“Santa Claus” Rally in Short Trading Week

Highlights of this Week’s Update:

1. Due to weather, we will be working from our homes on Monday.
2. Our offices closed this Thursday, December, 31^st, and Friday, January 1^st for the New Year’s Holiday.
3. Weekly Update will change to twice monthly beginning January 1^st.
4. Call for your first review of 2016 today!
5. MyWealth is a valuable tool to improve your personal financial well-being.
6. Markets move higher last week before the Christmas Holiday.
7. Oil improves by 9% to $38.10 per barrel.
8. 30 year fixed mortgage rate at 3.91%.
9. Only 4 more trading days left in 2015.

READ ON FOR FURTHER DETAILS………………………………………………………………

Weather Update and Office Closure:

Due to our local weather of ice, sleet, and future outlook for snow tonight and Monday, we will be working from our homes on Monday.  You can still call or email us and we will be able to serve you as usual.  We plan to be back at the office as usual on Tuesday unless the weather takes a turn for the worse.  We will keep you posted.

2015 Coming to a Close:

We only have a few days left in 2015 and will soon be ringing in the New Year once again.  The New Year brings both opportunities and challenges, and we are looking forward to another year of serving all of you once again.  Our offices will be closed this coming Thursday, December 31^st, and Friday, January 1^st and will kick off the New Year on Monday, January 4^th.  Starting on January 1^st, we will be providing our updates twice monthly rather than every week.  We will prepare an update on or around the 15^th of every month, and our month-end newsletter at the end of every month.  We are excited to provide you with these updates and a new format coming in 2016 that we hope will contain useful and interesting information.

Call Now for your Personal Review to Start the New Year:

We encourage all of you to call and schedule your personal review time to start the year off right.  If you are not yet utilizing our MyWealth financial management/planning system, you are not taking advantage of a valuable service we are offering to you at no additional cost.  Call us now to reserve a time for your first 2016 review and kick off the New Year on a positive

The Markets:

The major U.S. stock indices finished the short trading week before Christmas on a positive note.  For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.47%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index rose 2.76%.  This was the best week for the averages since the week ending November 20^th.  (CNBC)  The so called “Santa Claus” rally appeared to lead us into the Christmas weekend.  As of Thursday’s close, the S&P 500 is now just 3.28% below its 2015 high reached back on May 21^st.  (dshort.com)

Oil rose 9% last week, closing at $38.10 per barrel for West Texas Intermediate Crude.  The yield for the 2 year U.S. Treasury finished at .99%, and 2.24% for the 10 year Treasury.  (CNBC)  The average rate for a 30 year fixed mortgage finished at 3.91% before the Christmas Holiday, down from 3.93% the previous week.  (Bankrate.com)

This week will be another short trading week, with the U.S. markets closed on Friday, January 1^st in observance of New Year’s Day.  Our offices will close on Thursday, December 31^st as well as Friday, January 1^st.  We are looking forward to 2016 and the start of the New Year on Monday, January 4^th.