It was a choppy week for the stock market as while the averages opened higher on several days they were unable to record nice gains by the close. Traders and investors spent the week trying to decide whether it was worth the risk to buy stocks in hopes there would be a trade deal…

The stock market held firm last week, even though some of the economic data was weaker than expected. The final reading for 2018's Q4 GDP came in, as expected at 2.2% on Thursday. While the Trump administration is looking for a 3% GDP in 2019, the growth is not currently that strong. For example, the Atlanta…

The stock market shrugged off both political and economic concerns last week to close with solid gains for the fourth week in a row. The beaten-down financial sector led the market higher providing clear evidence that my earnings concerns over the sector last week were clearly misplaced. The bank earnings were mixed, but even those…

The severity of the fall stock market decline has shaken the belief of some investors in the bull market.  For those who have not been following the stock market for more than a few years, their reaction is understandable. But those with a longer-term perspective are wondering what the recent decline means for their portfolio. Many…

Stocks closed strong in September but the market started to show signs of weakness on the first trading day of October. Market Update October 2, 2018: The major averages opened sharply higher on Monday October 1st as the A/D ratio on the NYSE was better than 2-1 positive.  However, as the day progressed the major…

The stock market was hammered by trade tariff threats again this week, a frequent occurrence during this administration. Based on last week’s public comments, some Republican representatives are now becoming more worried. Without any concrete policy changes actually occurring, no one can be sure whether the threats are real, or just part of the negotiation…