“No stimulus, no problem,” say William Watts and Sunny Oh for MarketWatch.com. This week Democrats and Republicans continued to discuss another stimulus package, but the odds of any deal before the election looked increasingly remote.
Nevertheless, bulls have decided that the American consumer can probably hold on until 2021 even without further help. Retail sales rose by 1.9% in September, the fifth straight month of gains.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Stockmarkets appear to be positioning for a “blue wave” that will bring Democrats to power in the presidency and Congress, paving the way for more generous stimulus measures in January next year. Analysts say that a Democratic sweep would mean more regulation for energy, financial and healthcare businesses, while extra stimulus will boost construction and renewable energy shares, says Michael Mackenzie in the Financial Times. US presidential elections always create “anxiety and volatility” in markets, but long-term investors should “ignore the short-term market noise”.
The economic cycle and the Federal Reserve have a much bigger impact on long-term returns than whether Democrats or Republicans are in power. The S&P 500 is up by 53% since Trump took office. Under Obama it bounced by 71% and it rose even more under Reagan.
-
Two million taxpayers to be hit by £100k tax trap by 2026/27Frozen thresholds mean more people than ever are set to pay an effective income tax rate of 60% as their earnings increase beyond £100,000. We look at why, as well as how you can avoid being caught in the trap.
-
Review: Castiglion del Bosco, A Rosewood Hotel – a Tuscan rural idyllTravel Play golf, drink exquisite wine and eat good food at Castiglion del Bosco, A Rosewood Hotel, all within the stunning Val d’Orcia National Park in Tuscany
-
The rise and fall of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela's ruthless dictatorNicolás Maduro is known for getting what he wants out of any situation. That might be a challenge now
-
Polar Capital: a cheap, leveraged play on technologyPolar Capital has carved out a niche in fund management and is reaping the benefits
-
Vaccines inject billions into Big Pharma – how to profit from the sectorThe vaccines subsector received a big fillip from Covid, but its potential extends far beyond combating pandemics. Here's what it means for investors
-
'Investors should keep putting their trust in investment trusts'Interview Peter Walls, manager of the Unicorn Mastertrust fund, analyses investment trusts in a conversation with Andrew Van Sickle
-
Monks Investment Trust is worthy of the spotlightMonks Investment Trust, a global growth trust, sits in the shadow of its stablemate, Scottish Mortgage. But its record warrants attention, says Max King
-
New year, same market forecastsForecasts from banks and brokers are as bullish as ever this year, but there is less conviction about the US, says Cris Sholto Heaton
-
'Expect more policy U-turns from Keir Starmer'Opinion Keir Starmer’s government quickly changes its mind as soon as it runs into any opposition. It isn't hard to work out where the next U-turns will come from
-
Why does Donald Trump want Venezuela's oil?The US has seized control of Venezuelan oil. Why and to what end?
