Research & Insights
Our investment decisions flow from incisive perspectives.
October 2018
Kai W. Hong, CFA
Managing Partner & Chief Investment Strategist
October was host to a broad-based market decline as concerns over trade and uncertainty around the outcome of the impending US mid-term elections caused investors to reassess their positioning. The Russell 3000 Index finished the month with… Read Full Post
September 2018
Kai W. Hong, CFA
Managing Partner & Chief Investment Strategist
Trade was once again the most conspicuous concern for the markets in the quarter. With the posturing from each party becoming more and more confrontational, it was hard to see any “winners” emerging for all the “losses”… Read Full Post
August 2018
Kai W. Hong, CFA
Managing Partner & Chief Investment Strategist
August saw the continued dominance of the US markets. The Russell 3000 Index finished the month with a return of +3.5%. Smaller cap stocks led on increased risk appetite and a perception that they were more insulated… Read Full Post
July 2018
Kai W. Hong, CFA
Managing Partner & Chief Investment Strategist
July saw strong performance across most equity markets as concerns over the negative impact of trade wars subsided temporarily. The Russell 3000 Index finished the month with a return of +3.3%. Large cap stocks returned to the… Read Full Post
June 2018
Kai W. Hong, CFA
Managing Partner & Chief Investment Strategist
Trade tensions were the major driver of many market movements during the quarter with June seeing a sharp escalation in talk and action. In addition to the steel tariffs already implemented, the US announced a further $200… Read Full Post
May 2018
Kai W. Hong, CFA
Managing Partner & Chief Investment Strategist
After a brief pause in April, global market performance was mixed in May as investor enthusiasm returned to the US markets while results were more negative outside of the US. The Russell 3000 Index finished the month… Read Full Post
Leading Practices for Small and Emerging Managers, Episode 3: Building the Next Gen Investment Advisor
Our third quarterly webinar covered Keys for Small and Emerging Managers to Stay Competitive in Transition. Planning for the future of your investment advisor is critically important to preserve enterprise value and to ensure good stewardship of clients. Our speakers share how small and emerging managers have successfully (and not so successfully) planned and… Read Full Post
April 2018
Kai W. Hong, CFA
Managing Partner & Chief Investment Strategist
Following the meaningful volatility of the prior quarter, markets were relatively muted in April. The Russell 3000 Index finished the month with a return of +0.4%. Small cap stocks led for the second month with the Russell… Read Full Post
March 2018
Kai W. Hong, CFA
Managing Partner & Chief Investment Strategist
The year began largely as the prior one had ended – with generally sanguine views on economic fundamentals leading to rationalization of asset valuations. The boost of a significant fiscal stimulus in the form of US tax… Read Full Post
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act | February 2018
Thoughts on the Implications of the Legislation
Major tax reform in the United States of America is often one the most widely debated topics in the halls of Congress. The 2017 tax reform bill (officially named the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) has had its fair… Read Full Post