More Record Highs and New Data  
WEEKLY UPDATE - FEBRUARY 21, 2017
In This Issue
Another week, another round of record highs. Despite concerns about how France's upcoming presidential election could affect the European Union's stability, U.S. stocks ended the week up yet again. [1] The S&P 500 gained 1.51%, the Dow added 1.75%, and the NASDAQ increased 1.82% - growth that represents record highs for all three indexes. [2] International equities in the MSCI EAFE also posted positive returns, with 0.78% growth for the week. [3] 
A number of data reports also came out last week, and they tell a mostly encouraging story about the economy right now. 

JANUARY INCREASES

Consumer Price Index Up by 0.6%
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the average prices of specific consumer goods and services, beat expectations and experienced its largest month-over-month jump since 2013. [4] The index is now 2.5% higher than a year ago, a sign that inflation could be picking up. [5] 

Producer Price Index Up by 0.6%
Whereas the CPI evaluates price changes from a consumer's perspective, the Producer Price Index (PPI), measures changes from the seller's perspective. [6] For January, the PPI also beat expectations, with energy experiencing a 4.7% increase. [7] 

Retail Sales Up by 0.4%
The monthly Retail Sales report shows growth or contraction in consumer demand for goods and can help indicate whether the economy is expanding. [8] In addition to January's 0.4% growth, the latest report included upward revisions for November and December 2016. [9] Overall, Retail Sales are up 5.6% over January 2016. [10] 

Small Business Optimism Index Up by 0.1 points
Each month, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) releases the results of its Small Business Optimism Index, which shows results from its member surveys. [11] This report measures the mood of small business owners-the largest employers in the U.S.- and January's results are the highest reading since December 2004. [12] Last month's growth comes on the back of December's 7.4 point jump, the survey's largest ever increase. [13] In other words, small business owners are interested in hiring and expanding, good news for American workers and the economy. [14] 

JANUARY DECREASES

Industrial Production Down by 0.3%
Last month, industrial firms, such as factories and mines, produced a lower volume of raw goods. If you dig deeper, however, the data is likely less concerning than what it may seem at first. For example, warmer-than-normal temperatures in the contiguous U.S. - a factor that does not have to do with the economy - contributed to utility output's 5.7% decrease, the largest drop since 2006. [15] 

Housing Starts Down by 2.6%
The number of new houses beginning construction fell in January, but future construction permits increased by 4.6% - higher than any time since November 2015. [16] Housing Starts are also up 10.5% over January 2016. [17] While the most recent report shows a monthly dip, the data indicates that housing has grown over the past year and will continue to grow in the future. 

As you can gather from the balance between data increases and decreases, the January reports we received last week indicate an economy that is growing. We will continue to monitor the pace of growth and stay on top of political developments as we strive to determine what changes or opportunities may be on the horizon. 

ECONOMIC CALENDAR
Monday: U.S. Markets Closed for Presidents Day Holiday
Wednesday: Existing Home Sales
Friday: New Home Sales, Consumer Sentiment



Notes: All index returns exclude reinvested dividends, and the 5-year and 10-year returns are annualized. Sources: Yahoo! Finance, S&P Dow Jones Indices and Treasury.gov. International performance is represented by the MSCI EAFE Index. Corporate bond performance is represented by the SPUSCIG. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly.


"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."

- Abraham Lincoln

Seared Scallops
 
Learn to perfect searing this succulent seafood.

Serves 4
 
Ingredients:
  • 1 to 1 1/4 pounds dry sea scallops, about 16
  • 2 teaspoons unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper, freshly ground
Directions:  
  1. Remove the small side muscle from each scallop.
  2. Rinse scallops with cold water and pat each one dry completely.
  3. Heat a 12 to 14 inch sauté pan on high.
  4. Add butter and oil to the pan.
  5. Salt and pepper the dry scallops.
  6. Watch for the butter and oil to begin slightly smoking before adding the scallops.
  7. Place the scallops in the pan so that they do not touch one another.
  8. Sear scallops for 1 1/2 minutes on each side.
  9. Be sure the top of each scallop has a 1/4-inch golden crust and the center is translucent.
  10. Serve immediately.
Recipe adapted from Alton Brown, The Food Network[18]


Tips to Help You Improve Your Metabolism

Having a strong metabolic rate is important for staying healthy. How efficiently your body burns calories will drive many health factors, such as how easily you stay trim. While aspects of our metabolisms are genetic, you can still take steps to boost yours. To optimize your health and improve your metabolism, follow these tips.
  • Build Muscle                                                                                       Your body is always burning calories, even when resting. On average, you will burn roughly six calories each day for every pound of muscle; meanwhile, you burn only two calories daily for each pound of fat. When you have stronger muscles, you increase your resting metabolic rate.
  • Drink More Water                                                                                 You need water to burn calories. And drinking more water can help you burn more calories. In fact, when you are dehydrated, your metabolic rate may even decrease. To ramp up your metabolism, increase the amount of water you drink throughout the day, especially before meals. Also, make sure to swap chips and salty snacks for fruits and vegetables, which naturally contain water.
  • Eat Spicy Food                                                                                     Hot foods, such as green chili peppers, naturally boost your metabolism with natural chemical properties. While the effect may be temporary if you sporadically eat spicy food, with prolonged, consistent consumption, you may see these benefits add up. To incorporate more spice into your diet, you can easily add fresh chili peppers or red pepper flakes to dishes like soups and pasta.
Tip courtesy of WebMD [21]

Drink Locally and Help Your Environment and Community

Good news for everyone who likes to drink local craft beer: You could be helping the planet. If you're like the average American, you probably live within a handful of miles from a local brewery. And by drinking locally, you may be bringing advantages that you don't even realize. Here are a few ways that drinking at your local craft breweries can help your community and the planet:
  • Lower your carbon footprint: Craft breweries rarely have large distributions that cover thousands of miles across the country. Instead, they tend to focus on smaller distributions within their local radius. By either buying their bottles, filling your growlers, or drinking on site, you are contributing to less distribution needs from commercial producers and helping to lower your carbon footprint.
  • Support your local economy: Your local brewer lives in your very own city and community. By drinking their beer at their establishments, you are putting your own dollars to work by supporting your local economy. 
  • Minimize your beer waste: Another benefit from drinking local beer is that you can ditch the bottles and cans for growlers. A growler is typically a 4+-pint container that you can fill with beer onsite at the brewery (or at growler-filling shops, if your community has them). By filling, drinking from, and reusing them, you cut your personal waste down to zero.
If craft beer isn't your preference, you can always support your community by drinking locally made wine, ciders, and other spirits.

Tip courtesy of The Nature Conservancy [22] 

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Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values.

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International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors.

The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.

The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology companies and growth companies. 

The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indices from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. 

The S&P U.S. Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index contains U.S.- and foreign-issued investment-grade corporate bonds denominated in U.S. dollars.

The SPUSCIG launched on April 09, 2013. All information for an index prior to its Launch Date is back-tested, based on the methodology that was in effect on the Launch Date. Back-tested performance, which is hypothetical and not actual performance, is subject to inherent limitations because it reflects application of an Index methodology and selection of index constituents in hindsight. No theoretical approach can take into account all of the factors in the markets in general and the impact of decisions that might have been made during the actual operation of an index. Actual returns may differ from, and be lower than, back-tested returns.

The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices are the leading measures of U.S. residential real estate prices, tracking changes in the value of residential real estate. The index is made up of measures of real estate prices in 20 cities and weighted to produce the index.

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You cannot invest directly in an index.

Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

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These are the views of Platinum Advisor Marketing Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative, Broker dealer or Investment Advisor, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer or Investment Advisor gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.

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[22] http://www.nature.org/greenliving/gogreen/everydayenvironmentalist/drink-local.xml 

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