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The Markets

What happened to the economy?

Less than three weeks ago, it seemed like the economy was falling off a cliff. Firms like the Economic Cycle Research Institute were saying a new recession was on its way and there’s nothing the government could do to stop it, according to MarketWatch. The stock market was sensing economic weakness, too, as it slumped to its lowest level in a year on October 3.

The Markets

Sometimes a little spark is all you need.

At one point last Tuesday, October 4, the S&P 500 index dropped below 1,091, which represented a 20 percent decline from the April 29 closing high, according to MarketWatch. That’s a key number because many investors consider a 20 percent decline to signify a bear market. 

The Markets

The word “volatile” has been so overused in the media, but it’s hard to find a better way to describe recent movements in the financial markets. On any given day, the markets can rise or fall based on the latest thinking about euro-zone sovereign debt problems, a possible U.S. or Chinese recession, weak banks, inflation, deflation, or poor job numbers.

The Markets

The Federal Reserve did “The Twist,” but the financial markets ended up in “A Knot.”

In a much anticipated action dubbed “Operation Twist,” the Federal Reserve announced last week it would reshuffle its balance sheet by selling $400 billion of shorter-term Treasury securities and use the proceeds to buy longer-term securities.

The Markets

Are the world’s economic leaders focused on solving the wrong problem related to Europe’s sovereign debt woes?

As you may know, Greece and several other European countries are in debt up to their eyeballs.

The Markets

If there was ever a week for investors to be on vacation and “off the grid,” last week was it. By being unplugged, you would have missed the following wild ride:

The Markets

“Uncertainty” is an overused, but appropriate word to describe the situation our country finds itself in.