While the rally that started 2023, and the year end rally got plenty of news, the start of 2024 has quietly rallied. Year to date, the three American indexes have climbed into positive territory for 2024 after an uneven start to the year. So far, the technology driven Nasdaq has already surged 4.7%, the S&P […]
Author Archives: 1investor
Weekly Update for the week ending January 19, 2024
I have often been asked what is gambling? Is not investing the same as gambling? Or similar variations of these questions. As an amateur investor myself, I remember feeling similar confusion when I first started. This week, I will attempt to answer this question for those who are considering investing in public companies or have […]
Weekly Update for the week ending January 12, 2024
The markets kicked off 2024 with a stumble the previous week but recovered nicely this past week. While December often sees a surge due to year-end bonuses and holiday spirit (the “Santa Claus rally”), January can bring a return to normalcy with potential pullbacks. This week’s rebound shows the market’s inherent fluctuations, emphasizing the importance of a long-term perspective for investors.
Investing can be like planting an acorn – through careful selection, nurturing, and patience our portfolios will grow big and resilient. Remember, investing is a long-term game, and focusing on quality companies can help you reach your financial goals, even with the occasional dip along the way.
2023 Fourth Quarter and Twelve-Month Review
After a dismal 2022 for the four major North American indexes, it was great to see they closed out 2023 with big gains in the fourth quarter, leading to record highs. The three American indexes – the S&P 500 Index (S&P), the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), and the Nasdaq Composite Index (Nasdaq) – all ended the year riding a 9-week weekly winning streak. The Toronto Stock Exchange Composite Index (TSX) was not as hot but still concluded the year with three straight weeks of gains.
Despite initial concerns about inflation and recession, 2023 turned out to be a remarkable year for stock market performance. This unexpected rally was led by mega-cap technology stocks and other growth companies that had faced significant losses during the bear market in 2022.
Weekly Update for the week ending January 5, 2024
Welcome to 2024! I hope everyone had a good Christmas break to recharge and get ready for 2024.
There was no Weekly Update for the last week of 2023, however, that does not mean all was quiet here. There were a few minor changes to the web site. As you may have noticed, the website received a fresh, new look and feel towards the end of 2023.
Weekly Update for the week ending December 29, 2023
As this week was a light week in the markets, I took the week off from following the markets on a daily basis. This week is a quick visual representation of how the indexes and the Portfolios performed this past week and for the month of December. I have kept this one brief and relied on charts rather than words. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so I guess four charts would be four thousand words.