MARKETS Stocks were strong in the second quarter. Investors pushed prices higher even as the economic environment became less encouraging. Two factors were primarily responsible for the bullish sentiment: The Federal Reserve raised the possibility that it might cut interest rates for the first time since December 2008. Anticipation rose that the US and China […]

MARKETS Investors cheered as the Fed turned dovish. Stocks enjoyed a vigorous turnaround in the first quarter after enduring painful performance and sinking sentiment in last year’s fourth quarter. Fed chairman Jerome Powell pivoted from endorsing further interest-rate hikes in December to proclaiming “patience” in January as the Fed’s new guiding principle for monetary policy. […]

MARKETS AND PERFORMANCE Investor worries overwhelmed fundamentals. A combination of worrisome factors—any one or two of which would normally be sufficient—drove stocks downward during the fourth quarter. The US trade war with China persisted. Global economic growth decelerated, particularly in China, sparking fears of corporate earnings declines, supply chain disruption and, potentially, a US recession. […]