The market is strange, isn’t it? Covid hits. The human toll is heart-breaking. The economic toll is gut-wrenching. And then there’s the market. A dramatic fall beginning on February 20th of last year in response to the pandemic screeched to a halt just a month later, bottoming out on March 23rd. We haven’t looked back since, rocketing past pre-Covid levels to all new highs. At the bottom, nothing was yet better in the world, and it seemed like it never would be. Nonetheless, up went the market. Did you stay put? This is the 5th edition of this chart, and …
Frequently “Oaked” Questions
You Asked, So We’ll Answer FOQ: Why do I keep hearing about “SPACs”? Short: When celebrities like Shaquille O’Neill and Serena Williams get involved in an investment, it makes headlines. Long: It’s a new craze that’s getting a lot of attention. They were invented in the ‘90s, but recently, this happened: FOQ: So what is a SPAC? Short: Special Purpose Acquisition Company Long: They are “blank check” companies with no operating history, where the founders raise money from investors with the hope of one day finding another company to buy with that money. If a traditional IPO is a …
Frequently “Oaked” Questions
You Asked, So We’ll Answer FOQ: What’s going on with GameStop stock? Short: It’s a frenzied mania. Long: For a moment, it seemed that GameStop’s stock just couldn’t be stopped, despite the fact that the company has seen five new CEOs since 2017, was on the brink of bankruptcy earlier this year when its stock hit a low of $2.57 in April 2020, and has seen profits steadily decline over recent years. GameStop shares closed Friday (1/22) at $65.01 and proceeded to jump to $144.47 by mid-morning Monday (1/25). It was the single most traded name in the U.S. …
Some Reflection…and Some Humor
Well, that was a year to remember. Or to forget. To find perspective. To find purpose. It was a year to say goodbye. Or to say “I love you” once again. To find hope. To make it count. It was a year to grow stronger. To unite. To sacrifice. To fight together. It was a year that reminded us what’s important in life. Let’s never forget it. Here’s to a much brighter 2021! John, Bill, Mark & Melanie