Market insights and analysis

U.S. equity markets posted gains in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 rose 2.67%, the NASDAQ Composite increased by 4.82%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2%.

The major U.S. stock market indexes were up last week. The S&P 500 increased by 1.45%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.46%, the NASDAQ Composite was up 0.98%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index rose 1.79%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield fell 32 basis points to 3.56%, taking Treasury bonds higher for the week. Spot gold closed the week at $1,865.69, up 2.28%.

The market is funny. No matter what your perspective is when you look at it, you can almost always find something to support your opinion. Searching for or favoring data that aligns with your existing beliefs is called “confirmation bias.” It can be found in all disciplines, but the way it shows up in investing is particularly interesting.

Last week, the gold spot price was up 2.28% and the U.S. Dollar Index went up 0.34%.

U.S. equity markets posted gains in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 was up 1.45%, the NASDAQ Composite was up 0.98%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1.46%.

December ETF Deathwatch contains 512 zombie ETFs and ETNs.

The major market indexes finished mostly lower last week. The S&P 500 Index slipped 0.1%, the NASDAQ Composite declined 0.3%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index rose 0.02%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield rose 236 basis points to 3.88% and bonds struggled. The U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) dropped 1.0%, and the 20-year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) tumbled 2.55%. Gold futures closed at 1,826.20, up $30.30 per ounce, or 1.7%.

We all have insurance of some kind—health, auto, life, disability, renters, and/or home. Just in case … When we drive, we have our seat belts and lots of new safety features for our car, like airbags. The roads have markings, safety engineering, and guard rails on the riskiest stretches. Just in case …

U.S. equity markets posted losses in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 decreased by 0.14%, the NASDAQ Composite fell 0.30%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.17%.

Last week, the gold spot price rose 1.44% and the U.S. Dollar Index fell 0.76%.

The major U.S. equity indexes were mixed last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was the only index with gains, rising 0.86%. The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite lost the most, falling 1.94%. The S&P 500 and Russell 2000 Indexes fell 0.2% and 0.14%, respectively.

Years ago, a harrowing news story that ultimately ended in triumph reminded me of the benefits of having a plan B. It all began on August 5, 2010, with the collapse of the main ramp into a small gold and copper mine located in the remote Atacama region of Northern Chile. More than 30 miners were missing. Then, two days later, as hundreds of their fellow miners worked to find some sign of life, a new cave-in brought the rescue efforts to a halt.

U.S. equity markets posted gains in one of the three indexes last week. The S&P 500 lost 0.20%, the NASDAQ Composite was down 1.94%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.86%.

Last week, the gold spot price was up 0.29% and the U.S. Dollar Index decreased by 0.37%.

The major U.S. stock market indexes finished down last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.7%, the S&P 500 Index slipped 2.1%, the NASDAQ Composite tumbled 2.7%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index fell 1.9%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield gave up 9 basis points to yield 3.488%, and most bonds increased slightly in value. Gold futures closed at $1,802.50, down $8.20 per ounce, or 0.45%.

As I read through various 2022 recaps from the general media and financial press, one theme becomes abundantly clear—and hardly surprising: 2022 was extremely challenging on many fronts. In a recent article, consulting firm McKinsey & Company put it succinctly: “The past year has been anything but ordinary.”

Last week, the gold spot price fell 0.24% and the U.S. Dollar Index decreased by 0.1%.

U.S. equity markets posted losses in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 went down 2.08%, the NASDAQ Composite was down 2.72%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.66%.

November ETF Deathwatch contains 505 zombie ETFs and ETNs.

The major U.S. stock indexes declined last week. The S&P 500 fell 3.37%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2.77%, the NASDAQ Composite dropped 3.99%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index took the largest hit with a 5.08% loss. The 10-year Treasury bond yield rose 9 basis points to 3.58%, taking bond prices lower for the week. Spot gold closed the week at $1,797.63, down 0.02%.

“Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” How often that phrase has been quoted since Ben Franklin penned it in a letter to his friend, the French scientist Jean-Baptiste Leroy, in the midst of the French Revolution.

Last week, the gold spot price went down 0.02% and the U.S. Dollar Index was up 0.25%.

U.S. equity markets posted losses in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 decreased 3.37%, the NASDAQ Composite was down 3.99%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.77%.

The major U.S. stock market indexes rose last week. The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite led the way with a 2.09% return, the Russell 2000 jumped 1.27%, the S&P 500 gained 1.13%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.24%. Most of the week’s returns were driven by a large increase in the indexes on Wednesday (November 30) in response to comments from the Federal Reserve.

Norm, a character on the 1980s sitcom “Cheers,” is a down-on-his-luck type of guy and a regular at the titular Boston pub. He tries to get ahead but never quite makes any progress. So every day he comes back to the place “where everybody knows your name.”

U.S. equity markets posted gains in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 was up 1.13%, the NASDAQ Composite increased by 2.09%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average went up 0.24%.

Last week, the gold spot price was up 2.43% and the U.S. Dollar Index was down 1.33%.

What a great idea Thanksgiving Day was. Our ancestors set aside a day designed simply to give thanks for all the bounties of this life. This year, as my brother and sister would say, “We had so much fun!” Family came together; the new baby, Natalie, was naturally the focus; a feast was prepared and enjoyed by all; and, of course, the Detroit Lions lost.

The major U.S. stock indexes finished the holiday-shortened week with gains. The S&P 500 jumped 1.53%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.78%, the NASDAQ Composite increased by 0.72%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index rose 1.05%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield fell 15 basis points to 3.68%, sending bond prices higher for the week. Spot gold closed the week at $1,754.93, up 0.24%.

Last week, the gold spot price increased by 0.24% and the U.S. Dollar Index lost 0.91%.

U.S. equity markets posted gains in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 went up 1.53%, the NASDAQ Composite went up 0.72%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1.78%.

The major U.S. stock market indexes finished down last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.01%, the S&P 500 slipped 0.7%, the NASDAQ Composite fell 1.6%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index tumbled 1.8%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield rose 1 basis point to 3.825%, but most bonds increased slightly in value. Gold futures closed at $1,764.90, down $18.60 per ounce, or 1.04%.

Since I began investing in the late 1960s, I have always been in the active investing camp. When I started Flexible Plan Investments, Ltd., in 1981, the only investment services we offered were active management (and that is still true today). I thought an investment manager should be “flexible” rather than locked into a rigid buy-and-hold approach.

Last week, the gold spot price decreased by 1.16% and the U.S. Dollar Index increased by 0.6%.

U.S. equity markets posted losses in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 lost 0.69%, the NASDAQ Composite decreased by 1.57%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.01%.

Gold prices slowed last week after climbing sharply the previous week.

Last week was a wild ride in cryptocurrency land. On November 4, the largest and most well-known proxy for the cryptocurrency space, bitcoin, traded around $21,130 USD per bitcoin. By Monday morning, it was trading below $16,000, a drop of nearly 25%.

The major U.S. stock market indexes were up last week. The S&P 500 increased by 5.90%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 4.15%, the NASDAQ Composite was up 8.10%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index rose 4.60%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield fell 35 basis points to 3.81%, taking Treasury bonds higher for the week. Spot gold closed the week at $1,771.24, up 5.31%.

Last week, the gold spot price was up 5.31% and the U.S. Dollar Index fell 4.14%.

U.S. equity markets posted gains in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 rose 5.90%, the NASDAQ Composite rose 8.10%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 4.15%.

Gold prices exploded upward last week, gaining almost $100 per ounce.

In 1999, I began working with writer Susan Ward at the weekly financial news magazine Barron’s to produce a series of columns on Flexible Plan Investments’ (FPI’s) Political Seasonality Index (PSI). In the first issue of each year, we would show a chart of the turning points in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) for the year ahead based on the twists and turns of the PSI. In the final issue of the year, we would republish the forecast chart from January and overlay the actual chart of the Dow during the past year and see how closely the Dow followed the predicted course.

The major U.S. stock market indexes were down last week. The S&P 500 decreased by 3.35%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.40%, the NASDAQ Composite was down 5.65%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index fell 2.55%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield rose 15 basis points to 4.16%, taking Treasury bonds lower for the week. Spot gold closed the week at $1,681.87, up 2.25%.

With an estimated 10,000 baby boomers reaching the retirement age of 65 each day over the next eight years, it is little wonder that both the general media and financial press are saturated with retirement-focused content. And there are many good reasons for that.

U.S. equity markets posted losses in all three indexes last week. The S&P 500 lost 3.35%, the NASDAQ Composite went down 5.65%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.40%.

Last week, the gold spot price increased by 2.25% and the U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.11%.

Last week, gold prices declined again to previous support levels, forming a “triple bottom.”

October ETF Deathwatch contains 507 zombie ETFs and ETNs.

The major U.S. stock market indexes finished up last week. The S&P 500 jumped 3.95%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 5.72%, the NASDAQ Composite was up 2.24%, and the Russell 2000 small-capitalization index rose 6.01%. The 10-year Treasury bond yield fell 20 basis points to 4.01%, sending bond prices higher for the week. Spot gold closed the week at $1,644.86, down 0.77%.

Investors often ask me, “What is active management?” Many confuse the phrase “active management” with the simple act of running a mutual fund populated with stock picks within the strict guidelines of a prospectus, as opposed to running an index fund, where the manager simply buys and holds the shares making up a particular stock or bond index.