Stocks hit some turbulence in September,
turning cautious amid slowing economic growth
and policy debate in Washington.
The Dow Industrials fell 4.3 percent,
but Standard and Poor's 500 Index
lost 4.8 percent. The Nasdaq composite dropped more than 5 percent.
Investor sentiment soured as the month progressed. Weighing
on stocks were Fed uncertainty, fiscal and tax
proposals from Washington, and higher interest rates.
Stocks appeared to settle down late in the month
after the Fed meeting, where Fed Chair Powell outlined plans
for tapering and interest rates.
But volatility picked up as the 10-year Treasury yield
climbed in the final days.
Technology and other high-growth stocks
felt the bump in yields, which added to losses as the month
closed. In the month ahead,
look for more talk about Jerome Powell, whose four-year term
as Fed Chair ends in February
2022. President Biden is expected to act soon,
considering that any nomination needs to undergo a Senate
confirmation process.
Powell's prospects for being renominated
appear to be less certain than ever.
For now, he seems to enjoy support in the Senate.
But if resistance builds, it could have an unsettling impact
on the markets.
"Leaf peeping" is the unofficial term
for visiting the brilliant changing colors of fall
foliage.
It's not unusual for such trips to be
part of a couple's getaway weekend
or even an outing with friends.
Mid-October is the time for "peak color"
in the Northeast, Appalachia, and the Great Lakes region.
It's a great time to enjoy the visual display
that Mother Nature provides.
Humans aren't the only ones to see autumn as a time of change.
As winter approaches,
some animals expand the parts of their brains
that let them find food. Wherever you
look for beauty this season,
here's to "falling" in love with nature.