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Weekly Market Commentary (October 7, 2020)

The Markets
  
Last week, the third quarter of 2020 came to an end - and the fourth quarter delivered a doozy of an October surprise.
 
President Trump has the coronavirus
On Friday Americans awoke to the news President Trump had contracted COVID-19. Financial markets responded with relative equanimity. After a brief sell-off on Friday, major U.S. indices finished the week, and the third quarter, higher.
 
Market enthusiasm cooled in September
U.S. stock markets moved higher in July and August. Then, in early September, investors became skittish and major U.S. indices recorded losses for several weeks. The surge of uncertainty may have resulted from changing vaccine expectations, concerns about earnings, fears of a disputed election, and lack of new stimulus, reported Ben Levisohn of Barron's.
 
The Federal Reserve committed to low rates for a long time
The Federal Reserve's changing policies may have had an influence on markets, as well. The Fed intends to keep interest rates near zero for the foreseeable future. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement provided a big picture explanation, "The path of the economy will depend significantly on the course of the virus. The ongoing public health crisis will continue to weigh on economic activity, employment, and inflation in the near term, and poses considerable risks to the economic outlook over the medium term."
 
Yields on 10-year U.S. Treasuries moved in a narrow range during the quarter, finishing near where they started.
 
Stimulus talks resumed last week
Treasury yields rose and stock markets perked last week when Congress resumed stimulus talks. Investors expect $1.3 to $1.5 trillion in new stimulus, according to BCA Research cited by Kiplinger's.
 
Additional stimulus measures were expected early in the third quarter, after CARES Act provisions ran dry in July. However, better-than-expected economic data and a reluctance to increase the burgeoning budget deficit made some in Congress adopt a wait-and-see approach, reported Victor Reklaitis of MarketWatch.
 
By last Friday, stimulus negotiations appeared to have stalled again. However, there were new calls for action over the weekend, following Friday's weaker-than-expected employment report, according to Jacob Pramuk of CNBC.
 
The pace of recovery may be slowing
Throughout the third quarter, employment improved steadily. In July it was 10.2 percent. By September, it had fallen to 7.9 percent. While continued improvement is important, the pace of jobs creation slowed last month. Consensus estimates for September suggested the economy would produce 850,000 new jobs. It came up short at 661,000. That could be a sign economic growth is slowing.
 
Economic growth improved during the third quarter
During the second quarter (April through June), the U.S. economy shrank by about a third (-31.7 percent). Data for third quarter economic growth is not yet available, but it is expected to show a significant improvement. The Atlanta Federal Reserve's GDPNow estimates third quarter growth could be as high as 34.6 percent.
 
While a double-digit rebound would be welcome news, Aaron Weitzman of The Bond Buyer pointed out a 34.6 percent rebound does not offset a 31.7 percent contraction. The economy needs to grow by 46 percent to get back to even.
 
Volatility is likely to continue
Global markets may be volatile through the end of 2020.
 

Data as of 10/2/20
1-Week Y-T-D 1-Year 3-Year 5-Year 10-Year
Standard & Poor's 500 (Domestic Stocks) 1.5% 3.6% 16.0% 9.8% 11.4% 11.4%
Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. 1.6 -6.5 3.5 -1.0 3.6 1.8
10-year Treasury Note (Yield Only) 0.7 NA 1.6 2.3 2.0 2.5
Gold (per ounce) 2.3 25.0 27.5 14.3 10.8 3.8
Bloomberg Commodity Index -1.3 -13.7 -10.0 -5.9 -4.5 -6.6
S&P 500, Dow Jones Global ex-US, Gold, Bloomberg Commodity Index returns exclude reinvested dividends (gold does not pay a dividend) and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized; and the 10-year Treasury Note is simply the yield at the close of the day on each of the historical time periods.
Sources: Yahoo! Finance, MarketWatch, djindexes.com, London Bullion Market Association.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. N/A means not applicable.
 
THE VERY BEST WRONG TEST ANSWERS. Almost everyone has come across a test question they couldn't answer. Some ingenious souls provide their teachers with some humor instead. British author Richard Benson asked teachers to share their favorite wrong test answers, and he shared a few with Business Insider:
 
Q: When did the founding fathers draft the Constitution?
 
A: It was a second round pick, right after LeBron James.
 
Q: Describe what is meant by "forgetting."
 
A: I can't remember.
 
Q: What is a nitrate?
 
A: It is much cheaper than a day rate.
 
Q: Upon ascending to the throne, the first thing Queen Elizabeth II did was to...
 
A: Sit down.
 
Q: Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?
 
A: At the bottom.
 
Weekly Focus - Think About It
 
"You pay a very high price for a cheery consensus. It won't be the economy that will do in investors; it will be the investors themselves. Uncertainty is actually the friend of the buyer of long-term values."
                                                                     Warren Buffett, Investor and philanthropist
 
Best regards,
 
Lee Barczak
President
 
* Government bonds and Treasury Bills are guaranteed by the U.S. government as to the timely payment of principal and interest and, if held to maturity, offer a fixed rate of return and fixed principal value.  However, the value of fund shares is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. *Corporate bonds are considered higher risk than government bonds but normally offer a higher yield and are subject to market, interest rate and credit risk as well as additional risks based on the quality of issuer coupon rate, price, yield, maturity, and redemption features. * The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. You cannot invest directly in this index. * The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged index. Unmanaged index returns do not reflect fees, expenses, or sales charges. Index performance is not indicative of the performance of any investment. * The Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. Index covers approximately 95% of the market capitalization of the 45 developed and emerging countries included in the Index. * The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market. * Gold represents the afternoon gold price as reported by the London Bullion Market Association. The gold price is set twice daily by the London Gold Fixing Company at 10:30 and 15:00 and is expressed in U.S. dollars per fine troy ounce. * The Bloomberg Commodity Index is designed to be a highly liquid and diversified benchmark for the commodity futures market. The Index is composed of futures contracts on 19 physical commodities and was launched on July 14, 1998. * The DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index measures the total return performance of the equity subcategory of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) industry as calculated by Dow Jones. * Yahoo! Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods. * Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. * Economic forecasts set forth may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful. * Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. * You cannot invest directly in an index. * Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
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Weekly Market Commentary (October 2, 2020)

The Markets
 
For four weeks, the U.S. stock market has sparked and sputtered like a campfire in light rain.
 
Today, pandemic-driven demand is providing fuel for the investors. The need for certain types of products and services has accelerated and innovation is creating new opportunities. Consider:
  • Technology. Today, digital technologies support nearly all group interactions, which has accelerated innovation. Traditional video communications platforms are in high demand, and multi-person virtual platforms are emerging. Robotics innovations are racing ahead, too. Robotic dogs enforce social distancing in Singaporean parks, reported Accenture. Other types of robots sanitize streets and facilitate contactless delivery around the globe.
  • Consumer products and services. COVID-19 increased demand for staples, cleaning, and personal hygiene products. The virus may have inspired deeper and longer-lasting changes in consumer behavior, too. Accenture reported people are favoring healthier lifestyles, consuming goods more conscientiously, and showing a preference for locally-sourced goods.
  • Healthcare, drug development/delivery, and medical equipment. Last Friday, 316 COVID-19 treatments and 212 vaccines were in development around the world, reported the Milliken Institute. In some places, humans are collaborating with artificial intelligence to streamline drug discovery processes. Demand for telehealth services has increased dramatically. So has demand for personal protective equipment, reported Pankaj Singh of Plastics Today.
 
Throughout 2020, investors' enthusiasm has pushed markets higher. However, concerns about a variety of issues have dampened enthusiasm in recent weeks. Last Friday, Ben Levisohn of Barron's reported:
 
"In a week filled with headlines about government stimulus (or the lack thereof), Supreme Court nominations, the election, the gain in the Nasdaq...suggests that it was the fear of another COVID-19 wave that really got the market down. And for good reason. The week began with the U.K. talking about a second shutdown and ended with all of Europe facing down a second wave of infection...In the U.S., the number of cases is rising and the death toll passed 200,000 midweek..."
 
Many of these concerns aren't likely to dissipate soon, and volatility is likely to continue.
 
Last week, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and Dow Jones Industrial Average lost value, while the Nasdaq Composite gained value.
 

Data as of 9/25/20
1-Week Y-T-D 1-Year 3-Year 5-Year 10-Year
Standard & Poor's 500 (Domestic Stocks) -0.6% 2.1% 10.5% 9.7% 11.8% 11.2%
Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. -4.2 -7.9 -0.2 -1.5 3.5 1.7
10-year Treasury Note (Yield Only) 0.7 NA 1.7 2.2 2.2 2.5
Gold (per ounce) -4.7 22.1 21.5 12.9 10.2 3.7
Bloomberg Commodity Index -3.2 -12.6 -10.4 -6.1 -4.4 -6.6
S&P 500, Dow Jones Global ex-US, Gold, Bloomberg Commodity Index returns exclude reinvested dividends (gold does not pay a dividend) and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized; and the 10-year Treasury Note is simply the yield at the close of the day on each of the historical time periods.
Sources: Yahoo! Finance, MarketWatch, djindexes.com, London Bullion Market Association.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. N/A means not applicable.
 
Preparing for A Pandemic Halloween. In many neighborhoods across the United States, Halloween decorations have begun to appear. If you've been wondering whether Halloween celebrations and trick-or-treating are possible when the COVID-19 virus is still spreading across the country and the world, you may be interested in the Halloween guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control:
 
Low risk activities:
  • Carving or decorating pumpkins at home and displaying them
  • Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
  • Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
  • Holding a virtual Halloween costume contest
  • Having a Halloween movie night at home with your family or roommates
  • Having a Halloween scavenger hunt with lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while walking outdoors, at a safe distance from other participants
  • Having a scavenger-hunt style trick-or-treat event with your household members in or around your home instead of trick-or-treating from house to house
 
Moderate risk activities:
  • Participating in one-way trick-or-treating. Individually wrapped treats are lined up for families to take while remaining at a safe social distance (end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
  • Small group, outdoor, open-air costume parades or parties with participants remaining at safe social distances (six feet apart)
  • Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than six feet apart (if screaming is likely, distances should be increased)
  • Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least six feet apart (again, if screaming is likely, distances should be increased)
 
With a little planning, everyone can have a safe and fun Halloween.
 
Weekly Focus - Think About It
 
"In three words, I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on. In all the confusions of today, with all our troubles...with politicians and people slinging the word fear around, all of us become discouraged...tempted to say this is the end, the finish. But life - it goes on. It always has. It always will. Don't forget that."
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 --Robert Frost, Poet, on his 80th birthday in 1954
 
Best regards,
 
Lee Barczak
President
 
* Government bonds and Treasury Bills are guaranteed by the U.S. government as to the timely payment of principal and interest and, if held to maturity, offer a fixed rate of return and fixed principal value.  However, the value of fund shares is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. *Corporate bonds are considered higher risk than government bonds but normally offer a higher yield and are subject to market, interest rate and credit risk as well as additional risks based on the quality of issuer coupon rate, price, yield, maturity, and redemption features. * The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. You cannot invest directly in this index. * The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged index. Unmanaged index returns do not reflect fees, expenses, or sales charges. Index performance is not indicative of the performance of any investment. * The Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. Index covers approximately 95% of the market capitalization of the 45 developed and emerging countries included in the Index. * The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market. * Gold represents the afternoon gold price as reported by the London Bullion Market Association. The gold price is set twice daily by the London Gold Fixing Company at 10:30 and 15:00 and is expressed in U.S. dollars per fine troy ounce. * The Bloomberg Commodity Index is designed to be a highly liquid and diversified benchmark for the commodity futures market. The Index is composed of futures contracts on 19 physical commodities and was launched on July 14, 1998. * The DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index measures the total return performance of the equity subcategory of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) industry as calculated by Dow Jones. * Yahoo! Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods. * Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. * Economic forecasts set forth may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful. * Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. * You cannot invest directly in an index. * Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
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Weekly Market Commentary (September 22, 2020)

 
The Markets
 
Investors weren't happy with central banks last week.
 
After the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell confirmed the economy is recovering more quickly than anticipated:
 
"With the reopening of many businesses and factories and fewer people withdrawing from social interactions, household spending looks to have recovered about three-quarters of its earlier decline...The recovery has progressed more quickly than generally expected, and forecasts from FOMC participants for economic growth this year have been revised up since our June Summary of Economic Projections. Even so, overall activity remains well below its level before the pandemic and the path ahead remains highly uncertain...We remain committed to using our full range of tools to support the economy in this challenging time."
 
Investors weren't satisfied. Colby Smith of Financial Times reported stocks, "sold off sharply during Mr. Powell's press conference on Wednesday, and again on Thursday," because the FOMC did not provide information about "how it might adapt its balance sheet policy to generate...inflation and aid the U.S. economic recovery."
 
The Bank of England (BOE) also delivered news that unsettled markets last week. Minutes from the BOE's latest meeting noted it was studying negative interest rates. Some banks and analysts interpreted this to mean the bank intends to implement negative rates. Eva Szalay and Chris Giles of Financial Times reported, "People familiar with the matter said the preparations now under way were aimed more at fully understanding the effects of negative rates, rather than at seeking to implement them."
 
It's possible the BOE wants to better understand negative rates so it's prepared for a worst-case scenario, such as the economic impact of COVID-19 containment measures combined with failure to reach a trade agreement with the European Union (EU), reported David Goodman and Lucy Meakin of Bloomberg. The EU trade deadline is fast approaching and, currently, no deal seems likely.
 
In the face of uncertainty, markets are likely to remain volatile.
 

Data as of 9/18/20
1-Week Y-T-D 1-Year 3-Year 5-Year 10-Year
Standard & Poor's 500 (Domestic Stocks) -0.6% 2.8% 10.4% 9.9% 11.1% 11.3%
Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. 1.1 -4.0 3.3 -0.3 3.6 2.2
10-year Treasury Note (Yield Only) 0.7 NA 1.8 2.2 2.1 2.7
Gold (per ounce) 0.2 28.1 29.8 14.1 11.3 4.3
Bloomberg Commodity Index 2.0 -9.8 -8.2 -5.0 -3.6 -6.3
S&P 500, Dow Jones Global ex-US, Gold, Bloomberg Commodity Index returns exclude reinvested dividends (gold does not pay a dividend) and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized; and the 10-year Treasury Note is simply the yield at the close of the day on each of the historical time periods.
Sources: Yahoo! Finance, MarketWatch, djindexes.com, London Bullion Market Association.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. N/A means not applicable.
 
IT'S IG NOBEL TIMEOn September 17, the 30th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony was broadcast online. Here's a fun fact: The 1995 Ig Nobel Ceremony was one of the first events videocast on the Internet.
 
The Ig Nobel Prizes "celebrate the unusual, honor the imaginative - and spur people's interest in science, medicine, and technology." The ceremony is organized by the magazine, Annals of Improbable Research, and is co-sponsored by the Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics Students and the Harvard-Radcliffe Science Fiction Association.
 
This year's winning research explored ideas that make people laugh and think. The winning research included:
  • Arachnophobic Entomologists: When Two More Legs Makes a Big Difference, "for collecting evidence that many entomologists (scientists who study insects) are afraid of spiders, which are not insects."
  • A Chinese alligator in heliox: formant frequencies in a crocodilian, "for inducing a female Chinese alligator to bellow in an airtight chamber filled with helium-enriched air."
  • Eyebrows cue grandiose narcissism, "for devising a method to identify narcissists by examining their eyebrows."
  • National Income Inequality Predicts Cultural Variation in Mouth to Mouth Kissing, "for trying to quantify the relationship between different countries' national income inequality and the average amount of mouth-to-mouth kissing."
  • Misophonia: Diagnostic Criteria for a New Psychiatric Disorder, "for diagnosing a long-unrecognized medical condition: Misophonia, the distress at hearing other people make chewing sounds."
Anyone can learn more about why the researchers were exploring these ideas. Alternatively, 24/7 Ig Nobel lectures are available during which the winners explain their topics twice. First, they are asked to deliver complete technical descriptions in 24 seconds. Then, they try to offer clear summaries that anyone can understand in just seven words.
 
Weekly Focus - Think About It
 
"...I'm dejected, but only momentarily, when I can't get the fifth vote for something I think is very important. But then you go on to the next challenge and you give it your all. You know that these important issues are not going to go away. They are going to come back again and again. There'll be another time, another day."
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    --Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice
 
Best regards,
Lee Barczak
President
 
* Government bonds and Treasury Bills are guaranteed by the U.S. government as to the timely payment of principal and interest and, if held to maturity, offer a fixed rate of return and fixed principal value.  However, the value of fund shares is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. *Corporate bonds are considered higher risk than government bonds but normally offer a higher yield and are subject to market, interest rate and credit risk as well as additional risks based on the quality of issuer coupon rate, price, yield, maturity, and redemption features. * The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. You cannot invest directly in this index. * The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged index. Unmanaged index returns do not reflect fees, expenses, or sales charges. Index performance is not indicative of the performance of any investment. * The Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. Index covers approximately 95% of the market capitalization of the 45 developed and emerging countries included in the Index. * The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market. * Gold represents the afternoon gold price as reported by the London Bullion Market Association. The gold price is set twice daily by the London Gold Fixing Company at 10:30 and 15:00 and is expressed in U.S. dollars per fine troy ounce. * The Bloomberg Commodity Index is designed to be a highly liquid and diversified benchmark for the commodity futures market. The Index is composed of futures contracts on 19 physical commodities and was launched on July 14, 1998. * The DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index measures the total return performance of the equity subcategory of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) industry as calculated by Dow Jones. * Yahoo! Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods. * Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. * Economic forecasts set forth may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful. * Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. * You cannot invest directly in an index. * Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
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Weekly Market Commentary (September 15, 2020)

 
 Last week, the Nasdaq Composite Index set another record.
 
So far, 2020 has been memorable for many reasons, not the least of which is the incredible speed at which some events have been occurring in financial markets. This year, we've experienced:
 
  • The end of the longest U.S. stock bull market in history
  • A global stock market crash
  • The shortest U.S. stock bear market in history
  • Multiple record highs for major U.S. stock indices
 
Last week, we witnessed the swiftest correction on record as the Nasdaq fell by 10 percent in just three days. By the end of the week, the Index had recouped some losses and finished down 4.1 percent. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index and Dow Jones Industrial Average also finished the week lower.
 
It would be gratifying if the recent drop in share price steadied U.S. stock markets. However, we are likely to see stocks remain volatile through the end of 2020. The Economist explained:
 
"Because of the influential role of turbocharged retail investment, prices can be expected to remain choppy. Moreover, the market is entering a period where typical COVID-19-related volatility may be exacerbated by the twists and turns of America's presidential election.
 
"That said, much of the tech recovery from the lows in March was rooted in fundamental shifts, like policy interventions, or pandemic-prompted changes to consumer behavior, such as online shopping, that have helped firms...Even if the giddy obsession with tech firms exhibited during the summer fades, there may be little reason for investors to throw in the beach towel yet."
 
This is a good time to take a gut check and make sure your asset allocation aligns with your financial goals and your response to market volatility.
 

Data as of 9/11/20
1-Week Y-T-D 1-Year 3-Year 5-Year 10-Year
Standard & Poor's 500 (Domestic Stocks) -2.6% 3.4% 11.3% 10.3% 11.2% 11.5%
Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. 0.2 -5.0 2.7 -0.5 3.7 2.2
10-year Treasury Note (Yield Only) 0.7 NA 1.7 2.1 2.2 2.7
Gold (per ounce) 1.1 27.9 30.6 13.4 11.7 4.6
Bloomberg Commodity Index -1.2 -11.5 -8.5 -5.5 -4.3 -6.3
S&P 500, Dow Jones Global ex-US, Gold, Bloomberg Commodity Index returns exclude reinvested dividends (gold does not pay a dividend) and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized; and the 10-year Treasury Note is simply the yield at the close of the day on each of the historical time periods.
Sources: Yahoo! Finance, MarketWatch, djindexes.com, London Bullion Market Association.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. N/A means not applicable.
 
GO FLY A KITEWind is one of the fastest growing energy sources in the United States. In 2019, wind generated 7.2 percent of the nation's electricity, powering 27.5 million homes, reported the American Wind Energy Association. Wind power has become a major provider of electricity in:
 
  • Iowa generating 41.9 percent of electricity
  • Kansas generating 41.4 percent of electricity
  • Oklahoma generating 34.5 percent of electricity
  • North Dakota generating 26.8 percent of electricity
  • South Dakota generating 23.9 percent of electricity
  • Maine generating 23.6 percent of electricity
 
As with many things, wind farms have pros and cons. On the plus side, wind energy is a renewable energy source that generates income and tax revenue in rural areas. In the negative column, construction can damage drainage systems and hurt crop production. In addition, towering turbines can catch fire, throw ice, cause headaches (literally), and create other issues, reported Slate.
 
A new wind energy option may do away with some of those negatives in some locations. Wind kites deliver power and have a far smaller profile than many turbines. Fast Company explained:
 
"As the kite flies autonomously, driven by the wind, eight small onboard rotors turn and generate energy that is sent down a thin tether back to the ground...it does the same work as the tips of the blades on large wind turbines, which convert the most energy in the system because they move the greatest distance as they're pushed by the wind. But the new technology, which came out of research at the Technical University of Munich, does that work without the same need for massive infrastructure."
 
Wind kites may be well-suited to islands and other areas where importing turbines is not feasible. They may also be a sound option in hurricane-prone regions since kites can be lowered to the ground. Best of all, kites use 10 times less material, so costs are significantly reduced.
 
Weekly Focus - Think About It
 
"We are moving so fast that when plans are being made to perform some great feat, these plans are broken into by a youth who enters and says, "I have done it." This is exactly what Cook did for Arctic exploration." (April 1914)
                                                                                                                                                --Elbert Hubbard, Writer and publisher
 
Best regards,
Lee Barczak
President
 
* Government bonds and Treasury Bills are guaranteed by the U.S. government as to the timely payment of principal and interest and, if held to maturity, offer a fixed rate of return and fixed principal value.  However, the value of fund shares is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. *Corporate bonds are considered higher risk than government bonds but normally offer a higher yield and are subject to market, interest rate and credit risk as well as additional risks based on the quality of issuer coupon rate, price, yield, maturity, and redemption features. * The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. You cannot invest directly in this index. * The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged index. Unmanaged index returns do not reflect fees, expenses, or sales charges. Index performance is not indicative of the performance of any investment. * The Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. Index covers approximately 95% of the market capitalization of the 45 developed and emerging countries included in the Index. * The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market. * Gold represents the afternoon gold price as reported by the London Bullion Market Association. The gold price is set twice daily by the London Gold Fixing Company at 10:30 and 15:00 and is expressed in U.S. dollars per fine troy ounce. * The Bloomberg Commodity Index is designed to be a highly liquid and diversified benchmark for the commodity futures market. The Index is composed of futures contracts on 19 physical commodities and was launched on July 14, 1998. * The DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index measures the total return performance of the equity subcategory of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) industry as calculated by Dow Jones. * Yahoo! Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods. * Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. * Economic forecasts set forth may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful. * Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. * You cannot invest directly in an index. * Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
Continue reading
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Weekly Market Commentary (September 11, 2020)

The Markets
 
Stock markets in the United States retreated a bit last week.
 
U.S. stocks have been trending higher for months. Last week, they gave back some gains. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 3.3 percent, while the S&P 500 Index fell 2.3 percent, and the Dow lost 1.8 percent, reported Ben Levisohn of Barron's.
 
It was difficult to pinpoint a specific reason for the market's retreat. Levisohn offered a litany of possibilities that included:
 
  • The Labor Day holiday
  • Corporate earnings guidance suggesting companies are pulling back on tech spending
  • Dr. Anthony Fauci tempering expectations a vaccine will be available by November 1
  • Fears a disputed election could disrupt stock markets
  • Congress's lack of progress on a new stimulus bill 
The downturn could also have something to do with the Congressional Budget Office report on U.S. debt levels. Next year, our country is expected to owe more (government debt) than it produces (gross domestic product or GDP). By 2023, the U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio is estimated to be 107 percent, which would be the highest in our nation's history.
 
A high debt-to-GDP level, typically, is bad news for economic growth. The World Bank has found countries with debt-to-GDP ratios that exceed 77 percent for extended periods of time, see significant slowdowns in economic growth, reported Will Kenton and Julius Mansa in Investopedia. U.S. debt-to-GDP has been above 77 percent since 2009, according to data from the St. Louis Federal Reserve.
 
Michael Mackenzie of Financial Times cautioned ultra-loose central bank monetary policy and enormous government spending can have unwelcome side effects. He cited an emerging markets strategist who argued, "...excessive stimulus and easy money policies led either to asset bubbles or a burst of inflation. Both outcomes 'bode ill for share prices in the long run.'"
 
On the other hand, Mackenzie says, "Given the current U.S. policy mix that penalizes investors sitting on the sidelines and holding cash - given they are earning next to nothing in interest - any cooling of a red-hot market is easily framed as an opportunity. For many, it is another chance to 'buy the dip.'"
 
We'll see what happens next week.
 

Data as of 9/4/20
1-Week Y-T-D 1-Year 3-Year 5-Year 10-Year
Standard & Poor's 500 (Domestic Stocks) -2.2% 6.2% 16.8% 11.8% 12.3% 12.1%
Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. -1.6 -5.2 4.7 0.0 4.0 2.4
10-year Treasury Note (Yield Only) 0.6 NA 1.5 2.1 2.2 2.6
Gold (per ounce) -1.6 26.5 24.6 13.1 11.5 4.4
Bloomberg Commodity Index -1.0 -10.5 -7.7 -5.4 -4.1 -6.0
S&P 500, Dow Jones Global ex-US, Gold, Bloomberg Commodity Index returns exclude reinvested dividends (gold does not pay a dividend) and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized; and the 10-year Treasury Note is simply the yield at the close of the day on each of the historical time periods.
Sources: Yahoo! Finance, MarketWatch, djindexes.com, London Bullion Market Association.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. N/A means not applicable.
 
WHAT WILL A 'NEW' NORMAL LOOK LIKE ? COVID-19 has reshaped our world. Some of the ways we have adapted will be temporary, others may become permanent. Here are just a few ways our lives and the world around us have changed:
 
  • Remote work. Just 12 percent of people participating in a recent survey want to return to work in an office full time. The majority (72 percent) would prefer a combination of office and remote work. The attractions of the hybrid model include reducing commute time, saving money, and improving work-life balance.
  • Air quality. The 2020 slowdown delivered a temporary respite from air pollution in some parts of the world. The Economist reported, "...as [economic productivity] has fallen so has air pollution. This spring marked the first time in decades that residents of Jalandhar in northern India were able to see the snow-capped Himalayan mountains, 160km (100 miles) away." The World Health Organization estimates that more than four million people died prematurely from diseases related to air pollution in 2016.
  • Movie watching. Social distancing has kept indoor movie theaters closed. So, instead of people streaming into theaters to watch summer blockbusters, new movie releases have begun streaming into people's homes, reported Jeffrey Brown and Courtney Norris of PBS. 
  • Grocery shopping. Many people don't shop the way they used to shop. They've been taking advantage of innovations, such as touchless checkout, contactless shopping, online ordering, curbside pick-up, and home delivery.
  • Water quality. Water quality has improved along with air quality. However, higher concentrations of microplastics and other substances are increasing in some waterways because we're using more disposable products. "It would be nice to keep this quality of air and water when the pandemic is over. It is possible, but we will have to work hard for it," reported Marco Tedesco in State of the Planet, which is published by Columbia University's Earth Institute.
 
Weekly Focus - Think About It
 
"The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking."
                                                                                        --Albert Einstein, Physicist
 
Best regards,
 
Lee Barczak
President
 
* Government bonds and Treasury Bills are guaranteed by the U.S. government as to the timely payment of principal and interest and, if held to maturity, offer a fixed rate of return and fixed principal value.  However, the value of fund shares is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. *Corporate bonds are considered higher risk than government bonds but normally offer a higher yield and are subject to market, interest rate and credit risk as well as additional risks based on the quality of issuer coupon rate, price, yield, maturity, and redemption features. * The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. You cannot invest directly in this index. * The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged index. Unmanaged index returns do not reflect fees, expenses, or sales charges. Index performance is not indicative of the performance of any investment. * The Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. Index covers approximately 95% of the market capitalization of the 45 developed and emerging countries included in the Index. * The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market. * Gold represents the afternoon gold price as reported by the London Bullion Market Association. The gold price is set twice daily by the London Gold Fixing Company at 10:30 and 15:00 and is expressed in U.S. dollars per fine troy ounce. * The Bloomberg Commodity Index is designed to be a highly liquid and diversified benchmark for the commodity futures market. The Index is composed of futures contracts on 19 physical commodities and was launched on July 14, 1998. * The DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index measures the total return performance of the equity subcategory of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) industry as calculated by Dow Jones. * Yahoo! Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods. * Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. * Economic forecasts set forth may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful. * Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. * You cannot invest directly in an index. * Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
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