CKBlog: The Market


Monday, February 12, 2024

But We’re at All-Time Highs

by Steve Haberstroh, Partner

When markets are at all-time highs, investors tend to be cautious about putting more capital to work. Have you caught yourself saying something like this recently? “I know I should invest more, but we’re at all-time highs ... “

Read on: But We’re at All-Time Highs


Tuesday, January 23, 2024

2023 Year in Review

by The CastleKeep Team

With all of this uncertainty, why wouldn’t I just hold cash and earn my 4ish percent with no risk? If you rewind 12 months, this question seemed reasonable. Investing in “risk” assets felt too risky at the time for many ...

Read on: 2023 Year in Review


Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Risk Reversal: 2023 Semi-Annual Review

by The CastleKeep Team

If last year was described as “risk off,” this year can be described as “risk on”—at least through the first half of 2023. It likely caught many market participants off guard.

Read on: Risk Reversal: 2023 Semi-Annual Review


Friday, March 10, 2023

Bank Stocks Swoon

by Charlie Haberstroh, CEO & CIO

The headlines told it all today. From the Wall Street Journal, “Banks Lose Billions in Value after Tech Lender Stumbles”. That tech lender, Silicon Valley Bank (SIVB), certainly stumbled—losing more than 60% of its value in today’s trading session and about 20% more in after-hours trading.

Read on: Bank Stocks Swoon


Tuesday, January 31, 2023

2022 Year in Review

by The CastleKeep Team

In 2022, The S&P 500 Index dropped nearly 20%. The Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index dropped 13.01%. The 60/40 portfolio breakdown dropped 16%—the third-worst loss for that portfolio style since 1950. It is also the first time in history that both indexes had double-digit losses. The staggering losses bled out to other asset classes.

Read on: 2022 Year in Review


Friday, October 21, 2022

2022: An Unprecedented Year (thus far)

by The CastleKeep Team

Investors virtually had nowhere to hide through the first three quarters of 2022. If you own a portfolio of stocks and bonds, it has been a painful year. Just hold on.

Read on: 2022: An Unprecedented Year (thus far)


Monday, July 25, 2022

2022 Semi-Annual Review

by The CastleKeep Team

The good news and the bad news about the 2022 first six months for the S&P 500 Index.

Read on: 2022 Semi-Annual Review


Wednesday, May 25, 2022

State of the Market Q&A

by Charlie Haberstroh, CEO & CIO

Thoughts on what to do in today’s market from the vantage point of 50 years of investing

Read on: State of the Market Q&A


Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Bonds are Down More Than Stocks

by Steve Haberstroh, Partner

Stocks are well off their all-time highs. Bonds should be higher right? Wrong.

Read on: Bonds are Down More Than Stocks


Thursday, February 24, 2022

The Ukraine Invasion

by Charlie Haberstroh, CEO & CIO

Times like these are why we believe CastleKeep clients are best served by diversified portfolios and a long-term approach.

Read on: The Ukraine Invasion


Sunday, January 30, 2022

2021 Year in Review

by Steve Haberstroh, Partner

The bull market in risk assets continued in 2021, led by oil, US stocks, and real estate. In fact, only US corporate bonds, emerging market stocks, and gold were down on the year.

Read on: 2021 Year in Review


Wednesday, July 28, 2021

2021 Semi-Annual Review: Hang On

by The CastleKeep Team

We urge clients to remain invested, even during the darkest of times. This strategy has paid off over time, and the first half of 2021 has been no different.

Read on: 2021 Semi-Annual Review: Hang On


Wednesday, March 03, 2021

The S&P 500 Index is Underperforming Itself

by Steve Haberstroh, Partner

If you’ve been a big believer in “just owning the [S&P 500] index,” make sure you know which one you own.

Read on: The S&P 500 Index is Underperforming Itself


Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Look Out for Outlooks 2021 Edition

by Steve Haberstroh, Partner

It’s that time of year again where strategists are paraded on TV to share their predictions for the market in 2021. Ignore them. Here’s why.

Read on: Look Out for Outlooks 2021 Edition


Saturday, January 30, 2021

GameStop Nonstop

by Steve Haberstroh, Partner

A wild ride for GameStop—but what is really going on?

Read on: GameStop Nonstop


Thursday, January 28, 2021

SPAC Attack

by Steve Haberstroh, Partner

SPACs are all the rage. So what are they, and why all the hype?

Read on: SPAC Attack


Wednesday, January 20, 2021

2020 Year in Review

by The CastleKeep Team

Everything happened in 2020. If you were confused in 2020, you weren’t alone.

Read on: 2020 Year in Review


Monday, December 21, 2020

You Just Bought Tesla

by Steve Haberstroh, Partner

If you own an S&P 500 Index fund, you just bought Tesla.

Read on: You Just Bought Tesla


Sunday, November 08, 2020

Election Reaction

by Steve Haberstroh, Partner

Record COVID-19 cases globally. A contested election. A potential Democrat sweep. What does the stock market do?

Read on: Election Reaction


Friday, October 16, 2020

Election Deflection

by Steve Haberstroh, Partner

Tensions surrounding the upcoming Presidential and Congressional elections are increasing. Investors are concerned. But, the stock market isn’t political. The market doesn’t operate in a voting booth; stocks are executed on a trading floor ...

Read on: Election Deflection


Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Mega Tough to Play Microsoft

by Steve Haberstroh, Partner

If you find yourself buying stocks because your friends have made money in them or you want to sell a good business which stock has languished, take a look at Microsoft’s two-faced, two-decade run.

Read on: Mega Tough to Play Microsoft


Wednesday, July 22, 2020

2020 Semi-Annual Review: A Tale of Two Quarters

by The CastleKeep Team

We end the analytic portion of our review by reminding you that it pays to hold on. So, thank you for doing just that, especially during the most volatile and perhaps scariest six months some of us can remember.

Read on: 2020 Semi-Annual Review: A Tale of Two Quarters


Thursday, June 11, 2020

In Recession

by Steve Haberstroh, Partner

We’re in a recession. So do we buy or sell now, or what?

Read on: In Recession


Wednesday, April 15, 2020

The Longest Quarter

by The CastleKeep Team

We started our 2019 Annual Review letter with “Everything Worked.” The opposite was true in the first quarter of 2020. Nothing worked. It was very ugly and it happened so fast.

Read on: The Longest Quarter


Thursday, March 26, 2020

Three Million Jobs Lost

by Steve Haberstroh, Partner

As I type this, the S&P 500 Index is up 3% to 4%. More than three million people lost their job last week! How on earth is this possible?

Read on: Three Million Jobs Lost