Political economics and the 2019 whipsaw
2019 was a whipsaw year! First, the terrifying 17 percent drop in the stock market during the fourth quarter of 2018 set the stage, then economic data points weakened during the first half of 2019.
Column by Jim Flinchum, Inside Business, Hampton Roads, 1/13/2020
The fiscal quarter that changed American
In January, the U.S. economy was booming. It was an unstoppable force until it crashed into the immovable object called coronavirus. The economy came crashing down fast, and that word — fast — is the word that best describes this economic collapse.
Column by Jim Flinchum, Inside Business, Hampton Roads, 4/17/2020
2020 is most certainly a time of wild swings
Do you remember the year of 2010? That was the year of the “Flash Crash.” It happened on May 6 when the stock market suddenly fell almost a thousand points, losing a trillion dollars before recovering 36 minutes later. It was a market event of temporary significance.
Column by Jim Flinchum, Inside Business, Hampton Roads, 7/13/2020
The good, the bad, and the deficit
The stock market was great during the third quarter. The Dow was up 7.6%, the S&P 500 up 8.5%, and the Nasdaq up 11%. The S&P and the Nasdaq set all-time records during the quarter. Over the last two quarters, the S&P 500 rose 26%, while the Nasdaq rose 45% from the March low— the best performance since 2000.
Column by Jim Flinchum, Inside Business, Hampton Roads, 10/12/2020