MarketView Chart of the Week, posted December 30, 2005
Seeing the return differences between categories reminds us to diversify in order to maintain a balanced portfolio as we head into 2006. Happy New Year!
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted December 23, 2005
It’s a popular time of the year to start thinking about New Year’s resolutions. Along with the other goals you set for yourself in 2006, it’s important to think about your financial well-being and retirement.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted December 16, 2005
Each year since 1984, PNC Advisors has provided an analysis of what it would cost to purchase all of the goods and services in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" classic holiday song.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted December 2, 2005
Bond yields generally reflect current interest rates plus a risk premium and are historically higher for those borrowers that have a greater probability of defaulting on their debt. Over the last several years the spread or the yield difference between lower risk bonds and higher risk bonds has narrowed significantly.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted November 25, 2005
It was a momentous week for the dollar as it rallied to two-year highs against the Euro and the Yen. The strengthened dollar is due in part to massive inflows of foreign capital of $101.9 billion in the month of September.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted November 18, 2005
When considering the performance of an index, it is helpful to see its returns across multiple time periods. The five year returns in this week's chart capture much of the recent bear market performance, and so are significantly lower than more recent time periods in which the market has bounced back.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted November 4, 2005
Fluctuations in interest rates, represented by the Federal Funds rate, and inflation are shown to move in a related manner. Both have leveled off in the past 30 years. The primary inflation-fighting tool available to the Federal Reserve is setting the Fed Funds target rate. Alan Greenspan has used this tool on of the Federal Reserve board effectively during his tenure.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted October 28, 2005
With the close of yesterday's markets, history was made. For the first time, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has stayed above the 10,000 mark for a full 12-month period.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted October 21, 2005
International equity markets have had strong performance recently as evidenced by the latest quarterly return of 10.4% for the MSCI EAFE Index. Longer-term, results are muted but still positive. Taking a deeper look at the returns shows that the performance of non-US equity funds is not consistent across styles. Value-oriented funds have beaten growth-oriented funds in the past five-year period, following the similar trend in US markets. Value stocks are those that trade at a discount to their fair value. Growth companies are the opposite; their stock sells at high P/E ratios because of high earnings growth with expectations for continued growth. Just as growth and value styles fall in and out of favor within US markets, international style cycles also occur. This demonstrates the importance of diversification across styles when investing in both US and non-US equity markets.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted October 14, 2005
Foreign markets rallied in the third quarter of this year trouncing domestic returns. The graph shows how $1 invested at the end of 2004 would have grown through September in the various indices. Returns in U.S. dollar terms are helped by exchange rates that currently favor overseas investment. As the graph shows, international markets overall outpaced the U.S. Regionally, Asia performed well with developed countries such as Japan and South Korea posting large gains. Emerging markets were the best performers driven by Eastern Europe and countries such as Argentina and Brazil in Latin America.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted October 7, 2005
Although the ride was bumpy, capital markets returns in the third quarter reversed prior trends in 2005. All major equity indices posted positive returns, most enough to erase the deficit posted through the end of the second quarter. International markets, in particular, excelled during the quarter both in local currency and US dollar terms. Bonds, on the other hand, finally succumbed to recent Fed rate hikes, and posted a moderate decline for the quarter -- not enough to wipe out gains from the first half of the year.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted September 30, 2005
Due predominately to the fallout from Hurricane Katrina and an uncertain future for the many Americans impacted by the devastation, consumer confidence plummeted -18% in the month of September. Increased gas prices posted a similar magniture of change in the opposite direction of +17% for September.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted September 23, 2005
Just as the market as a whole can post a good or bad year, so too can individual sectors of the market. Currently, the Energy sector is enjoying the leadership position.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted September 9, 2005
Mutual fund assets surged by $240 billion for a 2.9% increase in July, led by stock funds. This month’s increase is the largest gain in assets since November 2001.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted September 3, 2005
The spike in filing for the second quarter can be attributed to filers attempting to take advantage of current Chapter 7 filing leniency. Filings should decline sharply after new legislation has been enacted and become a more accurate representation of household credit quality.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted August 26, 2005
The leading indicator index is a composite of the weighted average of ten key economic data series that are used in predicting near term economic conditions. The positive change in the index, albeit smaller than the June change, continues to predict a positive trend in economic conditions.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted August 19, 2005
Banks have reported stronger demand for mortgages, with over 20% reporting an increase over the April survey. Although the credit standards for mortgage loans are relatively unchanged over the period, banks could begin a tightening trend.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted August 12, 2005
While personal income growth exceeded expectations by rising 0.5% for the month of July, the savings rate fell to the second lowest rate on record to 0.0%.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted August 5, 2005
Year-over-year growth of operating profits of S&P 500 companies has remained in double digits for twelve consecutive quarters. It is estimated that the third and fourth quarters of 2005 will likely also see double-digit growth, providing leverage for companies to boost operational resources.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted July 22, 2005
While EPS growth has been slowing, it does not mean bad times are ahead for stocks. Actually, steadier growth rates have correlated with favorable stock markets, and particularly for those stocks with growth characteristics.
MarketView Chart of the Week, posted July 15, 2005
The Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, the industry accepted bond fund index, posted strong returns for the second quarter, as yields declined across the yield curve.