By now we have all heard the saying that “the enemy gets a vote” in any war. But you know who else gets a vote? Financial markets. We mention this because the current and prospective path of the markets as a kind of referendum on the Iran War is seemingly much on everyone’s mind. Like […]
The US and Israeli attacks on Iran have unsettled stock markets and sent crude oil up over 40% to about $95 per barrel as of our writing on March 9 due to the cessation of significant oil cargoes through the Strait of Hormuz. Clients are rightly concerned about the consequences for their portfolios, to say […]
Winston Churchill is said to have remarked that the American people can be relied upon to do the right thing, but only after trying everything else. It is a statement of both enormous faith and biting criticism by perhaps the greatest friend America has ever had and the person arguably most responsible for delivering the […]
As we pick up the pen to share our reflections on the investment environment, our task is to give context and a sense of direction for our approach to managing client investment portfolios amidst increased investor anxiety (measured by mainstream press stories) about the high price of US stocks and whether the pullback reflected in […]
We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. -T. S. Eliot Come along! Hop up here! We’ll go for a jolly ride! The open road! The dusty highway! Come! I’ll show you the world! […]
The decline of US stocks the past few weeks is neither cause for panic nor celebration. Rather, pending the development of circumstances making for a compelling trade opportunity (about which we would separately communicate), this is a chance to observe the benefits of investing broadly and limiting the stock concentration that would result from adhering […]
This is the time in the calendar when we write about the prior year and our thoughts about the investment environment moving forward. This year, the timing coincides with us recommending an adjustment across client accounts (separate correspondence about the specifics of trading, if applicable, will follow as needed), so that will be the focus […]
Several days removed from the conclusion of this presidential election cycle, we find ourselves revisiting the remarkably familiar themes that surrounded the 2016 election, and observations we shared at that likewise transitional time, many of which continue to be relevant today. As was the case then, and with a second Trump administration set to take […]
As we approach election day, we expect that many of you, like us, are experiencing varying measures of anxiety, anticipation, hope and apprehension. There are many “what ifs” to contemplate, and some that may keep you up at night, but as we review historical norms, market sentiment, and analytical data, we’re comforted that elections, at […]
Summer is supposed to be the season when the only thing to pursue seriously is leisure. The culture sections of newspapers (or their online equivalents) are loaded with lists of books you should read at the beach. Of course, that’s essentially an unreachable ideal, like your author keeping his truck washed. (A little Vashon humor […]