Special Update: 2016 in Review
BI-WEEKLY UPDATE - JANUARY 3, 2017
In This Issue
Looking back on the final trading week of a very eventful year, we saw low volume and a break from the recent rallies for domestic indexes. While international stocks in the MSCI EAFE added 0.56%, all major U.S. indexes declined.[1] The S&P 500 lost 1.10%, the Dow was down 0.86%, and the NASDAQ gave back 1.46%.[2] For the first time since November 4, the indexes posted three straight days of losses.[3] Despite these last-minute decreases, 2016 ended very differently than it began.
Last January, domestic indexes rang in the New Year with quite unpleasant performances. While the S&P 500 and NASDAQ dropped, the Dow experienced its worst-ever five-day start to a year, losing 1079 points on fears of an economic slowdown in China and plummeting oil prices.[4] 

By market close on December 30, 2016, all three indexes showed healthy growth for the year:[5]
  • S&P 500: Up 9.5%
  • Dow: Up 13.4%
  • NASDAQ: Up 7.5%
In addition to this equity growth, last week showed us a number of encouraging economic indicators for 2016, including:

Consumer Confidence Surge: On December 27, Consumer Confidence beat expectations to reach 113.7 - a 13-year high.[6] This metric indicates that consumers feel more positively about jobs, personal finances, business conditions, and more.

U.S. Dollar Increase: The dollar was up for the fourth straight year, showing a 3.7% increase for 2016 after hitting a 14-year high on December 20.[7]  

Crude Oil Recovery: After a rough start to the year, oil experienced its largest annual increase since 2009. In fact, three-dozen U.S. gas and oil producers in the S&P energy index gained more than 40% during 2016.[8] 

We all know that 2016 brought its fair share of surprises - from victories for Brexit and Donald Trump to our recent stock market rally and beyond. However, the year ended with domestic indexes up and a number of positive economic indicators. As we look toward 2017, we see opportunities for continued growth, as well as many questions that no one can yet answer.
  • Will President Trump reduce regulation and taxes?
  • Will OPEC keep its pledge to lower oil output?
  • How will China's economy perform?
  • Could more "Brexits" be on the horizon?
The questions remain, but no matter the answers, we are here to help guide you through the year - and toward your goals - with proactive, strategic support. If you want to talk about what we experienced in 2016, or what we anticipate for the year ahead, we are always here for you.

ECONOMIC CALENDAR:

Monday:  Markets Closed in Observance of New Year's Day 
Tuesday:  PMI Manufacturing Index, ISM Manufacturing Index, Construction Spending
Wednesday:  ADP Employment Report
Thursday: 
PMI Services Index, ISM Non-Manufacturing Index
Friday:  Employment Situation, International Trade, Factory Orders



Blattel News
Calendar

January 16: Office Closed
MLK Day
 
February 20: Office Closed
President's Day


"I f you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal - not to people and things." 

- Albert Einstein
Eggs, Ham, and English Muffin Casserole
 
Enjoy breakfast classics baked into one tasty meal!

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray
4 English muffins, split and toasted
6 ounces sliced Black Forest ham, roughly chopped
4 scallions, white and green parts, trimmed and roughly chopped
1 cup shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
3 cups milk
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
6 large eggs
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:
  1. Prepare a round 2-quart baking dish by lightly misting it with cooking spray. 
  2. Arrange a layer of toasted English muffin halves face-down in the baking dish, forming an overlapping shingled pattern. 
  3. Arrange a layer of ham on top of the English muffin layer below. 
  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you've layered all the English muffins and ham. 
  5. Sprinkle the top with scallions and 1/2-cup of shredded cheese.
  6. Whisk the milk, mustard, eggs, salt, and pepper until combined in a large bowl.
  7. Pour the egg mixture into the baking dish, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 5 hours or overnight.
After the mixture sits:

    8. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
    9. Discard plastic wrap and sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheese   
        over  casserole.
   10. Place dish on rimmed baking sheet and put into oven. 
   11. Bake until the eggs are firm in the middle and edges lightly brown, about              hour.

Let stand 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Recipe adapted from   FoodNetwork.com[9 ]

Beware of IRS Impersonations and Scams
 
With tax-filing season coming up, IRS impersonations and scams are upon us, too. If you receive a phone call, email, or text saying that the IRS is "threatening you with lawsuits or jail unless you pay immediately," this communication is a scam.

Here is a reminder of common ways criminals may scam you, by using actions that the IRS will never take:
  • Contact you via emails, texts, or social media channels
  • Call you to demand an immediate payment
  • Call you about your taxes without first mailing you a bill
  • Demand that you pay taxes without the opportunity for you to question or appeal the amount you owe
  • Require you to pay your taxes through a specific method, such as prepaid debit cards
  • Ask for your credit card numbers over the phone
  • Threaten to arrest you through local police or other law-enforcement groups for not paying
You can report a potential scam to the federal government in two ways:
Tip courtesy of IRS.gov[10]
Share the Wealth of Knowledge!
 
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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.

International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors.

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 indices from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.

The S&P U.S. Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index contains U.S.- and foreign-issued investment-grade corporate bonds denominated in U.S. dollars.

The SPUSCIG launched on April 09, 2013. All information for an index prior to its Launch Date is back-tested, based on the methodology that was in effect on the Launch Date. Back-tested performance, which is hypothetical and not actual performance, is subject to inherent limitations because it reflects application of an Index methodology and selection of index constituents in hindsight. No theoretical approach can take into account all of the factors in the markets in general and the impact of decisions that might have been made during the actual operation of an index. Actual returns may differ from, and be lower than, back-tested returns.

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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