Global Stock Markets Slide on China Fears
WEEKLY UPDATE - AUGUST 24, 2015
In This Issue
U.S. stocks ended a defensive week in the red as investor sentiment deteriorated in the face of fresh worries out of China. For the week, the S&P 500 fell 5.77%, the Dow lost 5.82%, and the NASDAQ slid 6.78%.[1]
Much of last week's selloff can be attributed to ongoing worries about China. After Chinese officials unexpectedly devalued China's currency two weeks ago, recent economic releases indicate that the world's second-largest economy is rapidly slowing.[2]

A slide in global crude oil and other commodity prices also contributed to fears of a slowdown. Oil breached the $40/barrel level on a combination of supply and demand worries. Though domestic producers have cut back on drilling operations, OPEC producers like Saudi Arabia and Iraq continue to hold the spigot wide open in the hopes of chasing U.S. producers out of the market. On the demand side of the ledger, investors are worried that a slowdown in China might affect the world's appetite for oil.[3]

When markets take a dive, it's natural to worry about what's happening and where markets will go next. However, part of being a stock investor is taking market swings in stride. Now is the time to stay cool-headed and focused on your long-term goals. We are keeping a very close eye on markets worldwide and will update you as needed during the evolving situation. While we can't predict where markets will go in the next days and weeks, we focus on helping clients manage their wealth in many market environments.

Looking ahead, investors will be targeting a slew of domestic data this week, including an important economic outlook report from the Federal Reserve. This week's Jackson Hole Symposium, a gathering of global economists, will hopefully provide additional clarity from Fed economists due to give speeches. Investors will also be watching for more news about Greece's snap elections, as well as more data out of China.[4]

ECONOMIC CALENDAR: 
Tuesday: S&P Case-Shiller HPI, New Home Sales, Consumer Confidence
Wednesday: Durable Goods Orders, EIA Petroleum Status Report
Thursday: GDP, Jobless Claims, Pending Home Sales Index
Friday: Personal Income and Outlays, Consumer Sentiment




Notes: All index returns exclude reinvested dividends, and the 5-year and 10-year returns are annualized. Sources: Yahoo! Finance and Treasury.gov. International performance is represented by the MSCI EAFE Index. Corporate bond performance is represented by the DJCBP. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly.

HEADLINES:

Weekly jobless claims rise more than expected. The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose more than projected last week, though the underlying trend is consistent with continued labor market improvement and the previous week's claims were revised downward.[5]

Housing starts boom. Groundbreaking on new homes rose in July to the highest level in nearly eight years. Builders ramped up activity on single-family homes, indicating that they expect significant demand later this year.[6]

Inflation rises steadily. A measure of inflation, the general increase in the cost of goods and services, rose slightly in July, supporting expectations of an interest rate hike this year.[7]

Existing home sales rocket to eight-year high. Resales of U.S. homes increased more than expected in July, rising 2.0%, and indicating that the housing market has legs.[8]

"Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." 

 - John Wayne

Summer Fruit Galette
Take advantage of ripe summer fruit with this free-form tart.

Serves 8

Ingredients:

2 pounds ripe red plums, peaches, or nectarines, cut into small wedges

⅓ cup granulated white sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 store-bought pie crust (or use your favorite crust recipe), refrigerated until firm


Directions:
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Toss the sliced fruit with the sugar, vanilla extract, and the cornstarch. If you prefer a less-sweet pie, cut the sugar to 1/4 cup.
  2. Roll the piecrust into a 13-inch circle on a large sheet of parchment paper. Lift the paper and lay it on a baking sheet. Top the piecrust with the sliced fruit and pour any reserved juices over top. Fold the edges of the crust up in waves, overlapping the fruit by about three inches. Freeze the galette for at least 15 minutes.
  3. Just before baking, brush the top of the crust with the beaten egg. Bake the galette for about 45 minutes until the fruit is tender and bubbling, and the crust is a deep gold. If the crust is browning too quickly, cover it with foil.
  4. While the galette is baking, whip the cream in a chilled bowl to soft peaks. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap until you're ready to serve.
  5. Serve the galette warm topped with the whipped cream.

Recipe adapted from Samantha Seneviratne | RealSimple.com[9]

 

 


 

 

Don't Get Snared by Tax Scams

Though tax season is over, tax scammers work year-round to steal money and personal information from the unwary. Even if elderly taxpayers and those who speak English as a second language are most often targeted, anyone can get caught up in a tax scam. The Treasury estimates that tax scams have cost victims over $20 million since October 2013. To avoid becoming a statistic, follow these guidelines:
  • Scammers rely on fear and intimidation to do their work. If you receive a call or email that is threatening or aggressive, chances are that it is a scam. The IRS will never bring in the police or immigration authorities because of unpaid taxes.
  • Scammers often "spoof" caller ID, meaning phone calls may appear to come from the IRS or another official number. It's always a good idea to ask for a badge or case number and call the IRS directly at                   800-829-1040.
  • The IRS will never call you to demand immediate payment or call you before sending a written notice in the mail. You will always have an opportunity to appeal the amount that you owe.
  • Never pay any taxes owed by Western Union or prepaid debit card.
For more information about tax scams contact a qualified tax expert or get more information on IRS.gov.

Tip courtesy of IRS.gov[10]
Don't Flop the Flop

The flop shot, a short pitch with a high trajectory and soft landing, is one of the most technical and satisfying shots for golfers to get right. If you find yourself struggling to get your flops up and over hazards without going too far or landing too hard, try this alternative technique:

Weaken your off-hand grip by turning your hand so that your palm faces upward toward the sky. This weakened grip will help the clubface remain open at contact, giving the ball that short, sharp trajectory without adding too much power. Fine-tuning this shot will give you a lot of options for dealing with short chips in the rough as well as finicky shots with short greens.

Tip courtesy of Matt Swanson | Golf Tips Mag[11]
Control Alzheimer's Risk Factors

Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and affects millions of Americans. While there is no cure, there are a number of things you can do to help reduce your personal risk factors. Researchers who examined more than 300 Alzheimer's studies found that:
  • Heavy smoking is the most significant risk factor. Quit smoking or reduce your intake as soon as possible to limit your risk.
  • Obesity, Type-2 diabetes, and a narrowing of the arteries are also significant risk factors in many populations.
  • A healthy diet, regular exercise, and moderating alcohol consumption can help reduce Alzheimer's risk.
Tip courtesy of CNBC[12]
Keep Grass Clippings Out of Landfills

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that yard waste accounts for 18% of landfill refuse, a figure that can rise to as much as 50% during the summer gardening season. Instead of throwing away grass clippings, try the following options:
  • Throw clippings onto a compost pile.
  • Mix clippings into your mulch and add it to your garden.
  • Use a mulching mower to return clippings (and their nutrients) to your lawn.
  • If you don't find clippings unsightly, leave them on your lawn to help with moisture retention and fertilization.
  • Check with your municipality to find out whether there are recycling options in your community.
Tip courtesy of Virginia Polytechnic University[13]
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Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. 

 

Diversification does not guarantee profit nor is it guaranteed to protect assets. 

 

The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. 

 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896. 

 

The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology companies and growth companies.

 

The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. 

 

The Dow Jones Corporate Bond Index is a 96-bond index designed to represent the market performance, on a total-return basis, of investment-grade bonds issued by leading U.S. companies. Bonds are equally weighted by maturity cell, industry sector, and the overall index. 

 

The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices are the leading measures of U.S. residential real estate prices, tracking changes in the value of residential real estate. The index is made up of measures of real estate prices in 20 cities and weighted to produce the index. 

 

The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market. 

 

Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results. 

 

You cannot invest directly in an index. 

 

Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. 

 

Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors. 

 

These are the views of Platinum Advisor Marketing Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative, Broker dealer or Investment Advisor, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer or Investment Advisor gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information. 

 

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5 http://www.foxbusiness.com/economy-policy/2015/08/20/weekly-jobless-claims-rise-more-than-expected/
  
6 http://www.cnbc.com/2015/08/18/us-housing-starts-july-2015.html
  
7 http://www.cnbc.com/2015/08/19/us-consumer-price-index-rose-july-2015.html


9 http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/caramel-plum-galette

10 http://www.irs.gov/uac/Dont-Fall-for-New-Tax-Scam-Tricks-by-IRS-Posers

11 http://www.golftipsmag.com/instruction/short-game/quick-tips/grip-weak-for-strong-lobs.html  

12 http://www.cnbc.com/2015/08/21/alzheimers-risk-factors-some-may-be-controllable.html

13 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-402/430-402.html
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