April was an abysmal month for most risk assets, with the S&P 500 index (large US companies) declining nearly 9 percent bringing year-to-date losses for the index to almost 13 percent.

April was an abysmal month for most risk assets, with the S&P 500 index (large US companies) declining nearly 9 percent bringing year-to-date losses for the index to almost 13 percent.
Some may say that investing is morally neutral ground – that the actions of businesses we invest in are not directly our responsibility, especially if we are far removed from the decision-making processes at play. However, the Bible teaches us a different lesson that we should pay close attention to if we want to serve the Kingdom of Heaven.
Equity markets are once again in correction territory (defined a decline of 10% or more) with some parts of the market, such as technology stocks, officially in a bear market (a decline of 20% or more).
Both equity and fixed income markets continued their downward slide last week. The war in Ukraine continues to drag on, Covid-19 lockdowns in China persist, and Federal Reserve President Powell indicated that a 50-bps interest rate increase is “on the table” at the next meeting.
We recently held our Quarterly Market Update Webinar. Watch the replay to receive market updates and predictions as well as hear from a member of the OneAscent Investment Committee on current portfolio positioning and performance.
Are investors really responsible for the unintended consequences of their choices? Many investors are solely putting their money into “the market,” and don’t ever consider that what companies do and don’t do could be part of their responsibility. Think about how Jesus taught. Every choice we make determines which Kingdom we are nurturing.
Last week the equity markets retreated, in general, during the holiday-shortened week. Inflation, the conflict in Ukraine, and the resurgence of Covid-19 all remain issues that are weighing on investors.
After rallying in March, equity markets retreated last week. Investors expressed concern over the Federal Reserve (Fed) meeting minutes released on Wednesday, which communicated plans to reduce their balance sheet (alongside raising interest rates throughout the year).
Whether your child is just taking their first steps or if they’re getting ready for high school, it’s never the wrong time to start planning for college. However, depending on their age and goals for the future, you may need different financial strategies to ensure they can do exactly what they want in the future.
Since our last monthly update, it’s fair to state that the Russia / Ukraine war and resulting energy and commodity price increases have clouded the outlook for US and global economic growth.