GARDNER BROWN ASSOCIATES, INC.
BIO
Louis A. Gardner, President of Gardner Brown Associates Inc., has been in the Financial Services industry for over 30 years. Over the span of his career he has served as an Executive with three major insurance carriers.
Gardner Brown & Associates, Inc was started in 2008 with the objective to allow our firm to work directly with individual and corporate clients in the vast area of financial advisement.
Louis has been named one of the nation's Best Advisors by Medical Economics due to his vast knowledge and expertise in the area of financial advisement. Gardner Brown Associates is able to assist corporate clients in devising executive, core and voluntary benefits and individual clients in all areas of financial matters.
From tackling personal decisions to reaching important milestones, Gardner Brown Associates, Inc. guides you on the path to financial success. As a professional financial planning firm, Gardner Brown Associates, Inc. guarantees optimal results based on your specific needs. We are fueled by our commitment to excellence and go the extra mile to make sure our clients are fully satisfied with the services provided. Get in touch with us today for a free financial advisement consultation.
Securities offered through Lion Street Financial, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC. Investment advisory products and services offered through Lion Street Advisors, LLC, an investment advisor registered with the SEC. Lion Street Financial, LLC and Lion Street Advisors, LLC are affiliated companies but neither is affiliated with Gardner Brown Associates, Inc. Neither of these companies provide tax or legal advice. Representatives may transact business, which includes offering products and services and/or responding to inquiries, only in state(s) in which they are properly registered and/or licensed.
Check the background of this investment professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck.
CONTACT ME
(949) 375-2008 (Tel)
BUSINESS HOURS
Mon - Fri: 7am - 6pm (PST)
Saturday & Sunday: By appointment only
THE MONTH IN BRIEF
Improved economic conditions and broadened vaccine programs ignited a broad stock market rally, though rising treasury yields dragged on technology and high-growth stocks.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average led, picking up 6.62 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 4.24 percent while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite added 0.41 percent. 1
DOMESTIC ECONOMIC HEALTH
U.S. Markets
Improved economic conditions and broadened vaccine programs ignited a broad stock market rally, though rising treasury yields dragged on technology and high-growth stocks.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average led, picking up 6.62 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 4.24 percent while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite added 0.41 percent. 1
Bonds Take Center Stage
The month began strong, thanks to a retreat in Treasury bond yields, solid economic reports, and the approval of another vaccine.
However, enthusiasm faded when yields climbed higher following Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s belief that inflationary pressures will be felt in the future. When yields leveled off, stocks resumed their advance, aided by the signing of the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill into law and another round of upbeat economic reports. 2
Rotation to Cyclicals
Technology stocks and high-growth stocks played a limited role in the March rally as investors rotated their portfolios into other sectors, including cyclical names. The Nasdaq Composite early in the month flirted with a correction, defined as a 10 percent or greater pullback from a recent high.
Fed’s Guidance
Traders eagerly awaited the two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting, which ended on March 17. The Fed affirmed its monetary policy, which helped push the Dow Industrials and S&P 500 to record closing highs. Nevertheless, characteristic of the month’s trading, markets reversed themselves the next day as a pickup in Treasury yields sent technology and other high-growth stocks lower once again. 3
Despite the choppiness of the closing days of trading, stocks ended on a strong note to cap an otherwise good month for investors.
Sector Scorecard
Every industry sector ended higher in March, with gains in Communication Services (+2.04 percent), Consumer Discretionary (+3.49 percent), Consumer Staples (+8.26 percent), Energy (+2.60 percent), Financials (+6.19 percent), Health Care (+3.46 percent), Industrials (+9.01 percent), Materials (+7.67 percent), Real Estate (+6.19 percent), Technology (+0.03 percent), and Utilities (+8.93 percent). 4
What Investors May Be Talking About in April
A new earnings season is fast approaching, and investors will be poring over financial statements to gauge business prospects.
Thanks to the fiscal stimulus, vaccinations, and more reopenings, many economists believe that growth will accelerate at the macro level. Economic reports, such as retail sales and industrial production, will help economists measure the momentum.
However, inflation numbers will continue to be closely scrutinized. Any pickup could rattle investor confidence in the Fed’s policy to keep the short-term rates near zero—a central pillar supporting the financial markets (see “The Fed” section below).
WORLD MARKETS
World Markets
Overseas markets posted solid returns in March, as improving sentiment regarding an economic recovery outweighed further lockdowns in Europe. For the month, the MSCI-EAFE Index rose 2.18 percent. 5
The major European markets ended higher. Germany led, picking up 8.86 percent. France rose 6.38 percent, and the UK tacked on 3.55 percent. 6
The returns on Pacific Rim stocks were mixed. Australia gained 1.76 percent and Japan added 0.73 percent, but Hang Seng slipped -2.08 percent. 7
Indicators
Gross Domestic Product: The final read for the fourth quarter GDP growth was 4.3 percent, up from the previous estimate of 4.1 percent. 8
Employment: Led by an acceleration in hiring by the leisure and hospitality industry, employers added 379,000 new jobs in February. This beat consensus forecasts by a wide margin and lowered the unemployment rate to 6.2 percent. 9
Retail Sales: Retail sales fell by 3.0 percent in February, hampered by the month’s severe winter weather. January retail sales figures were revised upward, from 5.3 percent to 7.6 percent. 10
Industrial Production: Industrial output declined 2.2 percent. Industrial production was dragged lower by a drop in manufacturing production, which was impacted by February’s inclement weather. 11
Housing: Housing starts dropped an unexpected 10.3 percent, as severe weather and labor constraints affected activity. 12
Existing home sales declined 6.6 percent amid a tightening supply of homes on the market. Despite the drop from January levels, sales in February exceeded those in the same period in 2020 by 9.1 percent. 13
Sales of new homes fell 18.2 percent, owing to inclement weather and a tight supply. 14
Consumer Price Index: Prices of consumer goods rose by 0.4 percent in February, as gasoline prices jumped 6.4 percent. Core inflation, which excludes the more volatile food and energy sectors, was up 0.1 percent last month. 15
Durable Goods Orders: Durable goods orders fell 1.1 percent, the first decline in 10 months. 16
MONTHLY TIP
If you’re buying a house, strive to put at least 20% down so you can avoid the requirement for private mortgage insurance (PMI).