news. Inflation remained below the Federal Reserve’s 2% target rate, home sales showed growth, and The Conference Board’s Leading Indicator Index was positive. For the week ended October 24, 2014, the S&P 500 Index rose 4.1% to 1,965 (for a year-to-date total return—including price change plus dividends—of about […]

September Market Commentary from Vanguard & Co.

Consumer spending engine is in gear Consumer spending habits featured prominently in this week’s relatively short list of economic reports. The news was encouraging for the overall growth of the economy during the third quarter, as both consumer credit and retail sales advanced. For the week ended September 12, 2014, the S&P 500 Index fell […]

August Market Commentary from Vanguard & Co.

Consumers didn’t shop much this summer, as weak retail sales revealed. But business inventory levels remained steady. Meanwhile, industrial production has strengthened thanks to improvements in manufacturing. Automakers were key to the pickup. For the week ended August 15, 2014, the S&P 500 Index was up 1.2% to 1,955 (for a year-to-date total return—including price […]

July Market Commentary from Charles Schwab & Co.

A Rough Week for Stocks Despite Little News Stocks sold off last week, despite a lack of major news—outside renewed concerns over European banks—and even positive signs of some stabilization of the situation in Iraq. Global stocks -1.50%. DJIA -0.19% S&P 500 -0.90% Nasdaq Composite -1.57% 10-year Treasury yield -0.12 In a pattern eerily reminiscent […]

June Market Commentary from Charles Schwab & Co.

Stocks Rally on Stronger Data U.S. stocks continued to climb higher last week following better-than-expected economic data. For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1.35% to 16,924, the S&P 500 Index rose 1.53% to 1,949, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 1.73% to 4,321. Meanwhile, the yield on the 10-year Treasury […]

April Market Commentary from Charles Schwab & Co.

“Rigged!” Inflammatory statements and proclamations, combined with numerous other headlines constantly bombarding investors, can make it difficult for investors to keep a clear head. The market has taken countless hits over the course of many years, from wars, to recessions, to financial and political scandals, to bubbles, and on and on…but it keeps rewarding those […]

2013 market review

Pundits and prognosticators of the stock market were wrong again in 2013. Those who said last January that the market would decline erred; those who said it would rise modestly erred; and those who said we would see “good” returns erred, as well. The year in investments turned out differently from what they all said. […]

Monthly Market Commentary – July 2013

The markets went through a lot of turmoil in June, as stronger economic reports were offset by fears of the Fed tapering its bond-buying programs. Home prices, employment reports, and auto sales were all better than expected, unlike trade and GDP data. Together with falling business investment and government employment, that leaves the consumer and […]