Forefront’s Market Notes: October 7th, 2024 ­ Stocks were essentially unchanged last week as geopolitical tensions added some volatility to an otherwise quiet trading week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat (+0.09 percent), while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index ticked up 0.22 percent. The Nasdaq Composite also was flat (+0.10 percent). The MSCI EAFE...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: September 30th, 2024 ­ Stocks moved higher last week, continuing to build on the momentum generated after the Federal Reserve decided to cut short-term rates by 0.50 percent.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.59 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.95 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.62 percent. The...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: September 23rd, 2024 ­ Stocks moved higher last week after the Federal Reserve’s half-point rate cut, bolstered by multiple data points supporting a cooling but still strong economy and decelerating inflation. ­ The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.36 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.49 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: September 16th, 2024 Stocks rallied last week as investors received better-than-expected consumer and producer inflation data.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.60 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 4.02 percent. The Nasdaq Composite led, picking up 5.95 percent as tech stocks rebounded. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: September 9th, 2024   Stocks fell last week as soft economic data rattled investors focused on the Fed’s next move with interest rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2.93 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index dropped 4.25 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 5.77 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: September 3rd, 2024   There were mixed results for stocks last week as upbeat economic data and a critical Q2 corporate report shaped the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.94 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index increased 0.24 percent. The Nasdaq Composite lagged, falling 0.92 percent. The MSCI...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: August 26, 2024 ­ Stocks notched a solid gain as dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials boosted the market’s recovery from early August lows. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.45 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite added 1.40 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average picked up 1.27 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index,...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: August 19, 2024 ­ Stocks posted solid gains last week, buoyed by robust economic data and constructive comments from Fed officials. ­ The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 3.93 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 5.29 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged a bit, picking up 2.94 percent. The MSCI...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: August 12, 2024 ­­ Stocks ended last week with modest losses, masking a volatile five-day trading period that saw investors embrace recession concerns and then dismiss the slow-down talk as speculation as the week progressed.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.60 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index ended flat...Read More

August 5th, 2024 How Volatility Impacts Your Plan    ­ Waking Up from Hibernation The bears have awoken from their 30,000 Dow point slumber, once again predicting doom and gloom for the market. Interestingly, many of these voices aren’t professional market participants but rather work in the publishing industry. It’s almost as if sensationalizing their...Read More