2023 ended on a high note with stunning bond performance in a reviving stock market. With a U.S. presidential election on the horizon, Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer Chris Battifarano uses historical data to evaluate year-end happenings and ponder what may lie ahead.
Read Article Here
2023 Third Quarter Review & Commentary
The third quarter marked a reversal for equities, which peaked for the year in July and then weakened in August and September. Bonds remain under pressure and did not provide diversification benefits for the traditional 60/40 investor during the quarter. Alternative investments, on the other hand posted positive returns for the period. We also saw a move up in longer term rates for the first time awhile.
Read Article Here
Conflict between Israel and Hamas
The world continues to watch in horror as the conflict between Israel and Hamas intensifies. We can only hope and pray for an end to the violence and a lasting peace in the Middle East. FineMark’s Chief Investment Officer, Chris Battifarano, weighs in on the potential economic ramifications in the attached brief video.
Equity Market Outlook
We believe many of our current investment themes characterization. One example is our current theme on artificial intelligence, AI, which we originally published in April and wrote extensively about in our Q1 newsletter. We believe that over the next 10 years, some labor that is currently being executed by humans, will be replaced by machines. …
Emerging Trends: A.I. & Deglobalization
Given the current market rally year-to-date, what are our thoughts on the equity markets over the next 12 months? The performance of US equity market to date has vastly outstripped our and any other market forecasts we had seen from forecasters at the onset of the year. This rapid price appreciation is partially what led …
Our Views on the Risk of a Recession
Our view has been that we have been in an elevated period of risk for the US to enter a recession, however one has not officially occurred. We say officially because recessions are only known with certitude in hindsight, and we have not been informed by the NBER, The National Bureau of Economic Research that …
2023 Second Quarter Review & Commentary
While storm clouds remain on the investment horizon, Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer Chris Battifarano explains why savvy investors should focus on the long-term, ignore Wall Street chatter, and be aware of mega trends that develop and impact the economic landscape.
Read Article Here
2022 Year-end Review and 2023 Outlook
While 2022 was a challenging year for financial markets, the steady drumbeat of high inflation that dominated headlines appears to be abating and we see reasons to be more optimistic. CIO Chris Battifarano shares the relevance of “Minsky Moments” in 2022 and FineMark’s informed outlook for 2023 and beyond.
Markets Adjust to a More Hawkish Fed
FineMark Chief Investment Officer, Chris Battifarano, gives insight as the markets adjust to a more hawkish fed and what that means for investors.
2022 Second Quarter Review & Commentary
Quantitative easing, inflation, offshore production, and rising energy costs all played a role in global market performance this quarter. Is there any relief in sight? Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer, Chris Battifarano breaks it all down, shares insight into current and past bear market performance, and offers FineMark’s recommendation for investors.
The Anatomy of a Bear Market
The benchmark S&P 500 stock index has fallen into bear market territory. FineMark’s Chief Investment Officer, Chris Battifarano, gives insight into how long the slump may last and what investors should consider now.
2022 First Quarter Review & Commentary
With the Russian invasion of Ukraine impacting inflation, interfering with global food supplies, and wreaking havoc within the oil and fertilizer industries, continued market volatility seems imminent. But that doesn’t mean your portfolio will also be unstable. Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer Chris Battifarano offers FineMark’s perspective on today’s market realities and shares why diversification may be the key to a resilient portfolio.