MacGray MatterTM August 2, 2010 THE ROLLER COASTER RIDE BACK UP: After a horrible June, the domestic equity markets ended a very positive July. The Dow Jones Industrials was up 0.40% for the week ending up 7.54% for July. The S&P 500 was down 0.10% for the week, ending a July that was up 7.23%. … Continue Reading
Category Archives: Financial Planning
MacGray Matters – Financial News – July 26, 2010
MacGray MatterTM July 26, 2010 GOOD NEWS DROWNS OUT BAD, EQUITIES RISE: There was a fair bit of bad news this past week in the unemployment and housing numbers. In addition, Ben Bernanke’s testimony was far from a Knute Rockne speech. However, the markets gained. A big driver for domestic equities was positive earnings reports. … Continue Reading
MacGray Matters – Financial News Update – July 19, 2010
MacGray MatterTM July 19, 2010 FINANCIAL REFORM: Early this week, President Obama will sign the Financial Reform Act passed by the Senate this past week. What does the bill say? Once again, it is very, very long and rather confusing. One of the main reasons I can’t tell you what it all means is that… Continue Reading
MacGray Matter – Financial News Update – July 5, 2010
MacGray MatterTM July 5, 2010 UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS ADD TO A NEGATIVE WEEK: On Friday, the Department of Labor reported that non-farm payrolls dropped by 125,000 jobs due largely to the Census Bureau laying off 225,000 temporary workers. Private sector job growth was positive by 83,000 jobs, but that was less than “expected” and not near… Continue Reading
Financial Market Update – July 21, 2008
THE MARKETS: Volatility remains the watchword on Wall Street. At least this week the volatility was the kind people like: positive volatility. The Dow was up 3.57% (down 13.33% for the year) and the S & P 500 was up 1.71% (down 14.14% for the year). CITIBANK BEATS EXPECTATIONS: Citigroup lost $2.5 billion and still beat analysts’… Continue Reading
Financial Market Update – July 14, 2008
BEAR MARKETS: Credit and money supply concerns, plus resurgent oil prices seemed to be the drivers behind further negative movement in the equity markets on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded below 11,000 for the first time since August 2006 but finished at 11,100. The S&P 500 finished the day in bear territory, as well. There was much reporting… Continue Reading
Weekly Financial Market Update – June 30, 2008
THE MARKETS: June has been a negative month for the equity markets. For the month, the S&P 500 is down 8.7% and the Russell 2000 is down 6.19%. For the quarter, the S&P 500 is down 3.35% and the Russell 2000 is up 1.84%. The Dow Jones AIG Commodity Index is up 9.59% for the… Continue Reading
Weekly Market Update – June 16, 2008
NOT MUCH MOVEMENT LAST WEEK: The markets did not move much: The Dow was up 0.80% and the S & P 500 was down 0.05%. NEXT INTEREST RATE MOVEMENT WILL BE UP?: The Fed’s increased public anti-inflation discussion has led to market expectations of one or more rate hikes by the year end. The Fed funds futures market… Continue Reading
Weekly Market Update – June 8, 2008
EQUITY MARKETS HAVE A POOR WEEK: Some modest positive news early in the weak was drowned out by rising oil futures prices and a radical jump in unemployment numbers. The Dow Jones Industrials were down 3.39% and the S & P 500 was down 2.83%. REITS BOUNCING BACK: Real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) outperformed other major market benchmarks… Continue Reading
Weekly Financial News Update – Week of May 12
For the week the Dow lost -2.39%, the S&P 500 -1.81%, Nasdaq -1.27%, and the Russell 2000 -0.78%. Markets around the world also offered poor weekly returns with the one key exception in Russia which soared +9%.GROWTH: The US economy grew by +0.6% (in size) during the 1st quarter 2008 (i.e., quarter-over-quarter change expressed as an… Continue Reading