Table of Contents

Featured Article: The Q1 Earnings Season Begins

Economic Calendar

Recipe of the Week: Cauliflower Rice Pilaf

Tax Tips

Golf Tips

Healthy Lifestyle

Green Living

Gains Conclude a Great Quarter

The Week on Wall Street
Stocks broke out of a narrow range on Friday following news that two major banks grew their bottom line in the first quarter. For the week, the S&P 500 rose 0.79%; the Nasdaq Composite, 0.91%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average improved 0.50;

Turning to overseas stocks, the MSCI EAFE index declined 0.09%;

The market spent much of the week in a lull as investors waited for earnings season to begin. Wall Street is paying close attention to both guidance and profit margins …

Table of Contents

Featured Article: Gains Conclude a Great Quarter

Economic Calendar

Recipe of the Week: Sour/Salty Preserved Lemons

Tax Tips

Golf Tips

Healthy Lifestyle

Green Living

Gains Conclude a Great Quarter

The Week on Wall Street
Stocks just posted their second straight weekly gain. Investors were encouraged by the latest jobs report and new signs of progress on a U.S.-China trade deal. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.17% in five trading days; the S&P 500, 1.27%;

the S&P 500, 1.27%; the Nasdaq Composite, 1.72%. The MSCI EAFE index of international stocks improved 1.84%;

The economy generated 196,000 net new jobs in March, according to the Department of Labor …

Table of Contents

Featured Article: Gains Conclude a Great Quarter

Economic Calendar

Recipe of the Week: Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich with Spicy Aioli Slaw

Tax Tips

Golf Tips

Healthy Lifestyle

Green Living

Gains Conclude a Great Quarter

The Week on Wall Street
Stocks ended last week higher as volatility slowed, completing their best quarter since 2009. A Friday tweet from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin encouraged investors, referring to “constructive” discussions in the ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations

The S&P 500 gained 1.27% for the week. The Dow Industrials and Nasdaq Composite both exceeded that advance: the Dow rose 1.60%;

Foreign shares went the other way. The MSCI EAFE index following international stocks retreated …

Table of Contents

Featured Article: Treasury Yields Prompt Concerns

Economic Calendar

Recipe of the Week: Classic Tomato and Bread Soup

Tax Tips

Golf Tips

Healthy Lifestyle

Green Living

Treasury Yields Prompt Concerns

The Week on Wall Street
Friday, the yield of the 3-month Treasury bill exceeded the yield of the 10-year Treasury note for the first time in 12 years. For some analysts, this “inverted yield curve” may imply a short-term lessening of confidence. (Treasury yields move inversely to Treasury prices.)

As a result, the S&P 500 ended the week 0.94% lower. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.80%, and the Dow Industrials lost 1.19%.

In contrast, the MSCI EAFE index following international stocks rose, gaining…

Just a friendly reminder…

Our office will be operating on a half day schedule on Thursday, March 14th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.






In the afternoon, our Team, along with some of our client families will be volunteering at Food & Friends from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

Table of Contents

Featured Article: Stocks Dip on Growth Concerns

Economic Calendar

Recipe of the Week: Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

Tax Tips

Golf Tips

Healthy Lifestyle

Green Living

S&P Ends Week Little Changed

The Week on Wall Street
As in February, investors spent most of the first full trading week of March hoping for new details in U.S.-China trade negotiations.

While they waited, stock benchmarks drifted downward. From Monday’s open to Friday’s close, the S&P 500 lost 2.55%, while the Dow Industrials took a 2.66% fall, and the Nasdaq Composite weakened 3.12%. The MSCI EAFE index tracking developed markets outside the U.S. and Canada fell 1.09%.

Why did stocks lose momentum? In a hint that global economic growth might be slowing, the European Central Bank abruptly reduced its 2019 Gross Domestic Product forecast for the…

Just a friendly reminder…

Our office will be operating on a half day schedule on Thursday, March 14th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.






In the afternoon, our Team, along with some of our client families will be volunteering at Food & Friends from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

Table of Contents

Featured Article: Stocks Dip on Growth Concerns

Economic Calendar

Recipe of the Week: Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

Tax Tips

Golf Tips

Healthy Lifestyle

Green Living

S&P Ends Week Little Changed

The Week on Wall Street
As in February, investors spent most of the first full trading week of March hoping for new details in U.S.-China trade negotiations.

While they waited, stock benchmarks drifted downward. From Monday’s open to Friday’s close, the S&P 500 lost 2.55%, while the Dow Industrials took a 2.66% fall, and the Nasdaq Composite weakened 3.12%. The MSCI EAFE index tracking developed markets outside the U.S. and Canada fell 1.09%.

Why did stocks lose momentum? In a hint that global economic growth might be slowing, the European Central Bank abruptly reduced its 2019 Gross Domestic Product forecast for the…

Just a friendly reminder…

Our office will be operating on a half day schedule on Thursday, March 14th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.



In the afternoon, our Team along with some of our client families will be volunteering at Food & Friends from 1:00 to 3:00 pm doing food prep.

So, If you can spare a few hours for a worthy cause. Please join us!



Food & Friends is a wonderful organization providing meals to local families in dire need of assistance.


Call our office or email us at events@stuartfg.com to sign up!

Table of Contents

Featured Article: S&P Ends Week Little Changed

Economic Calendar

Recipe of the Week: Roasted beets

Tax Tips

Golf Tips

Healthy Lifestyle

Green Living

S&P Ends Week Little Changed

The Week on Wall Street
Stocks lost a little ground as February gave way to March. While domestic and overseas political developments made headlines, the market stayed relatively calm: from Monday’s open through Friday’s close, the S&P 500 ceded just 0.17%, finishing the week at 2,803.69.

The Dow declined 0.65% in five trading sessions to 26,026.32, while the Nasdaq finished the week 0.06% higher at 7,595.35. The MSCI EAFE index of international stocks rose 0.24% for the week.

Volatility has dropped in the past few weeks. Wall Street has grown less anxious about the possibility of new tariffs and higher interest rates this year.

Powell Shares His Outlook
Last week, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told the Senate that Fed officials would take a “patient approach” with regard to future interest…

Table of Contents

Featured Article: Optimism Spurs a Broad Rally

Economic Calendar

Recipe of the Week: Roasted Sunday Chicken

Tax Tips

Golf Tips

Healthy Lifestyle

Green Living

Optimism Spurs a Broad Rally

The Week on Wall Street
Stocks rallied last week as optimism about a potential U.S.-China trade deal grew. The S&P 500 advanced 0.80% during the 4-day trading week to 2,792.67. The Nasdaq Composite improved 0.86% to 7,527.54, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.64% to 26,031.81.

The renewed prospects for a trade pact were not the only development investors found appealing last week. There were indications that the Federal Reserve might be a bit less committed to its plans to raise interest rates further this year.

A Look at the Fed Minutes
There were no surprises from the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors, who released the transcript from their January meeting on Tuesday. Investors pore over the meeting minutes looking for clues about the Fed’s next move on short-term interest rates.

Fed policymakers appeared split on what’s next. Some felt another rate…

Table of Contents

Featured Article: Dow, S&P, Nasdaq Climb Higher

Economic Calendar

Recipe of the Week: Avocado Toast with Chèvre and Chives

Tax Tips

Golf Tips

Healthy Lifestyle

Green Living

Dow, S&P, Nasdaq Climb Higher

The Week on Wall Street
Stocks ended a good week on a high note, as hints of progress in U.S.-China trade talks encouraged investors.

When the closing bell rang Friday, the S&P 500 settled at 2,775.60, after rising 2.50% in five days. The Dow Industrials gained 3.09%, to close Friday at 25,883.25. The Nasdaq Composite improved 2.39% to 7,472.41.

Shutdown Averted
Wall Street breathed a sigh of relief late last week as Congress passed a bill to keep the federal government funded. President Trump signed the measure on Friday.

The development is expected to have a positive effect on consumer sentiment, which may influence the financial markets. During the shutdown, consumer confidence…

Table of Contents

Featured Article: Stocks Post Small Weekly Gains

Economic Calendar

Recipe of the Week: Chocolate-Strawberry Cake

Tax Tips

Golf Tips

Healthy Lifestyle

Green Living

Stocks Post Small Weekly Gains

The Week on Wall Street
Major U.S. stock benchmarks eked out slight gains last week, with corporate profit reports and news about U.S.-China trade negotiations vying for investor attention over five trading sessions.

The big three ended the week little changed from where they settled the previous Friday. The Dow Jones Industrials rose 0.17% percent, while the S&P 500 Index gained 0.05% percent. The NASDAQ Composite ended the week up 0.47%. Looking at international stocks, the MSCI EAFE index retreated 0.47%.

Earnings Scorecard
As of last Friday, 66% of all S&P 500 companies had reported fourth-quarter earnings. So far, 71% of these firms have announced earnings exceeding estimates, and 62% have seen revenues top projections.

Halfway through earnings season, 2019 future guidance has been…