Sharkey, Howes & Javer

Inside the Economy: The New Normal and COVID-19

This week on Inside the Economy, we address the beginning of the end of a great social experiment. Human behaviors have changed and will continue to evolve as businesses and consumers move forward. The S&P 500 continues to separate itself from the grim economic data with positive performance. Why is there such a disconnect? One catalyst may be how quickly the Federal Reserve and Congress acted to maintain liquidity in capital markets. As we adjust to the impact of COVID-19, the markets may start focusing more on other potential volatile events, like what is going on in Hong Kong and an upcoming presidential election. Tune in to hear more!

Inside the Economy: Spending Patterns and Coronavirus

Today on “Inside the Economy with SH&J”, we take a look at where people are investing their hard-earned money. Americans are spending less on their credit cards but are investing in real estate and home improvement projects. While some are purchasing new homes, others are struggling to make their mortgage payments. Will the missed payments have a long-term economic impact? The stock market has made a slow but steady recovery, have we seen the worst of it or is there more volatility to come? Amazon has proven it can weather the storm, but how are other retailers holding up?

Inside the Economy: Bleak Economic Data and COVID-19

This week on Inside the Economy, we begin to see the economic impact of COVID-19 in the numbers. No surprise, unemployment claims have surged. The next question we need to address is how long will people stay unemployed? The first quarter GDP readings contracted -4.8%, the most since 2008.  More than likely, second quarter GDP will decline further, but the U.S. is doing relatively well compared to other countries economic decline. With earnings season wrapping up, health care, consumer staples and technology reported better than expected while other sectors struggled. Tune in to hear more!

Inside the Economy: COVID-19 and the Economic Interruption

This week on Inside the Economy, we continue to talk about the impact COVID-19 is having on the global economy. The U.S. government has interrupted the momentum of the economy asking American people to stay home. The U.S. has already injected liquidity of approximately 11% of GDP into the system. What will the final cost be? As some states gear up to start reopening certain parts of the economy, one thing is certain, there will be clear winners and losers. Tune in to hear more! 

Inside the Economy: The COVID-19 Impact and Fed Reaction

This week on Inside the Economy, we dig into the economic implications from the Coronavirus. Unemployment numbers have jumped up from their all-time low—how has the virus impacted the hiring process and what industries are seeing the biggest effects? We have seen highs and lows in the stock market this year. What is to come as we head into first quarter earnings season? We break down the CARES Act and how it reflects what the U.S. has learned from 2008. Tune in for this and more!

Inside the Economy with SH&J: Into the Unknown with COVID-19

On this week’s Inside the Economy, we discuss the sharp contraction in the markets with the S&P 500 dropping more than 30% since its all-time high on February 19th. Although it looks and feels like a recession, what economic indicators signify a true recession and when will we learn if we are living through one? How has social distancing impacted the economy and what is the Federal Reserve and government implementing in order to help ease financial stress? Find out on today’s Inside the Economy.

Inside the Economy with SH&J: The Coronavirus Effect

On this week’s Inside the Economy, we will be diving into how the Coronavirus outbreak is impacting the global markets. Will the recent volatility drive investors to safety or has this become a buying opportunity?  Will there be a long-lasting impact on the global economy? The Federal Reserve announced an emergency rate cut in lieu of volatility—have we seen one-off rate cuts like this before? Low interest rates have homeowners flocking to refinance, but what is the effect on their bond portfolios? Cheap oil prices usually lead to increased travel, but this year jetsetters may be staying local. Tune in to hear all of this and more!

Inside the Economy with SH&J: Economic Report & Virus Update

On this week’s Inside the Economy, we take a look at the economic data which continues to slow. Is the coronavirus to blame or are other factors impacting global growth? The U.S. stock market is fully valued based on price to earnings ratio. Does this mean the market has reached its ceiling, or will momentum carry prices higher? In other economic data, job openings are trending lower. Tune in to find out more on this week’s Inside the Economy. 

Inside the Economy with SH&J: Coronavirus and Municipal Bonds

On this week’s Inside the Economy, we discuss the world’s safe haven. When countries become fearful or need a safe place to put their money can you guess where they go? Hint: it is not the country currently dominating the headlines for the Coronavirus. Speaking of the Coronavirus, this week we examine the historical impact of world epidemics on the global stock market. The results may surprise you. Last but not least, we will highlight a sector of the bond market that is in high demand, municipal bonds. Tune in to learn more. 

Inside The Economy with SH&J: Bond Rally & Midwest Flooding

On this week’s Inside the Economy with SH&J, we discuss the recent bond rally that have sent yields downward. What has been the cause of this rally and do the recent tariff talks have anything to do with it? The Midwest is experiencing near record flooding; what kind of impact will this have on agriculture in the area? Tune in to find out!