Current Trends & News
A weekly financial recap curated by SPC's team of wealth management and tax-integrated advisors.*
We monitor and explore the intricacies of the financial world and share insights into market developments.
A Message From Our President & CEO
Week of March 23rd, 2020
The coronavirus (COVID-19) continued to spread across the United States last week.
Week of March 16th, 2020
Mid-week, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus a global pandemic.
Week of March 9th, 2020
Global stocks dropped sharply on Monday morning. The catalyst for the decline was the inability of Russia and Saudi Arabia to reach a deal on controlling the supply of oil.
Market Update: March 12, 2020
Financial markets remain concerned with the global impact of COVID-19. Over the past two days...
Week of March 2nd, 2020
During the last quarter of 2018, major stock indices in the Unites States suffered double-digit losses, much of it during the month of December. What happened next?
Week of February 24, 2020
The coronavirus appears to have inspired two distinct schools of thought among investors.
Week of February 17th, 2020
Investors’ optimism in the face of economic headwinds has confounded some in the financial services industry.
Week of February 10th, 2020
Last week, major U.S. indices posted strong gains. That’s welcoming news, but the drivers behind share price appreciation appear to have little to do with company fundamentals.
Week of February 3rd, 2020
Precautions designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus may also slow Chinese economic growth and, by extension, global economic growth.
Week of January 27th, 2020
News of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China unsettled investors around the world.
Week of January 20th, 2020
The United States and China signed a preliminary trade deal last week. The next day, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement was approved by the Senate.
Week of January 13th, 2020
Iran fired 22 ballistic missiles at the Ain Al Asad air base near western Iraq and a second base in northern Iraq following last week’s U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian military commander.
Week of January 6th, 2020
2019 was a remarkable year for investors with many asset classes delivering positive performance.
Weekly Digest: December 30th, 2019
For the year, stock and bond markets delivered exceptional returns.
Our President's Year in Review
This year-end letter from our President & CEO, Edward Geoffrey Sella, takes a look back at our weekly newsletters from throughout the year and how SPC has evolved to better meet our clients' needs, feedback, suggestions, and expectations.
Weekly Digest: December 16th, 2019
Last week was a good week for investors.
Weekly Digest: December 9th, 2019
On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 266,000 new jobs were created in November.
Weekly Digest: November 25th, 2019
We hope that wherever you and however far that you traveled, that you have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving Day weekend!
Weekly Digest: December 2nd, 2019
On Black Friday 2019, many shoppers didn’t venture any farther than their favorite digital device.
Weekly Digest: November 18th, 2019
The longest bull market in history showed no signs of slowing last week.
Weekly Digest: November 11th, 2019
Last week, major United States stock indices finished at historic highs.
Weekly Digest: November 4th, 2019
The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates last week, as expected. This decision by the Federal Open Market Committee’s decision was well received.
Weekly Digest: October 28th, 2019
So far, 2019 has been a very good year for U.S. stocks.
Weekly Digest: October 21st, 2019
There was some positive news for investors who prioritize fundamentals. Third quarter’s earnings season – the period of time when companies let investors know how they performed during the previous quarter – got off to a strong start.
Weekly Digest: October 14th, 2019
The world breathed a sigh of relief last week when the United States and China took a step toward a trade-war truce.
Weekly Digest: October 7th, 2019
From trade wars to impeachment inquiries, investors had a lot to ponder during the third quarter.
Weekly Digest: September 30th, 2019
We are currently in one of the longest bull markets in history, and while the market has gone through a consistent up trend since the end of the financial crisis, it has not been free of worry from investors.
Weekly Digest: September 23rd, 2019
Renowned economist Robert Shiller’s new book suggests investors may be able to predict and prepare for economic events by tracking popular stories.
Weekly Digest: September 16th, 2019
The core U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures changes in the prices Americans pay for goods. The Index rose 0.3 percent from July to August.
Weekly Digest: September 9th, 2019
The U.S.-China trade war has had a significant impact on stock market performance during the past two years.
Weekly Digest: September 2nd, 2019
Last week finally broke the downward trend in the stock market. It was the best week for major U.S. stock indices since June.
Weekly Digest: August 26th, 2019
Last week was an interesting week for the stock market. By the end of the day, major U.S. stock indices were lower, and that’s how they finished the week.
Weekly Digest: August 19th, 2019
Last week was the 40th anniversary of BusinessWeek’s infamous cover headline: “The Death of Equities: How inflation is destroying the stock market.”
Weekly Digest: August 12th, 2019
Investors boomeranged from stock to safe havens and back as trade tensions between the United States and China intensified last week.
Weekly Digest: August 5th, 2019
The Federal Open Market Committee completed what it called ‘a mid-cycle adjustment’ with a quarter-point rate cut last week. Some investors were unhappy when Fed officials implied there would not be another reduction this year.
Weekly Digest: July 29th, 2019
Barron’s reported U.S. stock markets were supported by abundant optimism inspired by expectations for solid earnings growth and a Federal Reserve rate cut in July.
Weekly Digest: July 22nd, 2019
The U.S. Federal Reserve has a reputation for providing little transparency about the timing and direction of potential rate changes. That reputation was challenged last week.
Weekly Digest: July 15th, 2019
Last week, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index set a new record, closing above 3,000 for the first time.
Weekly Digest: July 8th, 2019
There was unexpected good economic news last week.
Weekly Digest: June 24th, 2019
Randall Forsyth of Barron’s explained, “Like our major political parties, the stock and bond markets seem to live in two different worlds these days...
Weekly Digest: July 1st, 2019
After U.S. stocks dropped sharply during the last weeks of December 2018, investors were pessimistic about the outlook for 2019.
Weekly Digest: June 17th, 2019
The United States is doing quite well.
Weekly Digest: June 10th, 2019
Since the U.S.-China trade conflict resumed in early May, investors have been off balance.
Weekly Digest: June 3rd, 2019
It was a surprise last week when President Trump tweeted the United States would impose an escalating tariff on all goods imported from Mexico until the flow of migrants to the United States’ southern border stops.
Weekly Digest: May 27th, 2019
During the past decade, the profitability of U.S. companies has increased rapidly. Strong corporate earnings helped the U.S. stock market outperform markets in other nations by a significant margin.
Weekly Digest: May 20th, 2019
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. It’s the time when we pay our respects to the men and women who died fighting for our country. Remembering the men and women who fought for our country can inspire hope for a better future.
Weekly Digest: May 13th, 2019
Trade talk trouble took a toll last week. Major U.S. stock indices moved lower when trade talks between the United States and China broke down. Despite the weak weekly performance, the S&P 500 remains up year-to-date.
Weekly Digest: May 6th, 2019
Despite the exceptional performance of U.S. stock markets year-to-date, and data that suggest economic growth remains steady, some analysts and investors have been pecking at Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.