Good morning!

In case you missed it, hit the link below for a replay of my webinar last week, Future-Proofing Your Finances: Insights & Strategies for 2025. I share my economic forecast, as well as ideas, strategies, and opportunities for maintaining a balance between sustaining growth and mitigating risks with your investments. Check it out!

Wednesday's Federal Reserve interest-rate decision and a spate of closely watched earnings reports are among the top items scheduled for a busy week ahead on Wall Street. Here's what's happening...

• More than 350 companies report earnings this week, including a handful of the Magnificent 7 tech stocks and some major oil and gas companies. This morning, earnings are due from SAP, RTX, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Starbucks, Royal Caribbean, and General Motors, followed Wednesday by Microsoft, Meta (Facebook), Tesla, ASML, T-Mobile, IBM, and ADP. Thursday numbers are due from Apple, Visa, Mastercard, Shell, Caterpillar, Comcast, Blackstone, and UPS, followed Friday by Exxon Mobil, Chevron Novartis, Aon, Colgate-Palmolive, Phillips 66, and Charter Communications. *

• The Federal Reserve Board conducts its first meeting of 2025 this week and is expected to hold its key federal funds rate at 4.25-4.50%, the level it set in December. Economists aren't expecting another rate cut until June. Wednesday's decision will almost guarantee a harsh response from President Trump if the Fed does what everyone expects. The President wants low interest rates, and even said last week that he knows more about interest rates than the Fed. **

• The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) will release the PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) price Index for December. Economists predict a 2.5% year-over-year increase, which is 0.1 percentage points higher than November's figure. The Core PCE index, excluding food and energy prices, is anticipated to rise by 2.8%, consistent with November's rate. Core PCE is the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, and likely to determine any additional rate cut prior to the one expected in June. *** 

Primary Advisors diligently keeps up with anything that can impact your finances with more than 175 years of combined investment experience. We're doing our all to keep your money protected and growing. If you have a friend or family member you think might benefit from our financial oversight, do them a favor and send them our way. Until next week...

Martin Lombrano

Primary Advisors

Investment Advisory Services offered through Miramontes Capital, LLC dba Primary Advisors. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Miramontes Capital, LLC and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. Securities offered through Balanced Security Planning, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. No advice may be rendered by Miramontes Capital, LLC unless a client service agreement is in place. Miramontes Capital, LLC and Balanced Security Planning, Inc. are separate companies, affiliated through common control.