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Hot July

August 9, 2023 This month marks the start of the third quarter, another interest rate increase by the Federal Reserve, and a continued recession watch. Despite this rate increase, the S&P 500 ended the month + 3.09% and the NASDAQ rose 3.85%. Fixed Income sectors, as tracked by the Bloomberg US Agg Total Return Value Unhedged USD, while not quite as strong, did continue the positive trend and squeaked out + .14%.

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Scenes From The Chop House

June 8, 2023 - As we concluded a tense month in global financial markets, all eyes turned toward Washington where the ongoing debt ceiling crisis appeared to be nearing a resolution. Negotiations dominated headlines throughout April and most of May until fears swelled to a crescendo late in the month when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen delivered a letter to Congressional leadership announcing a June 5th deadline after which the Treasury would be “unable to meet all of the government’s commitments.”

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April Showers

May 5, 2023-The first few weeks of April were slow as equities began the month with less volatility than we were seeing throughout March. However, after the first week, volatility returned. Despite this see-sawing, US markets stayed in the black.

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March Madness

April 13, 2023-Over the past few months, equity markets have remained volatile, and a few major economic events have kept them that way. Events including the fall of Silicon Valley Bank, rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, inertial inflation, and steep job cuts.

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Equities and Bonds Finish Strong in July as Fed Shifts on Inflation Fight

Despite subdued price action for the first two weeks of July, the month finished on a strong note following the Federal Reserve’s policy remarks and better than feared corporate earnings.

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Looking Ahead and Holding On

June was another roller-coaster month to end the first half of a roller coaster year. The S&P 500 Index had a total return of -8.26% for the month contributing to its current slide of -17.52% for the year.

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A Mixed Month for Markets; An Uncertain Path Forward

All things considered, May was a mixed month for stocks. Markets remained relatively flat while shouldering elevated volatility and year-to-date lows.

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A Rough Month For Equities

April was a rough month for equities. The S&P Total Return Index was down -8.72%, the Russell 2000 Total return Index was down -9.91%, and the Nasdaq Composite was down 13.24%.

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2021 In Review

Wow, another year is in the books. As we reflect on 2021 it’s difficult not to think of the past year as 2020’s sidekick.

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Hawkish Fed, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Fuel Market Volatility

Entering 2022, persistently high inflation levels and the U.S. central bank’s policy direction posed one of the greatest risks to near and intermediate-term equity markets.

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The Shape Of Things To Come?

The first month of 2022 is now in the books, and to call it an inauspicious beginning to the year might be an understatement. There seem to be some definite headwinds for the United States, and the economy, which the market is reflecting.

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