Stocks Hit New Highs as the Pandemic Recedes The S&P 500 rose to another record high during the second quarter as a substantial decline in U.S. COVID-19 cases combined with a near-total economic reopening across the country led a surge in economic growth that helped stocks rally to new highs over the past three months. The S&P 500 had a strong start to the second quarter thanks to numerous positive developments. First, the pace of vaccinations in the U.S. accelerated meaningfully in April, with [...]

Stimulus and Vaccine Optimism Power Markets Higher in the First Quarter The first quarter of 2021 was marked by several macro- and micro-economic surprises that resulted in increased market volatility compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. However, additional economic stimulus combined with accelerating COVID-19 vaccine distribution and a decline in coronavirus cases helped stocks start the new year with solid gains. The first surprise of 2021 came on January 5th when both Democratic candidates won Georgia Senate seats in the runoff election, giving [...]

Historic Year for Markets The most tumultuous year in recent memory ended on a high note for markets as the fourth quarter brought political and medical clarity. The increased clarity resulted in substantial market gains over the past three months which helped to make 2020 a surprisingly strong year for market returns. The fourth quarter started with investors facing substantial uncertainty across multiple fronts. Politically, President Trump contracted COVID-19 which underscored the prevalence of the virus and added further uncertainty to the looming election. [...]

Third Quarter Ends with Renewed Volatility in Stocks 2020 continued to be one of the most unpredictable years in memory, as markets rose to new all-time highs in the third quarter despite a resurgence in coronavirus cases, as stocks rallied thanks to a combination of even more accommodative Fed policy, hopes for a COVID-19 vaccine and a stronger-than-expected economic rebound, before markets declined moderately from those highs in mid-September. The third quarter began with a resurgence of coronavirus cases in the United States, as [...]