Biden's Policy Initiatives
Dear Eagle Wealth Community,
Now that several major newsgroups have projected Joe Biden the winner of the presidential election — and Congress appears divided with Democrats in control of the House and Republicans in the Senate — it’s a good time to review what type of legislative support would be needed to pass certain proposals.
The key item to remember is that any change will follow a process, which would allow some time to evaluate the economic impact. Let’s take a closer look at four examples:
- Repealing the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This type of legislation would need the approval of the House of Representatives and 51 Senate votes.[i]
- Increasing capital gains taxes. Legislation of this nature also would need the approval of the House of Representatives and 51 Senate votes.1
- Providing additional fiscal stimulus. For this type of measure, the legislation would need to move through the House and get 60 Senate votes.1
- Evaluate China tariffs, other tariffs. The president can use his executive authority to move these concepts forward.1
Right now, it’s uncertain what proposals will be taken up. Many items were discussed during the campaign, but what initiatives will take priority may become clearer in the weeks and months ahead.
If you are concerned about one or more of these policies, please give us a call. We’d welcome the chance to hear your perspective, and hopefully, we can provide some guidance.
Kind Regards,
Your Eagle Wealth Team
Office Update
In response to the State of Oregon’s new COVID-19 restrictions, our team has returned to working from home and our physical office is temporarily closed. Our technology systems allow us to offer the same great service you’ve come to expect. To better serve you, we’ll continue to use zoom video conferencing for meetings, our wealthview vault for document sharing, and DocuSign for electronic signatures. If you have questions about how to use these tools, please let us know. We’re happy to help.
A team member will work from the office and be available only for curbside service for paperwork pick-up and drop-off. We thank you for your ongoing trust and commitment to the Eagle Wealth community. We are all stronger together.
The Week on Wall Street
News of a COVID-19 vaccine ignited a rally in economically sensitive stocks and a broad retreat in technology companies last week, though enthusiasm was tempered by reports of rising new infections and fresh lockdowns.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 4.08%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 2.16%. The Nasdaq Composite index fell 0.55% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, jumped 4.01%.[i],[ii],[iii]
Vaccine Hopes
Reports of an effective COVID-19 vaccine sent stocks soaring on Monday as the end to economic uncertainty appeared to be in sight. Stocks that had been pummeled by economic lockdowns surged on the news, while the stay-at-home stocks suffered steep declines. Bond yields and oil prices both moved higher on expectations of increased economic activity.
Market enthusiasm evaporated in the days that followed, however, as higher COVID-19 infections, new lockdowns, and low expectations for a new fiscal stimulus package dampened the optimism brought on by the pending vaccine.
Stocks closed the week on a higher note, with cyclical stocks adding to their gains and technology companies shaving part of their losses.
Clouds Over Chinese Capitalism?
The market was caught by surprise last week when Chinese regulatory authorities issued draft guidelines to address concerns over abusive monopolistic practices. Shares in some of the biggest Chinese technology companies dropped on the news. This follows the prior week’s suspension of a listing of a large initial public offering for one of the country’s leading fintech companies.
It’s difficult to say whether Chinese regulators are acting on concerns that western nations have with the dominance of Big Tech companies, or if they are attempting to rein in the power and influence of privately owned corporations. An answer may not be clear anytime soon, but investors will be watching.
THIS WEEK: KEY ECONOMIC DATA
Tuesday: Retail Sales.
Wednesday: Housing Starts.
Thursday: Existing Home Sales, Jobless Claims, Index of Leading Economic Indicators.
Source: Econoday, November 13, 2020
The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision.
THIS WEEK: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS
Monday: Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Tyson Foods, Inc. (TSN), JD.com, Inc. (JD)
Tuesday: Walmart (WMT), The Home Depot (HD)
Wednesday: Nvidia Corp. (NVDA), Target Corp. (TGT), Lowe’s Companies (LOW), The TJX Companies (TJX)
Thursday: Workday, Inc. (WDAY), Ross Stores (ROST), Intuit (INTU), Netease, Inc. (NTES)
Source: Zacks, November 13, 2020
Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.
[i] The Wall Street Journal, November 13, 2020
[ii] The Wall Street Journal, November 13, 2020
[iii] The Wall Street Journal, November 13, 2020
[i] WStreet.com, November 4, 2020