Our stock market predictions for 2017

by Ehab Alalfey, Azzad financial advisor The most common question clients ask me is: “What do you think the future holds for the stock markets?” I’m new here at Azzad, but it’s the same question clients asked when I was at Raymond James. My answer is always the same: no one really knows. But if you insist, then I’ll share with you these three predictions for 2017. My first prediction: Stock markets will be volatile in 2017. Experts will try to explain how economic and political uncertainties are responsible for the volatility. The subsequent unpleasantness in the markets will have some investors bolting for the exits, which will result in even greater volatility. My second prediction: Pundits will go on television to predict financial disaster. In 2016, we were told to fear a U.S. recession, that oil prices would keep sliding, that China’s slowdown was heading into a black hole, that the Fed would raise interest rates five or more times, that the Brexit vote would be scary, and that a Trump win would crash the markets. For the most part, stocks didn’t disappoint. They fluctuated wildly in 2016 and some of these fears will undoubtedly continue into 2017. In