Posts Tagged ‘Market Commentary’

As summer came to a close, investors were reminded once again that patience pays off. What began as a cautious quarter, ended with markets breaking new records and renewed confidence in the economy’s strength. The S&P 500 closed above 6,600 for the first time, gaining over 5% during the quarter and pushing year-to-date returns into…

The second quarter of 2025 brought a mix of challenges and opportunities for investors. Global markets navigated significant volatility, driven by U.S. trade policy shifts, geopolitical tensions, and evolving economic signals. Despite a sharp selloff in April due to new tariff announcements, markets rebounded strongly, with most major indices posting positive returns by quarter-end. This…

The first quarter of 2025 started strong for U.S. stocks but ended with a decline, underperforming global markets. Investors faced uncertainty around economic conditions, competition in the AI sector, and potential tariff impacts under the new presidential administration. While the S&P 500 hit record highs early in the quarter, it was down for the year…

With the New Year upon us, it’s an ideal time to reflect on the milestones of the past year and consider what lies ahead. Throughout 2024, we experienced a blend of unexpected developments and steady progress in the financial landscape. In this update, we’ll provide a concise overview of the key events that defined the…

U.S. stocks extended their strong performance from the first half of the year, with many market indices reaching or nearing record highs as the third quarter drew to a close. This marks the fourth consecutive quarter of positive returns for stocks, with 12 respective all-time highs during the quarter. Year-to-date, the S&P 500 is up…

The U.S. financial markets experienced strong performance and resilience in the first half of the year. Major stock indices, such as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite, hit record highs during this time period. Much of the rally is attributed to the robust performance of a select group of mega-cap stocks, particularly those benefiting from…

Strong performance spread throughout the financial markets in the first quarter of the year driven by resilient economic growth, optimism around artificial intelligence (AI), and expectations for future interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. With the first quarter closed and NCAA March Madness brackets inevitably “busted,” let’s take a closer look at how the economy…

As we welcome the New Year, it’s a perfect moment to reflect on the journey of the past year and anticipate what’s ahead. The final months of 2023 brought us a mix of surprises and steady growth in the financial world. We’ve seen how businesses adapted, new opportunities emerged, and communities came together in resilience.…

Petersen Hastings

Petersen Hastings