Category Archives: Market Update

2019 has been a volatile year with the expanding U.S. - China trade war, a tense European Union, and fears of a possible global economic slowdown. As risk and tension rises around the globe due to both economic and geo-political uncertainty, so does volatility in the equity markets. With equity markets experiencing a 3% drop today (August 14, 2019) we thought we would give a brief overview of the various events contributing to the recent increase in volatility.
After years of keeping the benchmark federal funds rate at historic lows, the Federal Reserve has been raising it gradually. Near-zero rates were an emergency measure, and gradual increases reflect greater confidence in the U.S. economy. However, rising rates can affect you as a consumer and investor.
Conventional wisdom says that what goes up must come down. But even if you view market volatility as a normal occurrence, it can be tough to handle when your money is at stake. Though there is no foolproof way to handle the ups and downs of the stock market, the following common-sense tips can help.