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Peek of the Week

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Cooling markets during the heat of summer
Cooling markets during the heat of summer

Today's Peek of the Week has the latest insight into how the stock markets are cooling down now that the U.S. economy isn't burning as hot as it once was. With that being said, and even after the last two quarters of slowed growth, the United States economy continues to surprise us. Unemployment has fallen quite low, the labor market is on fire, and the main driver for this shift has been women returning to the workplace. With all this "job talk" brings more "recession talk" and today's PEEK of the WEEK shares some second quarter business activity data to follow up on the whole recession idea.

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Lifestyle, Investment, World Events, Stock marketLeif HagenAchievement Financial#stockmarket, #stocks, #bonds, #news, #marketcommentary, #america, #inflation, #work, #workers, #jobmarket, #financialnews, #finance, #investing, #investors
Is it a recession or isn't it?
Is it a recession or isn't it?

Hello, August! As we begin a new week and a new month, it seems like each day brings the question, "is it a recession, or isn't it?!" Our Peek of the Week reexamines last week's analysis about economic growth in the United States and how it's slowed for two consecutive quarters. We discuss how the GDP (gross domestic product) is measured and how it's contributing to our current inflation and our potential recession.

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Lifestyle, Stock market, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#recession, #shopping, #retail, #stocks, #bonds, #stockmarket, #investing, #marketnews, #thefed, #federalreserve, #rates
The Fed is focused on calming inflation
The Fed is focused on calming inflation

According to today's blog, "rising inflation is a bit like a child throwing a temper tantrum in the grocery store." Would you agree? And, what will it take to calm this wild child down?

Our Peek of the Week explains how the Fed is laser focused on calming our country's conditions of inflation and volatility. Fed Chair Jerome Powell was quoted saying, "We have both the tools we need and the resolve that it will take to restore price stability on behalf of American families and business."

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Money, Lifestyle, World Events, Stock market, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#rates, #federalreserve, #money, #blog, #stockmarket, #bonds, #bearmarket, #manufacturing
The first half of 2022 is one for the history books
The first half of 2022 is one for the history books

The first six months of the year have been quite the ride. So far this year we've faced: ongoing inflation, witnessed the Fed's response to inflation, seen stock prices fall and we've FELT consumer sentiment tumble with it. Our Peek of the Week is explaining what brought us this bear market and how investors are expected to respond going forward.

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Peek of the Week, Stock market, World EventsLeif HagenAchievement Financial#inflation, #history, #bearmarket, #bonds, #rates, #stockprice, #markets, #volatile, #volatility, #americans, #american, #culture, #policy, #time
The pace of inflation slows, optimism grows
The pace of inflation slows, optimism grows

The three major U.S. stock market indices moved higher last week... for the first time in weeks. Prior to the increase, we saw investors reassess their approach and predictions. Today's Peek of the Week explains how strong corporate profits, more attractive share prices and the Fed's potential slowdown of rate hikes have brought us a stock market rally. And we appreciate it!

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Lifestyle, Stock market, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#peekoftheweek, #inflation, #costs, #costofliving, #prices, #stockmarket, #marketcommentary, #marketnews, #news, #americans, #shopping, #thefed
Welcome to the bear market
Welcome to the bear market

Today's Peek of the Week explains how tensions seem to rise when investors encounter bear market territory, causing some to wearily stay the course, and others to tap out. How is a bear market defined? It can be when shares prices decline 20 percent or more, or it can also occur when investors are feeling more bearish than bullish. It's safe to say we are in bear territory... read our "Peek" for more details and learn about how the investing decisions that can be made today will ultimately affect your long-term outcomes. You don't want to miss this!

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Lifestyle, Investment, World Events, Stock market, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#invest, #investing, #marketnews, #stockmarket, #bearmarket, #decline, #inflation, #costs, #cost, #costofliving, #federalreserve
The Fed plays catch up with 'anti-inflation' campaign
The Fed plays catch up with 'anti-inflation' campaign

Today's Peek of the Week tells us how the Federal Reserve has stepped up their "anti-inflation campaign" in the last week, with the goal to slow inflation. Inflation has been high and is getting further exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and by China's virus lockdowns. So far, the American economy has avoided a recession but it has not avoided ongoing inflation.

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Money, Lifestyle, Stock market, Peek of the Week, World EventsLeif HagenAchievement Financial#inflation, #campaign, #marketwatch, #stockmarket, #stocks, #bonds, #wealth, #advisor, #Ukraine, #war, #interestrates, #earnings, #unemployment
Rates are rising for consumers and investors
Rates are rising for consumers and investors

Be careful what you ask for…you just might get it! Today's Peek of the Week explains the recent increase in Treasury rates, the drop in demand for home loans and how the cost of carrying credit card debt has increased. It was early March when almost two-thirds of Americans said the Federal Reserve should be more aggressive when it comes to inflation. Well, Americans got what they asked for! When rates rise, borrowing money becomes more expensive, demand gets reduced and prices go even higher.

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Money, Lifestyle, Investment, World Events, Stock market, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#rates, #investor, #investors, #stocks, #stockmarket, #bonds, #housingmarket, #credit, #creditcard
Investor clarity improves as we spring forward
Investor clarity improves as we spring forward

Last week, the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) met and decided to raise the federal funds target rate by a quarter point. Most people were expecting this to happen, and Jerome Powell expects the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2022 in hopes of lowering inflation. Today's Peek of the Week has insight about the yield curve, future rate hikes and implications of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Investors felt reassured after last week's improved clarity. Major U.S. stock indices rallied and accomplished some gains.

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Peek of the Week, Stock market, World EventsLeif HagenAchievement Financial#spring, #springequinox, #blog, #investing, #investors, #stocks, #bonds, #stockmarket, #positive, #clarity, #peekoftheweek
Investor optimism drops as workplace equality grows
Investor optimism drops as workplace equality grows

Investor optimism is low. In only two weeks, the war has altered the status of over two million people in Ukraine. In response, investors are focusing on the short-term implications of the war. Today's Peek of the Week dives into the top investor concerns such as slowed economic growth, rising inflation, supply chain breakdowns and the demand for goods that simply aren't available. Also today: equality in the workplace is a topic that follows us throughout time and today's blog brings us some updated facts when it comes to women in the workplace.

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World Events, Stock marketLeif HagenAchievement Financial#blog, #money, #stockmarket, #stocks, #bonds, #inflation, #war, #ukraine, #russia, #putin
Adapting to war and a changing reality
Adapting to war and a changing reality

U.S. stocks finished the week lower. This comes as no surprise as our world is currently being forced to quickly adapt to a fast-changing reality. The war in Ukraine has intensified and financial markets are grappling with all this uncertainty. Today's Peek of the Week discusses the recent wartime sanctions and how economists are now expected to revise their predictions for global growth and inflation. Economists anticipate the rising commodity prices (on things like oil and gas) are likely to push inflation higher than it might have been otherwise, causing a slowdown for the global economy.

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News, Peek of the Week, Stock market, World EventsLeif HagenAchievement Financial#ukraine, #russia, #war, #stockmarket, #worldnews, #growth, #inflation, #sanctions, #economy, #China
Market corrections... and the great college debate!
Market corrections... and the great college debate!

Today's Peek of the Week is full of questions. Investors wonder what will happen with the current geopolitical tensions, if the Federal Reserve will tame inflation and how the market correction is being received. Major U.S. stock indices moved lower last week and came even closer to correction territory. A stock market correction occurs when assets, indexes or markets decline by 10 to 20 percent and although they feel unpleasant, they aren't unusual. In addition, here have been all kinds of debates about college and its importance. Questions such as: is college a good investment? Which college majors are worth the cost? And, should employers remove college degree requirements from job listings? What do YOU think?

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Money, Lifestyle, Investment, Stock market, Peek of the Week, World EventsLeif HagenAchievement Financial#education, #school, #college, #investing, #investor, #marketnews, #marketcommentary, #marketreport, #employer, #employers, #risk, #benefit, #benefits, #gold, #prices, #stockmarket, #federalreserve