@theMarket: Markets Contend With Conflicting Tariff HeadlinesBy Bill Schmick,
02:56PM / Friday, April 25, 2025 | |
This week, statements from the president and his treasury secretary indicating a possible thaw in relations with China triggered a bout of FOMO among traders. Markets gained more than 6 percent for the week on a hope and a prayer. Was it justified?
On Monday, investors woke up to President Trump calling Fed Chair Jerome Powell "a major loser." That triggered fears that Trump was on the verge of dismissing the head of the U.S. central bank. Markets appeared to be once again rolling over. The stock market cratered.
By the end of the day, markets were off by more than 2 percent. It looked as if stocks were ready to roll over and at least re-test if 0 Comments
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The Retired Investor: Tax-Deferred Retirement Account? Don't PanicBy Bill Schmick,
04:07PM / Thursday, April 24, 2025 | |
Victor R.
What to do in times of uncertainty?
Trillions of dollars in hard-earning savings have been erased from retirement accounts in what seems to be a blink of an eye. One year's worth of savings gone in a matter of weeks. The decision to sell, buy, or hold has never been more difficult.
In the private sector, more than 50 percent of Americans own stocks in their tax-deferred retirement accounts. That total has been increasing, thanks to the market gains since the pandemic and new federal and state rules that require more companies to offer employees access to 401(k)s through the workplace. Congress has also authorized a new rule that goes 0 Comments
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@theMarket: Fed Disappoints, Markets Swoon, While Tariff Talks ContinueBy Bill Schmick,
01:41PM / Friday, April 18, 2025 | |
On Thursday, investors hoped that Fed Chair Jerome Powell, speaking in Chicago at the Economic Club, would assure markets that he would backstop any downside from President Trump's policies. They were disappointed.
Even worse, he said, "The level of tariff increases announced so far is significantly larger than anticipated, and the same is likely to be true of the economic effects, which will include higher inflation and slower growth."
The fact that the leader of the world's most powerful central bank seemed to confirm the worst fears of investors triggered another $1 trillion sell-off in equity markets. The president quickly posted his 0 Comments
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The Retired Investor: Market Uncertainty Takes Its TollBy Bill Schmick,
04:12PM / Thursday, April 17, 2025 | |
You may have weathered the Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic sell-off, some may even remember the Dot.Com boom and bust, but this time around feels different. That's because it is.
In my entire career, I have never seen the stock market move 8.3 percent in 34 minutes on a rumor. That is what happened a few days back. To put that in perspective, the S&P 500 Index gains in minutes an entire year's performance. The following day it gave back half of that. Sure, we can blame these moves on computer-driven trading, algorithms, options, and the like but it doesn't change what happened and could easily happen again.
If you feel the 0 Comments
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@theMarket: The Trump Tariff PauseBy Bill Schmick,
02:08PM / Friday, April 11, 2025 | |
This week, the stock markets had one of their largest single-day rallies since 2012, after President Trump suddenly put some of his tariffs on hold for 90 days. He then gave back half of it the following day. Investors wonder if this was a bear market bounce or if it could mean something more.
Media sources are crediting the market melt-up to various factors. Some believe Trump decided to soften his stance on tariffs after spending the weekend huddled with his U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Bessent, who the business community believes is a voice of reason in a room full of tariff advocates, had urged the president to pause his reciprocal tariff deadline. He 0 Comments
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