Higher bond yields and a legislative stalemate in Washington, D.C., added up to losses for the week.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 1.36%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 lost 2.21%. The Nasdaq Composite index fell 3.20%. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, shed 2.58%.1,2,3
An Ugly Week
The reality of a more hawkish Fed finally hit the bond market, sparking a sell-off in bonds that sent yields higher. Higher yields hurt technology and other high-growth companies, and that weakness spread to the broader market. (Higher yields can reduce the value of a company’s future cash flow, which may reset valuations.)
Congress added to the market uncertainty. It was unable to advance an infrastructure bill, and it made little progress on the debt-ceiling agreement. After a sell-off to close out September, stocks surged on Friday on news of a potential Covid-19 oral therapeutic, an easing of yields, and reports that President Biden was traveling to Capitol Hill to help break the logjam on legislation.
Powell in the News
Fed Chair Jerome Powell was at the center of two news developments last week. The first was the announcement by a prominent senator opposing Powell’s renomination, heightening market uncertainty over the leadership transition when his term expires in February 2022.4
Powell later made comments at a European Central Bank event, admitting that the current bout of inflation may last longer than he and many other central bankers have previously expected. But he remained steadfast that inflation would be transitory, attributing much of today’s price pressures to temporary supply bottlenecks. Powell also said that he saw little evidence of building inflationary expectations from consumers or businesses.5
Robert Roman
CEO, Managing Director
THIS WEEK: KEY ECONOMIC DATA
Tuesday: ISM (Institute for Supply Management) Services Index.
Wednesday: ADP (Automated Data Processing) Employment Report.
Thursday: Jobless Claims.
Friday: Employment Situation.
Source: Econoday, October 1, 2021
The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision.
THIS WEEK: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS
Tuesday: PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP).
Wednesday: Constellation Brands (STZ).
Thursday: Conagra Brands (CAG).
Source: Zacks, October 1, 2021
Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.
“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
Who Qualifies for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit?
Let’s outline who the IRS defines as a qualifying person under this care credit:
- A taxpayer’s dependent who is under the age of 13 when the care is provided.
- A taxpayer’s spouse who is physically or mentally unable to care for themselves and lived with the taxpayer for more than half the year.
In addition to spouses and dependents, the credit may also cover someone who is mentally or physically unable to take care of themselves and lived with the taxpayer for six months. This is the case if that person was the taxpayer’s dependent, or if they would have been the taxpayer’s dependent except for one of the following:
- The qualifying person received a gross income of $4,300 or more.
- The qualifying person filed a joint return.
- The taxpayer or spouse, if filing jointly, could be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return.
* 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.gov6
Boost Your Productivity With These Tips
Take regular breaks. It seems counterintuitive, but most people are more productive when they take regular breaks.
Do the hard tasks first. Mark Twain famously said to “eat the frog first thing in the morning,” meaning that you should tackle your most difficult task right away.
Make two to-do lists. One that has your weekly goals and objectives and one that has your daily tasks.
Divide large projects into manageable steps. Make the things on your to-do list specific so you can continue to cross things out and make progress.
Tip adapted from Formstack7
How is seven different from the rest of the numbers between one and ten?
Last week’s riddle: What can you hold in your right hand, but never in your left hand? Answer: Your left hand.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Paradise, Michigan.
Footnotes and Sources
1. The Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2021
2. The Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2021
3. The Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2021
4. CNBC.com, September 28, 2021
5. APNews.com, September 29, 2021
6. IRS.gov, June 10, 2020
7. Formstack.com, January 23, 2020
Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost.
The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, may not materialize, and are subject to revision without notice.
The market indexes discussed are unmanaged, and generally, considered representative of their respective markets. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Indexes do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses. Individuals cannot directly invest in unmanaged indexes. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an unmanaged index that is generally considered representative of large-capitalization companies on the U.S. stock market. 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 technology and growth companies. The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) and serves as a benchmark of the performance of major international equity markets, as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. The S&P 500 Composite Index is an unmanaged group of securities that are considered to be representative of the stock market in general.
U.S. Treasury Notes are guaranteed by the federal government as to the timely payment of principal and interest. However, if you sell a Treasury Note prior to maturity, it may be worth more or less than the original price paid. 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.
International investments carry additional risks, which include differences in financial reporting standards, currency exchange rates, political risks unique to a specific country, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. These factors may result in greater share price volatility.
Please consult your financial professional for additional information.
This content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG is not affiliated with the named representative, financial professional, Registered Investment Advisor, Broker-Dealer, nor state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and they should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.
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