Fourth Quarter 2024
If you heard that the war in Ukraine would continue, unrest would heighten in the Middle East, a former President would be shot during a contentious Presidential election season, and the Federal deficit would reach an all-time high, you might think that the equity market would struggle. Fortunately, for long-term investors, the first three quarters of 2024 have been recorded as the best first three quarters of any year in the 21st century.
However, the third quarter was not a smooth ride by any means. As you can see from the charts, investors had a roller coaster ride, and volatility remained a main characteristic of an investor’s journey. August was the S&P 500’s most volatile month in nearly two years after several factors, including weaker-than-expected jobs data for July, thus increasing recession concerns. Equities regained most of their losses by the end of the month and, after taking another dip in early September, were once again in record-breaking territory by the end of the quarter. Read more