As the US economy hums along month after month, minting hundreds of thousands of new jobs and confounding experts who had warned of an imminent downturn, some on Wall Street are starting to entertain a fringe economic theory.
New home construction in the US slowed last month as a leveling off in interest rates has given way to a lull in housing demand and caution among builders.
Policymakers around the world are struggling to confront a surging greenback and lofty US interest rates, according to Mohamed El-Erian.
As he announced his latest round of student loan forgiveness last week — the previous one was just last month — President Joe Biden was greeted with an unpleasant reminder of why his policy is not only ill-considered but also ill-timed.
Fixed-income markets are back in a tizzy over inflation, thanks to the combination of rising risks for energy prices and strong retail sales data — both of which come on the heels of a higher-than-expected consumer price index last week.
Growth and inflation have remained remarkably resilient since the start of the year, causing the market to once again rethink the Fed’s rate path. As a result, the odds of a June rate cut have collapsed
Despite expectations for interest rate cuts by the Fed, yields have risen since the start of the year, with the government 10-year bond yield climbing nearly 70 bps this year through April 10. This is a sharp reversal from what occurred in Q4 2023 when the 10-year yield collapsed by 71 bps.
Economic indicators are essential tools that provide insight into the overall health and performance of an economy.
On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Investment Strategist BeiChen Lin and Product Operations Analyst McKenna Painter unpacked the latest U.S. inflation numbers. They also discussed recent rate decisions by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of Canada (BoC) as well as the economic and market outlook for China.
Improve your income potential with a tactical, unconstrained strategy that sources opportunities across geographies and asset classes. BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Fund takes a risk-first approach while seeking to deliver a consistently attractive yield.
For investors looking to position their portfolios amid ongoing uncertainty, many options strategies benefit from increased volatility.
Most US Treasury yields climbed to new year-to-date highs, with the 2-year note’s approaching 5%, after hot retail sales data further eroded investor confidence that the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rate cuts this year.
Don’t bank on an upbeat corporate earnings season to drive equities higher as much of the optimism is already priced in following the record-breaking rally this year, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. strategists.
Jeff and Ron Muhlenkamp share that although it was a quiet first quarter in economic news, the markets were not so quiet. Jeff and Ron are still watching for signs of a recession due to the inverted yield curve but also think that there is a possibility of an inflationary boom. They feel they are prepared for either scenario and give their reasons why.
There are signs that some previous "rolling recessions" are starting to turn into rolling recoveries.
Before we start discussing the Consumer Price Index again, we want to remind readers that CPI inflation is not what Federal Reserve officials use to determine monetary policy. It is true that markets put a lot of emphasis on this measure, but we would like to caution giving too much importance to it.
While the European Central Bank refrained from declaring victory at its April meeting, a June rate cut seems increasingly likely.
Fixed income poses big challenges and opportunities in 2024, with ETF leaders from several firms sharing their thoughts at ETF Exchange.
A look at private credit, and why increased activity in the broadly syndicated loans space is not necessarily a bad thing for direct lending, and vice versa.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and Bitcoin were top of mind at Paris Blockchain Week, where I had the privilege of presenting to an enthusiastic crowd. The blockchain and digital assets event, held beneath the world-famous Louvre Museum, attracted close to 10,000 people, an impressive 25% increase over last year, as Bitcoin traded near its all-time high and AI dominated headlines.
he current state of the market for renters is akin to being in the eye of a multi-year hurricane. Rents surged in 2021 and 2022, driving a wave of apartment construction that helped to stabilize or even lower prices this year.
Investors wagering on an extension of last year’s global bond gains have been served a harsh reality check.
The US is somehow home to the most valuable electric vehicle producer in the world and, simultaneously, an also-ran in the race for EVs. How did that happen?
The first quarter was strong for major U.S. investment banks as the economy grew and M&A and IPO activity accelerated.
Senior Investment Strategist Tracey Manzi notes that with a Federal Reserve easing cycle on the horizon, the fixed income markets are relatively attractive.
2024 got started in a similar fashion to which 2023 ended: eyes were tightly focused on the proverbial briefcase of Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell as to interest rate policy…and the conclusion for now is that interest rate cuts in 2024 remain largely on the table.
Private markets continue to become an even more prevalent component of investor portfolios, providing access to an expanded opportunity set and strong diversification beyond traditional stocks and bonds.
The S&P 500 has been touching new highs after a rocky start to the first quarter of 2024, and is doing the same thing again at the start of Q2. While market corrections will happen invariably, it’s a reminder that traders can always take advantage of any short-term weakness.
March U.S. consumer prices rose faster than expected. The reacceleration in supercore inflation suggests the strong inflation readings at the start of the year may not have been mere blips.
Here's an interesting set of charts that will especially resonate with those of us who follow economic and market cycles. Imagine that five years ago you invested $10,000 in the S&P 500. How much would it be worth today, with dividends reinvested but adjusted for inflation?
I have been arguing for almost a year now, here and elsewhere, that US consumer price inflation would become sticky after a period of favorable disinflation going into the end of 2023. Wednesday’s hotter-than-expected data release, the third in a row, is evidence that this scenario is indeed unfolding.
If the rising price of homeowners insurance were factored into the US Consumer Price Index — a key metric of inflation — it could have added 80 basis points, or about 0.8%, to last year’s CPI increase of 3.4%, according to an analysis from Bloomberg Intelligence.
The March U.S. inflation report and other macro data will likely prompt a change in the Federal Reserve’s trajectory in 2024.
A third consecutive month of higher-than-expected inflation data dealt a double-barreled blow to Joe Biden’s political prospects ahead of November’s election, exacerbating concerns voters could punish him over high prices and delaying hopes for Federal Reserve rate cuts the president has predicted.
The Japanese economy and stock market are turning a corner after decades of disappointment. Mutual Series believes finding the companies that are truly embracing reform could prove crucial in uncovering and unlocking tremendous value over the next few years.
Signs that inflation has yet to release its grip on markets have simmered for weeks. Now they’re boiling over after Wednesday’s hotter-than-forecast consumer price index sent stocks and bonds reeling.
It can be a tall task to compare diverse lifetime income solutions. Applying a comprehensive framework may enable a level playing field.
Not even an uptick in inflation or lofty stock valuations could keep the bulls at bay. Here are some of the popular ETFs in the first quarter.
Given that many people consider gold prices to be a macro barometer, reflecting trends in the economy, inflation, currency, and geopolitics, let’s identify the driving force behind the recent surge in the price of gold.
A measure of underlying US inflation topped forecasts for a third straight month, heralding a fresh wave of price pressures that will likely delay any Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts until later in the year.
A block trade in US short-term interest-rate futures Tuesday was the biggest on record and helped drive gains for the Treasury market.
How might investors consider positioning their portfolios amid today's complex and uncertain economic landscape?
Market and industry trends are shining on US financial stocks, whose fortunes might be changing for the better across diverse sub-industries.
Bond laddering, particularly within the confines of the ETF wrapper in funds such as USIN, can be useful to advisors and investors.
Economic indicators are released every week to provide insight into the health and performance of an economy. Last week featured employment updates.
Having a comprehensive retirement income plan that is regularly updated, accommodates changes in spending needs, inflation, market fluctuations and taxes is crucial for peace of mind in retirement.
A steady march higher in markets was snapped by a stretch of jarring volatility as traders gave hints there’s a limit to their appetite for hot economic data.
Treasury yields reached their highest levels of the year Monday — where they swiftly attracted buyers — as traders decided two Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts are likelier than three this year.
Immigration is coming up everywhere, including economic data.
I have never come anywhere close to running a marathon of any sort. I am told the last mile could be the most difficult part of the endeavor.
