Q3 2019 Middle Market Business Sentiment Report

Higher taxes are not assured, and interest rates are likely to remain low. But changes elsewhere create both risks and opportunities.

In our Key Questions article, "Is All That Glitters Truly Golden?" last October, we expressed our view that gold does not merit inclusion in a strategic asset class framework. We took that position primarily because, unlike stocks and bonds, gold does not offer a stream of cash flows (e.g., dividends and earnings) one would use to estimate its value.

Better virus-related data along with an enhanced understanding of COVID-19 and treatment options contributed to better economic conditions despite the rise in new cases. Virus-related closures have been limited, and unprecedented fiscal and monetary measures are providing much-needed support in the recovery. As a result, a wide range of asset classes produced strong results for the month of July.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the United States was in a state of disarray following the Civil War. Economic booms and busts ensued all too frequently due, in large part, to a series of missteps to reunite the nation.

In this video discussion, Richard "Dick" Hipple brings decades of leadership experience as he shares his insights on the current industrial business climate along with a broader outlook on the economy.

The college experience of the past might never look the same, and the divide between the haves and have-nots may only grow wider as a result.