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
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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