Deeply ingrained beliefs can be hard to dislodge — and especially in markets when they have led to high investment returns over a prolonged period. That can encourage certain behaviors to last even in the face of contradictory indicators; and it may take a very large set of inconsistent data for behaviors to change.
Category: Financial Markets
Drugmakers fall as investors see pricing threat from Trump
Just before the stock market opened on Tuesday, President Donald Trump tweeted that he is working on “a new system” to reduce prices, adding that he’ll bring “competition” to the drug industry. It’s not the first time comments from Trump have had a big effect on pharmaceutical stocks, but he hasn’t gotten into specifics and investors aren’t sure how committed he is to doing something.
UPDATE 1-Drugmaker shares slip as Trump tweets about pricing system
Shares of large U.S. pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies sold off on Tuesday after President Donald Trump said he was working on a “new system” to reduce prices in the industry. “I am working on a new system where there will be competition in the Drug Industry,” Trump tweeted.
Donald Trump effect benefits retirees
Here are two scenarios. One: you are a retiree who in recent years has been concerned about the value of your stock portfolio.
Futures fall amid North Korea missiles, Trump wiretap talk
U.S. stock index futures fell on Sunday amid news of North Korea’s firing of four ballistic missiles and President Donald Trump’s accusation that his predecessor, Barack Obama, wiretapped him. FILE PHOTO: A street sign for Wall Street is seen outside the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan, New York City, U.S. December 28, 2016.
The bump isn’t just Trump: What’s driving the stock rally
The stock market is hitting new heights, and yes, excitement about President Trump’s policies is part of the reason for it. But it’s not the only one, analysts say.
Trump on Hook to Clarify Policies With Speech to Congress
Lawmakers, investors and the American public want President Donald Trump to provide some much-desired clarity on his policy agenda with his first address to Congress on Tuesday. Six weeks into his presidency, Trump is under increasing pressure to answer core questions about how he’ll deliver on his promises to bring fundamental change to U.S. health-care policy, the tax system, defense spending and immigration.
London pre-open: Stocks seen higher as investors eye Trump speech
Stocks in London were set to open higher, taking their cue from a positive session on Wall Street where the Dow notched its 12th consecutive record close, as investors looked ahead to US President Donald Trump’s address to Congress later in the day. The FTSE 100 was called to open 17 points firmer than Monday’s close at 7,270.
Buffett’s Berkshire more than doubled its stake in Apple
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett told CNBC on Monday his conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway Inc. had more than doubled its stake in Apple Inc. since the end of 2016, making it one of Berkshire’s biggest equity holdings, and that U.S. stocks overall were not in “bubble territory.” “Apple strikes me as having quite a sticky product and an enormously useful product to people that use it, not that I do,” said Buffett, chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway.
Eaton Vance Worldwide Health Sciences Fund 4th Quarter Commentary
Global stock markets delivered mixed performance in the fourth quarter of 2016. While U.S stocks rose sharply following the U.S. presidential election to finish the period with solid gains, major international markets recorded more subdued or negative returns.
Asia Stocks Fall Ahead of U.S. Jobs Data as China Reopens Lower
Asian shares fell as Chinese stocks declined when trading resumed after a week-long break while investors wait for a U.S. nonfarm payrolls report later Friday that could indicate the timing of rate increases by the Federal Reserve. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index reversed a two-day gain, with materials and industrial shares the biggest drag.
Market Snapshot: Pressure ahead for Wall Street stocks as Fed, political worries weigh
U.S. stock futures were pointing to a loss for broader markets on Thursday, amid a view from some that the Federal Reserve came across as slightly hawkish at the close of its policy meeting. Investors were also warily eyeing fresh headlines from the U.S. administration, such as putting Iran “on notice” over potential new sanctions.
India IT stocks slip amid worries about stricter H-1B visas
The shares of top Indian IT companies sank Tuesday in response to news of proposed U.S. legislation that would require salaries for H-1B visa holders to be doubled. The aim: to make it harder for companies to replace American workers with those from countries like India.
81 Years of Social Security’s Maximum Taxable Earnings in 1 Chart
Social Security income is vital to the financial well-being of a majority of seniors during retirement. Data from the Social Security Administration shows that better than three in five retired workers rely on their Social Security benefits for at least half of their monthly income during retirement.
Dow Jones Industrial Average Today Rallies After Index Surges Past 20,000
The Dow Jones Industrial Average today was pushing higher thanks to a strong uptick in global stocks and confidence ahead of another busy day of earnings reports and economic data. On Wednesday, the Dow rallied above 20,000 thanks to a strong uptick in financial and healthcare stocks.
For most Americans, Dow 20,000 carries little benefit
While Wall Street celebrates yet another stock market record – surpassing 20,000 on the Dow Jones industrial average – many Americans have little reason to cheer. Despite the spread of 401 retirement plans, the wealthiest 10 percent of households own roughly 80 percent of stock market wealth.
Dow 20,000: What does it mean and where does it go?
A horse named Valentine who was left behind in the Wyoming wilderness by an excursion company and survived for six weeks has raised debate and prompted a criminal investigation Authorities identified two people found dead Tuesday at a home near Shelton, Washington, and said the suspect in the case shot and killed himself Wednesday in Pendleton, Oregon, after a standoff Police in Northern California have arrested a suspect in connection with the slaying of a Vacaville teenager after she attended a neighbor’s party 34 years ago Along the U.S.-Mexico border, President Donald Trump’s executive orders on border security and immigration seem more like a symbolic gesture of a new relationship between the two countries than a real deterrent for… Along the U.S.-Mexico border, President Donald Trump’s executive orders on border security and immigration seem more like a symbolic gesture of a new … (more)
Shares of materials companies up on Trump wall, pipeline plans
File Photo: A general view shows a newly built section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall at Sunland Park, U.S. opposite the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, November 9, 2016. Shares of U.S. companies seen benefiting from U.S. President Trump’s plans to push ahead with a border wall with Mexico and his approval of key energy pipeline expansion projects surged higher on Wednesday.
Stocks Rally on Renewed Trump Optimism as Nasdaq, S&P Hit Records
Wall Street stocks posted solid gains Tuesday, brushing aside mixed corporate earnings and lingering worries about trade protectionism, and betting that President Donald Trump will indeed produce the pro-growth policies they have been hoping for. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 each ended at fresh all-time highs, and the Dow moved back to within striking distance of the 20,000-point milestone as investors revived the optimism that pushed the market to repeated records for about six weeks after the election.
US stock indexes stay stuck; bond yields and dollar rise
This July 15, 2013, file photo, shows a sign for Wall Street outside the New York Stock Exchange. U.S. stock indexes were mixed in a listless morning of trading Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, while bond yields and the dollar resumed their climbs.
Bank earnings; Wells Fargo in focus; Fiat Chrysler faces the music
The so-called Trump rally, which has sent stocks soaring to fresh records since November, has largely been led by financial institutions. Investors have bid banking stocks up because they expect higher interest rates from the Federal Reserve and looser regulations on Wall Street.
Trump, McCain take aim at F-35 program
President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a news conference at Trump Tower in New York City. In his first press conference since winning the presidential election in November, Donald Trump again took aim at Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Trump, McCain take aim at F-35 program
President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a news conference at Trump Tower in New York City. In his first press conference since winning the presidential election in November, Donald Trump again took aim at Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
London Markets: FTSE 100 fades, pulling back from record run of gains
U.K. blue-chip stocks sagged Wednesday, faltering after a record run of gains, even as financial results from J Sainsbury PLC helped lift the supermarket chain’s shares. was lower by 0.2% at 7,262.01.
Dow hits 19,999.63 and retreats, as 20K milestone nears
A mere 0.37 points. That’s how tantalizingly close the Dow got to hitting the 20,000 milestone for the first time ever.
What do we want?
President-elect Donald Trump put on Twitter last week that new economic indicators are uncommonly good. Then he wrote, “Thanks, Donald.”
Q&A with Neuberger’s Brett Reiner on small-cap funds
They’ve been one of the big winners in the post-election stock market rally, largely due to the belief that they are poised to benefit more than other companies from President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed policies. We spoke with Brett Reiner, a managing director and associate portfolio manager at the Neuberger Berman Genesis fund, about this recent run-up.
A woman reacts as Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump greets the crowd.
The election of Donald Trump as U.S. president and Britain’s decision to leave the European Union have raised questions over the future of tariff-free trade and companies’ freedom to move production to lower-cost countries. “We want our country back” was the rallying cry of those backing Brexit, a sound bite that had echoes in Trump’s “Make America great again.”
Top 5 Most Shocking Economic Moments of 2016
In a year where everything from populism to petroleum was in turmoil, 2016 had no shortage of nail-biter financial moments. As it draws to a close, experts reflect on the most significant – and to some, most alarming – economic moments and how they will affect the year ahead.
U.S. stocks end 2016 with strong gains from last year
The top U.S. stock indices closed out 2016 with strong gains from last year despite moving lower on the last day of trading Friday in New York. For the year, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 13.5 percent, the highest increase since 2013.
Globalization took hits in 2016; Will 2017 lead to more?
In this Oct. 25, 2016, photo, a pedestrian passes the New York Stock Exchange, in lower Manhattan. U.S. stocks edged higher Friday morning, Dec. 30, 2016, on the final day of trading for the year.
Nikkei drops to 3-week low in choppy trade; ekes out small gains for 2016
TOKYO, Dec 30 Japan’s Nikkei share average dropped to a three-week low in choppy trade on Friday as investors took profits from the recent gains on the last trading day of 2016, but the market managed to eke out marginal gains for the year. The Nikkei ended 0.2 percent lower at 19,114.37, the lowest closing level since Dec. 9. After trading in negative territory, the benchmark index turned positive in afternoon trade, with traders citing speculation that the Bank of Japan was buying exchange-traded funds to support the market.
3 Growth Stocks to Buy in January
There’s plenty of uncertainty going into 2017, but that doesn’t mean that long-term investors should change their strategies. Buying shares of good companies at reasonable prices and holding them for a long time is the key to investing success.
US stocks headed for big gains in 2016 despite early stumble
In a year with no shortage of surprises and stomach-churning turns in the market, stock investors can feel pretty good about 2016. Wall Street repeatedly bounced back from steep slumps, including the worst start to any year for stocks, the second correction for the market in five months and investor fears of a global slowdown.
3 Big Brand Stocks to Buy in January
Warren Buffett loves to find companies with “economic moats,” or those sustainable competitive advantages a business possesses that allows it to generate high profits while discouraging the competition. One of those unassailable market barriers is the creation of a brand name that consumers associate with quality, durability, and resiliency.
Boeing Sends Sub-Hunters to Norway
Earlier this year, Boeing Defense head Leanne Caret laid out a plan to refocus Boeing’s efforts away from fighter jet production, and toward the sale of auxiliary aircraft such as transports and surveillance and maritime patrol aircraft. Earlier this year, we told you about Boeing’s big $3.2 billion sale of nine P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Great Britain.
Banks lift global stocks, dollar holds near 14-year peak
European stocks edged higher on Friday, helped by banks after two regional bellwethers settled investigations into U.S. mortgage securities, while oil and the dollar were on the back foot in light trading ahead of the Christmas break. Traders work at their desks in front of the German share price index, DAX board, at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, December 22, 2016.
Stocks could suffer as Trump trade policy takes shape
The year-end stocks rally on the heels of the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president was built on expectations of reduced regulations, big tax cuts and a large fiscal stimulus. Traders work on the floor at the opening of the day’s trading at the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., December 22, 2016.
QUIZ: How Well Did You Pay Attention To Markets This Year an hour ago
It was a year dominated by some yuge surprises, but how closely have you been paying attention to the details? Here are 60 things that happened in 2016: 2. How long did China’s stock exchanges stay open before recently introduced circuit breakers ended trading on Jan. 7 after a 7 percent fall? 3. Crude dropped below $30 for the first time since 2004, but what was the proximate cause of the selloff? 5. What did the U.S. Food and Drug Administration find odd about some Parmesan cheese produced in rural Pennsylvania? 2. The ECB cut rates, but President Mario Draghi gave mixed signals at the press conference.
Trump’s Economic Plan is a Betrayal of the People Who Voted for Him
Trump’s economic plan has sent stocks ripping higher for six weeks straight. But what’s going to happen to stock prices when Congress gives Trump’s plan a big thumbs down? Has anyone thought about that yet? And what about the Fed? Does anyone seriously think that Fed chairman Janet Yellen is going to sit on her hands while Trump launches a $1 trillion fiscal stimulus package that triggers a sudden burst of growth followed by a sharp uptick in inflation? No, Yellen’s not going to sit on her hands.