January 31, 2017

Historic U.S. Stock Market Moment

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassed 20,000 last week. Barron's cautioned investors not to make too much of the milestone since, "There are only 30 stocks in the index so each one carries a lot of weight."

Regardless of the significance of the Dow's move, U.S. stock markets generally were upbeat about President Trump's first week in office. Financial Times reported 'animal spirits' – a term British economist John Maynard Keynes used to describe the emotions that drive consumer and investor confidence – returned as rapid executive action indicated the new President would follow through on campaign promises, including infrastructure spending.

"However, the Trump trade - reflecting hopes of tax cuts, higher infrastructure spending, and an easing in business regulation - that had dominated financial markets since November also underwent a subtle shift this week. While financial shares still shone, it was sectors that will benefit from infrastructure spending and cope with higher inflation that led the way. Up 3.4 percent, the materials sector was the best performer on the S&P 500 with miners also seeing gains."

Concerns about trade protectionism and rising inflation lingered.

U.S. stocks upward move was also supported by earnings growth. At the end of each quarter, companies report their earnings (which indicate how much profit they made during the period). FactSet reported 34 percent of companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index have reported fourth quarter earnings, so far. Altogether, earnings are 2.7 percent above the estimates, although they remain below the five-year average.

Markets could be in for a bumpy ride next week as investors weigh in on President Trump's immigration ban. Bloomberg reported one large technology company, "...inserted language in a securities filing on Thursday on the issue, cautioning investors that immigration restrictions 'may inhibit our ability to adequately staff our research and development efforts.'"

Child Consumers

Are your children smart shoppers? Science Daily reported a meta-analysis of 73 studies nationwide evaluated parenting styles and children's buying habits. The findings suggest, "children raised by parents who set limits and explain the reason behind these limits are most likely to develop into wise consumers."

The study, which was conducted by the Society for Consumer Psychology, looked at the ways parents raise and communicate with their children. It defined four basic parenting styles:

• Authoritative parents generally tell children what to do and also explain why the children should do it. "These parents tend to relate quite effectively with their children and expect them to act maturely and follow family rules, while also allowing a certain degree of autonomy."
• Authoritarian parents are restrictive, too. They tell children what to do, but don't often explain why it should be done. These parents are "...not as likely to exhibit as much warmth in their communications."
• Neglecting parents don't offer much guidance or actively monitor children's activities. "They neither seek nor use parental power and control and, as a result, communication between Neglecting parents and their children is generally strained and minimized."
• Indulgent parents often "...give children adult rights without concomitant responsibilities while maintaining an open communication environment with children." These parents are described as "lenient, compliant, accepting, affirmative, and non-punitive."

The researchers concluded children whose parents take an authoritative approach to parenting tend to make better choices. The children choose to consume healthier foods (like fruits and vegetables), make better safety decisions (such as wearing a bike helmet), develop self-esteem, and offer viable opinions with regards to family consumption decisions.

Weekly Focus - Think About It

"Americans of all ages, all conditions, all minds constantly unite. Not only do they have commercial and industrial associations in which all take part, but they also have a thousand other kinds: religious, moral, grave, futile, very general and very particular, immense and very small; Americans use associations to give fêtes, to found seminaries, to build inns, to raise churches, to distribute books, to send missionaries to the antipodes; in this manner they create hospitals, prisons, schools. Finally, if it is a question of bringing to light a truth or developing a sentiment with the support of a great example, they associate."

—Alexis de Tocqueville, Author of 'Democracy in America'

Best regards,
Sean M. Dowling, CFP, EA
President, The Dowling Group Wealth Management

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