MONTHLY INVESTMENT OUTLOOK | Latest Economic Updates
Each month our investment team develops an outlook based on changes in the markets and economic environment, as well as the events that have taken place the prior month. To stay up-to-date on the current state of the market and investment information, download our latest Monthly Investment Outlook by clicking the link below.
MARKET SNAPSHOT | A Quick Look at Last Week’s Market Activity
Week of November 18, 2024
Week of November 11, 2024
Week of November 04, 2024
Week of October 21, 2024
Week of October 14, 2024
Week of October 07, 2024
Week of September 30, 2024
Week of September 23, 2024
Investment Commentary | A Monthly Investment Update
In a constantly evolving economy, staying informed is key. Each month, our investment team at Central Trust Company provides valuable insights, helping you deepen your understanding of market trends, economic changes, and emerging investment opportunities.
RECENT INVESTMENT INSIGHTS | Our Thoughts on the Markets and Portfolio Implications
November 13, 2024
October markets started strong but ended with volatility driven by AI concerns, small-cap losses, and global pressures, while precious metals held steady.
October 9, 2024
September brought market resilience amid volatility, with the S&P 500 rising and emerging markets outperforming, driven by economic shifts and global events.
September 9, 2024
August's market volatility, driven by tech stock concerns and economic uncertainty, has investors bracing for rate cuts and geopolitical risks ahead of election season.
August 20, 2024
Discover how the Tortoise and the Hare fable reveals the critical importance of diversification in building and preserving long-term wealth.
August 4, 2024
Amid global focus on the Paris Olympic Games, July saw the S&P 500's positive returns for the third consecutive month, despite economic challenges and market volatility.
August 1, 2024
Historically, March is known as the month that comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, but from a capital markets perspective, August of 2024 could certainly live up to that billing.
July 25, 2024
Remember when China was the growth engine of the world? For decades the question wasn’t if, but when the Chinese economy would surpass the US. But, is China's economic miracle over?
July 10, 2024
Thinking of rolling over your 401(k) or IRA? Discover the crucial IRS rules and deadlines you need to know to avoid hefty taxes and penalties.
July 8, 2024
June kicked off summer with hot returns in the US stock market. The market's volatility is expected to increase as the US heads into election season, but will likely adjust as it has each election before.
July 3, 2024
Learn how the SEC's move to a T+1 settlement cycle impacts your investments, enhances market efficiency, reduces risk, and improves liquidity. Stay informed on the benefits and implications for your portfolio management and cash flow.
June 7, 2024
April showers brought May flowers, but what should we expect as we head into the summer months from an investment standpoint?
June 1, 2024
The Magnificent Seven has been discussed extensively in investing circles. But what are the risks, particularly for the companies that have been leading the market to all-time highs?
April 18, 2024
While elections can certainly be an emotional time, they are not the time to make drastic investment decisions based solely on election outcomes.
April 15, 2024
Spring is certainly in the air for investors. The index finished up for the month, and while the pace of this growth is likely unsustainable, there are reasons to be optimistic that the returns can continue to stay positive for the remainder of the year.
March 20, 2024
Effective investment strategies tailored to various life stages help ensure you mitigate the impact of sequence-of-returns risk. Safeguard your portfolio and financial well-being effectively during the transition from wealth accumulation to retirement.
March 12, 2024
For the month of February, Cupid’s arrow certainly wasn’t needed to help investors fall in love with the stock market. There are a variety of factors pushing the US stock market higher, including growing GDP, low employment, and an uptick in manufacturing to name a few.
February 9, 2024
With the geopolitical tensions in the world and an upcoming election, the market continues to be influenced by rate cut expectations more than anything else.
February 8, 2024
Oil makes the world go around, or at least helps vehicles that go around the world. The oil market has always been as volatile as it has been important to economies across the globe.
January 2, 2024
Explore the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on investing and how it can be a valuable tool for informed decision-making.
December 12, 2023
November gave investors reasons to give thanks. Now they are left wondering if Santa came early this year, or if there are gifts still to be delivered.
November 14, 2023
October provided mostly tricks, with a hint of treats toward the close of the month. Twice during the month, the 10-year Treasury bond reached or exceeded 5%, a rate that has not been seen since 2007.
November 14, 2023
AI has become a disruptive force in the economy, raising questions about its impact on society. While AI has shown great promise in boosting stock returns, it also poses challenges concerning job losses, disinformation, and ethical considerations.
October 31, 2023
Fall is in the air, and the US stock market has taken its cue, with the S&P 500 index posting the worst month this year, falling 4.77%. Bonds were not much better, falling 2.54% for the month.
September 15, 2023
In the heat of summer, returns across both stocks and bonds were decidedly cold. The main driver of underperformance for the month was expectations of the future path of interest rates.
August 25, 2023
Generate income for your portfolio by utilizing effective portfolio income methods like Tax-Loss Harvesting and Covered Call Writing. Learn how these methods work and how to implement them to optimize your earning potential.
August 14, 2023
While it is perfectly natural to have a range of feelings during volatile market conditions, it is important that you don’t let fear of the market lead you to the biggest risk of all – not reaching your long-term financial goals.
July 10, 2023
June continued a run of surprising stock market returns for 2023. One month does not make a trend, but it's comforting to see stocks perform positively.
March 6, 2023
Depressed asset values are often a source of frustration and worry for investors. However, with those concerns often come opportunities to achieve long-term planning objectives.
August 30, 2022
Are we there yet? Oh, the familiar refrain that many parents endure this time of year while traveling. It is by now the familiar refrain that economists and investors are enduring daily.
July 18, 2022
Each quarter, our investment team provides details on the market and economy, bringing you the latest insights in an easy to follow video.
April 19, 2022
There has been a lot of discussion over the past several years regarding cryptocurrency. If you feel like the whole idea of cryptocurrency is hard to understand, you are not alone.
February 11, 2022
Many of us understand and recognize inflation. What we don’t know is how high it will go or how long it will last.
December 20, 2021
Investing is, and will always be, a balancing act between “eating well" and "sleeping well”.
September 22, 2021
by Greg Berg, CFA, CAIA, MBA, Senior Vice President & Senior Portfolio Manager INVESTMENT OUTLOOK Global…
April 23, 2021
Join our investment team for a look at our insights into the markets and the economy for the first quarter of 2021.
November 20, 2020
Navigating the financial industry can be daunting. More so for someone that may not have experience in the industry or be aware of the multiple service delivery models that are available.
November 12, 2020
Variable annuities can be difficult for clients, and even some financial professionals, to fully understand.
September 21, 2020
With so many changes in the financial markets, it’s a good time to evaluate your investments.
September 10, 2020
In the latest edition of The Central View, our investment team dives into their thoughts on the economy, valuations, the upcoming election and our portfolio positioning as we navigate through Q3 2020.
June 2, 2020
Join our investment team for look at this quarter's insights into the markets and the economy.
February 13, 2020
Join our investment team for a look at this quarter's insights into the markets and the economy.
December 27, 2019
While your chance of winning the lottery is extremely small, the challenges associated with managing a large influx of money are actually quite common.
December 16, 2019
Join our investment team for a look at this quarter's insights into the markets and the economy.
December 11, 2019
Wealth will soon be passed on to the next generation. With wealth and the management of that wealth in transition, so are the drivers behind investment decisions.
September 19, 2019
The Federal Reserve has reduced interest rates three times this year. So, what are the implications for low and even negative interest rates, globally and domestically?
August 16, 2019
Market volatility can lead some investors to make quick decisions that can ultimately harm their long-term investing goals. It's important to know if you are investing with your emotions or remaining objective.
July 23, 2019
Join our investment team for a look at this quarter's insights into the markets and the economy.
April 19, 2019
Join us for a look at this quarter's insights into the markets and the economy.
February 11, 2019
Long-term investors could benefit from the stock market pullback and changes to the tax code to build significant tax-free wealth.
February 8, 2018
By Greg Berg, CFA, CAIA - Senior Vice President & Senior Portfolio Manager After an…