Japan is finally experiencing much needed inflation, and the subsequent wage gains could be a catalyst for stock involvement.
A flurry of investor interest is taking place in the corporate bond market as investors scramble for yield before rate cuts.
Emerging-market local-currency bonds have rallied sharply since last October, along with other risky segments of the global bond market. However, navigating the market can be challenging.
At the beginning of the year, we took the view that emerging markets in Asia as well as Japanese equities would perform well but that the first few months would be unsettled. That's largely how it has played out.
Market rally driven by a broadening of the market and optimism that the Federal Reserve will deliver rate cuts later this year.
Gold started this week at an all-time high. It’s up about 10% since the start of the year. That’s roughly on par with the S&P 500. All of this while inflation is trending down (with some bumps).
In this video, Part 2, Chuck Carnevale, Co-Founder of FAST Graphs, a.k.a. Mr. Valuation, is going to go over how earnings growth drives dividends and shareholder returns in the long run.
Investors have been selling inflation protection in the mistaken belief that it’s no longer needed. They’ve helped create a unique opportunity.
In 1983 Bonnie Tyler's ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ rocked the FM airwaves, reaching number 1 on the Billboard chart. My father, who couldn't get enough of the tune and played it over and over.
VettaFi examines growing natural gas production from the Permian and the related midstream/MLP growth projects.
Emerging markets equities and the related exchange traded funds have long been responsive to Fed decisions on U.S. interest rates.
Technical measures and valuations all suggest the market is expensive, overbought, and exuberant. However, none of it seems to matter as investors pile into equities to chase risk assets higher. A recent BofA report shows that the increase in risk appetite has been the largest since March 2021.
Inflation looks to still be trending lower, but a relatively stubborn decline will likely inspire the Fed to start cutting rates later (and slower) than expected.
Too many companies with solid earnings growth haven’t been rewarded in narrow equity markets. That may be about to change.
With technology changing the way we live, we are taking a trip down memory lane to look back at a piece of technology that has entertained generations: classic video games.
Evidence of overstretched households is emerging, which could threaten the soft landing scenario.
ESG is a massive topic; in fact, so big that it is hard to give it justice in the approximately 1,500 words I have at my disposal in these monthly letters. Consequently, I have decided to split it over two months.
Several years ago some politicians started demanding that the Federal Reserve get audited. We think the idea has some merits but also some drawbacks, as well.
Spot bitcoin ETFs have proved to be a big story in markets this year, with asset management leaders discussing at Exchange this year.
ETFs such as the WisdomTree International Quality Dividend Growth Fund (IQDG) could be on the receiving end of renewed attention.
As a child, baseball became the core of my life. Collecting baseball cards, watching games on TV, and playing in Little League and neighborhood games absorbed my time outside of grade school. Out of this came a desire to know baseball history and become a statistics junkie.
Thursday marked the final trading day of the week, month and quarter. It seemed only fitting the two major data releases delivered the overarching message of 2024.
As the Magnificent Seven shifts into a new mode, active investing can take look ahead to further changes in the market narrative this year.
What next for stocks after a strong start to 2024? While a near-term pullback wouldn’t be surprising, we see fuel for the positive momentum to continue throughout the year ― but with selection growing more important.
Over the past 70 years, rising government debt generally has been accompanied by weaker economic activity. But it's not a simple relationship.
Negative interest rates have more cons than clear pros.
Bond investors who are overly focused on individual data points may lose sight of the bigger opportunity picture.
For lack of a better word, the fixed-income mantra is getting stale. Interest rates have peaked, and they remain at elevated levels, allowing investors to take advantage of higher income and ample cash flow opportunities.
Quarterly commentary giving an overview of the markets and the importance of having and implementing a strategy when investing in the markets.
We need a much more conservative approach to projecting budget outcomes.
A downside of investing in defensive sectors is that those groups command above-average valuation and below-average volatility traits.
More investors are willing to take on credit risk in order to attain yield, but there are other ETF options to consider.
One of the most interesting conundrums is the surging wealth gap in America. Despite two of the largest bull markets in history since 1980, most Americans struggle with making ends meet and are unprepared for retirement. Such a reality starkly differs from the belief that rising asset prices benefit the masses.
Leaders take a lot of criticism. In fact, that’s part of the job. Presidents, governors, CEOs, football coaches, other top decision makers and even your humble analyst all have to answer for what happens on their watch—even when it’s not their fault.
Gold staged a blinding comeback this week, surging to fresh all-time highs above $2,200 an ounce.
After many years of low and negative interest rates, the Bank of Japan has changed course, creating opportunities for Japanese investors and implications for global markets. Templeton Global Investments outlines the positives and the risks.
Our outlook is still positive, but it may be difficult to replicate the strong returns of the past few quarters.
In a world of information overload, financial advisors face a significant challenge in holding the attention of clients and prospects. This article, from an entertainment/TV industry veteran, provides practical advice on how advisors can use video to deliver their message succinctly and stand out in a crowded market.
In this Primer On Valuation, Part 1 of 3, Chuck Carnevale, Co-Founder of FAST Graphs, a.k.a. Mr. Valuation will cover slow growing companies, and discuss why value investing is so important no matter what your investment strategy is, no matter what your goals or objectives are.
When it comes to the private real estate sector, the mention of the U.S. commercial office sector scares many investors away. While the office sector may give some investors pause, it's also prudent to look at the bigger picture.
With India's development continuing to gain steam, one of the biggest challenges will be to avoid the mistake that others have made when they failed to recognize their newly acquired global systemic influence and adapt accordingly. Both China and Big Tech show that it is never too early to start managing one's own rise.
After two volatile years, we believe conditions are especially compelling for fixed income.
The upcoming US presidential elections transcend mere political rivalry. Stephen Dover, Head of Franklin Institute, examines the policy differences between the major parties and their potential implications on capital markets in the years to come. He also discusses whether elections and their outcomes have significantly affected equity markets or if other factors made more of an impact.
For this edition of Bull vs. Bear, Karrie Gordon and Nick Peters-Golden debate whether alts deserve portfolio allocation in 2024.
Actively managed equity ETFs are gaining traction in 2024. Consider active management on small caps and their ETFs.
After a career in design that included restoring furniture and textiles for nine presidents, Iris Apfel became a fashion icon in her 80s. This isn’t a commentary on how to live out one’s retired years (some may air-quote that term). It’s to drive home the point that she lived – really lived – to 102.
Recent signals from major central banks suggest challenges ahead with easing monetary policy amid above-target inflation.
On Jan. 30, Senior Director and Head of ESG and Investment Management Kris Tomasovic Nelson moderated an online discussion exploring the findings of Russell Investments’ 2023 Manager ESG Survey. In its ninth year, the annual survey offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of ESG practices within the investment management industry.
We believe optimism over a soft-landing scenario—where economic growth slows but a recession is avoided—may deliver more near-term market gains, as inflation declines and central banks look to start easing around mid-year.
The negative rate experiment has ended. What comes next?
