After another strong, if confusing, year in 2024, what can the US economy and financial markets do for an encore? What does the crystal ball hold in store for the upcoming year? Will stocks continue to climb? Will the economy continue to add jobs? Will the Republicans be able to govern effectively? There are a lot of questions and even more opinions.

In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement, John Norris and special guest Ryan Bernal go through half of Oakworth’s Investment Committee’s predictions for 2025.

This year has been another wild one in the markets, economy, society and geopolitics. But what have we learned? What was most surprising about events throughout the rest of the world? What changes happened in our domestic society, for good or bad? How strong is the U.S. economy, really? Does anyone tell the truth anymore?

In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the year that was in 2024, and where they think everything is headed in the upcoming year.

Over the weekend, Syrian rebels overthrew the Assad dynasty, which had ruled the country for 5 decades. On Monday, the US stock market shrugged, and meaningful news coverage of the event was hard to find. Do American investors simply not care about the rest of the world? After all, there seem to be a lot of global problems and US stocks are at an all-time high. Further, what is it about the Middle East where just about all countries have a powerful king or some other form of strongman or junta calling the shots? Will it ever change?

In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the recent Syrian Revolution, and why Americans ignored it almost as soon as it happened.  

The global wholesale diamond market has essentially collapsed over the last several years. Publicaly traded jewelry companies have been struggling with softer revenue and earnings. With the exception of perhaps ultra-high end brands, the demand for fine jewelry has essentially stalled. Is this due to the consumer being strapped for cash? Or have consumer preferences changed? After all, the demand for fine china and antique wooden furniture also seems to have waned. Could it be generational preferences or is it purely economic? Has supply outpaced demand?

In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss how problems in the jewelry sector have more to do with alternatives and supply than changing consumer preferences.

Last week, Target Corporation announced disappointing sales growth for its 3rd Quarter of 2024. This was just another hint at a broader U.S. consumer slowdown or cooling. While spending forecasts aren’t dire, how much fuel does the average American household have in the tank to propel the upcoming holiday shopping season? Will it be merry and bright for retailers? Or will Santa be leaving coal in their stockings?

In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the upcoming holiday shopping season, and whether the U.S. consumer can continue to spend money at the same pace it has.

Though November 20th, Bitcoin has more than doubled in value since the start of 2024. Since the end of 2022, it has more than quintupled. But why? Even the most passionate crypto investors have a difficult time explaining exactly what Bitcoin is in terms the average person can understand. It doesn’t pay dividends or interest. It doesn’t generate revenue or profits. You can’t hold it. Heck, you can’t even see it. So why do certain investors love it as much as they do? This asset class which exists out in the technological ether?

In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the recent rally in Bitcoin and wonder just how much longer can it last. After all, it seems like we have been through this previously. So, is this time different?

Now that the U.S. elections are finally over, investors are looking at their portfolios and wondering if the United States is still worth the risk. Will it still be able to generate attractive rates of growth? Are its institutions still relatively stable? Is its currency still sound? Will the Republicans spoil a good thing?

On this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss how the U.S. remains the most attractive investment market for the foreseeable future.

The U.S. stock market took off like a rocket the day after the election. Why did it rally as strongly as it did? Was it policy? Something to do with Trump himself? Relief the painful campaign process was finally over? Or could it be the next 2-4 years looks a little less cloudy than it did on Monday? After all, investors have already had 4 years of a Trump presidency. Or could it be some sort of combination?

In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the markets’ extreme reaction following the U.S. elections, and what to expect for the remainder of 2024 and moving into 2025.

Leading up to election, social media has been inundated with posts about minimum and living wages. However, what are they exactly? Do they actually work? Whom do they benefit and whom do they hurt, if anybody? Or, are they mostly political props candidate use to curry favor with voters?

In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the minimum wage and the concept of a living wage, and why they are difficult to enact, at best, across a nation the size of the United States.

In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss trends in the restaurant industry and the likely causes for many of the recent closures. John also gives a huge shout-out to Current Charcoal Grill here in Birmingham.

After another crazy year in the economy and markets, will there ever be a return to some sense of normalcy? Join John Norris, Sam Clement and David McGrath from our investment committee in this recorded webinar panel discussion on this topic and more:

- How will the Fed rate cuts impact the economy? - Why the disconnect between the economic data & public perception? - What can the stock market do for an encore? - Will the U.S. be able to avoid a recession? - Will the presidential election have an impact on the markets?

We'll talk through this and more! Plus, listen in on our Q&A session at the end.