The Money Wise guys start the show with a rapid-fire market update for the week just passed. The group recap a strong week for Wall Street, with all three major indices closing at record highs despite the ongoing government shutdown. The Dow climbed more than 1,000 points, while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ each gained over 1.5%, proving once again that the market is more interested in fundamentals than political headlines.
The guys discuss how the markets shrugged off the lack of economic data releases due to the shutdown, even treating the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, slightly cooler month over month but 3% year over year, as a “Goldilocks” number. The conversation turns to the Federal Reserve’s long-debated 2% inflation target, questioning whether it’s time to move the goalpost closer to 3%, given historical averages and the structure of the current economy.
They also touch on challenges within the housing market, including rising mortgage rates, mismatched buyer and seller dynamics, and growing hesitancy among potential homeowners. Despite negative sentiment and political noise, the market’s resilience and steady climb reflected continued confidence in the broader economic backdrop.
A Government Shutdown
Despite the ongoing government shutdown, the markets have remained largely unfazed. Historically, short-term shutdowns have had minimal long-term effects on stocks, as investors tend to focus on broader economic fundamentals rather than temporary political disruptions. While a prolonged shutdown could delay key economic data releases, creating uncertainty for policymakers and analysts, it doesn’t directly halt private-sector activity or corporate earnings growth. In fact, markets often view the lack of government data as a pause in potential bad news, allowing momentum to continue. Overall, unless the shutdown begins to meaningfully affect consumer spending or confidence, its impact on the market is expected to be limited.
In the second hour, the Money Wise guys share The Best Investment Advice Ever . You don’t want to miss the details! Tune in for the full discussion on your favorite podcast provider or at davidsoncap.com, where you can also learn more about the Money Wise guys or take advantage of a portfolio review and analysis with Davidson Capital Management.
