We have worked ourselves through the year to the holiday season.
Though some may think it trite, there is much to be thankful for at this time of year.
I hope that your family and friends are healthy and happy.
I have 10 wonderful grandchildren to appreciate every day.
As far as health is concerned, at my age waking up is a blessing. It is hope that you are able to visit with your family and friends this week.
The gatherings at Thanksgiving have provided some of my best memories.
While it is not significant, I don’t mind that my portfolio is doing quite well itself.
The tech stocks this week moved the NASDAQ index to another closing high and the Dow and S&P 500 stock index were close to their respective
highs.
You just can’t seem to knock
this market down.
Since I am being thankful, I need to send a shout out to the Federal Reserve for keeping those printing presses rolling and interest rates low.
It is essentially far too much money chasing this market with no reasonable debt alternative as far as yield.
This will all change, but it appears this show is not about to bring the curtain down for some time.
On a bit of the negative side, two EV companies that had found favor were taken back a bit this week.
Both Rivian and Lucid were running up in value as if they were going to be the next Tesla.
Even Elon Musk noted that it takes substantial capital to actually make economies of scale work.
After a week of watching each companies market cap soar past the likes of GM and Ford, someone decided that these two companies that simply have orders on the books might have gotten out over their ski tips.
As much talk out of Washington DC about the plight of the economy, it seemed to be talking about another world as jobless claims dropped again.
Retail sales increased across the board more than expected.
There will not be lumps of coal in those stockings as consumers are out shopping.
It is not just shopping from Amazon this year.
Bricks and mortar retailers such as Macys and Best Buy posted significantly higher earnings.
Nike significantly beat earnings projections.
That also was the case for Lowes and Home Depot. Supply constraints are real, but it has yet to stop people spending.
So from my viewpoint, it appears to be a very, merry holiday season.
I know each one of us has experienced pain and suffering this year, but if it was ever a time to be hopeful for better times, this has to be it.
I know that I’m thankful to live in such a great state in such a great country.
I know there is much that needs to be improved, but we can take thanks in what we have and hope to attain every day.