May 15, 2108

Brunner Opticians has been a landmark in Westfield for more than 75 years. When we first moved to Westfield, I was the proud owner of three pairs of new eyeglasses I couldn't use because the prescription was incorrect in all three. I looked for a local optometrist, found one at Brunner, and made an appointment to see if he could figure out what had gone wrong.  He did a thorough eye examination, wondered why my previous prescription was changed, and voila, vision problem corrected.

Source: Direxion Funds

May 15, 2018

• Major US retailers closed 6,955 stores nationwide during calendar year 2017, a total greater than the number of closures that occurred in any single year during the global financial crisis that began 10 years ago.

• Student loan debt, equal to $1.38 trillion as of 12/31/17, has doubled in just over 8 years. Student loan debt was $690 billion as of 9/30/09.

• The US homeownership percentage (i.e. “owner” households as a percentage of total households) was 63.4% in 2016, the lowest percentage nationwide since 1965 or 51 years earlier when the rate was just 63.0%. The homeownership percentage rose to 63.9% in 2017.

Source: Direxion Funds

February 15, 2018

• Since 1950, there have been 59 different 10-year periods (i.e., the 10-years from 1950-59, 1951-60, 1952-61, . . . 2008-2017). The S&P 500 index produced an average annual total return of less than +7% during 15 of the 59 decade-long periods (25% of the time). 19 of the 59 periods (32% of the time) resulted in an average annual total return of at least +14%.

• During those 59 different 10-year periods, the S&P 500 has produced a positive total return result in 57 of the 59 decade-long periods (97% of the time), and at least 6% per (total return) in 48 of the 59 periods.

• After closing at 2873 on Friday 1/26/18, it took just 13 days for the S&P 500 to fall 10.2% (to 2581) by the close of trading on Thursday 2/08/18. The 13-day correction (i.e., a drop of at least 10% for the stock index) was the fastest correction in the last 50 years. The next quickest correction was a 20-day drop that occurred in October 1997.

February 15, 2018

Clients are sometimes surprised when we respond “no” when they ask if we saw a market drop coming. While we all may realize a market drop will eventually occur, we can never predict when that might happen. Though the volatility that returned to the stock market in early February was sudden and dramatic, it wasn’t altogether unexpected considering the exceptional run this market has had.   

February 15, 2018

By: John Zeltmann

You've probably noticed that Bitcoin has been in the news lately. While Bitcoin is not the only cryptocurrency (a cryptocurrency is a digital currency), it’s the most well-known, and the hype around it may bring back memories of long lines to buy Beanie Babies. But more than a few people use cryptocurrencies to conduct transactions over the internet, with companies such as Microsoft, Expedia, and Intuit accepting cryptocurrency for payment.

Source: Direxion Funds

February 15, 2018

Source: Direxion Funds

December 31, 2017

• China’s economy is the 2^nd largest in the world behind the US, but China’s GDP per person is only $9,377 while the USA’s GDP per person is $61,687.

• Janet Yellen took over as Fed Chair on 2/3/14, running the central bank for 31 meetings since then. 8 different Board of Governors members have cast 20 dissenting votes to Yellens’ interest rate recommendations made at the 30 meetings. None of the 20 dissenting votes were cast by Jerome Powell, a Board of Governors member since 5/25/12, and Yellen’s successor as of 2/3/18.

November 15, 2017

By John Zeltmann

I loved McDonald’s as a kid: the golden brown French fries, the milkshakes, the second-to-none birthday parties. And who could forget the prizes that came with the Happy Meals!

Source: Direxion Funds

November 15, 2017

• Over the last 25 years, the S&P 500 stock index has gained an average of 4.9% (total return) over the final 3 months of the year. 20 of the last 25 fourth quarters (80%) have produced a positive total return.

• The S&P 500 has experienced 10 drops of at least 5% during its bull market run that just passed 104 months in length on 11/09/17, but none since 2/11/16.

• This is the second longest bull market for the S&P 500 since 1950, trailing only the 113 ½ month long bull that ended in March 2000.

September 30, 2017

Are you planning on making charitable donations this upcoming holiday season?  Consider using something other than cash.