Monthly Economic Update for January 2015

* Provided by Walla Street Wealth Management, Inc.

THE MONTH IN BRIEF

December certainly looked like it was going to be a trying month for the market, but then Wall Street got a little help from the Federal Reserve. In its December 17 policy statement, the central bank told the world that it would be “patient in beginning to normalize the stance of monetary policy.” That declaration helped turn stocks around. Oil prices (and retail gas prices) declined further in December; readings on fall consumer spending and Q3 GDP improved. When 2014 ended, the S&P 500 had posted another double-digit yearly gain – and while some foreign economies seemed to be slowing or sputtering, ours looked quite healthy.¹

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Monthly Economic Update for December 2014

* Provided by Walla Street Wealth Management, Inc.

THE MONTH IN BRIEF

November brought a dizzying plunge in oil prices, confirmation of a recession in Japan and distinct hints of one in the euro area, and declines in the pace of manufacturing activity in America, Europe and China. Even so, the month was remarkably placid on Wall Street – unlike October, we didn’t see a lot of days marked by triple-digit Dow swings. The Dow, in fact, rose 2.52% on the month; many overseas benchmarks posted nice gains as well. Losses plagued the commodities sector. The latest GDP estimates out of Washington suggested our economy was in better shape than some analysts thought.¹

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Monthly Economic Update for November 2014

* Provided by Walla Street Wealth Management, Inc.

THE MONTH IN BRIEF

Wall Street had a dramatic October, as investors grew anxious about the big Es: Ebola, Europe and easing (specifically, the end of QE3). Ultimately, stocks climbed higher with help from another big E: earnings. The S&P 500 advanced 2.32% for the month, pushing into record territory again. Many Asia Pacific stock indices posted solid gains; many European indices racked up October losses. It was a rough month for gold, silver, oil and many crop futures. Domestic indicators were mostly positive and made the U.S. look like a bright spot in the global economy. Sales picked up slightly in the housing market, and the stock market seemed to take the wrap-up of the Federal Reserve’s historic stimulus program in stride.¹

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Monthly Economic Update for October 2014

* Provided by Walla Street Wealth Management, Inc.

THE MONTH IN BRIEF

Bullish sentiment certainly waned in September – when the month was over, the Dow, Nasdaq, S&P 500 and Russell 2000 had all retreated to varying degree. Troubling headlines from Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe weighed on Wall Street’s collective mind, as did some unexpectedly weak U.S. economic signals. While the Federal Reserve maintained its outlook on interest rates, investors were acknowledging the looming end of QE3. The dollar got even stronger, and the broad commodities market took a severe hit. Housing news was mixed. The S&P notched a new record close of 2,011.36 during the month, then lost 1.8% between that peak and the start of October.¹

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Monthly Economic Update for September 2014

* Provided by Walla Street Wealth Management, Inc.

THE MONTH IN BRIEF

August has often been a good month for stocks, and the eighth month of 2014 was no exception. The S&P 500 surpassed 2,000 while logging a 3.77% monthly advance. Even with ISIS controlling parts of Iraq and Syria and Russia possibly conducting a stealth invasion of Ukraine, Wall Street retained its optimism. The rally in stocks wasn’t matched by big gains for oil and gold. The housing market was cooler than it was last summer, but by no means lukewarm. Most U.S. indicators signaled a healthier economy, perhaps one strong enough to motivate the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates a bit sooner than forecast.¹

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Monthly Economic Update for August 2014

* Provided by Walla Street Wealth Management, Inc.

THE MONTH IN BRIEF

Stocks seemed set for just a slight July loss until developments on the last day of the month rattled Wall Street. Argentina effectively defaulted on its debt (for the second time in the past 13 years), and new data out of Washington showed that wages were finally on the way up (a caution flag for higher interest rates). The blue chips lost 317 points on July 31 (the Dow’s worst day since February 3) while the S&P 500 sank 39 points. The S&P lost 1.51% in an eventful month in which the Fed set an exit plan for QE3, a pair of geopolitical events troubled global markets, and U.S. economic indicators looked pretty good even as earnings were mediocre.^1,2

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Monthly Economic Update for July 2014

* Provided by Walla Street Wealth Management, Inc.

THE MONTH IN BRIEF

A geopolitical crisis in the Middle East didn’t halt the advance of U.S. stocks in June. Indicators did much to bolster investor confidence – the housing market seemed to have pulled out of its winter slump, manufacturing PMIs for the U.S. and China were reassuring, and consumer confidence improved even as consumer prices increased. Gold and oil futures pushed north during the month while mortgage rates more or less stayed put. Again, the bull market found some fresh legs.

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Timothy Walla, CFP® granted registration into 2014 NFLPA Financial Advisor Registration Program

Leawood, Kansas, June 28, 2014:  Walla Street Wealth Management, Inc. is pleased to announce that Timothy Walla, CFP®, has been granted final registration in the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) Financial Advisor Registration Program.

The National Football League Players Association is the union for professional football players in the National Football League. Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of assuring proper recognition and representation of players’ interests.  There are only 200 financial advisers in the country registered by the NFLPA.  Mr. Walla is the only NFLPA Registered Player Financial Advisor in the Kansas City metropolitan area to receive this registration and the only one in the state of Kansas.

Candidates were selected to the list based upon a minimum 8 years of experience, a strong ethical reputation and an extensive background check. Applicants were also required to complete an extensive questionnaire listing credentials, educational background, noteworthy professional achievements and specific areas of experience.

Walla Street Wealth Management, Inc. was established in 1999 by Timothy Walla, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, for the purpose of providing comprehensive financial planning, professional investment management, and risk management services for individuals, families, and small businesses.

Monthly Economic Update for June 2014

* Provided by Walla Street Wealth Management, Inc.

THE MONTH IN BRIEF

All four of the marquee U.S. stock indices rose in May, even as some key economic indicators left something to be desired. Most overseas equities markets also saw May gains; in New York, oil futures rose as much as gold futures fell. Home sales rebounded from a lull and manufacturing strength held up in the U.S. and China. The Dow rose 0.82% on the month to close at 16,717.17 on May 30.¹

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Monthly Economic Update for May 2014

* Provided by Walla Street Wealth Management, Inc.

THE MONTH IN BRIEF

Another month, another minor gain for stocks. The Q1 earnings season didn’t give the S&P 500 much of a lift – the index advanced 0.62% for April. Small caps were hit hard during the month. Indices in the Americas and Europe largely outperformed Asian benchmarks. COMEX gold gained in April, but NYMEX crude did not. Last month saw a major drop in new home sales, but only a fractional decrease in existing home sales. An important consumer sentiment index surged north, but a respected consumer confidence index declined. As April wrapped up, worries about a Russian takeover of Ukraine reemerged.¹

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