Highlights Several major brokerage firms have stopped collecting commissions on stock trades. Commissions are just one small part of trading costs. Frequent trading can result in higher taxes and lower returns. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. I admit it.  I love a bargain.  So much so, that Mrs. Commentator will, on occasion, call me a tightwad, to which I reply “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Given my penny-pinching nature, you would think I would be quite happy about the free trading free-for-all that has been underway…

The U.S. stock market ended the week largely higher after China said they have agreed with the U.S. to cancel opposing tariffs in phases.  Consequently, interest rates also moved higher as the 10-year treasury yield rose from 1.73% to 1.94%.  The spread between the 10-year treasury yield and the 2-year treasury also continued to widen after inverting in August of this year as it currently sits at 0.26%.  The price of gold also dropped on the news of the U.S. and China potentially reaching a trade deal, dropping 3.8% to $1,459 an ounce.  Meanwhile, the price of crude oil rose…

The U.S. stock market ended the week higher after receiving a late-week boost from a better than expected jobs report.  Interest rates moved lower on the week as the 10-year treasury yield dropped from 1.80% to 1.73% after the Federal reserve cut interest rates for the third consecutive month.  The price of gold was little changed over the week, rising only 0.57% to $1,517 an ounce. The price of crude oil was also little changed after dropping only 0.84% to $56.23 a barrel. This Week’s Economic Highlights The U.S. economy, as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), grew at a…

Highlights The Federal Reserve cut rates by another quarter of a percent for the third consecutive month in a row. The U.S. stock market continues to rise despite a slowing global economy as trade optimism between the U.S. and China is regained. The overall U.S. economy continues to look stable with moderate GDP growth and strong jobs growth, however the manufacturing sector remains in a technical recession. Economic Review Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a measure of the U.S. economy grew at fairly strong annualized rate of 1.9% in the third quarter of 2019.  However, Real GDP (i.e. inflation-adjusted GDP) appears…