U.S. stock markets recorded their third year of consecutive gains in 2021, with the major indexes posting double-digit returns and the S&P 500 Index was up a whopping 28.7% on a total return basis. Investors “ac-cen-tchu-ated” the positives of economic recovery and vaccine rollouts.

The month of September traditionally is a “spooky” month for the market. Over the past 25 years, the S&P 500 average monthly return for September is -0.4%. But the September Effect also extends globally, perhaps attributable to a change in investor sentiment as we move from the carefree days of summer into the profit harvesting months of Fall.

Fed remains committed to the belief that the situation is temporary and will not persist.

The first quarter of the year had its share of ups and downs, starting the year with violent political division that reached a fever pitch on January 6th and ending on a hopeful note as vaccination progress and more fiscal stimulus.

If we took a poll, most people would respond that they would not have ever imagined a year like 2020, nor would they want to relive it.