Fixed income performed well in 2025, but we are proceeding cautiously, as we believe headwinds in the new year could cause the rally to stall.
Most DC plan participants share the same goal of a comfortable retirement. It’s the journey that differs and much depends on personal investment knowledge, risk comfort level and other qualities, according to the latest research by AllianceBernstein (AB).
Defaults among auto loans are noteworthy because these had been seen as a safe form of lending. Living without a car is impossible in much of the United States; in the GFC, borrowers were more likely to surrender their home than their car.
EM stocks have increasingly become tied to the fortunes and risks of the growth in AI. Should the AI capex race continue, and earnings estimates are realized, EM stocks have the potential to continue to rise, because valuations are not yet extended.
Raymond James Chief Economist Eugenio J. Alemán evaluates economic conditions heading into 2026.
Market experts from the WisdomTree recently discussed how the market is responding to the latest headlines, and where opportunities lie.
Bank of America Corp.’s equity traders posted their best fourth quarter ever as the company reaped the benefits of volatile markets and net interest income topped analysts’ estimates.
The US economy remains resilient. The gross domestic product (GDP) growth estimate from the Atlanta Federal Reserve (Fed) GDPNow model as of January 8 shows 5.4% real growth for the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025.
If you’ve been around anyone under the age of 25 lately, you have likely been exposed to the “Six-Seven” phenomenon, whereby kids react excitedly upon hearing or seeing the numbers 6 and 7 in sequence. It can come from anywhere at any time…
The Wall Street consensus forecast for 2026 earnings growth is strong by historical standards. Analysts are giddy and projecting another year of double-digit growth in S&P 500 earnings per share (EPS).
LPL Research takes a look at fourth quarter earnings season as it unofficially kicks off this week with a dozen banks and asset managers in the S&P 500 slated to report.
John Davi, Founder & Chief Investment Officer at Astoria Portfolio Advisors, highlights the firm’s 10 ETFs for 2026. Ryan Barksdale, Head of Active Equity Product at Vanguard, and Kim Gailun, Head of Equity Boutiques at Wellington Management, discuss their collaboration in bringing Vanguard’s first active equity ETFs to market.
As the S&P 500 continues its record-breaking ascent into early 2026, financial advisors are prioritizing diversification.
Big banks begin reporting tomorrow with JPMorgan Chase. Fundamentals may need to be robust to match the sector's recent Wall Street gains, and loan demand could get a close look.
US Treasuries slipped Tuesday as traders looked to December’s inflation data for clues on how quickly the Federal Reserve may resume lowering borrowing costs this year.
As we step into the new year, many of us are setting personal and professional goals for what we hope to accomplish in the months ahead. The same holds true for financial markets, where Wall Street strategists have been busy refining their outlooks for where the S&P 500 might finish the year.
“Party like it’s 1999” is a phrase made famous by the musician Prince’s 1982 song, which experienced a renaissance amid Y2K fears and has since entered the lexicon meaning to celebrate intensely because the future is uncertain.
Last week delivered some of the more surprising macro data I’ve seen in years: very slow job growth, but stable unemployment, and a sudden surge in output that materially lifts the outlook for earnings heading into 2026.
Instead of offering a forecast, let us consider the potential events and factors that could influence investor sentiment and move markets this year. Inevitably, no matter how many events we and others are considering today, there will be market-moving ones that are not on anyone's radar currently.
IRMAA (Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts) acts as a penalty on prosperity, lightly touching the truly wealthy and passing over the poor and those doing okay. It is a dagger aimed at the heart of affluent professionals who diligently saved for retirement and are now drawing down their ample 401(k) funds.
Quantum computing could alter productivity, industrial structure, capital allocation, and even the balance of global power. The transformation won’t happen overnight, but investors who wait for proof may find they have waited too long.
According to just about every significant economic indicator, including the December jobs numbers released Friday, the US economy is doing fine. Not great, mind you: Job growth stalled in 2025. But unemployment is low, gross domestic product growth is solid, and inflation is seemingly trending downward.
Our forecast for 2026 is for a strengthening US economy on the back of a strong fiscal spending profile due to the implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
It’s only been a few days since the start of 2026, but global equity markets are already reaching new all-time highs. Major benchmarks—including the Dow Jones Industrial Average in the U.S., Canada’s S&P/TSX Composite Index, and Japan’s TOPIX—posted strong gains this week.
The US economy seems to be in the throes of one of its biggest bursts of productivity in decades, weighing on business labor costs and hastening the disinflation process.
We find that roughly two in five Americans are on track to meet their retirement spending needs. But retirement readiness is not black and white. The typical American will have a $5,000 annual spending shortfall in retirement. That means possibly needing to cut back on spending, work a year or two longer, tap into home equity, or lean on family.
Looking ahead, we enter the new year with cautious optimism. Trade agreements have removed the most severe tail risks, but the underlying picture is mixed: inflation remains above target in the U.S., labor markets are softening, and central banks are no longer moving in unison. The key question for 2026 is whether the Fed can continue easing or whether persistent inflation forces a pause.
Living in a bipolar economy is hard. Last year saw wild swings in attitudes about the economy and financial markets. Not a bad year overall, but it was a rough ride at times. Today and next week, we’ll look ahead to 2026, drawing on my expert network and my own ideas as well.
The removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro under “Operation Absolute Resolve” has materially improved the country’s outlook by breaking a long-standing political and economic impasse that had prevented reform, external engagement and debt resolution.
This week, my friend Lyric Hughes Hale and special guest Eric Huang of Taiwan share with us the details of what could be another massive fallacy of composition. Oddly, this time the risk lies with one of the US’s largest creditors.
Stablecoin transactions reached unprecedented heights last year, buoyed by favorable policy in the US under pro-crypto President Donald Trump.
Global equities closed 2025 with solid gains, supported by strong headline returns from the world’s largest firms, along with a surprising combination of smaller companies, many of which handily outperformed the top ten in the MSCI World Index.
In 2025, the S&P 500 delivered double-digit returns for a third straight year. Heading into the fourth year of the bull market, Raymond James Chief Investment Officer Larry Adam identifies 10 themes to watch in 2026.
In a turbulent 2025 dominated by US trade policy shocks and geopolitical tensions, the global economy proved resilient. Fears of tariff-related slowdown and renewed inflation proved misplaced, as growth surprised to the upside and inflation continued to soften.
In 2026 new tax deductions and inflation adjustments impact tax brackets, rates and contribution limits. Our Bill Cass talks about what is changing in 2026 and shares planning considerations.
2026 promises to be anything but dull. Rapid AI investment and adoption will likely continue to dominate market sentiment, and given the pace of technological advancement, it is hard to imagine this won’t ultimately deliver meaningful productivity gains.
Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran said he is looking for 150 basis points of interest-rate cuts this year to boost the labor market.
US labor productivity accelerated in the third quarter to the strongest pace in two years, adding to evidence that efficiency gains are suppressing inflationary pressures from wages.
Now that 2025 has come to an end, let’s take a look at the top 10 most-read charts of the year.
The economy in the 3rd quarter grew by 4.3% adjusted for inflation, the highest growth rate for the year. The inflation rate as measured by the CPI was 2.7% in November (the latest data point), in the middle of the 2.3% - 3.0% range it has been in all year.
The backdrop for Europe’s bonds remains favorable—even as technological change creates new challenges.
The probability of strong earnings and growth-friendly policies should make emerging markets attractive to investors in 2026, in the view of Templeton Global Investments.
There’s a lot of collective wisdom about the challenge of forecasting markets and the economy. Warren Buffet once famously said: “”Forecasts may tell you a great deal about the forecaster; they tell you nothing about the future.”
Miles Lewis, Chip Skinner, Kavitha Venkatraman, Steven McBoyle and Francis Gannon talk about what they see in store for US small-cap stocks in the coming year.
ETFs have come on in leaps and bounds since the ETF rule arrived in 2019. Exchange-traded funds are taking a bigger and bigger role in the investment landscape, offering a different route into many strategies compared to mutual funds.
For the third year in a row, stock investors had reason for a celebratory year-end toast. The year started strong with the S&P 500 jumping 2.7% in January on strong earnings reports and anticipation of a more business-friendly administration.
For the third consecutive year – and sixth among the past seven – the S&P 500 tallied double-digit gains – a remarkable run. As the index climbed 16.39% for the year, it also recorded 38 new record highs.
The capture of Venezuelan President Maduro has been digested well by global markets, which is in keeping with 2025’s theme of massive volatility and solid index-level returns.
LPL Research reviews 2025 market predictions: key wins, misses, and lessons across equities, fixed income, and the U.S. economy.
Geopolitical risks remain elevated as the markets continue to digest the impact of trade tariffs. What does this mean for private markets? Franklin Templeton Institute shares its outlook.
