Every new year provides an opportunity for fresh starts and to reimagine what is possible. As such, we offer a list of four New Year’s resolutions for advisors. Kick your 2024 off right by making these promises to yourself.
A stunning post from VisualCapitalist showed a poll of 8550 investors and 2700 advisors and the gap between the two of future portfolio return expectations. The poll was global; however, I will focus on this post’s domestic portfolio return expectations.
Municipal Bond Strategist Jim Grabovac looks at how the municipal bond market wrapped up 2023 and shares his expectations for the year ahead.
Markets rose last month, continuing November’s rally as interest rates pulled back even more on expectations of Fed rate cuts in 2024.
Several strategists in the gold space expect the precious metal’s rally to continue in 2024. And some even believe it could outperform all other commodities this year.
It’s forecast season again, the time when people like me tell people like you what will happen this year. Sadly, we are often wrong.
The U.S. is adding new renewable energy capacity at a record clip, but that doesn’t mean it’s ready to quit fossil fuels just yet.
Private credit has in a little more than a decade evolved from a niche asset class to a key component of a diversified investment portfolio. We think it will be even more important in 2024 as banks’ reluctance to lend widens the opportunity set for investors.
In 2024, inflation, interest rates, and the presidential election will likely be on top of ETF investors’ minds. Here are four other lesser-known trends and insights — both positive and negative — to consider in 2024.
The ETF industry is buzzing as long-awaited spot bitcoin ETFs are likely to get the green light from the SEC in the coming days. We expect trading of multiple products to begin soon after.
With a new year brings a new chapter in the exciting growth of artificial intelligence. AI had a major breakout year in 2023 as OpenAI’s ChatGPT exploded into the public eye in the Spring.
Cryptocurrency is once again poised to be the financial story of the year. Accordingly, VettaFi will be hosting the Cryptocurrency Symposium on January 12th at 11 am ET.
The long-awaited recession never materialized in 2023 as the sectors of the economy rotated from hot (i.e., travel and leisure) to cold (i.e., housing) over the last few years.
Bond yields are up—that’s good news for income investors, but secular forces still pose headwinds for inflation-adjusted returns. We think an efficient way to generate income is by carefully assembling mixes of interest-rate and credit building blocks—and incorporating private-market exposure for additional diversification and return potential.
After a year when advisors were relatively cautious about taking on credit risk, sentiment seems to be shifting.
We think 2023 stressed the value of adapting to a new volatile macro regime and leveraging investment insight and structural forces to find opportunities.
2024 is here, and Exchange is right around the corner. Exchange has already established itself as the premier financial services conference and a must-attend event, but the 2024 edition promises to be the best yet.
The S&P 500 reversed its 2022 losses, and then some, closing the year near a record high.
U.S. equity markets defied expectations in 2023, with the S&P up 24% for the year. But while the stock market’s performance was good in 2023, it was especially good for large-cap tech stocks.
It’s hard to chart a course through equity markets in times of uncertainty. Here are our thoughts on some of the big questions on investors’ minds today.
The stock market may have started 2024 down, but that doesn’t mean investors have to. Indeed, while the broader market whimpers amid soft China data and still-lingering fear of a slowdown, some areas see major opportunities.
Welcome to 2024! As we wade into the new year, you will undoubtedly read and hear a wide range of forecasts predicting what financial markets are going to bring us over the next 12 months.
In this video, Chuck Carnevale, co-founder of FAST Graphs, provides an analysis of materials stocks.
The past year saw the ETF industry barrel past the previous record for the number of launches in a calendar year, with 543 new ETFs hitting the market. The previous record was just under 480 in 2021, meaning 2023 beat that number by more than 60 funds.
So it was a very strong year for broad equity benchmarks around the world, but it perhaps didn't feel like a great year for many investors. There's economic uncertainty for sure.
As some of you will be aware, we have recently changed our business model, following an approach from a client who encouraged us to invest directly in listed securities on the back of the same seven megatrends that have formed the backbone of the fund investments we have made for years.
As geopolitical tensions spike and interest rates remain elevated, 2024 is poised to be yet another tumultuous year for the world economy. This is especially true for emerging markets, which managed to avert a crisis in 2023 but could struggle to do so again if global growth fails to meet expectations.
Craig Burelle sets the stage for our Sector Outlook blog series with his views on the macro backdrop in 2024.
Enthusiasm for Japanese equities picked up in 2023 as evidenced by the 28% rally in the TOPIX (local) index through November.
Here are our 10 themes for 2024. Count on more than a few surprise ingredients throughout the year to spice up the financial markets.
Semiconductors are the foundation upon which artificial intelligence (AI) thrives, but knowing that is only part of the battle. For investors using ETF to access chip stocks, some homework could pay dividends regarding identifying the chip ETFs with the most AI relevancy.
Our current 10-year outlook highlights better opportunities for cash and bonds, primarily driven by higher starting yields, and a steady outlook for stocks.
Confidence in the bond markets is fueling a two-month rally in prices as the capital markets brace for rate cuts in 2024. Whether they happen at a furious pace or not is anyone’s guess, but the expectation of cuts are providing enough spark for the rally.
Just because we still think the economy is headed for a recession, doesn’t mean we think the housing market is going to get killed.
Exploring sustainable investing complexities, this piece categorizes ESG into screening, integration, thematic investing, stewardship, and impact. Despite conflicting reports, ESG-labeled bond funds have thrived, reaching $900.5 billion in assets. Their premium indicates robust demand, countering decline narratives and underscoring continued vitality in fixed-income sustainable investing.
Bob Doll, CIO at Crossmark Global Investments, provides his annual 10 predictions for financial markets.
Banks that rely heavily on lending products for revenue have been hit by higher interest rates. But capital markets expect rate cuts in 2024. That could give bullish vibes for regional banks.
In 2023, investing in growth was highly rewarding. We all heard about the Magnificent Seven Stocks that kept climbing higher throughout the year.
The strongest stock market returns in the coming decade, perhaps longer, are likely to emerge during advances in the S&P 500 that attempt to catch up with the cumulative return of risk-free Treasury bills.
The tide has turned for bonds. Here’s what we think is in store for 2024.
The start of a new year brings a chance for reflection and re-evaluation. For investors, a chance to rebalance. Franklin Templeton ETFs’ Dina Ting and Marcus Weyerer highlight the pitfalls of overweight exposure to mega tech stocks and where in the world to look for diversification in 2024.
It's that time of year when we start thinking about the old and envisioning the new. This has always been a special season for me, perhaps because of my unusual quirk of really wanting to divine the nature of the future—not just an investment in economics but in general.
With only a week remaining to 2023, the stock market is poised to end the year up a respectable 25% or more. That’s despite a number of significant hurdles, from multiyear-high interest rates to ongoing fighting in Ukraine and the Middle East.
From the banking crisis to the U.S. debt-ceiling saga, from inflation concerns to recession fears, from soaring bond yields to slowing consumer spending, 2023 had no shortage of issues for investors to worry about.
A year of significant monetary policy tightening is coming to a close, making Franklin Templeton Fixed Income optimistic about muni bonds in the year ahead. Get the team’s 2024 muni-bond outlook.
The year 2023 will be remembered by economists and investors as 365 days of resiliency and defied expectations. This week’s Weekly Economics will dive into the U.S. economic landscape and summarize the major factors that shaped the nation’s economic trajectory this year.
For the greater part of the year, large-cap stocks have been in pole position for most of the 2023 rally. But investors who want to add a dose of growth while maintaining large-cap stability may want to give midcap equities a closer look.
Aggregate bond benchmarks rebounded this year following some of the worst showings on record in 2022. With heightened expectations that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates in 2024, fixed income enthusiasm is perking up.
Quarterly commentary giving an overview of the markets and the importance of having and implementing a strategy when investing in the markets.
When stakeholders convened at COP28, the 28th Conference of the Parties, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, it was with an unwavering acknowledgment of the real threat posed by climate change.
