What We Were Reading and Watching this Week
Economy
The National Federation of Small Businesses’ Small Business Optimism Index came in fractionally above consensus and was a 0.8 point increase from the previous month, a move in the right direction.
Uncertainty among business owners though rose to its highest level since November 2020, contributing to the continued uncertainty felt by Main Street.
Employment by small businesses make up half of the nations workforce, making it clear that the confidence of small business is important to our nations employment health and overall economic success.
State and Local Pensions : Pros and Cons of Private Equity
States and local pensions began increasing their allocation to private equity from 3% to 14% as of year end 2023.
Payouts and returns were healthy, but recently managers of these pensions are now experiencing the liquidity risk of these investments.
Markets
Stocks
The S&P 500 closed higher, after a slow economic news week, and a Fed meeting resulted in no changes to interest rates. Chair Powell alluded to the possibility of just one rate cut this year.
Week S&P 500 up 1.67%
Year to date, S&P 500 up 14.60%.
Bonds
The 10 Year Treasury closed the week to yield 4.20%, down 23 bps for the week.
Gold
The price of gold closed up for the week to down for the week, to $2,330.45 per troy ounce.
Up 13.3% YTD.
TECHNICAL UPDATE
Stock Market
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Leadership
Both the NASDAQ and NYSE have seen some wild activity this week, with both Indexes hitting new highs, but, declining issues are outnumbering advancing issues, with declining issues outnumbering advancing issues and new 52-week lows outpacing new 52-week highs, on both exchanges on the same day.
This has never occurred in the Indexes’ history, and it confirms this remains a high-risk market.
Will review the key indicators, and the weight of evidence we would like to see, to give us confidence in a less cautious approach to the market, next week.
Stanton Group Risk Management Historical Net Long Positioning
There were no changes made in our Net Long Stock positioning within our model portfolios.
Please schedule a call to review historical and current positioning using our Core & Protect Risk Management Process, our research, and our model portfolios.
https://calendly.com/jstanton-1/stanton-group-introduction-with-john-stanton
Summer Listening
Access to what we listen to while on the go has increased dramatically over the years, with the technology coming a long way from the Sony Walkman I used to have.
Two of my favorite sources are Spotify, and Pandora.
Spotify has access to many quality Podcasts, from experienced journalists, business professionals, to Private Security Experts, who happens to host a great briefing on global events.
Pandora, for its extensive music library. I know, Spotify has a music library too, but I started with Pandora for music, and have everything set up for my favorites, and tend to go with what has been working for a long time.
Very good service, the free version has limited ads, and no glitches.
John is the founder of The Stanton Group WP. With more than three decades of experience in the financial services industry, and through SeaCrest Wealth Management, LLC, serves as the Registered Investment Advisor Representative for clients, focusing on financial planning and the investment strategies to support their financial plan.
Based in Naperville, Illinois, John serves clients in Naperville, Plainfield, Darien, Aurora, Geneva, St Charles, and throughout the Chicagoland area.
Learn more about John’s services by visiting www.stantongwp.com
John can be reached at l 630-445-2380 or email JStanton@seacrestwm.com.
The Stanton Group WP provides investment advisory services through SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC, (the “SWM”) a registered investment advisor. SWM is a registered investment advisor (“RIA”), with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission located in the State of New York. SeaCrest Wealth Management, LLC can be reached at (914) 502-1900.
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