It appears that 2020 may be just as tumultuous as 2019.

We are a week away from Thanksgiving, which means that we are in the home stretch of the year. There are two things we can already say about 2019. First, it was a very interesting year. And second, the year seemed to fly by very quickly. Of course, as little time as there is left in the year, there is plenty of time left for it to become even more interesting. 

Between trade negotiations, Congressional hearings, and one more meeting of the Federal Reserve Board's Open Market Committee, there is plenty of room for surprises. However, the economy and the markets have held up pretty well in this interesting year. Stocks are up for the year, interest rates are down, and the economy is still growing – although at a slower pace than the previous year. 

A possible trade deal with China has provided some optimism in the markets, as stock gains have accelerated recently. That same optimism has caused interest rates and oil prices to rise as well. A complex deal such as this one would take many months to complete, but that does not keep the markets from reacting to positive statements made by both parties. Perhaps next year there will be one less trade war being fought. That would be good news, because there will be plenty of political wars we will have to suffer through during an election year.