The investment landscape in 2024 has provided numerous bright spots for market participants. This exceptional performance comes against a backdrop of strong economic indicators, including moderated inflation, robust employment figures, and sustained GDP growth - all despite various challenges including Fed policy uncertainty, election dynamics, and global tensions.
Interest rates have been surprising many people lately. Even though the Federal Reserve is planning to lower rates, longer-term rates like the 10-year Treasury have actually gone up from 3.62% to 4.38%. This is happening because the economy is doing well and people potentially expect sticky inflation after the results of the election. What does this mean for your money?
As the S&P 500 continues to march upward, the path of least resistance appears to be higher. Through October 31, the S&P 500 has registered 47 new all-time highs. The S&P is now sitting about 60% above its October 2022 low.
Although markets have performed well this year, some investors seem nervous about upcoming events such as the presidential election, the Fed’s next rate decision, and the state of the economy. In times of nervousness, many investors turn to precious metals--on of them being gold. While gold can serve many important purposes, some investors focus on it as a standalone investment rather than as a component of a well-constructed portfolio.
Oil prices play an important role in the global economy, directly influencing the cost of gasoline at the pump and indirectly impacting the prices of all goods and services. The price of oil has also been an important factor influencing global markets and inflation trends over the past few years. Historically, the relationship between oil and the economy is a two-way street: low or stable oil prices stimulate the economy, and a growing economy increases the demand for oil, and vice versa.
Drafting a succession plan now can help your business stand the test of time. As a business owner, you’ve invested so much into making your business successful – hard work, time, money, energy. It’s truly hard to imagine your business without you. But chances are there will come a day when someone else will take the reins. And a seamless succession plan, one carefully and thoughtfully devised well in advance, is essential to making sure your business enjoys continued success for generations to come.