Thursday, February 21, 2019
Just a few months ago, bond “experts” were all over the financial news networks predicting the yield curve would soon invert. An inverted curve, where short-term rates are higher than long-term rates, is a reliable indicator that the economy will go to negative growth – a recession. At that time the stock market was setting […]
Later this week the Federal Reserve Board is expected to announce another interest rate hike. The Fed will likely its target short term interest rate by 0.25% to a range of 2.25% to 2.5%. The new Fed Funds rate is up from 0.50% two years ago. While many investor fears concerning higher interest rates and […]
Despite all the headlines about the upcoming trade summit with China, it’s interest rate expectations that are more likely driving the financial markets. Yes, a trade war with China is bad for both countries (and the global economy) and a resolution would certainly be good news for stocks. However, from a global perspective, interest rate […]
Are bond funds a safe haven if the stock market crashes? With interest rates about to rise, is it a good time to invest in a bond fund? These are questions investors may be asking themselves as the stock market may be peaking and the Fed keeps jacking up interest rates. If you are fearful […]
Next Tuesday and Wednesday, the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee will meet to discuss U.S. interest rates. Alas, if you’re looking for drama and anticipation, try the current Stanley Cup Final instead. The federal funds futures market has priced in a 90% chance of a rate hike. It would follow a 0.25% rate bump to […]
This week, we get the next installment of the FOMC meeting – the big Fed meeting where they decide what to do with interest rates. The meetings are a bit more interesting these days since rates are going up and some sort of definitive actions tends to take place. Keep in mind, we had several […]
Share values of real estate investment trust (REIT) companies have been dropping since the Fed announced its last Fed Funds Target Rate increase on December 13. The Fed started raising interest rates in quarter percent increments in December 2015. Each of the four rate increase announcements has been accompanied by a pull back in REIT […]
Thanks to the near zero percent (and even negative!) interest rate policies of central banks, financial markets are certainly in a brave new world. In other words, central bankers have set rates near zero – as the Federal Reserve has done with the Federal Funds rate – or even pushed them below zero. Below zero […]
With a concerned look on his face, my friend John said, “A special assessment would be close to $5,000 per home.” My wife Jo and I live in a Del Webb community in the Phoenix suburbs. Our community is responsible for maintaining our own roads. Here is the conversation that followed: John – “Most roads […]
Among the investment community, it’s easy to find commentary on popular tech and retail stocks. Given what’s been happening in Washington, there’s also plenty of discussion on healthcare companies. But one sector that’s been getting very little attention lately is financials, particularly banks. While the banking industry has been relatively calm the last couple years, […]
