Frazier Allen: Market pullbacks need perspective

Clarksville, TN – The first three trading weeks of the year have been marked by volatility in the domestic and global equity markets, garnering the attention of investors and the financial media.

There’s a lot going on with stocks stumbling, bond yields falling and oil prices declining. So, it may be helpful to separate the noise from the underlying fundamentals.

Despite slowdowns in China and Europe, domestic economic growth has held up fairly well, supported by job growth and stronger consumer spending power.

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Frazier Allen: Third quarter marked by mixed data and volatility

Clarksville, TN – Last quarter, many investors watched closely as the Greek debt drama played out on a global stage. Three months later, investors once again are warily watching how international economic conditions impact domestic markets.

Headwinds include worries over slower growth in Europe and Asia; the effects of lower commodity prices; uncertainty over the Federal Reserve’s rate tightening policy and timing; suppressed inflation; and the potential for a U.S. government shutdown either at the beginning of October or during early December.

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September’s Market volatility extends into October

Clarksville, TN – The two weeks of trading this month took investors on a wild ride. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, for example, posted its biggest point gain and loss back to back for the first time since 1997, according to the Wall Street Journal

Last Tuesday’s 273-point “Dow Dive” was reversed by Wednesday’s 275-point “Dow Wow.” But then the Dow slumped again, dropping 335 points on Thursday.

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Quarterly gains endure September’s volatility

Clarksville, TN – September reinforced its reputation as one of the worst months for stocks. The S&P 500, for example, dropped 1.5%. Thankfully, the declines over the past two weeks weren’t enough to entirely erase the gains we have seen over the past quarter.

In fact, the broad-market index, which reached a record high on September 18th, just managed to post its seventh straight quarterly gain.

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Equity markets slide after an eventful month

Clarksville, TN – The last week of July has been eventful on a number of fronts. The economic calendar was packed, geopolitical tensions intensified and Argentina teetered on the edge of default, eventually going over. This is the second time the South American country has defaulted on its debt in the past 13 years.

The default may be short-lived if Argentina can reach an agreement to pay its missed $1.5 billion interest payment.

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Stocks end quarter mixed despite fewer headwinds

Clarksville, TN – March marked the fifth anniversary of the stock market’s bull run, since the bottom in the S&P 500 back in 2009. The most recent quarter was more lackluster, as U.S. stock indices were somewhat flat.

The equity markets showed some resilience during the last week of the month after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen signaled that “considerable slack” in a “tough” labor market means the central bank will continue its monetary support of the economy for some time.

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Stocks up despite U.S. Government Budget Impasse

The third quarter of the year proved quite eventful.

The Federal Reserve opted to wait a little longer before beginning to dial back its bond purchases, and a budgetary showdown in D.C. resulted in a partial government shutdown on the same day the private healthcare exchanges mandated by the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) opened.

Political tensions arose over whether to defund or delay major provisions of the ACA.

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