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1st Quarter 2025 Market Summary
The Markets (first quarter through March 31, 2025) Wall Street got off to a good start to begin the first quarter of 2025 and continued to rally for much of the quarter. Several of the benchmark indexes reached record highs in January through mid-February. However,...
2024 Annual Market Review
The year 2024 was extraordinary for the economy and the markets. High interest rates, rising unemployment, turmoil in the Middle East, and the ongoing Russia/Ukraine war, were some of the many factors that should have signaled economic contraction and a downturn in...
3rd Quarter 2024 Market Summary
The Markets (third quarter through September 30, 2024) Wall Street got off to a good start to begin the third quarter of 2024 and continued to rally for much of the quarter. Investors spent the quarter watching inflation and economic data, trying to gauge whether the...
2nd Quarter 2024 Market Summary
Wall Street got off to a slow start to begin the second quarter of 2024. Stocks lagged for much of April, rebounded in May, and were choppy in June. Investors spent the quarter watching economic data, trying to gauge whether the Federal Reserve might lower interest...
1st Quarter 2024 Market Summary
The Markets (first quarter through March 29, 2024) Wall Street got off to a fast start to begin 2024. Investors were encouraged by strength in the economy, the likelihood of interest rate cuts, possibly beginning in June, and opportunities in artificial intelligence....
2023 Annual Market Review
Overview The year 2023 was dominated by inflation and the Federal Reserve's restrictive policy in response to it. The year began with inflation at about 6.5%, with the Fed raising interest rates despite fears of rising unemployment and an economic recession. But while...
3rd Quarter 2023 Market Summary
The Markets (third quarter through September 29, 2023) The positive momentum of the first two quarters of the year did not carry over to the third quarter. Inflation continued to prove stubborn throughout the third quarter, moderating somewhat, but not enough to curb...
2nd Quarter 2023 Market Summary
The Markets (second quarter through June 30, 2023) Wall Street proved resilient during the second quarter of the year, despite rising inflation, two interest rate hikes, and concerns about the debt ceiling. The economy remained relatively strong, despite predictions...
1st Quarter 2023 Market Summary
The Markets (first quarter through March 31, 2023) Wall Street proved resilient during the first quarter of the year, despite rising inflation, uncertainty about the Federal Reserve's actions, interest-rate hikes, and banking concerns. Inflationary data in January...
2022 Market Review
Overview The year 2022 may best be described by one word: inflation. The economies of the United States and the world were influenced by rising inflation, its causes, and the policies aimed at curtailing it. While inflationary pressures began to mount in 2021, they...