Author Archives: LSAConnect

Economic Update 2-20-2024 U.S. stocks started decently but ran into the wall of CPI inflation on Tuesday morning, which showed less improvement than expected. However, weaker retail sales helped the slowing growth narrative, as the timing and depth of interest … Continue reading →

Economic Update 2-12-2024 U.S. stocks saw continued gains last week, with the S&P 500 exceeding the milestone 5000 level. These tend to result in enhanced media attention on stocks, sometimes related to a ‘fear of missing out’ effect by investors. … Continue reading →

Economic Update 2-05-2024 U.S. stocks were mixed until Wednesday, when the FOMC statement and post-meeting press conference alluded to lower chances of a March rate cut—contrary to market hopes for a sooner-than-later ease. Faster easing has been the growing narrative … Continue reading →

At their late January meeting, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee kept the Fed funds range unchanged at 5.25-5.50%, where it’s been since last July. There were no dissents, even as the voting membership evolved to a new group for … Continue reading →

Economic Update 1-22-2024

Economic Update 1-16-2024

Economic Update 1-8-2024

Economic Update 1-2-2024

Economic Update 12-18-2023  U.S. stocks experienced gains for the seventh straight week as investors cheered the Federal Reserve’s dot plot, released after the meeting, which alluded to no additional expected rate hikes in addition to four cuts in 2024. This … Continue reading →

At the December meeting, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee held the Fed funds rate steady at 5.25-5.50%, where it’s stood since July. There were no dissents.  The formal statement was minimally changed with a notation that economic growth ‘has … Continue reading →

Economic Update 12-11-2023  U.S. stocks earned small gains last week. Early in the week, stock sentiment turned negative as doubts that the Fed would cut rates sooner than later began to sink in, with some consternation about how the Friday … Continue reading →

Economic Update 12-04-2023  U.S. stocks fared positively to end November. In fact, the month’s S&P total return of 9.1% was the best single month in over a year. Positive sentiment was related to slower PCE inflation reading during the week, … Continue reading →