Bob's Journal
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The 2018 Market and Economic Review
Almost everyone’s 2018 predictions were wrong. But that’s almost always the case. We had another year of unexpected and startling changes in the economy and markets. Trends couldn’t have been much better than they were at the end of 2017. The economy was surging across the board, and U.S. stock indexes were moving steadily higher. […]
Bob’s Journal (12/20/2018)
Recent inflation data are sending a warning to the Federal Reserve, but the Fed doesn’t seem to be heeding it. About a year after the financial crisis hit bottom, I presented a workshop to a group of individual investors. One of the group members gave me a hard time. I had said inflation would stay […]
Bob’s Journal (12/13/2018)
It is important for investors to ignore the whipsaw actions of the markets during the last few months, because they’ve been caused by short-term news and events. Presidential tweets and rumors about policy changes cause most of the daily fluctuations in the markets. Most of the focus has been on trade conflicts with China, causing […]
How Moving Averages Are Used In Retirement Investing
Moving averages tell us a lot about the stock market, and they’re saying something interesting now. Investors often use moving averages to assess market momentum. A simple moving average is an average of the investment’s closing price over the specified period. To determine the 200-day moving average of the S&P 500, you add the closing […]
Your Retirement Finance Week in Review
The Federal Reserve might have signaled a pause in its tightening policy, but it’s too soon for investors to relax. The Fed began talking about tighter monetary policy in 2013. Then-chairman Ben Bernanke’s remarks led to what is known as the taper tantrum. Markets, especially bond markets, panicked at the notion that the Fed might […]
Happy Thanksgiving 2018
Happy Thanksgiving to all my subscribers and readers. I’m thankful for the opportunity to help each of you establish and maintain your financial independence. Most people believe the first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth, Massachusetts. I don’t want to upset any of my readers and friends in the Bay State, but the first Thanksgiving in […]
Economic Data Shows Continued Strength
The big issue for investors in the coming months is how the Federal Reserve will react to continuing strength in the labor market. Right now, the labor market is strong almost any way you measure it. Indeed, the unemployment rate is extremely low and has been for some time. The number of job openings exceeds […]
Bob’s Journal (11/8/2018)
The markets tend to like midterm elections and divided governments, but this year could be different. So far, stock indices have had the best rally after midterm elections in over 30 years. Should we expect it to continue? Since 1946, after midterm elections, the S&P 500 averages a gain of 3.26% through the end of […]
