This past week, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) announced that it would keep the benchmark interest rate at 5.5%, a move that was widely expected. However, the Fed also hinted at the possibility of a rate cut in September, as inflation cools and the labour market shows signs of slowing. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) unanimously agreed to maintain the federal funds rate in the 5.25% to 5.5% range, where it has been for the past year.
Tag: nvts
Weekly Update for the week ending July 19, 2024
This past week, many of the big-name mega-cap technology companies (companies with market capitalization exceeding $200 billion which represents the total value of all outstanding shares) that have driven the indexes to record heights all year long lost favour with investors. In fact, much of this past week’s declines can be attributed to these same companies. This includes Alphabet (NASD: GOOGL), Amazon.com (NASD: AMZN), Apple (NASD: AAPL), Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) and Nvidia (NASD: NVDA).
Weekly Update for the week ending May 10, 2024
Part of my investment philosophy is to let winners run rather than selling early to lock in gains. This approach has been beneficial with stocks like Nvidia (NASD: NVDA) and Shopify (TSE: SHOP). However, I reduced my holdings in each after they came to represent over 40% of Portfolio 1 and Portfolio 3, respectively, to manage increased volatility.
On the flip side, this strategy has sometimes resulted in missed opportunities for greater profits, as was the case with Illumin Holdings (TSE: ILLM). After surging from C$2.00 to C$32.00 per share in less than a year, it plummeted to C$1.64. Although I made a profit, I could have made more had I sold earlier. ☹
While I generally prefer to let winners run and even expand my investments in them, I recognize there are times when it is wise to sell part of a stake, especially in smaller, more volatile companies.
Weekly Update for the week ending April 26, 2024
For the past three weeks, economic news—covering economic output, labour markets, and inflation—has dominated market movements. This focus shifted this past week as over 40% of the S&P 500 companies reported their earnings. Strong reports, especially from the largest companies, could likely sustain the market’s upward trajectory. However, if earnings reports are underwhelming, the markets may continue the recent pullback.
Additionally, key updates such as the US economic growth data and the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure were released. Ideally, the Fed wants the economy to stay strong while inflation cools down.
Let’s see how this shift toward corporate performance and the latest economic updates impacted the markets over the last week…
Weekly Update for the week ending April 19, 2024
April has not been the easiest month for us investors. We have seen losses across the board, with each week bringing its own set of challenges. The first week the markets dipped following strong US labour data, suggesting the economy might be too warm, which could deter the US Federal Reserve (Fed) from lowering interest rates. In the second week, higher-than-expected inflation data further soured the mood, heightening concerns about persistent high prices. This past week, comments from various Fed officials have added to market jitters. Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that the current 5.5% interest rate could stay in place “as long as needed” to manage inflation, a stance echoed by other officials who see no rush to cut rates.
….
Weekly Update for the week ending March 8, 2024
If you belong to a gym, you’ve likely witnessed the annual surge of enthusiastic newcomers in January, only to see their numbers dwindle by month’s end. Fueled by New Year’s resolutions, these gym newbies arrive with ambitious weight loss and fitness goals. However, many find themselves derailed by a combination of factors, including unrealistic expectations of quick results, gym intimidation, scheduling conflicts, and waning motivation.