Newsletter Q3 2015
/in Commentary, NewsletterVolatility returned to the equity markets in the third quarter, impacted by economic stress in China, the world’s second largest economy, and Greece, coupled with underwhelming corporate earnings reports and falling energy prices. Some parts of the economy that offered favorable news were housing and unemployment; others, including exports and wages, showed little in the […]
Newsletter Q2 2015
/in Commentary, NewsletterThis past quarter would appear to have been a bit of a yawner if judged solely on price change in the equity markets. While bonds experienced an uptick in yields, the results were negative total returns across the different bond sectors with long dated bonds down -7.6%. Other areas hit hard by higher rates were: […]
Newsletter Q1 2015
/in Commentary, NewsletterThe first quarter of 2015 was marked by volatility in the equity markets. There were more up and down moves of 1% than there were for the entire year 2014. One surprise that has continued to hamper and trouble the markets has been lower oil prices. After more than a 40% drop, oil has remained […]
Newsletter Q4 2014
/in Commentary, NewsletterHappy New Year! We start the year with good news. First, Pamela Weldon has been named Operations Manager in addition to her Senior CSA role (Client Service Administrator). Ashley Buffone has been promoted to Senior CSA. Client feedback has consistently reflected our very positive day-to-day interactions with these two professionals. We rely on their good […]
Newsletter Q3 2014
/in Commentary, NewsletterWe are very excited to share with you that Shorepoint is approaching our Five Year Anniversary! Luis and I started working together in the aftermath of the greatest financial collapse since the Great Depression. During the last five years, we have tripled the number of clients we serve, while the amount of assets we manage has risen […]
Newsletter Q2 2014
/in Commentary, NewsletterWe would like to welcome former Orienteer Financial clients to Shorepoint Capital Partners, and we look forward to working with you. We are also very pleased that Brian C. Keating, CFP®, founder of Orienteer Financial, is joining the Shorepoint team as a Senior Wealth Manager. Brian brings over two decades of financial planning and investment […]
Newsletter Q1 2014
/in Commentary, NewsletterThe first quarter results broke from the steady and above average returns of 2013. As we expected, volatility increased significantly and we experienced a 6% correction in February followed by a move up to record high levels before a slight retreat at quarter-end. Volatility increased due to several concerns: Emerging markets economic slowdown and currency weakness The Federal Reserve/tapering […]
Newsletter Q4 2013
/in Commentary, Newsletter2013 was a year of tremendous resilience in domestic equity markets. The equity markets seemed to ignore the rapid rise in interest rates last spring due to the expected Federal Reserve “Fed” tapering and the government shutdown in the fall. Instead it focused on the improving, stable global economies as domestic stock markets reached record […]
Newsletter Q3 2013
/in Commentary, NewsletterDespite continued uncertainty about the health of the global economy and the future of monetary policy, U.S. stocks reached all-time highs in the third quarter before pulling back slightly in September. The market’s focus was on the Federal Reserve (“Fed”) again this quarter with the expectation that the Fed would start reducing bond purchases after […]
Newsletter Q2 2013
/in Commentary, NewsletterAs investor complacency increased throughout the second quarter, significant volatility returned by the end of the quarter to the equity, bond and commodity markets. The sell-off was prompted by the Federal Reserve’s release of their June minutes “hinting” at a possible pullback on its unprecedented low-rate policy. Especially hard hit were bonds and dividend-paying stocks. […]
Newsletter Q1 2013
/in Commentary, Newsletter2013 started where last year left off with the Dow Jones Industrial average booking its best first quarter since 1998. As pundits worried about the impending disaster of going off the “fiscal cliff”, domestic equities raced ahead to produce double-digit returns in the quarter. Mid caps (S&P Mid Cap 400 Index +13.5%) and small caps […]
Newsletter Q4 2012
/in Commentary, NewsletterIn the fourth quarter, equity markets generally finished in positive territory but retreated towards the end of December as fiscal cliff negotiations in Washington D.C. bogged down with no resolution in sight. International equity markets, developed (MSCI EAFE Index) and emerging (MSCI Emerging Market Index), had the strongest quarterly returns, up 6.6% and 5.6% respectively.