Total Returns %

1 Week

YTD

Dow Jones Industrial Average

-1.03%

+4.03%

NASDAQ Composite

-2.48%

+2.36%

S&P 500 Index

-1.28%

+3.71%

Russell 2000

-2.69%

+2.45%

U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

+0.58%

-0.11%

MSCI All Country World

-2.18%

+1.79%

Source: Yahoo! Finance.  Data through 3-11-11

This past week was bad across the board for global markets.  In particular, Japan’s market really took a hit with the earthquake.  My thoughts and prayers to Japan, and hopefully containment of their nuclear power plant risks.

Global markets are under loads of pressure at this point with Europe debt issues creeping back into the news, high tension in the Middle East, surging oil and food prices, the ongoing issues with the US economy, and now a catastrophic earthquake in Japan.  Japan is the world’s third largest economy, so various sectors are bound to be impacted negatively.  Some of the sectors expected to be impacted are tourism (peak season for cherry blossoms is approaching) and automakers.

The release of the February Producer Price Index (PPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers this week should give insight into the impact of inflation in the US.  However, the numbers will be inflated slightly since the rise in oil appears to be due to speculators trading instead of supply/demand.

Would you like an analysis of your current investment portfolio?  Call me to schedule your free consultation- 913.693.7918.

John P. Chladek, MBA, CFP® is the President of Chladek Wealth Management, LLC, a fee-only financial planning and investment management firm specializing in helping families and couples who are not yet retired realize their financial goals.  For more information, visit http://www.chladekwealth.com.

All written content on this site is for information purposes only.  Opinions expressed herein are solely those of John P. Chladek, MBA, CFP®, President, Chladek Wealth Management, LLC.  Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and we make no representations as to its accuracy or completeness.  All information and ideas should be discussed in detail with your individual advisor prior to implementation.  Investment Advisory services are offered by Chladek Wealth Management, LLC, a registered investment advisory firm in the State of Kansas.  The presence of this web site on the Internet shall in no direct or indirect way be construed or interpreted as a solicitation to sell or offer to sell investment advisory services to any residents of any state other than the State of Kansas or where otherwise legally permitted.