Tape Talk | Investing, Business, Wealth, and Your Money

On this week's short episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel talk about the what's been happening in the markets lately and why the recent moves may make it the perfect time to assess your investment risk.

The recent moves in stock (and bond) markets have given investors a prime opportunity to take an honest assessment of how content they are with their allocation here. Because we've experienced both sharp declines and sharp gains over the past three months, investors have been exposed to the potential for a revolving door of emotion. However, with markets about back where they started their rollercoaster moves it may be a good chance for investors to own their emotion and make any necessary changes.

This week Tape Talk is podcast only and Quint takes the opportunity to walk listeners through the specifics of a trade in GDX. While the equity markets continue to baffle those looking at company fundamentals, there is one area of the market that makes sense to Quint and that is Gold. With the Fed on hold and inflation increasing, Gold is shinning and moving higher. Quint takes listeners into a deep dive regarding the rationale behind the investment and the actual trade itself including how to calculate risk, and where to place an appropriate stop. 

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel review the recent rally in the market and examine the headlines to examine if this latest move is a trend reversal or simply a bear market rally. 

As the major indices reached a year-to-date gain of over ten percent recently, it begs the question of what has changed in the past two months. Investors likely remember the market turmoil going into the holiday season which saw stocks violently decline into Christmas. Yet, in a few short weeks, the market has all but shrugged off the concerns it seemed to have in the recent past. While trade tensions seem to be quieting and government shutdown negotiations seem to be on the upswing, it might behoove investors to question whether we are completely out of the woods on either of these issues.

The Federal Reserve, with its program of quantitative easing, has supported riskier assets for a decade now. Much of the recent market volatility might easily be credited to the Fed's methods and comments towards tightening this easy money policy. After Fed Chair Powell's remarks late last year seemed to rock the markets, his language towards future tightening has significantly softened and pushed markets higher. If this correlation continues investors may be well served by cautiously listening to the Fed's future language and assessing the market's reactions to it.

While the market has currently returned to an area of indecision, Quint breaks down what level's he is looking for as an indication that the market has chosen a direction from here. 

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel look at some of the current earnings reports coming out of companies this quarter and what it means for the markets now.

One of the recurring themes from some recent earnings reports is of the economic slowdowns overseas as well as here at home. Companies seem to be finding that demand growth that had been growing steadily is poised to take a breather here in the near term. This can be seen in some of the recent forecast revisions as well as earning misses coming out of key companies in various sectors. While this doesn't necessarily mean a recession is imminent it might mean that stocks will need to continue to reprice to account for updated earnings expectations.

Planning helps navigate choppy waters and this time is no different. If you've prepared your retirement and investment plan then you likely know your required rate of return and can sleep better knowing that following the plan is your focus, not timing the market. However, if you don't have a plan and you don't know why you own what you own, it may be time to rethink your approach and talk with an advisor.

Find out more about our financial planning process HERE

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel review the recent action in the stock market to assess whether or not December's decline may have come to an end. Then, look forward to what might be in store for 2019.

To start off we examine the recent multi-week rally in US stocks. Is the strength we're seeing in stock markets of late an all-clear signal for investors? Or, is this simply just a case of another bear market taking a breath before continuing its trend?

Regardless of where the market goes from here, one of the themes both Quint and Daniel agree will stick around into 2019 is the volatility we've been seeing in the markets lately. Between headline risks, trade risks, and interest rate risks, there are plenty of variables for investors and traders to consider as they position their portfolios. This multi-dimensional headwind may mean the sharp moves we saw in 2018 are here to stay.

In recent history, investors were quick to assume that growth in earning was worth any cost. Quint breaks down this recent trend in how investors have valued companies and viewed their earnings to examine how earnings may be a focal point of the markets in 2019.

While index investing has been a hot topic for years. It's possible that investors would do well to consider how market and asset class diversification may help their portfolios in the future. While many have resolved that a simple buy and hold single index approach works best, there may be opportunities in the times ahead for other assets and markets to shine as well.

With the calendar changing over to a new year just under two weeks ago, the stock market has been the investor's friend. Quint and Daniel start off the year in this week's episode by examining where we've come from, where the market has been lately, and what the might mean for investors this year.

Volatility showed up with a force throughout 2018 resulting in a wide-ranging market that looked distinctly opposite of 2017's action. Ending the year near lows for the year left many investors feeling ready to turn the calendar.

As the calendar turned, the new year and new mentality had its typical effect on the markets. Investors found a reason to be buyers once again and a healthy bounced has transpired for much of the last two weeks.

Many of the commentaries regarding this market are breathing a big sigh of relief. With the rally picking up steam it seems like all the trouble might be behind us. However, we look deeper this week and dissect whether this is more a mental change than anything else. Further, we look at what the trend is right now.

Before we wrap this week's episode we consider investors across the investment life stage to see what might be important for each at this juncture in the market.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel take a look back at the 2018 themes talked about on the show last January. Did any of these come to fruition during the year or did they simply go up in smoke?

This theme was clearly present throughout the year and money shifted around to forgotten sectors throughout the year.

This prediction was spot on, until it wasn't! Unfortunately, after broadcasting the heavy build up in infrastructure in the first part of the year, the remaining year was plagued by headlines of trade wars which seemed to only hinder the industrials names we thought would do well here.

This one gets a "meh?" Inflation did tick up through the first half of 2018 before leveling off and declining into the year-end. It seems the Fed's rate hike path is keeping this variable in line for the time being.

The Fed raised interest rates throughout the year as predicted for 2018 and the ripple effect was higher yields across debt markets overall. This was a major theme throughout the year.

We might have been a little overly correct on this one. Coming off a complacent 2017 we looked for volatility to pick up in 2018 and it sure did! With a more than 21% range in the S&P 500 index for the year, volatility became the major theme of 2018.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel assess the market's move to lows for the year as it wraps up the last full week of trading before the shortened holiday week's ahead.

Quint takes time to discuss where we've come over recent week's and how some of the individual names in this market have been much weaker than the indices would indicate.

Then, Quint and Daniel talk about how and where to look for value in market pullbacks such as these.

Finally, Daniel walks through the three life stages of investing that we commonly see and what investors in each might need to consider here.

On this week’s edition of Tape Talk Radio, Quint takes a moment to look deeper into the current market environment and what it means to ‘take protective action.’ Attempting to be a voice of reason, rather than another pundit preaching an emotional bias, Quint looks at the fundamental and structural concerns facing the stock market and economy. With the goal of always having a set plan regarding not only your financial future but your investment management, Quint looks at what action steps to consider as stocks pursue a potential year-end rebound.

Quint flies solo this week and discusses the continued selloff in the stock market. As we roll into the holidays and pundits begin to discuss the prospects of a seasonal rally, Quint breaks down the areas to watch for and what to do when it comes to protecting your portfolio from the possibility of an extended downturn.