We made it to the real New Year.
School has started so has football.
My only connection to school is going to high school football games and attending activities that my grandkids participate in this year.
I would say that I attend the local high school football game with friends.
This is a real connection to my
parents who started attending
games over 70 years ago and I continue the tradition in the same seats.
Of particular merit last Friday night was the tribute at Kerrville’s Antler Stadium to first responders that made such a huge impact on helping with the recovery after the July 4 flood.
Not saying we have come back, but we are trying to move forward.
Maybe this moving into the real New Year is a signal that we have moved forward after so much loss.
I am not sure what the markets thought last week as the performance was mixed. We did get earnings from Nvidia that were as expected, but there is real concern about the future.
The Federal Reserves preferred measure of inflation, Person Consumption Expenditures, came in as expected at 2.6%.
This left the markets confused as to future Fed rate cuts. The Administration didn’t help anything attempting to fire one of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
I am a big believer in the independence of the Fed, if for any other reason than its decisions need to be removed from politics.
I know you think good luck with that, but as much distance as possible is helpful.
I want them to be supportive of an economy that keeps employment low and holds off inflation.
I am one of those old timers that would love to see this country return to the gold standard to protect the dollar, but politicians will never allow that to happen.
The less government involvement in almost everything but defense is better for me.
We have moved past most of the quarterly earnings reports, so most movement in the markets will be tied to the next Fed meeting this month and whether they will lower interest rates.
I don’t see any reason to lower, but I am so old I actually remember when the current rates were actually considered low.
A decade of zero interest rates seems to have convinced the populace that the only real rate is no rate.
I appreciate that lowering interest rates will help with housing, but a reduction in value is the only real issue and that would come with an economic slowdown.I’ve long advocated that less is more when it comes to housing.
