MARKET REVIEW In 2Q23, the S&P 500 returned 8.74%, the S&P MidCap 400 returned 4.85%, and the Russell 2000 returned 5.21%. On May 3, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 bps to 5.00% – 5.25% and then paused in June. Fed consensus calls for two more rate hikes in 2023.1 MACRO OBSERVATIONS Economic […]

MARKET REVIEW In 1Q23, the Russell 2000 returned 2.74% and the S&P 500 returned 7.50%. Despite the worry, the markets have been positive over the last nine months. As anticipated, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 bps to 4.50% – 4.75% on February 1. General consensus of the Fed predicts another 25 bps […]

MARKET REVIEW Despite the market’s terrible angst and performance in 2022, the major indices were all higher in the second half of 2022. In Q4, the S&P 500 returned 7.56% and the Russell 2000 Growth returned 4.13%. As anticipated, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 75 bps to 3.75 – 4.00% on November 2nd […]

MARKET REVIEW In 3Q22, the S&P 500 returned -4.88%, the S&P 400 Index returned –2.46%, and the Russell 2000 Index returned –2.19%. In July, when investors believed the Federal Reserve might end its rate-raising cycle, the Russell 2000 returned 10.50% and the S&P 500 returned 9.22%. In late July, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates […]

MARKET REVIEW In 1Q22, the S&P 500 returned -4.60% and the S&P 400 returned -4.88%. The market was particularly weak in January as inflation hit a 39-year high and U.S. Government bond yields increased. MACRO OBSERVATIONS In 1Q22, Russia assaulted Ukraine. The brutality was shocking. It laid bare our assumptions about geopolitical stability and international […]

MARKET REVIEW The market closed 2021 near its 12-month and all-time highs. In 4Q21, the S&P 500 returned 11.03% and theS&P 400 MidCap returned 8.00%.  In 2021, the S&P 500 returned 28.71%; the S&P 400 MidCap returned 24.76%. While 2021 was a great year, the start of 2022 is anything but great.  Inflation is lasting […]

MARKET REVIEW In 3Q21, the Russell 2000 returned -4.36%, and the S&P 500 returned 0.58%. The market was particularly weak in late September, after the Federal Open Market Committee Statement. YTD as of September 30, 2021, the Russell 2000 returned 12.41%, and the S&P 500 returned 15.92%. MACRO OBSERVATIONS 10-year U.S. Treasury rates rose 35 […]

MARKET REVIEW In 2Q21, the S&P 500 returned 8.55% and the S&P MidCap 400 returned 3.64%. MACRO OBSERVATIONS 10-year U.S. Treasury rates fell from 1.75% to 1.5% after a one-year increase from near 1.0%.  The decrease helped equities in the second quarter. Inflation – Oil rose 18.1% and a basket of other commodities increased 9.4% […]

In the “Market Call” segment Friday on the Money Life with Chuck Jaffe podcast, John Barr discussed investment process and representative holdings of Needham Aggressive Growth (“John Barr of the Needham Growth and Needham Aggressive Growth funds talks stocks in the Market Call”). Please click for 16-minute audio of John’s interview. The full one-hour program […]

MARKET OVERVIEW In 4Q20, the S&P 500 returned 12.15%; Russell 2000 returned 31.37%. For the year ending December 31, 2020, the S&P 500 returned 18.40%; Russell 2000 returned 19.96%.  Recent commentary indicates accommodative monetary and fiscal policy, which have long provided a tailwind for equities, will continue.  In late August, the Federal Reserve adopted a […]