When the Yield Curve is Inverted

Fall is in the air and we have no shortage of interesting developments in the markets. Investors are keeping a close eye on the election, core inflation numbers, big tech earnings (specifically large expenditures around artificial intelligence R&D), and any further reduction in short term interest rates that the Fed is likely to do before the …

Permanent Price Increases

The investment market remains resilient amidst a backdrop of mixed economic signals. While corporate earnings have generally exceeded expectations, concerns about economic growth and persistent inflation persist. The tech sector continues to lead the rally, fueled by strong earnings and enthusiasm around artificial intelligence. As we enter the month of September, the most important thing …

The Rule of 72

Many of you have likely heard of the adage, “the Rule of 72.” It’s used frequently in the investing world because it provides a simple way for calculating how long it will take for an investment to double in value. You simply take the assumed annual rate of return (typically 10% for the historical S&P …

Are Bonds Dead?

Dear clients and friends, October marked the third straight monthly drop for U.S. stocks where the Nasdaq and S&P 500 entered correction territory (down more than 10% from the most recent 52-week high). We mentioned last month that these corrections happen about every 16 months on average so this was not terribly unexpected. What is …

Negative Interest Rates, the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

As of the writing of this post, we have negative interest rates in Germany, Switzerland, France, Japan, and the Netherlands. While this might seem highly unusual at first glance (and is in the government bond markets), by the end of this post you will see how prevalent this negative interest rate concept is not only …