In this week’s recap: China jolts the markets by devaluing the yuan, aggregate second-quarter earnings top analyst projections, and stocks retreat for the week.

Weekly Economic Update | Presented by Tim Flick | August 12, 2019

THE WEEK ON WALL STREET

Stocks spent much of last week rebounding from a Monday drop that reflected nervousness about the U.S.-China trade fight. By Thursday’s closing bell, the S&P 500 had regained all its Monday losses, but it descended again on Friday.

The three big U.S. equity benchmarks finished the week lower: the S&P declined 0.46%; the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 0.75%; the Nasdaq Composite, 0.56%. A broad index of foreign shares, the MSCI EAFE, lost 0.95%.^1,2

China Devalues Its Currency

Last Monday, stocks fell 3% in reaction to the overnight weakening of the Chinese yuan. A weaker yuan makes Chinese exports cheaper for buyers who pay for them in dollars.

Critics quickly accused China of manipulating its currency to strike back at the U.S. The federal government plans to impose tariffs on nearly all Chinese products next month, likely making those goods more expensive to American consumers; a weaker yuan could counter the effect of those import taxes.”^3,4 

Earnings Season Update

Ninety percent of S&P 500 firms have now reported second-quarter results. Their collective sales and profits have surprised to the upside.

Stock market analytics firm FactSet says that overall earnings have beaten estimates by 5.7%. Seventy-five percent of firms have reported actual earnings per share surpassing estimates, which is better than the five-year average.⁵

FINAL THOUGHT

We are seeing a significant bond rally this summer, even with interest rates at very low levels. (When bond prices rise, bond yields tend to fall.) At the moment, about a quarter of the global bond market is invested in government notes with negative interest rates. The 10-year Treasury stands in contrast. Friday, it was yielding 1.74%.^6,7

T I P   O F   T H E   W E E K

If you think you need to save more for retirement, think about saving at a rate that is slightly above your “comfort zone.” This calls for some financial discipline and dedication, but your future self may thank you years from now.

THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA

Tuesday: The July Consumer Price Index appears, reporting the country’s monthly and annual rate of inflation.

Thursday: July retail sales numbers from the Census Bureau.

Friday: The initial August University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index presents the latest snapshot of household confidence in the economy.

Source: Econoday / MarketWatch Calendar, August 9, 2019

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision. The release of data may be delayed without notice for a variety of reasons.

THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS

Monday: Sysco (SYY)

Wednesday: Cisco (CSCO)

Thursday: Alibaba (BABA), Applied Materials (AMAT), Nvidia (NVDA), Walmart (WMT)

Friday: Deere & Co. (DE)

Source: Zacks.com, August 9, 2019

Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame, and risk tolerance. 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. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.

Q U O T E  O F  T H E  W E E K

“Dignity does not come in possessing honors, but in deserving them.”

ARISTOTLE

T H E   W E E K L Y   R I D D L E

You write the word one on a piece of paper. An observer tells you she can make one disappear by adding something to it. Is this true, and how can she do it?

LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: What two things will you never be able to eat at dinner?

ANSWER: Breakfast and lunch.

Tim Flick may be reached at 317-947-7047 or tflick@cornerfi.com www.cornerfi.com

Know someone who could use information like this?
Please feel free send us their contact information via phone or email. (Don’t worry – we’ll request their permission before adding them to our mailing list.)

Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Registered Representative, Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Cambridge and Cornerstone Financial Advisory are not affiliated. This message distributed via use of the MarketingPro system.

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. The information herein has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All market indices discussed are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Indices do not incur management fees, costs and expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx^®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. MarketingPro, Inc. is not affiliated with any person or firm that may be providing this information to you. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.

CITATIONS:

1 – wsj.com/market-data [8/9/19]

2 – quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices [8/9/19]

3 – bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-04/asia-stocks-set-to-drop-with-trade-back-in-focus-markets-wrap [8/5/19]

4 – bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-05/china-hits-back-at-trump-with-weaker-yuan-halt-on-crop-imports [8/5/19]

5 – insight.factset.com/earnings-season-update-august-9-2019 [8/9/19]

6 – cnbc.com/2019/08/07/how-bonds-with-negative-yields-work-and-why-this-growing-phenomenon-is-so-bad-for-the-economy.html [8/7/19]

7 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yield [8/9/19]

CHART CITATIONS:

wsj.com/market-data [8/9/19]

quotes.wsj.com/index/SPX/historical-prices [8/9/19]

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yield [8/9/19]

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldAll [8/9/19]

In this week’s recap: stocks fall after a Federal Reserve rate cut, new tariffs are planned for Chinese goods, and payrolls see triple-digit monthly growth.

Weekly Economic Update | Presented by Tim Flick | August 5, 2019

THE WEEK ON WALL STREET

Last week, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in more than a decade, in line with Wall Street’s expectations. Ironically, stocks had their worst week of 2019.

The S&P 500 finished the week 3.10% lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite also posted weekly losses; the blue chips fell 2.60%, while the premier tech benchmark slumped 3.92%. International stocks tracked by MSCI’s EAFE index dipped 1.06%.^1-3

Fed Cuts Benchmark Interest Rate

On Wednesday, the central bank reduced the federal funds rate by 0.25%. The latest Fed policy statement noted that “global developments” and “muted inflation” influenced the decision.

Addressing the media, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell described the cut as a “mid-cycle adjustment.” After that comment, Wednesday’s trading session turned volatile on the interpretation that the cut was a “one and done” move, instead of what might be the first in a series.⁴

More Tariffs Planned

Shares also fell Thursday, after a White House tweet indicated that the U.S. would put a 10% tariff on another $300 billion of goods coming from China, effective September 1. 

Practically speaking, this would mean a tariff on nearly all Chinese products arriving in America. So far, the announcement has not affected plans for trade delegates from both nations to continue negotiations in September.⁵

The Latest Hiring Data

Payrolls expanded with 164,000 net new jobs in July, according to the Department of Labor. The headline jobless rate stayed at 3.7%; it has now been under 4% for 17 months. The U-6 jobless rate, which counts both underemployed and unemployed Americans, dipped to 7.0%, a level unseen since December 2000.

Monthly job growth has averaged 140,000 over the past three months, compared to 187,000 in 2018.⁶

T I P   O F   T H E   W E E K

You may be inclined to help your adult children financially during your retirement, but think twice about doing so. Providing gifts or a personal loan (or cosigning on a loan they arrange) may put your own financial outlook at risk.

THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA

Monday: The Institute for Supply Management releases its latest Non-Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index, its monthly gauge of business activity in America’s service sector.

Source: Econoday / MarketWatch Calendar, August 2, 2019

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision. The release of data may be delayed without notice for a variety of reasons.

THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS

Monday: Marriott International (MAR), Tyson Foods (TSN)

Tuesday: Walt Disney Co. (DIS)

Wednesday: American International Group (AIG), CVS Health (CVS)

Thursday: Booking Holdings (BKNG), Uber (UBER)

Source: Zacks, August 2, 2019

Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame, and risk tolerance. 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. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.

Q U O T E  O F  T H E  W E E K

“Learning does not consist only of knowing what we must or we can do, but also of knowing what we could do and perhaps should not do.”

UMBERTO ECO

T H E   W E E K L Y   R I D D L E

What two things will you never be able to eat at dinner?

LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: Take one letter away from this 8-letter word, and you still have a word. Take another letter away from the seven letters left, and you still have a word. Keep on doing that, each time making a new word, until you have one letter left. What is this word?

ANSWER: The word is starting. Starting, staring, string, sting, sing, sin, in, I.

Tim Flick may be reached at 317-947-7047 or tflick@cornerfi.com www.cornerfi.com

Know someone who could use information like this?
Please feel free send us their contact information via phone or email. (Don’t worry – we’ll request their permission before adding them to our mailing list.)

Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Registered Representative, Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Cambridge and Cornerstone Financial Advisory are not affiliated. This message distributed via use of the MarketingPro system.

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. The information herein has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All market indices discussed are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Indices do not incur management fees, costs and expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx^®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. MarketingPro, Inc. is not affiliated with any person or firm that may be providing this information to you. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.

CITATIONS:

1 – apnews.com/e15c18b9dbc44efab400d2214e2cb6f9 [8/2/19]

2 – wsj.com/market-data [8/2/19]

3 – wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices [8/2/19]

4 – forbes.com/sites/jjkinahan/2019/07/31/feds-quarter-point-rate-cut-weak-global-growth-trade-tensions-muted-inflation-cited [7/31/19]

5 – cnn.com/2019/08/01/investing/asian-market-latest-trade-war/index.html [8/1/19]

6 – cnn.com/2019/08/02/economy/july-jobs-report/index.html [8/2/19]

CHART CITATIONS:

wsj.com/market-data [8/2/19]

wsj.com/index/SPX/historical-prices [8/2/19]

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldYear&year=2019 [8/2/19]

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldAll [8/2/19]

In this week’s recap: stocks rise, data shows economic growth slowing from the first quarter, and the stage is set for further U.S.-China trade discussions.

Weekly Economic Update | Presented by Tim Flick | July 29, 2019

THE WEEK ON WALL STREET

Last week, investors assessed earnings and the initial estimate of second-quarter economic growth, while awaiting the Federal Reserve’s next announcement about interest rates.

Stocks rose for the week; particularly, tech shares. The S&P 500 gained 1.65%; the Nasdaq Composite, 2.26%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged, adding just 0.14%. MSCI’s EAFE index, a gauge of equity performance in developed foreign markets, ticked up 0.01%.,^1,2

Economy Grew Moderately in Q2

Analysts surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast 2.0% GDP for the second quarter. The actual estimate, announced Friday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, was slightly better at 2.1%.³

While this is the poorest quarterly GDP number since the opening quarter of 2017, the decline in GDP largely reflects a decrease in business investment. Consumer spending improved 4.3% in Q2, and government spending rose 5.0%, which was the biggest quarterly gain in a decade.³

China Trade Talks to Restart

U.S. trade delegates are scheduled to resume face-to-face negotiations with their Chinese counterparts, starting Tuesday in Shanghai.

This renewed effort to forge a bilateral trade pact could go on for some time. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, who is part of the U.S. delegation, told reporters last week that it would likely take “a few more meetings” before any kind of accord can be considered.⁴ 

WHAT’s NEXT

Wednesday at about 2:00pm EST, the Federal Reserve is scheduled to conclude its July meeting. Wall Street is eager to see what the Fed will do with interest rates. The question is whether traders have priced in expectations of a cut and how they may react if no cut comes.

T I P   O F   T H E   W E E K

When it comes to insuring your residence, remember that the right amount of coverage is based on what it costs you to replace your home, not just to reconstruct it. Some homeowners underinsure their homes and end up paying some rebuilding or repair costs out of pocket after a calamity.

THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA

Tuesday: The federal government’s June personal spending report and the Conference Board’s monthly index of consumer confidence.

Wednesday: The Federal Reserve presents its latest statement on interest rates and monetary policy, and payroll titan ADP offers its July private-sector employment snapshot.

Thursday: The latest report on American manufacturing from the Institute for Supply Management.

Friday: July jobs data from the Department of Labor and the University of Michigan’s final July Consumer Sentiment Index, measuring household confidence in the economy.

Source: Econoday / MarketWatch Calendar, July 26, 2019

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision. The release of data may be delayed without notice for a variety of reasons.

THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS

Monday: RingCentral (RNG)

Tuesday: Apple (APPL), Mastercard (MA), Merck (MRK), Pfizer (PFE), Procter & Gamble (PG)

Wednesday: General Electric (GE), Qualcomm (QCOM)

Thursday: Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A), Verizon (VZ)

Friday: Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B), Chevron (CVX), ExxonMobil (XOM), Toyota (TM)

Source: Zacks, July 26, 2019

Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame, and risk tolerance. 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. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.

Q U O T E  O F  T H E  W E E K

“To succeed, planning alone is insufficient. One must improvise as well.”

ISAAC ASIMOV

T H E   W E E K L Y   R I D D L E

I

You can take one letter away from this 8-letter word, and you still have a word. You can take another letter away from the seven letters left, and you still have a word. Keep on doing that, each time making a new word, until you have one letter left. What is this word?

LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: I’m a word that’s hardly there. Take away my start, and I’m an herbal flair. What am I?

ANSWER: Parsley (Sparsely, minus the S = Parsley).

Tim Flick may be reached at 317-947-7047 or tflick@cornerfi.com www.cornerfi.com

Know someone who could use information like this?
Please feel free send us their contact information via phone or email. (Don’t worry – we’ll request their permission before adding them to our mailing list.)

Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Registered Representative, Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Cambridge and Cornerstone Financial Advisory are not affiliated. This message distributed via use of the MarketingPro system.

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. The information herein has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All market indices discussed are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Indices do not incur management fees, costs and expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx^®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. MarketingPro, Inc. is not affiliated with any person or firm that may be providing this information to you. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.

CITATIONS:

1 – wsj.com/market-data [7/26/19]

2 – quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices [7/26/19]

3 – cnbc.com/2019/07/26/us-gdp-second-quarter-2019.html [7/26/19]

4 – reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china/top-us-china-trade-negotiators-to-meet-in-shanghai-next-week-idUSKCN1UJ1JI [7/24/19]

CHART CITATIONS:

wsj.com/market-data [7/26/19]

quotes.wsj.com/index/SPX/historical-prices [7/26/19]

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yield [7/26/19]

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldAll [7/26/19]

In this week’s recap: stocks dip as earnings season begins; investors wait for the July Federal Reserve meeting, while considering retail sales data and comments from Fed officials.

Weekly Economic Update | Presented by Tim Flick | July 22, 2019

THE WEEK ON WALL STREET

Stock benchmarks retreated during the first week of the second-quarter earnings season. As some big names shared quarterly results, investors seemed more interested in what might happen at the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy meeting.

For the week, the S&P 500 declined 1.23%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.65%, and the Nasdaq Composite, 1.18%. International stocks, measured by the week-over-week performance of the MSCI EAFE index, were down 0.79%.^1-2

Households Bought More Last Month

Retail sales were up 0.4% in June, according to the Department of Commerce. Consumer purchases account for more than two-thirds of America’s gross domestic product, and data like this may rebut some assertions that the economy is losing steam.³

Traders still expect the Federal Reserve to make a rate cut at the end of this month, even with low unemployment, solid consumer spending, and stocks near record peaks. Ordinarily, the Fed lowers interest rates to try to stimulate business growth and investment when the economy lags. After ten years without a recession, its new challenge is to make appropriate moves to ward off such a slowdown.³ 

Will Wall Street’s Expectations Be Met?

Thursday, Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams noted that Fed policymakers could proactively adjust interest rates and take “preventative measures” to ward off a potential slowdown. A New York Fed spokesperson later said that Williams’ comments were “academic” and did not concern “potential policy actions.” Still, Fed Vice President Richard Clarida made similar comments last week, expressing the view that Fed officials “don’t have to wait until things get bad to have a dramatic series of rate cuts.”⁴

Two other Fed officials – Esther George and Eric Rosengren – have publicly stated that they are not in favor of a cut.⁵

FINAL THOUGHT

About 25% of S&P 500 companies report earnings this week. In addition, the federal government will present its first snapshot of the economy’s second-quarter performance.

T I P   O F   T H E   W E E K

Beware of altering your investment mix in response to anxieties or short-term market fluctuations. Remember your time horizon and big-picture goals.

THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA

Tuesday: June existing home sales figures appear from the National Association of Realtors.

Wednesday: The Census Bureau presents its June report on new home buying.

Friday: The Bureau of Economic Analysis releases its initial estimate of Q2 economic growth.

Source: Econoday / MarketWatch Calendar, July 19, 2019

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision. The release of data may be delayed without notice for a variety of reasons.

THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS

Monday: Celanese (CE), Halliburton (HAL), TD Ameritrade (AMTD)

Tuesday: Coca-Cola (KO), Texas Instruments (TXN), Visa (V)

Wednesday: AT&T (T), Boeing (BA), Facebook (FB), PayPal (PYPL)

Thursday: Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), Anheuser-Busch (BUD), Intel (INTC), Starbucks (SBUX)

Friday: AbbVie (ABBV), Colgate-Palmolive (CL), McDonalds (MCD).

Source: Zacks, July 19, 2019

Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame, and risk tolerance. 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. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.

Q U O T E  O F  T H E  W E E K

“If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

T H E   W E E K L Y   R I D D L E

I’m a word that’s hardly there. Take away my start, and I’m an herbal flair. What am I?

LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: Marking mortal privation, when firmly in place. An enduring summation, inscribed on my face. What am I?

ANSWER: A tombstone.

Tim Flick may be reached at 317-947-7047 or tflick@cornerfi.com www.cornerfi.com

Know someone who could use information like this?
Please feel free send us their contact information via phone or email. (Don’t worry – we’ll request their permission before adding them to our mailing list.)

Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Registered Representative, Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Cambridge and Cornerstone Financial Advisory are not affiliated. This message distributed via use of the MarketingPro system.

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. The information herein has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All market indices discussed are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Indices do not incur management fees, costs and expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx^®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. MarketingPro, Inc. is not affiliated with any person or firm that may be providing this information to you. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.

CITATIONS:

1 – wsj.com/market-data [7/19/19]

2 – quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices [7/19/19]

3 – cnbc.com/2019/07/17/the-feds-expected-rate-cut-not-supported-by-economic-data.htmll [7/17/19]

4 – thestreet.com/markets/stocks-climb-rate-cut-hopes-microsoft-earnings-15025435 [7/19/19]

5 – cnbc.com/2019/07/19/feds-rosengren-not-on-board-for-rate-cut-i-think-we-should-wait.html [7/19/19]

CHART CITATIONS:

wsj.com/market-data [7/19/19]

quotes.wsj.com/index/SPX/historical-prices [7/19/19]

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yield [7/19/19]

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldAll [7/19/19]

In this week’s recap: the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average close at historic peaks after bulls consider Capitol Hill testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell; tame inflation persists.

Weekly Economic Update | Presented by Tim Flick | July 15, 2019

THE WEEK ON WALL STREET

Friday, the S&P 500 settled above 3,000 for the first time, after rising 0.78% for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average chalked up a milestone of its own: the blue chips ended the week above 27,000, gaining 1.52% on the way. Additionally, the Nasdaq Composite wrapped up the week 1.01% higher. The MSCI EAFE index, a gauge of overseas developed markets, fell 0.65%.^1-3

Stocks rallied at mid-week with help from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s congressional testimony on monetary policy, plus the latest Fed meeting minutes.

Jerome Powell’s Statements

Wednesday, Chairman Powell told Capitol Hill lawmakers that “uncertainties around global growth and trade continue to weigh on the outlook” of the Federal Open Market Committee. He also noted that “manufacturing, trade, and investment are weak all around the world.”⁴

On the same day, the Fed presented the minutes of its June policy meeting. The record shared the belief of some Fed officials that “a near-term cut in the target range for the federal funds rate could help cushion the effects of possible future adverse shocks to the economy.”⁴ 

Overall Inflation Remains Muted

The June Consumer Price Index, released last week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, measured only 1.6% yearly inflation. The Federal Reserve uses the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index as its inflation barometer; in its latest edition, it showed just a 1.5% year-over-year rise.⁵

Currently, the Fed has a yearly inflation target of 2.0%. In the past, it has often raised interest rates in response to increasing inflation, which can potentially slow growth and affect hiring and employment levels. Absent significant inflation pressure, such a response may not be forthcoming.⁵

FINAL THOUGHT

All eyes are on corporate earnings this week, as prominent banks and about two dozen other S&P 500 firms report second-quarter results. Market participants have much to consider in terms of profits, revenue, and guidance.

T I P   O F   T H E   W E E K

Done wrong, a do-it-yourself estate strategy can lead to some tax management issues for your heirs. Other common problems include using documents inappropriate for your state or a power of attorney that your bank may challenge.

THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA

Tuesday: Fed chair Jerome Powell delivers a speech on monetary policy at the G7 summit in France, and the Census Bureau releases its June retail sales report.

Friday: The University of Michigan presents its preliminary July consumer sentiment index, measuring consumer confidence and perceptions of the economy.

Source: Econoday / MarketWatch Calendar, July 12, 2019

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision. The release of data may be delayed without notice for a variety of reasons.

THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS

Monday: Citigroup (C), J.B. Hunt (JBHT)

Tuesday: Goldman Sachs (GS), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC)

Wednesday: Bank of America (BAC), Netflix (NFLX), Novartis (NVS), Abbott Labs (ABT)

Thursday: Microsoft (MSFT), UnitedHealth (UNH)

Friday: American Express (AXP)

Source: Zacks, July 12, 2019

Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame, and risk tolerance. 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. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.

Q U O T E  O F  T H E  W E E K

“Be nice to people on your way up, because you’re going to meet them all on your way down.”

JIMMY DURANTE

T H E   W E E K L Y   R I D D L E

Marking mortal privation, when firmly in place. An enduring summation, inscribed on my face. What am I?

LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: Pronounced as one letter, written with three, there are only two letters in me. I’m read from both ends, and the same either way. What word am I?

ANSWER: The word “eye.”

Tim Flick may be reached at 317-947-7047 or tflick@cornerfi.com www.cornerfi.com

Know someone who could use information like this?
Please feel free send us their contact information via phone or email. (Don’t worry – we’ll request their permission before adding them to our mailing list.)

Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Registered Representative, Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Cambridge and Cornerstone Financial Advisory are not affiliated. This message distributed via use of the MarketingPro system.

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. The information herein has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All market indices discussed are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Indices do not incur management fees, costs and expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx^®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. MarketingPro, Inc. is not affiliated with any person or firm that may be providing this information to you. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.

CITATIONS:

1 – cnbc.com/2019/07/12/stock-market-dow-futures-rise-after-fed-hints-at-rate-cut-ahead.html [7/12/19]

2 – wsj.com/market-data [7/12/19]

3 – quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices [7/12/19]

4 – investopedia.com/markets-cheer-lower-interest-rate-outlook-4692639 [7/10/19]

5 – reuters.com/article/us-usa-economy-inflation/u-s-core-cpi-posts-biggest-gain-in-nearly-1-1-2-years-idUSKCN1U61NR?il=0 [7/11/19]

CHART CITATIONS:

wsj.com/market-data [7/12/19]

quotes.wsj.com/index/SPX/historical-prices [7/12/19]

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yield [7/12/19]

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldAll [7/12/19]

In this week’s recap: stocks hit record peaks, then descend after the Friday release of the June jobs report; further tariffs are planned for European imports.

Weekly Economic Update | Presented by Tim Flick | July 8, 2019

THE WEEK ON WALL STREET

U.S. stock benchmarks opened a new quarter positively. The S&P 500 gained 1.65% in the opening week of July; the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 1.21%; the Nasdaq Composite, 1.94%. Overseas, stocks in developed markets, tracked by MSCI’s EAFE index, rose 1.43%.^1-4

On July 3, the S&P posted its latest record close: 2,995.82. On July 5, stocks fell, slightly, after the Department of Labor released its June employment report.⁵

Jobs Report Beats Expectations

Analysts polled by Bloomberg thought the economy would add 160,000 net new jobs in June. Instead, the number was 224,000. The headline unemployment rate ticked up 0.1% to 3.7%; the U-6 rate, including the underemployed, also rose 0.1% to 7.2%.⁶

Before the large June gain was announced, traders were confident that the Federal Reserve would adjust interest rates this summer. This latest hiring data called that confidence into question. 

More Tariffs Slated for European Goods

The federal government plans to levy new import taxes on $4 billion of food and beverages coming from the European Union, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said last week. This would complement the tariffs on $21 billion worth of E.U. imports announced in April.⁷ 

The U.S. and E.U. generate more than $1 trillion in commerce through trade relationships. European exports to the U.S., however, far outweigh U.S. exports to the E.U.⁷

WHAT’s AHEAD

Monday, July 15 will mark the start of the next earnings season. Money-center banks report first, followed by companies from a variety of industries.

T I P   O F   T H E   W E E K

A good, small-business invoice ideally states five things: the timeframe the company gives the client to pay, whether the client is permitted to pay upfront, whether late fees can be charged, the kinds of payments accepted, and if delivery will occur before or after receipt of payment.

THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA

Tuesday: Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell delivers opening remarks at a conference of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Wednesday: Fed Chair Powell testifies on monetary policy in Congress, and the Fed also releases the minutes from its June meeting.

Thursday: The June Consumer Price Index appears, showing monthly and yearly changes in inflation.

Source: Econoday / MarketWatch Calendar, July 5, 2019

The Econoday and MarketWatch economic calendars list upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision.

THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS

Tuesday: PepsiCo (PEP)

Wednesday: Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY)

Thursday: Delta Air Lines (DAL), Fastenal (FAST)

Source: Zacks.com, July 5, 2019

Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame, and risk tolerance. 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. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.

Q U O T E  O F  T H E  W E E K

“All our discontent at what we lack results from lack of gratitude for what we have.”

DANIEL DEFOE

T H E   W E E K L Y   R I D D L E

Pronounced as one letter, written with three, there are only two letters in me. I’m read from both ends, and the same either way. What word am I?

LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: What is the difference between a schoolboy studying and a farmer watching his cattle?

ANSWER: One is stocking his mind, while the other is minding his stock.

Tim Flick may be reached at 317-947-7047 or tflick@cornerfi.com www.cornerfi.com

Know someone who could use information like this?
Please feel free send us their contact information via phone or email. (Don’t worry – we’ll request their permission before adding them to our mailing list.)

Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Registered Representative, Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Cambridge and Cornerstone Financial Advisory are not affiliated. This message distributed via use of the MarketingPro system.

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. The information herein has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All market indices discussed are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Indices do not incur management fees, costs and expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. MarketingPro, Inc. is not affiliated with any person or firm that may be providing this information to you. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.

CITATIONS:

1 – quotes.wsj.com/index/SPX/historical-prices [7/5/19]

2 – quotes.wsj.com/index/DJIA/historical-prices [7/5/19]

3 – quotes.wsj.com/index/COMP/historical-prices [7/5/19]

4 – quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices [7/5/19]

5 – marketwatch.com/story/sp-500-heads-for-3rd-straight-record-ahead-of-private-sector-jobs-report-2019-07-03 [7/3/19]

6 – fortune.com/2019/07/05/us-hiring-jobs-data-rebounds/ [7/5/19]\

7 – cnn.com/2019/07/02/economy/us-tariffs-on-eu/index.html [7/2/19]

CHART CITATIONS:

quotes.wsj.com/index/SPX/historical-prices [7/5/19]

quotes.wsj.com/index/DJIA/historical-prices [7/5/19]

quotes.wsj.com/index/COMP/historical-prices [7/5/19]

tradingview.com/markets/indices/quotes-us/ [7/5/19]

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldYear&year=2019 [7/5/19]

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldAll [7/5/19]