Opening Statement from the January 2020 Dividend Gems

Opening Statement from the January 2020 Dividend Gems

Originally published on January 19, 2020

2019 in Review

Despite a disappointing year in earnings for the S&P 500, all three major US stock market indexes performed spectacularly well for the entire year marked by jaw dropping gains in Q4 2019, rivaling the performance in Q1 2019.

For the entire 2019 calendar year, the S&P 500 returned more than 28 percent recording its best year since the 30 percent gains in 2013. Meanwhile, the Dow delivered a very impressive 22 percent. Finally, the Nasdaq led all three major market indexes with eye-popping returns of 35 percent.

Much of the gains in the equities market were the result of increasing optimism of resolution to the trade dispute between the US and China, coupled with the Fed’s reversal in monetary policy from the more hawkish stance taken in 2018...