Reviews:
The second quarter is now half over and we are quickly approaching the end of the first half of 2018 already! If you have not yet scheduled a personal review this year, now is the time to do so. We can meet in person or online via our Go-To-Meeting software. Please call or email us today to schedule a time that best fits your schedule.
Memorial Day Holiday:
The U.S. financial markets will be close on Monday, May 28th for the Memorial Day holiday. Our offices will be close as well. Any distribution requests from accounts held at Trust Co. of America will be processed on the following business day, May 29th.
The Markets:
Last week the major U.S. stock indices dipped slightly and ended Friday mostly lower. The move higher by Boeing helped the Dow Jones Industrial Average eke out a small gain of 1.11 while the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index and the NASDAQ Composite both ended the week on a down note. For the month as of last Friday, the Dow and S&P 500 are about 2% higher than they were at the end of April. The Dow is still approximately 7.14% lower than its high hit back on January 26th of this year. (Google Finance)
The index measuring the volatility or the “fear” index (VIX) now stands at just 13.42, below the long-term average of around 18. The markets have settled down from the initial volatility seen back in February and March. (BigCharts.com)
Interest rates have been rising recently, with the yield for the 10-year U.S. Treasury now at 3.06% compared with 2.405% at the beginning of this year. (Investing.com) Bond prices move inverse of interest rates, so as rates rise, bond prices decline. The national average for a 30-year fixed mortgage is now at 4.53%, while the 15-year fixed rate sits at 3.96%. (Bankrate.com)
We have maintained our position for all risk levels in a more cautious allocation towards stocks/equities and have not held a full equity allocation in client portfolios since earlier this year in an effort to mitigate some of the volatility the markets have experienced this year. We are looking for the second half of this year to produce more positive results similar to what we saw last year. Fundamentals still remain positive for both the economy and equities moving forward and we do not anticipate a recession anytime in the near future.
We appreciate the privilege to be of service and look forward to working with you in the years to come. We wish you and your families a very safe and happy Memorial Day weekend as we officially kickoff the summer season!
God Bless,
Your TEAM at F.I.G. Financial Advisory Services, Inc.
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Stocks and bonds and commodities are not FDIC insured and can fall in value, and any investment
information, securities and commodities mentioned in this report may not be suitable for everyone.
U.S. Treasury bonds and Treasury bills are guaranteed by the U.S. government and, if held to maturity,
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certificates reflecting short-term (less than one year) obligations of the U.S. government.
Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Different investments involve different
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The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that
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1 The Dow Jones Industrials Average is an unmanaged index of 30 major companies which cannot be
invested into directly. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
3 The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 larger companies which cannot be invested into
directly. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Looming Risks Overlooked