Content provided by Paula Wieck, CLS Manager of Investment Research/Portfolio Manager So far this quarter, we’ve observed reversals in the strength of the U.S. dollar and prices of commodities such as gold and oil. As U.S. economic data has weakened, expectations have risen that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates later than anticipated. This… Continue reading Weak Dollar Pushes Commodity Prices Up
Category: Investing
Keeping Clients Invested
Content provided by J.J. Schenkelberg, CFA, CLS Senior Portfolio Manager We all know “the market” (stocks, bonds, commodities, real estate, etc.) is where we should invest our money for the best opportunity to grow funds for future needs. We also know the more risk we take, the more return opportunity there can be. So, why… Continue reading Keeping Clients Invested
Global Giants
Content Provided by Konstantin (Kostya) Etus, CLS Associate Portfolio Manager International investing has been a recurring topic in financial news recently, and many institutions have released white papers on its benefits. Much of this heightened coverage can be attributed to this year’s strong performance of international markets versus that of the U.S. International markets have… Continue reading Global Giants
It’s Time to Raise Rates!
Content provided by Marc Pfeffer, CLS Senior Portfolio Manager While the Federal Reserve (Fed) still seems to be shying away from raising interest rates at its next meeting in June, calls are coming from many regional Fed leaders to act quicker. James Bullard, president of the Federal Reserve Bank in St. Louis, warned recently of… Continue reading It’s Time to Raise Rates!
How Low Can Oil Go?
Content provided by Kostya Etus, CLS Associate Portfolio Manager One of the hottest topics in the markets lately has been oil prices. Questions like “Where is oil headed?” have become part of daily conversations and plagued news headlines. I think it is important to cut through the noise, take a step back, and evaluate the… Continue reading How Low Can Oil Go?
Retirement Crisis
Content provided by Sierra Morris-Fuchs, CLS Investment Research Analyst I have a quiz for you. How much does a typical household (ages 25 to 64) in the U.S. have saved in its retirement account? You’ve probably heard about the current retirement crises and know you should keep your guess low. How low? $2,500. That’s right,… Continue reading Retirement Crisis
How to Prepare Income Strategies for the Fed’s Rate Hike
Content provided by Josh Jenkins, CLS Investment Research Analyst With the Federal Reserve moving closer to the seemingly inevitable liftoff in interest rates, one thing on the mind of many investors is, “How will this affect my portfolio?” This is particularly true for those invested in an income-oriented strategy. Generally speaking, all income strategies carry… Continue reading How to Prepare Income Strategies for the Fed’s Rate Hike
Are Commodities…Dead?
Content provided by Grant Engelbart, CFA – CLS Portfolio Manager Not surprisingly, commodities have been one of the worst performing asset classes over the past several years. Headline grabbers such as oil and gold have lost their respective luster, and others have followed suit. A combination of factors has driven prices lower, most recently the… Continue reading Are Commodities…Dead?
Fed is Losing Patience, But Won’t Be Impatient
Content provided by Marc Pfeffer, CLS Senior Portfolio Manager The Fed is losing patience, but they won’t be “impatient” … That is essentially how Fed Chair Janet Yellen began the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) news conference on March 18. While there was much market chatter leading up to the conference, the most significant announcement… Continue reading Fed is Losing Patience, But Won’t Be Impatient
Spring Cleaning Isn’t Just for Your Closet
Content provided by Sierra Morris-Fuchs, CLS Investment Research Analyst As the weather warms up, and I finally start to feel alive again after a long, cold winter, I always get motivated to do a thorough house cleaning. Hibernation can create some messy habits – dust collected on shelves, layers of dirt on windows, old clothes… Continue reading Spring Cleaning Isn’t Just for Your Closet