The S&P 500 had an up week and month, as it closed Friday at 6939, at the same point it was two weeks ago. Monday was anticipation day as the markets rose slightly ahead of earnings reports by Apple, Meta and Microsoft. Tuesday was more of the same but on Wednesday the S&P 500 briefly topped the 7,000 threshold, but ultimately ended the day little changed after the Fed kept its benchmark interest rate at a range of 3.5% to 3.75%. On Thursday those earnings reports did not move the markets as the S&P 500 posted a second consecutive losing session, but trimmed declines after President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair. And then came Silver sell off Friday. Silver still tallied a ninth straight monthly rise, its longest such win streak on record, but Fridays plunge was the metal's worst daily drop since 1980. The Silver ETF (SLV) closed Thursday at $105.57, opened Friday at $89.33, and closed at $75.44 for a daily loss of 28.54% (Ouch!!). From a technical perspective the January Barometer, and its associated saying: "As goes January, so goes the year." was positive with a monthly rise of 1.37%. Since 1945, whenever the S&P 500 has ended January with gains, the market on average increased 16.2% that year. For next week Alphabet and Amazons reports earnings on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by Januarys payrolls and unemployment numbers on Friday. For TSP TIPS the I fund remains at the top of the Performance Ranking leaderboard with new record highs on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. The C and S funds are in a tight battle for the runner up position and we may see a breakout next week. As such we recommend no changes to our current investment mixes.
The S&P 500 had an up week and month, as it closed Friday at 6939, at the same point it was two weeks ago. Monday was anticipation day as the markets rose slightly ahead of earnings reports by Apple, Meta and Microsoft. Tuesday was more of the same but on Wednesday the S&P 500 briefly topped the 7,000 threshold, but ultimately ended the day little changed after the Fed kept its benchmark interest rate at a range of 3.5% to 3.75%. On Thursday those earnings reports did not move the markets as the S&P 500 posted a second consecutive losing session, but trimmed declines after President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair. And then came Silver sell off Friday. Silver still tallied a ninth straight monthly rise, its longest such win streak on record, but Fridays plunge was the metal's worst daily drop since 1980. The Silver ETF (SLV) closed Thursday at $105.57, opened Friday at $89.33, and closed at $75.44 for a daily loss of 28.54% (Ouch!!). From a technical perspective the January Barometer, and its associated saying: "As goes January, so goes the year." was positive with a monthly rise of 1.37%. Since 1945, whenever the S&P 500 has ended January with gains, the market on average increased 16.2% that year. For next week Alphabet and Amazons reports earnings on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by Januarys payrolls and unemployment numbers on Friday. For TSP TIPS the I fund remains at the top of the Performance Ranking leaderboard with new record highs on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. The C and S funds are in a tight battle for the runner up position and we may see a breakout next week. As such we recommend no changes to our current investment mixes.