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  It seems that the European Union (EU) is breathing a bit more easily now that centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron has won the French presidency in last weekend’s election. Macron’s pro-EU stand will likely help strengthen the EU as a whole, which will likely put the… More >>

  The strength of the latest jobs report continues the trend in the U.S. labor force.  In April 2017, the U.S. economy added 211,000 more jobs.  Hospitality/leisure, professional and business services along with healthcare showed solid growth. [i] The unemployment rate… More >>

Economically speaking, the first quarter of 2017 was simply uneventful.  First quarter 2017 GDP growth was nothing shy of anemic.  In fact, it seems to go hand in hand with the frail upward trend of economic recovery following the 2008 financial crisis. During the first… More >>

  On the back of the completed first round of the French election, markets both in the United States and abroad are having a great day.  Polling seems to show an improving lead for Emmanuel Macron over Marine Le Pen, which has certainly sparked another advantage for… More >>

It may come as a surprise to those who don’t follow the ups and downs of the stock market on a regular basis, but since the Federal Reserve raised the Federal funds rate three times since December 2015, long-term interest rates have dropped. That’s right – what was… More >>

  Simmering behind the political intrigue of our fiscal stimulus narrative, and the reassertion of the U.S. military presence in the world as a force for good, lays a hidden paradox: conflicting signals for market growth. According to Moody’s Analytics, the latest… More >>

  It’s official.  We have concluded the first trading day of the second quarter in 2017.  We would like to take this opportunity to present you with our Q2 2017 Look Ahead. For a PDF, click here. For our audio and video presentation, click here. Below, we’ve highlighted… More >>

  What makes 2017 such a challenging year for investing is the transition from a central-bank fueled economy to one that is propagated by a wide range of fiscal policy initiatives: •    Repealing and replacing Obamacare •    Individual and corporate tax reform •   … More >>

  As we anticipated, last week the Fed announced another increase of 25 basis points to the Fed Funds Rate. [i] This comes as no surprise to many investors. Yet what may come as a surprise is that the banks sold off 1.26% following this announcement. [ii] The Fed… More >>

  Based on Friday’s very strong jobs report, the economy looks poised to launch into a higher level of growth.  The Labor Department reported that the U.S. economy added 235,000 jobs during the month of February, which is consistent with the strong jobs report from… More >>