One of my favorite Wall Street quotes regarding volatility is from Mark Twain, who said:
“October: This is one of the peculiarly dangerous months to speculate in stocks. The others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, December, August and February.”
But October may need to move over. During the past several years, the month of August has earned the reputation as being one of the more volatile months for stock prices.
In August 2019, for example, the S&P 500 Index posted moves of more than one percent in 11 of the 22 trading days.1,2
One of the reasons for the past volatility is that some traders are away on vacation, resulting in light volume, which may have the effect of amplifying market volatility. But this year may be different with many people staying closer to home due to the pandemic.
August 2020 will stand on its own. But if history is a guide, investors should be prepared that some headlines could result in outsized moves over the next several weeks. In our July 31st Epic Market Minute, we discuss how volatility can pick up in August as we hit a news vacuum. Have a specific question? Reach out to a dedicated financial professional at Epic Capital and we will be happy to assist.
You’re beginning to accumulate substantial wealth, but you worry about protecting it from future potential creditors. Whether your concern is for your personal assets or your business, various tools exist to keep your property safe from tax collectors, accident victims, health-care providers, credit card issuers, business creditors, and creditors of others. To insulate your property … Continue reading “Estate Planning – Protecting Your Assets”
You know how important it is to plan for your retirement, but where do you begin? One of your first steps should be to estimate how much income you’ll need to fund your retirement. That’s not as easy as it sounds, because retirement planning is not an exact science. Your specific needs depend on your … Continue reading “Estimating Your Retirement Income Needs”
As June begins, markets continue to navigate a complex landscape shaped by trade policy shifts, an uncertain economic and earnings outlook, and bond market headwinds. Several key developments in recent weeks may have implications for markets:
April showers came a month early as stocks fell in March. Tariffs were the primary cause of the market jitters, although that uncertainty became too much for markets to shrug off once economic data started to weaken.
A successful investor maximizes gain and minimizes loss. Though there can be no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful and all investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, here are six basic principles that may help you invest more successfully.
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