Broader is Better Equity markets ascended to record highs in the first quarter. Progress was broadly based, with most sectors rising, unlike 2023 when the market gain was dominated by a small cohort of technology stocks. This wider contribution is encouraging, because overly concentrated performance has often preceded stock market declines. The strength of the…

Year in Review 2023 began with many economists anticipating a recession. There was an epic bank failure in March, a political showdown over the debt ceiling in June, Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel in October, and ensuing war in the Middle East. All this while war in Ukraine continued. A rather dystopian timeline. But for…

September Swoon After months of steady progress, stock prices declined in September, with equity benchmarks down 4-6%. Notwithstanding this setback, most stock indexes are up for the year to date. As for bonds, prices of these more stable securities also fell in September, weighed down by rising long-term interest rates. Bartlett is accustomed to turbulence,…

Kroger Co. and acquisition target Albertsons Cos. might have to divest of even more stores than originally planned in order to get past regulators’ antitrust concerns, according to a new report.

The costs for consumers to eat food at home fell in March for the first time since 2020. That will have an impact on Cincinnati-based supermarket giant Kroger Co., which has seen results soar as prices climbed. But analysts say Kroger (NYSE: KR), the nation’s largest operator of traditional supermarkets, should fare just fine in…