Connors News

17 Nov

Posted at 09:22h in Connors News

Dear Client: 2020 has been an uniquely odd year for such an even number. We hope you and your family are healthy, safe, and looking forward to regaining some sense of normalcy. It will be most welcome. The market reacted to this unprecedented health pandemic in the first quarter of 2020 with the fastest 30% decline in its history, followed by the largest 50-day advance ever during the second quarter. Given this backdrop, what would the third quarter hold?...

11 Sep

Posted at 18:25h in Connors News

Dear Client: Well, that was quite a quarter! A collective sigh of relief could be heard by investors who either sat tight with their existing investments or those who put cash to work, as the overall market moved up approximately 40% from its March 2020 lows. We witnessed the fastest 30% drawdown in the history of global equities in the first quarter, followed by the largest 50-day advance in market history in the second. The S&P 500® climbed back above 3,100...

06 Apr

Posted at 19:27h in Connors News

History is full of suddenly tragic and deeply challenging moments. Clearly and unfortunately, this current global pandemic has forced us all to confront one such moment. And just as our predecessors found, through the fog of hardship, sacrifice and tragedy shines the human spirit: solving seemingly insurmountable problems, overcoming and improving with creativity and ingenuity, and meeting the collective need. The record low unemployment, economic strength and market performance of one month ago are definitely on hold. Sharp economic contraction is...

23 Jan

Posted at 19:27h in Connors News

Thank you for the warm communications we have been receiving during the firm's 50th anniversary. We have been enjoying reflecting on the journey and celebrating with each of you. As with many milestones in life, it’s hard to believe how quickly they arrive. In our case, believing it’s really been five decades is only possible when we consider the incredible and long-lasting relationships we have enjoyed over the years. Yes, much has changed since 1969, including our offices. Our...

09 Dec

Posted at 20:59h in Connors News

In the first half of this year, the U.S.surpassed two significant milestones. The current economic expansion topped 10-years and Connors Investor Services, Inc. entered its 50th year as an independent investment advisory firm. (The moon landing wasn’t until July!) The economy’s expansion is now the longest in U.S. history. One of many theories on the expansion's longevity is that, unlike in any prior period, the economy as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), has maintained a relatively modest pace of growth...

30 Oct

Posted at 20:31h in Connors News

50 years in the making, this is the first of a four-part series that tells the story of Connors Investor Services as Jim Connors and his team grew and nurtured the firm from a research publication, The Connors Report, to an investment advisory firm managing in excess of $900M in October 2019. ...

17 Jul

Posted at 21:37h in Connors News

We have noted in past letters the importance of business labor productivity for the strength and growth of the economy. When output per man hour goes up, so does our overall standard of living. As a result, there has been legitimate concern about relatively anemic productivity figures reported in the present decade. In the 1980s and ‘90s, rapid productivity growth – and rapid economic growth – were fueled by the success of new businesses in information and communications technology, including...

22 Apr

Posted at 21:16h in Connors News

Following a tumultuous end to calendar year 2018, equity markets rebounded during the first quarter of 2019, with the S&P 500® posting its strongest 3-month opening since 1998. Global equity markets rallied, with the U.S. leading the way. Double-digit quarterly returns were achieved broadly, as the S&P 500®, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, NASDAQ, and the Russell 2000® recorded results of 13.65%, 11.81%, 16.49% and 14.58%, respectively. Market strength was fueled mainly by an increasingly dovish tilt...

01 Jan

Posted at 21:11h in Connors News

Economy and Stock Market The U.S. economy experienced another year of expansion in 2018, completing a near-record-breaking duration of annual increases dating back to 2009. Stocks also moved up through the first three quarters of the year, but then fell sharply because of heightened concern over slowing worldwide economic growth. As a result, Standard & Poor’s 500 Index showed a net loss of 6.2% for the year, not including dividends. Market volatility erupted in the fourth quarter, primarily to the...

01 Oct

Posted at 10:21h in Connors News

The U.S. economy is now into its tenth year of expansion, just eight months shy of matching the longest period of increase on record and showing few signs of slowdown. Economic strength has been broad-based with no segments showing major weakness. Corporate profits have been expanding nicely in this environment, helped also by lower corporate tax rates. Overall economic metrics have been impressive. Growth of GNP was a strong 4.2% in the second quarter. ...