The Markets
Dad: “Fra-gee-lay” …it must be Italian!
Mom: I think that says “fragile,” honey.
Dad: Oh, yeah.
This holiday season, investors’ enthusiasm for U.S. stocks has rivaled old man Parker’s passion for his major-award leg lamp in ‘A Christmas Story.’ Last week, three major U.S. indices hit all-time highs.
Barron’s reported consumer confidence is helping make this the most wonderful time of the year for U.S. stock markets. The University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment rose to 98 in December, reflecting a surge in consumer confidence. It was the highest reading since January 2015 and is closing in on the highest level since 2004. Surveys of Consumers chief economist, Richard Curtin, wrote:
The most important implication of the increase in optimism is that it has raised expectations for the performance of the economy. President-elect Trump must provide early evidence of positive economic growth as well as act to keep positive consumer expectations aligned with performance. Either too slow growth or too high expectations represent barriers to maintaining high levels of consumer confidence.
In his December Investment Outlook, Bill Gross cautioned while many aspects of Trump’s agenda – tax cuts, deregulation, fiscal stimulus – are good for stocks over the near term, investors should keep an eye on the longer term, as protectionist policies could restrict trade and, together with a strong dollar, could hurt corporate profits.
European stocks also moved higher last week after the European Central Bank (ECB) announced a taper. Quantitative easing will continue through 2017, but ECB purchases will fall each month beginning in April.
|
Data as of 12/09/2016 |
1-Week |
YTD | 1-Year | 3-Year | 5-Year |
10-Year |
| Standard & Poor’s (Domestic Stocks) |
3.1 |
10.6% | 10.4% | 7.7% | 12.5% |
4.8% |
| Dow Jones Global ex-US |
2.7 |
2.0 | 2.1 | -2.8 | 2.7 |
-1.1 |
| 10-Year Treasury Note (Yield Only) |
2.5 |
N/A | 2.2 | 2.9 | 2.1 |
4.5 |
| Gold (per ounce) |
-0.8 |
9.5 | 7.6 | -2.0 | -7.4 |
6.4 |
| Bloomberg Commodity Index | 1.3 | 12.2 | 11.2 | -11.2 | -9.2 | -6.3 |
| DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index | 3.8 | 7.7 | 10.8 | 12.8 | 12.6 | 4.8 |
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; the DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index does include reinvested dividends 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, Barron’s, 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.
Divorced? You may want to investigate spousal benefits.
If you weren’t the top wage earner in your marriage, or your job was raising the children, then Social Security’s spousal benefit could prove advantageous. It provides the lower-earning spouse with 50 percent of the higher-earning spouse’s benefit at full retirement age, even if you’re no longer married. AARP.org explained:
Social Security operates with a philosophy that a divorced person may deserve a personal benefit, having been the long-term partner and helpmate of a member of the workforce. The benefit is similar, in fact, to the spousal benefit that is available to a person who is still married.
To qualify, you do have to answer ‘yes’ to a significant list of requirements:
- You were married for at least 10 years
- You are unmarried now
- You are age 62 or older
- Your ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security benefits
- The benefit you qualify to receive, based on your work, is less than the benefit your ex-spouse qualifies to receive
There are other factors that could affect your application for spousal benefits, including whether your ex-spouse has begun taking benefits. If you would like to learn more, contact your financial professional or visit www.ssa.gov.
Weekly Focus – Think About It
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. –Maya Angelou, American poet