Why Did Stocks Drop?
BI-WEEKLY UPDATE - OCTOBER 29, 2018
In This Issue
Last week did nothing to dispel October's reputation as a tough month for the markets. The S&P 500 lost 3.94%, the Dow declined 2.97%, and the NASDAQ dropped 3.78% during what was one of 2018's most volatile weeks so far. All three indexes are down significantly for the month, and both the S&P 500 and Dow have entered negative territory for 2018. [1] International stocks in the MSCI EAFE also struggled, posting a 3.87% drop for the week, and a 13.31% decline for the year. [2]
Why did stocks drop? Will they continue to do so?
Currently, many topics are on investors' minds, from inflation to tariffs to valuations and beyond, but analysts are not pointing to one single culprit for last week's performance. Instead, a mixture of concerns, with a large dose of emotion, seemed to drive the markets.[3] 

Emotional reactions are understandable when volatility emerges, but they have no place in long-term investment strategies. Instead, we need to focus on the fundamentals.

What did we learn last week?
Trying to find simple explanations for market behavior can feel impossible, in part because the markets aren't a machine - they're a reflection of many human actions. Investors make choices based on their interpretations of current conditions, and the effects of these decisions become "market performance."

Amidst the volatility, we received several updates on the economy, including:
  • 3rd Quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) beat expectations: The initial GDP reading for the 3rd quarter came in at a strong 3.5%, helped in large part by consumer spending.[4]
  • Corporate earnings have been strong, but imperfect: So far, this corporate earnings season is showing 22% growth, but fewer S&P 500 companies are exceeding analysts' predictions than in the 1st quarter of 2018. In particular, some major tech companies' results disappointed investors.[5]
  • Housing continued to struggle: New home sales were lower than expected in September, which followed disappointing results from existing-home sales data, as well.[6]
  • Inflation growth eased: The Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, which shows inflation, increased by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter, much lower than projected.[7] 
Examined together, this data indicates that while the economy has potential challenges, it also demonstrates solid growth, reasonable inflation, and strong corporate performance. That story feels different than the sharp drop we experienced last week .

However, when you look at the bigger picture, our current circumstances provide another reminder that volatility is normal, and examining economic fundamentals is critical.

Still, risks exist, and in the coming weeks we will pay very close attention to data and performance. In particular, we will follow the Federal Reserve's comments and actions to see what may lie ahead for interest rates. In the meantime, please let us help answer your questions and address your concerns. We are here to help you pursue your goals, in every market environment.

ECONOMIC CALENDAR
Monday: Personal Income and Outlays
Tuesday: Consumer Confidence
Wednesday: ADP Employment Report
Thursday: PMI Manufacturing Index, ISM Manufacturing Index, Construction Spending, Jobless Claims
Friday: Employment Situation, Factory Orders



Blattel News
Retire on Purpose Workshop Registration Now Open
We are excited to offer you a new, unique workshop! You will receive actionable  tips on what you can start doing today to enrich your life in retirement. Throughout the Retire on Purpose workshop, you will engage in thought-provoking exercises  specifically designed to create the life you envision.
 
Here at Blattel & Associates, we help our clients realize that money is only a piece of the puzzle. To highlight this belief, we will be hosting a series of workshops in our office designed to help our clients, their friends, and families to 'Retire on Purpose.'
 
Please click on the reservation links below to sign up for one of Retire on Purpose workshops being held on Friday, November 9, 2018. Or, email us if you are interested in the workshop but cannot attend and we will notify you of our next workshop day.

Retire on Purpose 1-Hour Workshop
Presented by Gary Scott, with Bob & Scott Blattel
 
When: Friday, November 9, 2018
Where: Blattel & Associates
             1258 Jungermann Road
             St. Peters, MO 63376
RSVP: November 7th
 
Guests are welcome, so bring a friend, colleague or family member!

Click on "Register" for the Workshop you want to attend:

REGISTER ME for 9-10 am Workshop
REGISTER ME for 1-2 pm Workshop
REGISTER ME for 4-5 pm Workshop

You're invited to our Holiday Open House
We welcome all of our clients to stop our office  for some good conversation and light refreshments as we kick off the holiday season. We invite our clients to stop by our office at 1258 Jungermann Road between 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm for some holiday cheer on Friday, November 30th. Please consider bringing a toy to donate to our annual Holiday Magic Toy Drive.

Calendar
November 1 - November 30: Holiday Magic Toy Drive
Please consider donating a toy to a needy child during our annual Holiday Magic Toy Drive.
 
November 22 & 23: Office Closed
Our office will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.
 
November 30: 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.
 
December 24 & 25: Office Closed
Our office will be closed for the Christmas holiday.
 
***
 
February 9, 2019: Client Breakfast Seminar: Special Tax Edition
Save the date! We are booking a special tax knowledgeable speaker to talk to our clients about the 2018 tax law changes.



"Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will."
 
-  Nelson Mandela

Arugula and Pear Salad with Toasted Walnuts
Serves 4

Ingredients: 
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallots
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 6 cups baby arugula leaves
  • 2 Bosc pears, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
 
Directions: 
  1. Mix the first six ingredients in a large bowl.
  2. Stir the mix with a whisk.
  3. Add arugula and pears to the bowl.
  4. Toss to coat salad.
  5. Sprinkle each serving with 1 tablespoon walnuts.

 

Recipe adapted from myrecipes [8]
   

Taking a Look at Good Eye Care

If you're reading this, you've probably come to the conclusion at some point how important your eye health is.

Seeing your health-care practitioner regularly will help you detect potential eye problems early, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, and astigmatism.

Here are some common eye problems:
  • Watery eyes: Your eyes attempt to wash out specks, such as dirt or dust. Once your eyes are able to remove the irritants, your eyes should stop watering.
  • Dry eyes: Your eyes don't make enough tears. Windy weather or other underlying health issues may cause dry eyes. Normally, your eyes try to produce more tears to correct this.
  • Pinkeye: One or both eyes look pink and may feel itchy. Infections or viruses often cause pinkeye. You may want to use antibiotic eye drops.
  • Blocked tear ducts: Tear ducts can get clogged, which produce watery eyes. This can be caused by infections or injuries.
  • Eye scratches: Dirt, sand, or contact lenses can scratch your eyes, which may make your eyes hurt, get red and watery, or overly sensitive to light. Scratches usually heal within a couple days. You should seek medical help if you believe your cornea is torn.
  • Styes: Swollen, red, painful lumps are the most obvious symptoms of a stye, which are caused by bacteria. Styes usually subside after a few days. The best treatment: Leave it alone. Don't touch it.

Regular eye exams can help prevent problems. You may need glasses, contact lenses, or other treatment to maintain good eye health.



Tips adapted from WebMD[12 ]



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.

By clicking on these links, you will leave our server, as the links are located on another server. We have not independently verified the information available through this link. The link is provided to you as a matter of interest. Please click on the links below to leave and proceed to the selected site.





www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-25/asia-stocks-set-to-rally-on-u-s-gains-bonds-slip-markets-wrap?srnd=markets-vp

www.cnbc.com/2018/10/26/stock-market-us-futures-show-drop-for-dow.html

[2]  www.msci.com/end-of-day-data-search

[5] www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-stocks-weekahead/mixed-u-s-inflation-signals-leave-investors-adrift-idUSKCN1N01F6

[6] wsj-us.econoday.com/byshoweventfull.asp?fid=485959&cust=wsj-us&year=2018&lid=0&prev=/byweek.asp#top

[7] www.cnbc.com/2018/10/26/first-read-on-us-q3-2018-gross-domestic-product.html

[8] www.myrecipes.com/recipe/arugula-pear-salad-with-toasted-walnuts

[9] www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/security-summit

[10] www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-preparers-should-look-out-for-these-signs-that-a-criminal-stole-information

[11] www.golfdigest.com/story/stop-missing-greens

[12] www.webmd.com/eye-health/default.htm

[13] www.conservation.org/pages/tips-to-live-green.aspx


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