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Hawkish comments by the Fed and weak economic data heightened investors’ recession concerns and sent stocks lower last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.66%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 retreated 2.08%. The...

Recession fears and concerns that the Fed may consider a longer rate-hike cycle sent stocks lower for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2.77%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 fell 3.37%. The Nasdaq Composite index...

Stocks ended higher last week as investors navigated the crosscurrents of a potential easing in future rate hikes and continued strength in the labor market.The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.24% higher, while the Standard &...

Growing optimism that the Fed may be ready to ease future interest rate hikes sent stocks higher in a quiet trading week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.78%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 1.53%. The Nasdaq...

The stock market edged lower last week as it digested a crosscurrent of conflicting economic data and contrasting comments from Fed officials.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat (-0.01%), while the Standard & Poor’s 500...

A cooling inflation number ignited a powerful rally on Thursday, sending stocks to strong gains for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 4.15%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 5.90%. The Nasdaq Composite index...

Hawkish comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell, following the announcement of another 75 basis points interest rate hike last week, cast a pall over financial markets, sending yields higher and stocks lower.The Dow Jones Industrial...

Stocks overcame poor earnings results from some of America’s largest companies to post gains last week as investors cheered positive earnings surprises, easing inflation and a rebound in economic growth.The Dow Jones Industrial...

A positive start to a new earnings season and late-week hopes for a near-term easing in Fed rate hikes lifted investors’ spirits and powered stocks to gains for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 4.89%, while the...

Stocks were mixed last week amid wide intra- and inter-day price swings, as technology shares bore the brunt of the downdraft.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.15% for the week. Meanwhile, the Standard & Poor’s 500...

A powerful two-day stock rebound cemented a positive week for investors as a new trading month began.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.99%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 1.51%. The Nasdaq Composite index increased 0...

Rising recession fears and uncertainty in the bond and currency markets sent stocks to new 2022 lows last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 2.92%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 slumped 2.91%. The Nasdaq Composite...

Last week, Fed Chair Powell said the U.S. would not tame inflation without economic pain. This week heightened recession fears and sent stocks broadly lower.The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 4.00%, while the Standard &...

A hotter-than-expected inflation report sent stocks sharply lower last week as investors faced the prospect of more aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve for perhaps a longer period.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell...

The overhang of Fed Chair Powell’s Jackson Hole speech the previous week carried over into last week as investors recalibrated stock valuations amid a seemingly more assertive monetary policy stance.The Dow Jones Industrial...

A comprehensive sell-off on Friday following comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell drove stocks to losses for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 4.22%, while the Standard & Poor's 500 dropped 4.04%. The Nasdaq Composite...

Stocks tumbled on Friday, sending stocks to a weekly loss after an otherwise quiet August week of trading.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped -0.16%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 lost 1.21%. The Nasdaq Composite index...

An improving inflation outlook buoyed investors’ spirits last week, helping lift stocks to solid gains.The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 2.92%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 3.26%. The Nasdaq Composite index...

Stocks turned in a mixed performance last week as investors struggled with headlines suggesting that the Fed was unlikely to soon ease up on its current monetary tightening policy.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.13%, while...

Undaunted by another Fed rate hike and news of a contracting economy, the stock market rallied last week on better-than-expected corporate earnings.The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 2.97%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...

Stocks rallied last week as investor spirits lifted thanks to a better-than-expected start to the second-quarter earnings season.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.95%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 2.55%. The...

A record-high inflation report, the prospects of a more aggressive Fed, and growing recession fears sent stocks lower– though losses were pared by a Friday rally.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.16%, while the Standard...

In a holiday-shortened trading week, stocks rallied despite mixed economic data and vacillating energy prices and bond yields.The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 0.77%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 1.94%. The...

Stocks moved lower last week as recession fears deepened following a Fed hike in interest rates and weak economic data.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 4.79%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dropped 5.79%. The Nasdaq...

In a holiday-shortened week of volatile trading, stocks surrendered some of the previous week’s strong gains.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.94%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined 1.20%. The Nasdaq Composite...

Stocks posted solid gains for the week, buoyed by the release of Fed meeting minutes and upbeat earnings from mid-size and discount retailers.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 6.24%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced...

News of a new, highly virulent COVID variant triggered a market sell-off on Friday, sending stocks into negative territory for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.97%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 slumped 2.20%....

Stocks posted small declines last week as investors digested recent stock market gains and an unexpectedly high inflation read. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.63%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 retreated 0.31%. The...

A Federal Reserve announcement on tapering, a fresh batch of corporate profits, and encouraging economic data lifted stocks to another weekly gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.42%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...

The overhang of bumping against the federal debt ceiling was lifted last week with an agreement to extend the debt ceiling through early December, helping propel stocks to a weekly gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 1...

The stock market powered to record levels last week amid talk of Fed tapering and a deceleration in new Delta variant cases. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.96%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 increased 1.52%. The...

Stocks turned lower last week amid the increasing probability of a Fed tapering, mixed economic data, and growing concerns about the economic impact of the Delta variant. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 1.11%, while the...

Overcoming jitters about the Delta variant and the reintroduction of mask requirements, stocks climbed higher on strong employment data and a fresh batch of strong corporate earnings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.78% while...

Despite a good start to earnings season and some solid economic data, worries of slower second-half economic growth led to a pullback in stock prices last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.52%, while the Standard &...

Stocks managed small gains as investors wrestled with concerns over economic growth prospects and a rise in COVID-19 infections. The Dow Jones Industrial Average picked up 0.24%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 gained 0.40%. The...

New messaging from the Federal Reserve on interest rates and inflation last week led to a broad retreat in stock prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 3.45% while the Standard & Poor’s 500 lost 1.91%. The Nasdaq...

Optimism over the economic reopening and renewed enthusiasm for technology and other high-growth companies powered the stock market higher last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.94%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...

Stock prices fluctuated amid inflation concerns and bargain hunting, leaving stocks mixed for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.51%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dropped 0.43%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq...

A surge in consumer inflation unsettled investors, leading to a turbulent week of trading on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 1.14%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 fell 1.39%. The Nasdaq Composite index...

Stocks closed mixed last week as signs of continued economic recovery and upbeat earnings helped some sectors while the struggles persisted for high-growth companies. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.67%, while the Standard &...

Stocks meandered around a flatline in a busy week of corporate earnings, ending the trading week slightly lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.50%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 was flat (+0.02%). The Nasdaq Composite...

The crosscurrents of strong corporate earnings, rising global cases of COVID-19, and the specter of higher capital gains taxes led to a choppy week of trading that left stock prices slightly lower for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial...

Stocks reached record highs last week, riding the tailwind of improving economic data and a strong start to the earnings season. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.18%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 gained 1.37%. The...

Overcoming a rocky start, stocks rallied into the close of a holiday-shortened week of trading as technology shares staged a powerful recovery and investors reacted positively to President Biden’s infrastructure spending proposal...

A rocky week with wide price swings led to mixed results for stocks last week, as investors grappled with anxieties over economic growth and weakness in technology and other high-growth stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1...

Rising bond yields and improving economic conditions led to a choppy week of trading that ended in modest losses for investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.46%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined 0.77%. The...

Stocks touched new record highs last week as bond yields steadied, a fiscal relief bill was signed into law, and confidence in a strong economic recovery grew. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 4.07%, while the Standard &...

Stocks were mixed last week as rising bond yields and heightening inflation fears sent stocks on a wild ride, capped by a remarkable Friday afternoon rally. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.82%, while the Standard &...

Stock prices inched higher last week amid declining COVID-19 cases, a pick-up in vaccinations, and progress on a fiscal relief bill. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.00%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 1.23%. The...

Stocks notched strong gains last week, paced by a string of solid economic reports and consensus-beating corporate earnings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 3.89%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced 4.65%. The...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks moved higher during a holiday-shortened week of trading, capping off a turbulent, but otherwise strong year for equity investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.35%, while the Standard &...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks climbed higher amid the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and an improving outlook for a fiscal stimulus bill. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which has lagged all year, gained 0.44%. The Standard & Poor’s...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks retreated last week on rising COVID-19 infections and slow progress on an economic relief bill. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.57%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dropped 0.96%. The...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks marched higher last week on an improving outlook for the passage of a fiscal stimulus package. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.03%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 tacked on 1.67%. The...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks surged last week, ignited by another COVID-19 vaccine announcement, encouraging economic data, and the easing of political uncertainty. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.21%, while the Standard &...

The Week on Wall Street Despite news of another COVID-19 vaccine candidate, stocks were mixed amid investor anxiety over an increase in new infections and economic lockdowns. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.73%, while the...

The Week on Wall Street News of a COVID-19 vaccine ignited a rally in economically sensitive stocks and a broad retreat in technology companies last week, though enthusiasm was tempered by reports of rising new infections and fresh...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks soared last week as investors anticipated that a split Congress would raise legislative hurdles to changing corporate taxes and adjusting regulatory oversight of big technology companies. The Dow Jones...

The Week on Wall Street Stock prices dropped last week as hopes for a fiscal stimulus bill faded and investors focused on rising COVID-19 infections, here and abroad. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 6.47%, while the Standard &...

The Week on Wall Street The failure to reach an agreement on a new fiscal stimulus bill soured investor sentiment and sent stocks modestly lower for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.95%, while the Standard &...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks treaded water last week amid fading prospects for a stimulus bill, fears of a second wave of COVID-19 cases, and increasing political and regulatory pressures on Big Tech companies. The Dow Jones...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks staged a powerful rally last week, riding a wave of optimism over the prospect of the passage of a new fiscal stimulus bill. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.27%, while the Standard & Poor’s...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks advanced last week, propelled by hopes that legislators may reach an agreement for a new fiscal stimulus package and optimism generated by a few corporate deal announcements and initial public offerings....

The Week on Wall Street Stocks were mixed last week as worries that stretched from Washington D.C., where prospects of a new fiscal stimulus bill dimmed, to Europe, which saw an increase of new COVID-19 cases. The Dow Jones Industrial...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks slipped as the technology sector remained under pressure and a mid-week announcement by the Federal Reserve failed to inspire investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.03%, while the Standard...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks traveled a volatile path last week as investors appeared concerned about the upcoming elections, an uncertain economy, and more delays with additional fiscal stimulus. The Dow Jones Industrial Average...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks advanced relentlessly last week on positive COVID-19 developments, encouraging economic data, and a supportive policy shift in the Fed’s approach to its target inflation rate. The Dow Jones...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks powered to another week of gains as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite set multiple new record highs along the way. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was essentially unchanged while the Standard &...

The Week on Wall Street Stock prices drifted higher in an otherwise quiet news week, as a slowdown in new COVID-19 cases outweighed a Congressional impasse on a new fiscal-spending measure. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.81%...

The Week on Wall Street Overlooking stalled efforts by Congress to pass a new fiscal stimulus bill, stocks marched higher last week with the Dow Jones Industrials leading the way and the NASDAQ Composite setting multiple fresh record...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks slipped in the final days of trading last week on higher jobless claims and rising tensions in the U.S.-China relationship. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.76%, while the Standard & Poor’s...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks were mixed last week as investors reacted to positive economic data, progress on a COVID-19 vaccine, and the continued nationwide increase in COVID-19 cases. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.29%,...

The Week on Wall Street Stock prices notched solid gains last week, looking past an increase in COVID-19 cases and any potential economic concerns raised by the trend. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.96%, while the...

The Week on Wall Street In a holiday-shortened week, stock prices turned higher as encouraging economic data outweighed an increase in COVID-19 cases and a rollback in economic re-openings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.25%,...

The Week on Wall Street A jump in COVID-19 cases dampened investor enthusiasm last week, sending stock prices lower on worries that rising infections could derail the economic recovery. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 3.31%,...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks moved higher last week on news of more Federal Reserve market support and diminished concerns that new COVID-19 cases might lead to another economic shutdown. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.04%,...

The Week on Wall Street Investor sentiment turned negative last week, amid an increasing number of COVID-19 cases in states where reopening has been underway as well as a subdued economic forecast from the Federal Reserve. The Dow...

The Week on Wall Street A positive jobs report sent stocks soaring last Friday, capping a solid week as evidence of a global economic recovery outweighed concerns over civil unrest and tensions with China. The Dow Jones Industrial...

The Week on Wall Street The shortened week, which began with a powerful two-day rally of trading, was enough to drive the markets into another week of solid gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.75%, while the Standard &...

The Week on Wall Street Upbeat comments by the Federal Reserve Chairman and more signs of an economic turnaround combined to help fuel a powerful rally in the stock market last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.29%, while...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks drifted lower last week, weighed down by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s unsettling comments on the economy and signs of renewed tensions with China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2...

The Week on Wall Street Despite a historic downturn in employment, stocks managed to climb higher last week as investors were emboldened by the pace of economic re-openings, both here and abroad. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained...

The Week on Wall Street Stock prices ended the week slightly lower, despite news of positive results from a test trial of a COVID-19 drug treatment and several states easing their economic lockdowns. The Dow Jones Industrial Average...

The Week on Wall Street Stock prices bounced around last week as investors reacted to wild swings in the price of oil and reports that called into question the efficacy of two potential virus treatments. The Dow Jones Industrial...

The Week on Wall Street Stock prices pushed higher last week as news of a White House plan to reopen the economy and reports of a potential COVID-19 treatment helped the market overcome weak economic data and an ugly start to the...

President's Message - The Unexpected and Unwelcomed Break from "Normal"

Rob Lutts

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Dear Friends, Not one economist or analyst in America forecast that the United States would intentionally shut down a very large part of our economy for close to 3 months this year. Yet, that is exactly what we are in the middle of...

Quality Businesses Have a Chance to Shine

Craig Goryl

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Over the past several years I’ve used a lot of ink writing in these pages about the “high-quality” companies. What I like most about quality businesses is their resilience in the face of shocks like the COVID-19...

What Low Interest Rates Mean for Investors

Patrick Creahan

Monday, April 6, 2020

In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, strong actions were warranted by the Central Bank and US government. One of these actions was a swift drop of the Federal Funds rate to 0%. This FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) target rate...

The Digital Economy Goes Into Hyperdrive

Rob Lutts

Sunday, April 5, 2020

The digital economy was already pounding the physical economy before we experienced COVID-19......the best example is seeing the new Tesla auto dealership opening in Danvers, Massachusetts where the old Sears Automotive stood for 40...

Should You Change Your Asset Allocation in 2020?

Tom Vautin

Saturday, April 4, 2020

What a difference 3 months makes. Back in January everything seemed fine. As we rolled into 2020, the global stock markets had just experienced a very strong year to finish off a very strong decade. In our last quarterly newsletter, I...

Putting Things in Perspective During These Challenging Times

Greg Stevens

Friday, April 3, 2020

It goes without saying that we’re living in very uncertain times. The nonstop news cycle allows us little reprieve from the onslaught of bad news. Many families are already struggling to make ends meet and others are coping with...

The Week on Wall Street Modest declines in stock prices this week masked the volatile inter- and intraday price swings as investors digested poor economic data and a warning from the president that the worst days of the COVID-19...

An open-ended commitment by the Federal Reserve to support American businesses and capital markets along with the passage of a $2 trillion aid package improved investor sentiment and drove a strong rally in stock prices. The Dow Jones...

The Week on Wall Street The stock market suffered through another volatile week as it wrestled with the health and economic fallout of the domestic spread of the coronavirus. Swift and decisive actions by the Federal Reserve and policy...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks advanced four days out of five during the past market week, erasing the losses of the week before. The Nasdaq Composite surged 4.04%, the S&P 500 3.17%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average 3.00%. Foreign...

The Week on Wall Street Stock benchmarks declined for a second straight week as coronavirus news tempered risk appetite. The S&P 500 fell 2.14% on the week. The Nasdaq Composite dipped 1.76%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 2.55%...

5 Ways the SECURE Act Has Changed Retirement Planning

Tom Vautin

Thursday, January 16, 2020

In late December the SECURE Act was passed by Congress and signed by the President. The SECURE Act immediately changed several rules related to retirement planning. 1. Required minimum distributions (RMDs) now begin in the year you...

The Importance of Holistic Wealth Management

Rob Lutts

Thursday, January 16, 2020

As a wealth manager for many of our high-net-worth clients, we offer services that extend well beyond the scope of investment manager. This may often include assisting you with the important job of minimizing federal, state and estate...

What is Your Asset Allocation in 2020?

Tom Vautin

Thursday, January 16, 2020

A few years ago, a reporter interviewed me for an article she was writing. One question was “What is your recommended portfolio allocation given current market conditions?” My boring but truthful answer was that investment...

2019 Review of Global Equity Markets

Craig Goryl

Thursday, January 16, 2020

What Happened in 2019? A Rising Tide Lifted All Boats. Salem’s proximity to the ocean may cause us to overdo it on the nautical references from time to time. However, I think that one is apt for 2019. We entered the year in a dark...

Implications of Passive Investing

Nick Burwell

Thursday, January 16, 2020

As we turn the page on this past decade, it’s important that we take some time to think about a few broader, more structural, issues that will shape financial markets during the upcoming decade. There are key mechanical changes...

Outlook for 2020 | President's Message

Rob Lutts

Thursday, January 16, 2020

As we begin the new year, we think about the important task of implementing a well-thought-out and diversified‑asset‑allocation plan for your wealth. The Cabot team has discussed this with our clients and has laid out what they believe...

The Week on Wall Street The market had a choppy five days, with traders reacting to geopolitical developments and weaker-than-expected jobs data. Even so, the three major U.S. equity indices posted weekly gains and continued their...

What Drove the Markets? Four factors influenced investment performance in 2019: a shift in U.S. monetary policy, the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and China, earnings, and the economy. Stocks reached record highs in 2019. The...

The Week on Wall Street The U.S. and China announced a limited trade agreement last week. That news lifted U.S. and foreign stocks, leading to weekly gains. Advancing 0.91% on the week, the Nasdaq Composite outperformed the S&P 500 (up...

The Week on Wall Street Key Wall Street benchmarks were up and down last week – or rather down and then up. A Tuesday retreat was offset by a Friday rally spurred by the Department of Labor’s November jobs report. While the...

The Week on Wall Street As November wrapped up, U.S. equity benchmarks advanced. Stocks were again aided by a sense of optimism that a preliminary U.S.-China trade deal could be near. For the week, the Nasdaq Composite added 1.87%; the...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks declined last week as mixed signals emerged about the progress of U.S.-China trade negotiations. The three major Wall Street benchmarks all took weekly losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0...

The Week on Wall Street Stock benchmarks were little changed for much of last week, but a rally occurred Friday after news broke that the U.S. and China could be closing in on the first phase of a new trade pact. At Friday’s...

The Week on Wall Street Domestic and international stocks rose last week. Risk appetite outweighed concerns about the state of U.S.-China trade discussions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500, and MSCI EAFE all...

The Week on Wall Street A better-than-forecast jobs report prompted a stock market rally Friday, two days after traders witnessed another interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite ended the week at...

The Week on Wall Street The S&P 500 came within 0.1% of a record close Friday. Stocks were lifted last week by positive news on U.S.-China trade negotiations, plus earnings announcements. The Nasdaq Composite posted the largest weekly...

The Week on Wall Street Earnings helped give the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 a slight lift last week, offsetting investor disappointment over the small scope of the preliminary U.S.-China trade deal reached on October 11. Blue chips...

The Digital Era is Upon Us Now

Rob Lutts

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Computers and super-smart software are now preparing to take over many jobs handled by humans. Does this mean human workers are out of luck? NO, not by a long shot. It is estimated by the World Economic Forum (WEF) that 133 million new...

Interest Rate Volatility

Nick Burwell

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

At our recent Evening Event with the Cabot Team I discussed the volatility around interest rates and a few of the critical economic indicators that could be driving yields back down to the lowest levels seen earlier this cycle. Here is...

Here is what low- and negative- interest rates look like: A 10-year US treasury: Price $99.50, pays $1.60 per year and $100 on 8/15/29.A 10-year German treasury: Price €105.86, pays €0 per year and €100 on 8/15/29! This...

ESG

Craig Goryl

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

ESG - Environmental, Social, and Governance I spoke at our recent Evening Event with the Cabot Team about how we integrate ESG risk analysis in our process of choosing individual stocks and would like to summarize that for you here....

President's Message

Rob Lutts

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Dear Friends, The one constant of financial markets is change. Economic, political, technological, regulatory, environmental, and psychological changes are key basic laws of markets. There are forces in our system that are moving these...

The Week on Wall Street Stock prices pushed higher last week, as investors remained hyper-focused on any new developments with the U.S. trade negotiations with China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average picked up 0.91%, while the Standard...

The Week on Wall Street The fourth quarter started with a mixed week for equities. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.92% for the week; the S&P 500, 0.33%. In contrast, the Nasdaq Composite improved 0.54%. Overseas stocks pulled...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks retreated last week. Traders worried that the formal impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump might distract White House officials from their pursuit of a trade deal with China, and shift the focus...

The Week on Wall Street Investors reacted to two major news items last week, one far more of a surprise than the other. The Federal Reserve did indeed make a rate cut, matching Wall Street expectations. Drone strikes on two of the...

The Week on Wall Street Stocks edged toward all-time peaks during a relatively calm week marked by easing trade tensions. Friday marked the eighth straight daily advance for the Dow Jones Industrial Average.[1] Small-cap shares, as...

The Week on Wall Street Fears of an impasse in the U.S.-China trade dispute lessened last week. While additional U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports were scheduled to take effect on September 1, China’s government communicated that...

The Week on Wall Street Traders assumed that the week's biggest news event would be Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's speech at the annual Jackson Hole banking conference. Instead, China seized the headlines by announcing new...

The Week on Wall Street U.S. stock indices saw significant ups and downs last week, with traders looking for economic cues from Treasury yields and also developments in the tariff fight between the U.S. and China. The S&P 500 lost 1...

The Week on Wall Street Last week, investors assessed earnings and the initial estimate of second-quarter economic growth, while awaiting the Federal Reserve's next announcement about interest rates. Stocks rose for the week;...

The Week on Wall Street Stock benchmarks retreated during the first week of the second-quarter earnings season. As some big names shared quarterly results, investors seemed more interested in what might happen at the Federal Reserve's...

Market Outlook | President's Message

Rob Lutts

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

As we enter our 10th year of economic expansion, the chorus grows among experts and analysts on Wall Street that we will eventually, “Enter a recession and stock prices will surely enter a bear market”. All this correction...

Global Equity Review

Craig Goryl

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Correction? What correction? Equity markets around the world plowed ahead in the 2nd quarter, putting last year’s very difficult 4th quarter finish further into the rearview mirror. In fact, as you can see from the accompanying...

ESG Corner

Craig Goryl

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

As a regular feature, we’ll be highlighting aspects of ESG investing, an approach that takes into account risks relating to Environmental, Social, and Governance factors. It is important to note that ESG is not about personal or...

Stock Market Prices Fluctuate - Expect It!

Rob Lutts

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Stock market prices on any given day are a function of the collective information known by millions of investors globally. Specifically, changing global economies, corporate earnings, interest rates, and geopolitical issues are all...

Roth Conversion Strategies

Matt Heath

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

There are many reasons why advisors utilize Roth conversions to bolster a client’s success in retirement, so it is important to have a general understanding of the mechanics involved, why you would want to complete a conversion,...

The Week on Wall Street Friday, the S&P 500 settled above 3,000 for the first time, after rising 0.78% for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average chalked up a milestone of its own: the blue chips ended the week above 27,000,...

The Week on Wall Street A month of gains for stocks ended with a weekly retreat. The S&P 500 lost 0.30%; the Nasdaq Composite, 0.32%; the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 0.45%. In contrast, overseas shares, tracked by the MSCI EAFE...

The Week on Wall Street The S&P 500 hit an all-time peak of 2,964.03, in intraday trading Friday, while improving 2.20% across five market days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite posted respective, 5-day advances...

Lessons Learned | President's Message

Rob Lutts

Friday, April 12, 2019

To date, 2019 has surprised many investors with the strength in equity prices. We expect a more positive environment in general in 2019 with periodic corrective phases. Over the years of managing client portfolios, there are some core...

The Fed Pivot

Nick Burwell

Friday, April 12, 2019

What a difference a year makes. At this time last year the U.S. Federal Reserve, “the Fed”, had just raised the federal funds rate, the most important benchmark for short-term rates, by 0.25% to 1.75%. The new Fed Chairman,...

Global Equity Review

Craig Goryl

Friday, April 12, 2019

The market’s mood shifted dramatically as the calendar turned, with global stocks rebounding in the first quarter of 2019 from a very difficult fourth quarter of 2018. Double-digit declines in US and international markets in 4Q...

Time, Not Timing

Pedro Palandrani

Friday, April 12, 2019

The U.S. stock market is off to one of its best starts in history, but let’s not forget that 2018 was marked with increased volatility that caused many investors to consider exiting the markets, especially during the last quarter...

Artificial Intelligence by the Numbers

Pedro Palandrani

Friday, April 12, 2019

Experience has demonstrated that Artificial Intelligence (AI), like other technologies, will likely cause both disruption and growth opportunities. Even though AI is a headline-grabber today, AI has come a long way in the last few...

Saving for College with a 529 Plan

Greg Stevens

Friday, April 12, 2019

We are all aware of the overwhelming cost of a college education today. Tuition and fees continue to climb each year with no end in sight. Saving enough to fund your child’s (or grandchild’s) education can be a daunting...

Pictured here is Rob Lutts with an executive of Western Pest Services, a division of Rollins, Inc. Rob Lutts attended an investment program in August at the New York Stock Exchange by Rollins, Inc. (ROL). Rob was there researching the...

If you’re considering retirement and have purchased stock of the company you work for within your retirement plan, you have an opportunity to manage the income taxes you pay on any plan distributions by taking advantage of an...

Thank you to all who attended our fixed-income session at the conference this year. Unfortunately, we didn’t have quite the level of interest we had at last year’s session. I suppose next year I will have to come up with a...

Stock Selection: Balancing Quality, Value and Growth “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”, is age-old advice. Indeed, we talk extensively about diversifying your investments geographically (US, Foreign Developed...

2018 has been a challenging year for many global equity markets. There are three factors that matter most today for global economies and markets: Central Bank policy is changing in U.S. – thus allowing interest rates to rise....