Trade Winds Move the Market
BI-WEEKLY UPDATE - OCTOBER 15, 2019
In This Issue
The Week on Wall Street
Stock prices pushed higher last week, as investors remained hyper-focused on any new developments with the U.S. trade negotiations with China.

Trade Winds
For nearly two years, investors' moods have seemed to swing with each twist in the ongoing trade saga between the U.S. and China. Last week was no different.

On Tuesday, stock prices fell sharply on concerns that U.S.-China trade tensions had escalated. The White House announced the addition of 28 new Chinese companies to its list of firms that are banned from doing business in the U.S. Later in the day, White House officials confirmed that they had implemented travel bans on selected Chinese officials.[4][5]

But prices bounced back Thursday and surged higher Friday on White House reports that suggested the trade talks between the two countries were "going really well." Near the close Friday, the White House confirmed that the U.S. has come to a "very substantial phase one deal" with China.[6][7]

Quarterly Earnings
Investors may start to get a better glimpse into third-quarter earnings this week, as more than 150 companies are expected to report on their operations.[8]

As "earnings season" get underway, some attention may shift from the U.S.-China trade negotiations and toward company reports.

What's Next
Some U.S. financial markets will be open, and some will be closed, on Monday, October 14, in observance of the federal holiday Columbus Day. The U.S. bonds markets and most banks will be closed. But the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ will be open for regular hours.

Blattel News
Calendar

October 19: Client Event
This fall's semi-annual client breakfast seminar is this Saturday! The morning will start with a delicious breakfast buffet. Our presentations will focus on cyber security tips and account safety. We will also have a brief overview of what's going on in the market.

November 1 - December 6: Holiday Magic Toy Drive
Please consider donating a toy to a needy child during our annual Holiday Magic Toy Drive.
 
November 8 from 9-10 am: Workshop
Join us for the Retire on Purpose workshop. You will receive actionable tips on what you can start doing today to enrich your life in retirement. A great experience for those about to retire or who have recently retired! Register  yourself and your guests today - Retire on Purpose Workshop.
 
November 28 & 29: Office Closed
Blattel & Associates will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.

December 6: Holiday Open House
We will once again open our doors for an open house to celebrate the holiday season with refreshments, Christmas cookies and good conversation.

Tips for Today

Can't wait for Saturday? We are sharing two tip sheets with you today. The first one is "10 Cybersecurity Awareness Tips," and lists out common sense ideas that you can use to stay safe on the internet. The second tip sheet is a "Password Guide." This one includes one of our all-time favorite password ideas - using the first letter of a phrase or song title. For example, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" becomes "TMOttB." Add a symbol and a number, such as the number of your favorite Cardinal's player, and you have a strong password. Let's go Cards!!!



"Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to get leisure."

- Benjamin Franklin 
Pretty-in-Pink Deviled Eggs to Celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month

These pretty pink deviled eggs are the perfect appetizer to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Bring them to a local fundraiser or just enjoy them on your own. Either way, they're sure to be delicious. 

[12 servings]

Ingredients:
  • 6 hardboiled eggs
  • 1 jar of pickled beets (you'll use the beets and the juice)
  • 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise 
  • 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • ½ cups pickled beets, grated
  • 1 Tbsp. onion, grated 
  • 1 Tbsp. celery, finely chopped 
  • A sprinkle of salt and pepper
Directions:
  1. Peel the eggs.
     
  2. Place the eggs in the beet juice and add water until the eggs are covered. Let them soak for 2 to 4 hours or until pink.
     
  3. Halve the eggs and take out the yolks.
     
  4. Mix the yolks with the mustard, grated beets, grated onion, and finely chopped celery. Salt and pepper to taste.
     
  5. Use a pastry bag to squeeze out the mixture into the halved eggs. 

 

Recipe adapted from Eclectic Recipes[9]

 

Do a Paycheck Checkup

Every year, the IRS recommends doing what they call a "Paycheck Checkup." This includes checking your withholding status to make sure enough taxes are being taken out of your paycheck. You should do a Paycheck Checkup in the beginning of the year, but it can be done in any season.

Check your withholding status if you have:
  • Gotten married or divorced

  • Had or adopted a child

  • Bought a house

  • Retired

  • Filed for bankruptcy

  • Got a new job or lost a job

The IRS also recommends checking on any streams of taxable income that are not subject to withholding, such as interest, dividends, capital gains, self-employment income, or IRA distributions. You should also check your withholding if you've experienced changes to your medical expenses, taxes, charitable gifts, education credits, dependent care expenses, and more. These life changes might affect your deductions or tax credits. These Paycheck Checkups will help make sure you're in a good place when it's time to file taxes.

* This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS.gov [10]

Share the Wealth of Knowledge!
 
Please share this market update with family, friends, or colleagues. If you would like us to add them to our list, simply click on the "Forward email" link below. We love being introduced!

 

 

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.

Diversification does not guarantee profit nor is it guaranteed to protect assets.

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 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.

Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

You cannot invest directly in an index.

Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.

These are the views of Platinum Advisor 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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[1] www.wsj.com/market-data

[2] www.wsj.com/market-data

[3] quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices

[4] www.yahoo.com/news/1-u-imposes-visa-restrictions-195007427.html

[5] finance.yahoo.com/news/u-bans-travel-chinese-officials-185734111.html

[6] www.cnbc.com/2019/10/10/trump-says-china-trade-talks-are-going-very-well.html?&qsearchterm=really%20well%20trump

[7] www.cnbc.com/2019/10/11/trump-says-us-has-come-to-a-substantial-phase-one-deal-with-china.html

[8] www.zacks.com/earnings/earnings-calendar

[9] eclecticrecipes.com/beet-deviled-eggs-and-cook-for-the-cure-with-kitchenaid

[10] www.irs.gov/newsroom/all-taxpayers-should-check-their-withholding-asap

[11] www.golftipsmag.com/instruction/driving/try-towel-drill-for-longer-drives/

[12] www.healthline.com/nutrition/artificial-sweeteners-good-or-bad#section7

[13] www.rspo.org/about 

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