Topic: How To Invest

What is Pat’s commentary for the week of November 13, 2018

Article Excerpt

I see the outcome of last week’s U.S. mid-term election as a positive development for business and investors. In the 2016 election, the Republicans won control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. In this latest election, the Democrats took control of the House away from the Republicans, but the Republicans retook and in fact strengthened their control of the Senate. This leaves the U.S. with what Americans refer to as a “divided government.” I’d be less enthusiastic if the Democrats had taken control of both bodies. After all, the key driver of fluctuating business conditions is the intended and unintended side effects of changes in government policies. U.S. President Donald Trump deserves much of the credit for launching the U.S. stock-market and business boom of the past couple of years. Business and investors saw Trump’s tax cuts, deregulatory moves and Supreme Court nominees as welcome signs of more friendly, stable, predictable governance. This was an improvement over the tax…