Don't hold a surprise birthday party for Jerome Powell. He would hate it. And if you plan on visiting the Fed Chair, call first. He doesn't like surprises. Powell delivered on his March promise at the most recent Fed meeting by increasing short-term rates by 0.25%, just as the financial markets expected. No surprise. "Economic activity expanded at a modest pace in the first quarter," he said at the press conference following the May meeting." Job gains have been robust in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Inflation remains elevated. The U.S. banking system is sound and resilient." |
There are several reasons this may be happening, some of them emotional. However, I'm not a market timer, so you can rest assured I won't be moving money in and out of the markets based on a headline, fears about the banking system, or a Fed meeting. At the same time, we're monitoring markets for any opportunities that may arise. Or, in the blunt words of Warren Buffett, at Berkshire Hathaway's 2023 May annual shareholder's meeting, "What gives you opportunities is other people doing dumb things."1 With your portfolio, we created a strategy based on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. If one of those three changes, let me know as soon as possible, and we can make adjustments if necessary. If nothing has changed with you, let's leave the "market timing" to others. The market indexes discussed are unmanaged and generally considered representative of their respective markets. Individuals cannot directly invest in unmanaged indexes. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. |
1. CNBC.com, May 6, 2023. “Buffett explains value investing: ‘What gives you opportunities is other people doing dumb things’” |
The Fed Raises Rates. Again.
June 23, 2023