Commentary on some of the week's most pressing financial topics by David Joy, our chief market strategist. http://budgeting-investing.ameriprise.com/planning-and-budgeting/financial-analysis/?cid=RSS_commentary The rise in asset prices over the last six months will contribute to the ability of consumers to spend, and there is some evidence to suggest that employment could once again begin to grow as early as next year's first quarter. http://budgeting-investing.ameriprise.com/planning-and-budgeting/financial-analysis/weekly-markets-commentary/2009-11-17.asp?cid=RSS_commentary The budding global economic recovery is only in its early stages and far from demonstrably sustainable. http://budgeting-investing.ameriprise.com/planning-and-budgeting/financial-analysis/weekly-markets-commentary/2009-11-10.asp?cid=RSS_commentary Every new quarter that passes gets us closer to the end of the stimulus and to a point in time when the private sector darn well better be ready to accept the baton. http://budgeting-investing.ameriprise.com/planning-and-budgeting/financial-analysis/weekly-markets-commentary/2009-11-02.asp?cid=RSS_commentary What the Fed has to say about its intentions, especially with so much skepticism regarding real demand circulating about, will likely dominate the near-term psychology of markets. http://budgeting-investing.ameriprise.com/planning-and-budgeting/financial-analysis/weekly-markets-commentary/2009-10-26.asp?cid=RSS_commentary It may be too early in the economic recovery to expect much by way of sales growth. But that sentiment may not last much longer. http://budgeting-investing.ameriprise.com/planning-and-budgeting/financial-analysis/weekly-markets-commentary/2009-10-12.asp?cid=RSS_all Perhaps the best and the worst that can be said about the latest round of economic data is that it suggests the recovery is clearly underway, but that its trajectory remains uncertain. http://budgeting-investing.ameriprise.com/planning-and-budgeting/financial-analysis/weekly-markets-commentary/2009-10-05.asp?cid=RSS_all