The U.S. dollar hits two-year highs

The Federal Reserve Bank’s tightening of monetary policy has driven up interest rates, while causing investors to sell stocks.  It has had another impact—a steep rise in the U.S. dollar. The U.S. bond market has already priced in a 96% chance of a 50-basis-point rise in the Federal funds rate at the next FOMC meeting…

By Bill Schmick
April 21, 2022

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Black and white historical photo of firefighters holding a trampoline and looking up
Can the Federal Reserve engineer a soft landing?

Can we talk about how crazy the first quarter of 2022 was? From Volodymyr Zelensky to Will Smith. The so-called “Don’t say gay” bill and the woefully mislabeled “Billionaires’ tax.” From the vetting of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Olympics (well, maybe not the Olympics), the world was buzzing about serious news and outright nutso…

By Allen Harris
April 11, 2022

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Do not chase stocks

Commodities are soaring. Interest rates are falling. Stocks can’t get out of their own way. All of this is occurring while the first war in decades continues to rage in Ukraine. Seems to me that any gains in the market averages next week will remain dead cat bounces in this bear market. Yes, I hate…

By Bill Schmick
March 4, 2022

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You’ll pay more, and you’ll like it!

Usually, when inflation creeps up, consumers switch buying habits. If beef prices go up, consumers buy more chicken. Or, if the kids’ shoes are too costly at Macy’s, parents might go to Target or Walmart. Generally, that’s not occurring in this cycle. I present those specific names as conceptual examples. Walmart is doing quite well….

By Allen Harris
February 28, 2022

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When will the stock market bottom?

On May 22, 2022, the stock market will bottom after declining 15.1 percent from its high. Or, maybe the bottom is already behind us after the decline of the S&P 500 stock market index cracked double digits during intraday trading. A completed correction looks similar to the start of a new bear market. The problem…

By Allen Harris
February 7, 2022

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