ICFiles
SOC 2

content

Secure File Transfer Soc 2 starts at $1 per month

Join Us

 

ICFiles Logo

 

2013 Turns Out to be a Great Year for Stocks

Stock Market News

January 2014

Get this Article  Get this Article & Suite of Tools

2013 Turns Out to be a Great Year for Stocks

As 2013 came to a close, investors might have paused amidst the seasonal joviality to note the passing of a most remarkable year – one in which the stock market rally just kept going, undaunted even by the Fed’s pre-Christmas shift in policy.

It’s worth noting just how extraordinary the market performance has been. As the year was unfolding, many stock market commentators were too busy anticipating reactions that didn’t happen, and trying to second-guess the Federal Reserve Bank’s next moves to see what was happening. Here are the highlights:

  • The Standard and Poor’s 500 Stock Index has returned 30.2 percent this year, including dividends. This will make 2013 the best year since 1991 if it continues at this level until Dec. 31.
  • The market has experienced very little volatility. It began its upward path in 2010, and with the exception of a brief period in the spring of 2013, it continued on this trajectory. This type of pattern is very unusual. We’ve not had any precipitous declines – the type of volatility that is a normal part of the investing experience. (Though obviously not everyone invests in higher risk stocks.)
  • Most analysts believe that the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing program is directly linked to this unusually calm performance. Throughout the year, speculation as to whether the Fed was going to pare back this program has caused consternation regarding its possible effect on the markets. When the Fed finally did announce a tapering off of its bond purchases in December 2013, the immediate effect on the markets was negligible. Some market analysts and economists believe that in the longer term the Fed’s downshift will have an effect on market volatility.
  • The Bureau of Economic Analysis issued new data at the end of December. BEA’s data shows the economy is growing and lends support to the timing of the Fed’s decision to taper off its asset purchasing program. The revised data shows that GDP actually grew at 4.1 percent in the third quarter – up from the previously estimated 3.6 percent. According to the BEA, the increase reflected investments in inventory by the private sector as well as gains in fixed investments, exports and non-federal government spending.

Indications suggest that this remarkable market performance is coming to a close, and that we’ll probably see a return to a more normal stock market in 2014. However, let’s not forget the achievements of 2013. In addition to another bullish year, we’ve seen economic growth increase and interest rates remain low. The future looks pretty rosy, too.

The commentary above is not intended to replace advice from your tax and investment professionals.

Get this Article  Get this Article & Suite of Tools

 

These articles are intended to provide general resources for the tax and accounting needs of small businesses and individuals. Service2Client LLC is the author, but is not engaged in rendering specific legal, accounting, financial or professional advice. Service2Client LLC makes no representation that the recommendations of Service2Client LLC will achieve any result. The NSAD has not reviewed any of the Service2Client LLC content. Readers are encouraged to contact their CPA regarding the topics in these articles.

Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Finder

Dynamic Content Powered by Service2client.com
SEO Content Powered by DynamicPost.net

 

ICFiles
SOC 2

content

Secure File Transfer Soc 2 starts at $1 per month

Join Us

 

content

 
 
website bundles

MyWeb, WordPress
1 Click Hosting
Install free themes

websites

Hosting Bundles

 
 
Electronic Commerce

Copyright © 2023 Service2Client, LLC All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service  |  Privacy Policy

CPA Website Content Powered by Service2Client.com


 

CLOSE