Market Watch

Blowing and Going

3rd Quarter 2017 Hotline Market Watch by Joe A. Hollingsworth, Jr. At the end of the first quarter in 2017, the US industrial market has really never been stronger. Specifically, only 5.4% of the nation’s industrial space was vacant; and, it turns out that this percentage is the lowest rate on record. Even

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Democracy and Capitalism

2nd Quarter 2017 Hotline Market Watch by Joe A. Hollingsworth, Jr. Instead of direct comments on industrial real estate, I wanted to share some thoughts on democracy and capitalism. My belief is that democracy and capitalism literally go hand in hand. People generally cannot believe in democracy if it doesn’t bring happiness through improving

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The Trump Bump

1st Quarter 2017 Hotline Market Watch by Joe A. Hollingsworth, Jr. The so-called “Trump Revolution” that has one-half of America seemingly in despair and the other half in euphoria, from our industrial perspective, is a good thing. The full control by the Republicans of the White House, Senate, and House

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Laboring for a Better Labor Market

4th Quarter 2016 Hotline Market Watch by Joe A. Hollingsworth, Jr. After making the recent decision to keep interest rates down, Chairwoman Yellen cited an improving labor market specifically noting that labor force participation was improving off multi-decade lows. Her interpretation is that improving wages are drawing more Americans into

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Government Policy

3rd Quarter 2016 Hotline Market Watch by Joe A. Hollingsworth, Jr. When one focuses all their time on developing products and delivering them to customers, it can be tempting to take government policy as an unchangeable impediment or enhancement to business.  But, governments are competing for talent, investments and risk

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More EPA Strangulation

2nd Quarter 2016 Hotline Market Watch by Joe A. Hollingsworth, Jr. Some of you may remember our 4th Quarter 2015 Hotline Market Watch article that discussed the new International Energy Conservation Code that is being mandated by EPA, and now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is at work once again

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Finally “Liftoff” – Yawn!

1st Quarter 2016 Hotline Market Watch by Joe A. Hollingsworth, Jr. Despite much ink being spilled about the Fed’s “liftoff” last month, the increase seems to be accompanied by little disruption in the financial markets. The market operation went smoothly in a single afternoon, and short-term rates have adjusted to their first increase in nearly

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Federal Regulation At Its Finest

4th Quarter 2015 Hotline Market Watch by Joe A. Hollingsworth, Jr. In the midst of an energy revolution and where the cost of BTUs are dropping like a rock, the international committee for tree huggers has endorsed a code known as the International Energy Conservation Code. A copy of the

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Focusing on Steepness of Climb Instead of Lift-Off

3rd Quarter 2015 Hotline Market Watch by Joe A. Hollingsworth, Jr. Financial literature has become rife with rampant speculation as to when Federal Reserve “lift-off” will occur. “Lift-off” is now popular colloquial reference to the first increase in the Fed Funds rate. Each morsel of economic data or newsworthy event

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Reflections and Predictions

2nd Quarter 2015 Hotline Market Watch by Joe A. Hollingsworth, Jr. While the Federal Reserve’s current forecast suggests rates will rise later this year, let’s take a moment to reflect on what we have lived through recently on interest rates to put things in perspective. Interest rates in the developed

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