A new year brings plenty of opportunities and a fresh start for portfolios. So far, those opportunities have come with a side of bullishness. As trading resumed this week after the New Year’s Day holiday, investors seemed ready to keep the party going.
However, some were nervous and hesitant about what 2017 and President-elect Trump’s policies will bring. As a result, the markets spent much of their time bouncing between gains and losses. (Dividend investors may want to pay attention to Trump’s policies. Find out why here.)
But the volatility and bouncing around may have had more to do with traders’ attitudes rather than actual data. As the start of a new month and year, there were numerous economic data points released this week. All of them continued to paint a rather bullish picture on the overall economic condition of the United States.
As for earnings, the so-called earnings season is quickly approaching and the week began to see major bellwethers report their profits. Again, guidance figures were bullish and profits came in as expected.
In the end, the shortened trading week was a reminder of the potential volatility the year’s changes could bring.
