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December 9, 2024
For decades, investment professionals have advised their clients to embrace the practice of diversifying their investment portfolios. It’s a philosophy of not putting too many eggs in one basket, lest something happen to that basket. It’s also a belief in having exposure to all areas of the economy...
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October 25, 2024
The United States’ budget deficit was $1.8 trillion during fiscal year 2024, which ended in September, making it the largest deficit outside the Covid era, and an increase of 8% over 2023’s deficit. Interest payments on our national debt hit $1.1 trillion for the first time, a 29% increase due to...
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October 2, 2024
The Federal Reserve finally pulled its monetary trigger, dropping the fed funds rate by an aggressive 0.50% on September 18th, bringing its current target range to 4.75% - 5.00%. In its policy statement, the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) said that its decision was the result of progress on...
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September 24, 2024
Nary a day goes by when I’m not confronted with a radio or TV ad touting the merits of, and urgency to invest in gold and other precious metals. I can even buy it in my IRA. “Don’t delay, call now!” The message, often delivered by well-known celebrities, is similar each time. “Geo-political turmoil...
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September 10, 2024
Recent data evidencing further declines in inflation along with softening labor markets raised the odds that the Federal Reserve will lower the fed funds rate during its next meeting scheduled for September 17-18. There is debate whether the cut will be ¼ or ½ percentage point, with odds-makers...
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August 5, 2024
The Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee (FOMC) moved from a credit-tightening policy to a credit-neutral, wait-and-see position about a year ago and has been monitoring the data ever since. It’s been trying to gauge the effectiveness of its prior eleven interest rate hikes in reducing demand...