Join Fidelity Investments to explore the forces behind the industry's expansion, how advisors are incorporating active ETFs into portfolios, and where Fidelity's enhanced active equity ETF strategy fits into the evolving opportunity set.
Join Fidelity for a product due diligence session exploring how the Fidelity Yield Enhanced Equity ETF (FYEE) captures derivative opportunities in today’s unique market environment.
Join the team at CoinShares for a product due diligence session covering the CoinShares Bitcoin Mining ETF (WGMI).
Join the experts at Thornburg Investment Management for a product due diligence session covering the Thornburg Premium Income Builder ETF (THOR), an active ETF which combines a high-conviction global portfolio of dividend paying companies with an actively managed options overlay.
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh has changed that dynamic as much as it is possible to. What he is doing was simply unimaginable a few years ago. Not to mention anything like it for the last 40 years. While we will never get rid of the FOMC, the chairman is changing the cadence of how they make their decisions.
Janus Henderson Investors today announced two senior investment appointments that will further deepen the firm’s leadership across its global equities franchise.
Gold rallied alongside Treasuries as a slump in oil prices helped ease concerns about inflation, following the Federal Reserve’s first interest-rate hike since 2023.
Open any market commentary today and the conversation is dominated by giants. Mega-cap technology companies command outsized shares of major indexes, and the private markets tell a similar story, as we watch companies increasingly staying private well past the point where they once would have gone public.
Join Defiance ETFs’ Brendan Cavanaugh, CFA, and VettaFi’s Kirsten Chang as they discuss how advisors can gain exposure to companies advancing autism care.
Nominal retail sales were up 1.2% month-over-month and up 6.0% year-over-year in August. After adjusting for inflation, real retail sales were up 0.8% month-over-month and up 2.6% year-over-year.
A spinout from the family office for the billionaire owners of US construction giant Michels Corp. is expanding its public equities strategy with a fund focused on US infrastructure.
In an environment marked by the Fed’s first rate hike in three years and ongoing market uncertainty, income-focused investors face a unique dilemma. While cash alternatives offer attractive yields in the short-term horizon, they leave portfolios vulnerable to reinvestment risk should the
As ETF strategies continue to expand into new asset classes and structures, the SEC has been taking a closer look at how some of these products fit within existing regulations.
The new investment case for global power, security and affordability. The phrase “energy transition” has served as a useful political and cultural shorthand, but it has become a misleading framework for capital allocation. Franklin Templeton Institute explodes new opportunities for investors—and where shifts in thinking may be needed.
The U.S. Federal Reserve delivered on consensus expectations by raising its policy rate by 25 basis points (bps) at its September meeting.
Municipal bonds might still offer attractive tax-advantaged income and relatively stable credit quality for investors who understand the risks.
The 2026 U.S. midterms are rapidly approaching, with major implications. Muni bonds, in particular, may be impacted.
Huawei Technologies Co. is accelerating the debut of its next-generation AI chip in 2027 by several months as it aims to replace Nvidia Corp. in China and compete on the global stage.
ETFs are increasingly breaking down the wall between public and private markets. Asset managers are finding ways to “ETF-ize” private equity and pre-IPO holdings — giving retail investors liquid, fractional access to growth opportunities historically restricted to institutional and accredited buyers. As companies stay private longer, the most explosive growth phases of high-profile startups often occur off public exchanges.
The shortened Labor Day trading week brought little cheer for stock and bond investors. Coming off a long weekend that saw increased hostilities between the US and Iran, oil prices pushed higher, topping $100/barrel. Gas and diesel prices also spiked: diesel hit an all-time high of $6/gallon, while regular gas jumped to a Labor Day record of $4.15/gallon.
Advancements in technology, combined with significant stock market gains in recent years, have created a new set of opportunities—and challenges—for investors. For example, investors holding a concentrated position in a highly appreciated stock may face a difficult trade-off between the risk of a market downturn and the potentially significant tax cost of diversifying the position.
When it comes to personal finance, conventional wisdom says the best way to live is debt-free. There are many important reasons why this is tried and true, but for high-net-worth individuals, lending can be an optimal way to access cash in the near term without sacrificing long-term gains on your assets.
Fed policymakers unanimously voted to raise rates 25 basis points, the first hike since 2023, and vowed to fight inflation. Another hike is seen this year, but 2027 is in question.
Most people have had that moment when they’re walking along outside, enjoying a sunny day, and suddenly something long and twisty on the ground catches their eye. Before they even know what’s happening, their whole body jumps and their brain shouts, “Snake!”
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decided to raise rates by a quarter-point, bringing the new fed funds trading range to 3.75%–4.00%. The money and bond markets had been pricing in a potential rate hike at this gathering, and Warsh & Co. ultimately determined that such a move was warranted. That said, the ‘rate hike’ story does not end here.
Janus Henderson launched a new international equity ETF on Wednesday, according to a Janus Henderson press release. The Janus Henderson International Core Alpha ETF (JINT) seeks long-term growth of capital across developed markets outside the U.S.
U.S. headline retail sales rebounded in August, up 1.2% to $773.9 in August, while core retail sales increased by 1.4%.
Clients value advisors who are knowledgeable about philanthropy as well as those who collaborate with philanthropic specialists when deeper expertise is needed. Advisors who coordinate deliberately with specialists, rather than working around them, are best positioned to meet those expectations.
With mass AI adoption across nearly every industry, a new challenge is emerging: When everyone has access to the same technology, everything starts to look and sound the same. Once you stop standing out and creating genuine connections with prospects, you face a big marketing problem.
In my years working with advisors, teams, and firms, I’ve had to confront the topic of compensation many times. It’s hard to grow when you don’t have the right incentives in place to encourage people to focus on actually doing it and hard to team effectively when people may think they are being treated unfairly.
US retail sales rose by the most in five months in a broad advance, showing consumers continued to spend despite rising gasoline prices.
One fear over the past few days is that an artificial-intelligence slowdown, whatever that looks like, might harm the stocks of chipmakers. If AI development takes a breather, the insatiable appetite that has propelled component makers to unprecedented heights would dissipate. Will AI companies still need all those data centers?
Every single sector in the S&P 500 is expected to deliver earnings growth for the third quarter, the first time since 2021, when corporate America emerged from the pandemic slump, Bloomberg Intelligence data shows.
Ed Yardeni, one of the biggest stock bulls on Wall Street, is slashing his year-end forecast for the S&P 500 Index a month after raising it, citing increasing risks of a downturn in the next three to six months.
Morgan Stanley’s investment manager secured $1.3 billion in capital commitments for a growth equity fund that’s already invested in startups including Databricks, Anduril Industries Inc. and Ramp.
Last December we published Riding the Wave: The Anatomy of Booms & Bubbles. In it, we argued that the AI spending boom would continue through 2026 without tipping into ‘bubble’ mania, and that the right posture was to stay overweight stocks while favoring US assets. Nine months on, we think that call has aged well.
Single-stock leveraged ETFs were unusual when they first arrived in the U.S. market just four years ago. Today, it might be hard to find a stock without one. Issuers are aggressively pushing beyond megacap tech into niche equities, pre-IPO registrations, and even experimenting with leverage levels and frequency.
With so much attention focused on what the Fed might do at its policy meeting this week, it’s a good time to look back at history to get a sense of how stocks might respond should policymakers hike rates as the market now expects. LPL Research had been characterizing the rate decision as a coin flip until Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s hawkish comments at the Jackson Hole meeting and the strong August jobs report.
The August employment report was much stronger than expected and reinforces my view that the U.S. economy remains remarkably resilient. Payrolls increased by 162,000, above every estimate, while revisions added another 55,000 jobs to the previous two months.
AI-driven healthcare innovation is creating strong investment opportunities by improving efficiency, expanding access, and delivering better patient outcomes.
Discover how autocallables provide steady income and downside risk protection in volatile markets, and how autocallable ETFs can help.
In what is a good sign, many discussions around automation generally and AI specifically are increasingly moving to questions about compliance and liability. Basically, people are asking whether the agentic coworker they just hired is smart enough to trust.
I’ve written before about why the federal debt may be less dire than the headlines suggest, and I still think much of that argument holds. You cannot know whether a national crisis is coming. You can, however, assess the risk of a crisis for your own budget and take action to reduce that risk.
Anthropic PBC is pitching financial advisers on a version of Claude that blends the chatbot with financial analytics and risk management technology run by BlackRock Inc., Vanguard Group Inc. and other firms.
Kevin Warsh has rightly called into question the effectiveness of the Federal Reserve’s communications — but his arrival as chairman only seems to have made the problem worse. To put this right after the next Fed meeting this week, he’ll need to rethink his approach to explaining where things stand.
The latest inflation report points to a hard truth: The US is not going back to a 2% inflation rate anytime soon. At least not easily.
On September 2, TMX VettaFi Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth appeared on the Schwab Network to discuss ETF inflows nearing record highs in 2026 and the 50th anniversary of the first-ever index fund, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund. The fund’s ETF share class, which trades under the ticker VOO, is a bit newer, having launched in 2010.
Chris Galipeau discusses high-conviction insights that go beyond media headlines.
Most coverage of Trump Accounts treats them as a parenting question, or a discussion comparing them to 529s. For founders and business owners the analysis of them is slightly more nuanced.
Demand for fixed income ETFs hit a historic high-water mark in September. Investors and advisors turned to fixed income ETFs at a record-breaking pace, driving 2026 net inflows of $446 billion past all-time levels with months to spare. The massive tide of capital arrives at a critical juncture.
Is the AI infrastructure buildout one big trade in credit? So far, the market seems to think so. Spread dispersion – differences in borrowing costs among issuers – across the financing chain remains limited despite sharp differences in underlying risk. This contrasts with equities, where performance has become increasingly differentiated.
Last week, the refining margin on European gasoil, the benchmark that sets the price of diesel and heating oil across much of the world, closed at roughly $94 a barrel over Brent crude, according to Bloomberg data. That figure is normally somewhere between $12 and $18.
In Part III, the focus will center on practical applications of this discipline. In particular, how advisors can integrate the methodology into modern asset allocation, and why it offers an evolutionary leap for passive investing that’s available through exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
As I go through the strengths and weaknesses of each model, my goals are to point out where the models are strong and to point out potential weaknesses such as conflicts of interest, which are important to be aware of in working with clients. Although we are all fiduciaries, financial incentives matter because we are all human. I know great advisors across all fee models.
ETF share classes represent a structural innovation that combines the benefits of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) within a single pooled portfolio. This evolution expands investor choice, offering both ETF and mutual fund shares under a unified investment strategy.
Many market participants have highlighted how value investing is back as the equity market rally broadened out beyond high-flying growth names. However, taking an index-based approach to the value style requires looking under the hood. Not all value ETFs are created equally.
The list of challenges confronting Wall Street piled up this week. Oil firmly above $100. Inflation refusing to disappear. A defiant bond market that all but dared Scott Bessent to bring more policy firepower.
The bond selloff has driven a key Treasury yield to the verge of 5%, worsening angst from Wall Street to Washington about higher borrowing costs hitting the US economy.
Investors can’t get enough of ultrashort bonds. Driven by concerns over high equity valuations and rate volatility as the U.S. Federal Reserve mulls over the direction of interest rates, capital preservation strategies appear to be the elixir to help ease uncertainty. As such, ultrashort bonds have been seeing greater demand as traditional safe havens fall short on yield or carry unwanted duration risk.
One or a few high-performing stocks can provide a big boost to portfolio values. But they’re hard to come by and often struggle to maintain their momentum over time. Because these stocks increase portfolio concentration, investors must balance the risk of overexposure against the tax cost of diversifying. A thoughtful, tax-aware plan may help bring portfolios back in line.
U.S. equities were little changed on the week – the S&P 500 rose 0.1 per cent, the NASDAQ gained 0.4 per cent, and the Russell 2000 added 0.12 per cent – but those modest moves masked a far more turbulent week in the global rates markets.
The yield on the 10-year note finished September 11, 2026 at 4.96% while the 2-year note ended at 4.63%.
Inflation rose 3.4% year-over-year in August, as it did for the 12 months ending July. The headline figure for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was in line with economist estimates.
With a handful of stocks attracting most of the recent headlines, it’s easy to forget that investors continue to find opportunities across a broad range of sectors.
US stocks fell for a fourth straight day, their longest slide since June, as the relentless climb in oil prices and fresh evidence of sticky inflation boosted Treasury yields and bets the Federal Reserve will lift interest rates.
While the name is new, Syzygy is not. Syzygy, formerly Research Affiliates, will extend our multi-decade sub-advisory relationships in asset allocation and long-only active equities and expand into other active diversification strategies in the coming quarters.
In this article, Russ Koesterich argues that momentum remains supported by strong earnings growth, making the factor attractive despite market risks.
Portfolio Managers Jonathan Coleman and Aaron Schaechterle outline why they believe momentum in small-cap stocks relative to large caps can continue, highlighting favorable earnings growth prospects, appealing relative valuations, and other structural tailwinds.
2026 began with 10-year Treasuries right around 4%, which many viewed as a comfortable place. The comfort came from some simple math—2 plus 2 equals 4. The long-term real yield on the 10-year Treasury was around 2% and the Fed’s inflation target is 2%.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), providing forecasts for energy markets. This article presents the annual production outlooks for crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs), comparing the September 2026 projections against the previous month's estimates.
Elevated interest rates have investors scrambling for yield, and munis have been ready to answer the call with tax-exempt income.
The Producer Price Index (PPI) was up 0.4% in August, better than expectations.
Meta Platforms Inc. was upgraded to overweight at JPMorgan Chase & Co. on Thursday, the latest example of how sentiment toward the Facebook parent’s position with artificial intelligence has been improving.
The midterm election season has entered its final stretch, and Wall Street is busy drawing up game plans for a range of scenarios. Yet, in a fortuitous turn of events, the best outcome for markets is also looking like the likeliest one.
Brent oil spiked to $105 a barrel as rising tensions in the Middle East heightened concerns over global supplies.
Brent crude oil rose above $100 a barrel for the first time since July, while the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crossed $95, with varying impacts on energy ETFs. The price surge followed escalation in the Middle East conflict, including U.S. military strikes on five Iranian oil tankers and Houthi attacks on Saudi energy facilities.
From an earnings perspective, this summer proved to be a largely fruitful one for many companies within the S&P 500.
As clients come to advisory shops more informed, due to the plethora of financial advice available online, firms will need to be able to “stress test the information or bias” they arrive with. A comprehensive team, with training across advisory areas, can offer clients more depth of service.
Apple Inc.’s $570 billion summer surge is saddling new Chief Executive Officer John Ternus with high expectations heading into the company’s most anticipated event in years: the unveiling of the foldable iPhone on Wednesday.
Defiance ETFs has submitted paperwork to the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a series of leveraged funds that would seek to double the moves of some individual stocks — over periods measured in just hours, rather than days.
Chapter 3 of this series ended with a simple question. If the math so plainly says avoid big losses, respect valuations, and mind your timing, why does so much of the industry preach the opposite?
If you’re planning on driving anywhere this Labor Day weekend, be prepared to pay the highest gas prices ever for this time of year. The national average hit $4.14 per gallon on Thursday, an approximately 30% increase from last year, according to AAA.
Bond markets around the world have trembled in the last week, as uncertainty continues to rise. A mix of geopolitical, trade, debt, and currency pressures have put immense pressure on yields. The Yen carry trade situation alone has soaked bond markets, but when combined with U.S. debt fears and Hormuz concerns, the picture has shifted.
The Federal Reserve has spent the past four years trying to cool price increases through higher interest rates. The federal funds rate is still well above its pre-pandemic average, mortgage rates remain elevated, and borrowing costs for households and businesses are considerably higher than they were in the era of ultra-low interest rates.
Oil prices climbed further Tuesday, with Brent crude rising 1% to $97.95 a barrel and briefly touching $99.46, according to the Associated Press. The benchmark has climbed from around $72 over the past two months. Fighting tied to the war with Iran has clouded hopes for reopening the Strait of Hormuz to tankers.
The S&P 500 gained 2.7% in August 2026 and four indexes hit all-time highs, but only five of eleven sectors rose and the Fed’s speech at Jackson Hole put a rate hike back on the table.
Six of the nine indexes on our world markets watch list posted year-to-date gains through September 8, 2026.
The U.S. ETF market reached $16.4 trillion in AUM in August 2026, driven by record product launches and a defensive shift to Treasuries.
Stock investors are caught between the pull of strong earnings and mounting macroeconomic risks, with key events carrying binary outcomes that argue for some protection.
Exchange-Traded Products
Active ETFs are capturing investor attention - here’s why
Join Fidelity Investments to explore the forces behind the industry's expansion, how advisors are incorporating active ETFs into portfolios, and where Fidelity's enhanced active equity ETF strategy fits into the evolving opportunity set.
The Right Derivative Income Strategy in Today’s Unusual Market Landscape
Join Fidelity for a product due diligence session exploring how the Fidelity Yield Enhanced Equity ETF (FYEE) captures derivative opportunities in today’s unique market environment.
The Convergence of Bitcoin Mining and AI: From Crypto Niche to Digital Power Infrastructure
Join the team at CoinShares for a product due diligence session covering the CoinShares Bitcoin Mining ETF (WGMI).
Why Advisors Should Consider an International Approach to Income
Join the experts at Thornburg Investment Management for a product due diligence session covering the Thornburg Premium Income Builder ETF (THOR), an active ETF which combines a high-conviction global portfolio of dividend paying companies with an actively managed options overlay.
Fed Policy: As Good As It Gets
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh has changed that dynamic as much as it is possible to. What he is doing was simply unimaginable a few years ago. Not to mention anything like it for the last 40 years. While we will never get rid of the FOMC, the chairman is changing the cadence of how they make their decisions.
Janus Henderson Further Bolsters Global Equities Franchise with Two Senior Investment Appointments
Janus Henderson Investors today announced two senior investment appointments that will further deepen the firm’s leadership across its global equities franchise.
Gold Surges Along With US Treasuries as Oil Price Slide Deepens
Gold rallied alongside Treasuries as a slump in oil prices helped ease concerns about inflation, following the Federal Reserve’s first interest-rate hike since 2023.
The Case for Small-Cap Investing: A Cyclical Story, Not a Broken One
Open any market commentary today and the conversation is dominated by giants. Mega-cap technology companies command outsized shares of major indexes, and the private markets tell a similar story, as we watch companies increasingly staying private well past the point where they once would have gone public.
Investing in the Autism Care Economy: Inside the Defiance Autism Impact ETF (ASD)
Join Defiance ETFs’ Brendan Cavanaugh, CFA, and VettaFi’s Kirsten Chang as they discuss how advisors can gain exposure to companies advancing autism care.
The Big Four Recession Indicators: Real Retail Sales
Nominal retail sales were up 1.2% month-over-month and up 6.0% year-over-year in August. After adjusting for inflation, real retail sales were up 0.8% month-over-month and up 2.6% year-over-year.
Billionaire US Construction Family Backs ‘Rebuild America’ ETF
A spinout from the family office for the billionaire owners of US construction giant Michels Corp. is expanding its public equities strategy with a fund focused on US infrastructure.
Rising Rates, Rising Income: The Time Is Now for Dividend Growth ETFs
In an environment marked by the Fed’s first rate hike in three years and ongoing market uncertainty, income-focused investors face a unique dilemma. While cash alternatives offer attractive yields in the short-term horizon, they leave portfolios vulnerable to reinvestment risk should the
Novel ETFs: New Strategies Push Boundaries
As ETF strategies continue to expand into new asset classes and structures, the SEC has been taking a closer look at how some of these products fit within existing regulations.
Energy Addition Within the Transition
The new investment case for global power, security and affordability. The phrase “energy transition” has served as a useful political and cultural shorthand, but it has become a misleading framework for capital allocation. Franklin Templeton Institute explodes new opportunities for investors—and where shifts in thinking may be needed.
September Fed Hike May Be More Than a Risk Management Exercise
The U.S. Federal Reserve delivered on consensus expectations by raising its policy rate by 25 basis points (bps) at its September meeting.
Do Munis Still Deserve a Place in Your Portfolio?
Municipal bonds might still offer attractive tax-advantaged income and relatively stable credit quality for investors who understand the risks.
As Midterms Loom, Here Are the Opportunities in Muni Bonds
The 2026 U.S. midterms are rapidly approaching, with major implications. Muni bonds, in particular, may be impacted.
Huawei Accelerates Launch of New AI Chip to Take On Nvidia
Huawei Technologies Co. is accelerating the debut of its next-generation AI chip in 2027 by several months as it aims to replace Nvidia Corp. in China and compete on the global stage.
ETFs Join the Pre-IPO Rush to Reach for Private Growth
ETFs are increasingly breaking down the wall between public and private markets. Asset managers are finding ways to “ETF-ize” private equity and pre-IPO holdings — giving retail investors liquid, fractional access to growth opportunities historically restricted to institutional and accredited buyers. As companies stay private longer, the most explosive growth phases of high-profile startups often occur off public exchanges.
Financial Markets Still Grappling with High Oil Prices and Higher Interest Rates
The shortened Labor Day trading week brought little cheer for stock and bond investors. Coming off a long weekend that saw increased hostilities between the US and Iran, oil prices pushed higher, topping $100/barrel. Gas and diesel prices also spiked: diesel hit an all-time high of $6/gallon, while regular gas jumped to a Labor Day record of $4.15/gallon.
Planning Considerations for a Direct Indexing Program
Advancements in technology, combined with significant stock market gains in recent years, have created a new set of opportunities—and challenges—for investors. For example, investors holding a concentrated position in a highly appreciated stock may face a difficult trade-off between the risk of a market downturn and the potentially significant tax cost of diversifying the position.
When Borrowing Can Be a Smart Strategy
When it comes to personal finance, conventional wisdom says the best way to live is debt-free. There are many important reasons why this is tried and true, but for high-net-worth individuals, lending can be an optimal way to access cash in the near term without sacrificing long-term gains on your assets.
Fed Hikes in 12-0 Vote, Commits to Inflation Fight
Fed policymakers unanimously voted to raise rates 25 basis points, the first hike since 2023, and vowed to fight inflation. Another hike is seen this year, but 2027 is in question.
The Hidden Psychology Behind Market FOMO
Most people have had that moment when they’re walking along outside, enjoying a sunny day, and suddenly something long and twisty on the ground catches their eye. Before they even know what’s happening, their whole body jumps and their brain shouts, “Snake!”
Fed Watch: Finally, ‘Walkin’ the Walk’
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decided to raise rates by a quarter-point, bringing the new fed funds trading range to 3.75%–4.00%. The money and bond markets had been pricing in a potential rate hike at this gathering, and Warsh & Co. ultimately determined that such a move was warranted. That said, the ‘rate hike’ story does not end here.
Janus Henderson Launches International Core Alpha ETF
Janus Henderson launched a new international equity ETF on Wednesday, according to a Janus Henderson press release. The Janus Henderson International Core Alpha ETF (JINT) seeks long-term growth of capital across developed markets outside the U.S.
Retail Sales Rebound Strongly in August
U.S. headline retail sales rebounded in August, up 1.2% to $773.9 in August, while core retail sales increased by 1.4%.
The Philanthropic Specialist Is Less a Competitor Than a Secret Weapon
Clients value advisors who are knowledgeable about philanthropy as well as those who collaborate with philanthropic specialists when deeper expertise is needed. Advisors who coordinate deliberately with specialists, rather than working around them, are best positioned to meet those expectations.
In the Age of AI, Authenticity Is an Advisor’s Competitive Advantage
With mass AI adoption across nearly every industry, a new challenge is emerging: When everyone has access to the same technology, everything starts to look and sound the same. Once you stop standing out and creating genuine connections with prospects, you face a big marketing problem.
Compensation Is a Multi-Layered & Ongoing Conversation
In my years working with advisors, teams, and firms, I’ve had to confront the topic of compensation many times. It’s hard to grow when you don’t have the right incentives in place to encourage people to focus on actually doing it and hard to team effectively when people may think they are being treated unfairly.
Broad Rise in US Retail Sales Highlights Resilient Consumer
US retail sales rose by the most in five months in a broad advance, showing consumers continued to spend despite rising gasoline prices.
Chipmaker Stocks Will Weather Any AI Slowdown
One fear over the past few days is that an artificial-intelligence slowdown, whatever that looks like, might harm the stocks of chipmakers. If AI development takes a breather, the insatiable appetite that has propelled component makers to unprecedented heights would dissipate. Will AI companies still need all those data centers?
AI-Fueled Profit Growth Set to Flow Through Every S&P 500 Sector
Every single sector in the S&P 500 is expected to deliver earnings growth for the third quarter, the first time since 2021, when corporate America emerged from the pandemic slump, Bloomberg Intelligence data shows.
Stocks Bull Yardeni Cuts S&P 500 View to 7,900 on Downturn Risks
Ed Yardeni, one of the biggest stock bulls on Wall Street, is slashing his year-end forecast for the S&P 500 Index a month after raising it, citing increasing risks of a downturn in the next three to six months.
Morgan Stanley Lines Up $1.3 Billion for Growth Equity Fund
Morgan Stanley’s investment manager secured $1.3 billion in capital commitments for a growth equity fund that’s already invested in startups including Databricks, Anduril Industries Inc. and Ramp.
Riding the Wave…and Minding the Undertow
Last December we published Riding the Wave: The Anatomy of Booms & Bubbles. In it, we argued that the AI spending boom would continue through 2026 without tipping into ‘bubble’ mania, and that the right posture was to stay overweight stocks while favoring US assets. Nine months on, we think that call has aged well.
Leveraged ETFs: From Megacaps to Micro Trends
Single-stock leveraged ETFs were unusual when they first arrived in the U.S. market just four years ago. Today, it might be hard to find a stock without one. Issuers are aggressively pushing beyond megacap tech into niche equities, pre-IPO registrations, and even experimenting with leverage levels and frequency.
What History Says About Fed Hikes and Stocks
With so much attention focused on what the Fed might do at its policy meeting this week, it’s a good time to look back at history to get a sense of how stocks might respond should policymakers hike rates as the market now expects. LPL Research had been characterizing the rate decision as a coin flip until Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s hawkish comments at the Jackson Hole meeting and the strong August jobs report.
Higher Inflation Tests Fed and Markets
The August employment report was much stronger than expected and reinforces my view that the U.S. economy remains remarkably resilient. Payrolls increased by 162,000, above every estimate, while revisions added another 55,000 jobs to the previous two months.
Charting the Structural Growth Opportunity in Health Care Technology
AI-driven healthcare innovation is creating strong investment opportunities by improving efficiency, expanding access, and delivering better patient outcomes.
Why Autocallables? The Case for Autocallable Allocation
Discover how autocallables provide steady income and downside risk protection in volatile markets, and how autocallable ETFs can help.
You Cannot Depose a Model
In what is a good sign, many discussions around automation generally and AI specifically are increasingly moving to questions about compliance and liability. Basically, people are asking whether the agentic coworker they just hired is smart enough to trust.
How Fed Interest Rate Increases Could Raise Your Household Debt
I’ve written before about why the federal debt may be less dire than the headlines suggest, and I still think much of that argument holds. You cannot know whether a national crisis is coming. You can, however, assess the risk of a crisis for your own budget and take action to reduce that risk.
Anthropic Pitches New Claude Tool for Financial Advisers
Anthropic PBC is pitching financial advisers on a version of Claude that blends the chatbot with financial analytics and risk management technology run by BlackRock Inc., Vanguard Group Inc. and other firms.
Warsh and the Fed Need Clarity More Than Certainty
Kevin Warsh has rightly called into question the effectiveness of the Federal Reserve’s communications — but his arrival as chairman only seems to have made the problem worse. To put this right after the next Fed meeting this week, he’ll need to rethink his approach to explaining where things stand.
Fed Rate Hikes Won’t Be Enough to Get Inflation to 2%
The latest inflation report points to a hard truth: The US is not going back to a 2% inflation rate anytime soon. At least not easily.
Rosenbluth Talks Vanguard 50-Year Milestone & Record Pacing ETF Inflows
On September 2, TMX VettaFi Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth appeared on the Schwab Network to discuss ETF inflows nearing record highs in 2026 and the 50th anniversary of the first-ever index fund, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund. The fund’s ETF share class, which trades under the ticker VOO, is a bit newer, having launched in 2010.
From the US Market Desk: From Missouri
Chris Galipeau discusses high-conviction insights that go beyond media headlines.
Trump Accounts for Business Owners: Two Decisions, Not One
Most coverage of Trump Accounts treats them as a parenting question, or a discussion comparing them to 529s. For founders and business owners the analysis of them is slightly more nuanced.
Fixed Income ETFs Surge to All-Time Highs Ahead of Pivotal Fed Decision
Demand for fixed income ETFs hit a historic high-water mark in September. Investors and advisors turned to fixed income ETFs at a record-breaking pace, driving 2026 net inflows of $446 billion past all-time levels with months to spare. The massive tide of capital arrives at a critical juncture.
One AI Trade for Now, Many Trades Later
Is the AI infrastructure buildout one big trade in credit? So far, the market seems to think so. Spread dispersion – differences in borrowing costs among issuers – across the financing chain remains limited despite sharp differences in underlying risk. This contrasts with equities, where performance has become increasingly differentiated.
Cheap Drones Are Repricing Global Energy Markets
Last week, the refining margin on European gasoil, the benchmark that sets the price of diesel and heating oil across much of the world, closed at roughly $94 a barrel over Brent crude, according to Bloomberg data. That figure is normally somewhere between $12 and $18.
Indexing Redefined, Part III: Implementation & The Total ETF Experience
In Part III, the focus will center on practical applications of this discipline. In particular, how advisors can integrate the methodology into modern asset allocation, and why it offers an evolutionary leap for passive investing that’s available through exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Strengths & Weaknesses of Advisor Fee–Only Models from the Client Perspective
As I go through the strengths and weaknesses of each model, my goals are to point out where the models are strong and to point out potential weaknesses such as conflicts of interest, which are important to be aware of in working with clients. Although we are all fiduciaries, financial incentives matter because we are all human. I know great advisors across all fee models.
An Evolution in Fund Structure: ETF Share Classes
ETF share classes represent a structural innovation that combines the benefits of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) within a single pooled portfolio. This evolution expands investor choice, offering both ETF and mutual fund shares under a unified investment strategy.
Under the Hood: Why Value ETFs Are Not Created Equal
Many market participants have highlighted how value investing is back as the equity market rally broadened out beyond high-flying growth names. However, taking an index-based approach to the value style requires looking under the hood. Not all value ETFs are created equally.
AI-Obsessed Wall Street Pours Billions Into Inflation-Era Bets
The list of challenges confronting Wall Street piled up this week. Oil firmly above $100. Inflation refusing to disappear. A defiant bond market that all but dared Scott Bessent to bring more policy firepower.
A 5% Treasury Yield Raises New Risks for Markets, Economy
The bond selloff has driven a key Treasury yield to the verge of 5%, worsening angst from Wall Street to Washington about higher borrowing costs hitting the US economy.
Safety and Yield: Ultrashort Bond ETFs See Greater Demand
Investors can’t get enough of ultrashort bonds. Driven by concerns over high equity valuations and rate volatility as the U.S. Federal Reserve mulls over the direction of interest rates, capital preservation strategies appear to be the elixir to help ease uncertainty. As such, ultrashort bonds have been seeing greater demand as traditional safe havens fall short on yield or carry unwanted duration risk.
Does Your Financial Plan Depend Too Much on One Stock?
One or a few high-performing stocks can provide a big boost to portfolio values. But they’re hard to come by and often struggle to maintain their momentum over time. Because these stocks increase portfolio concentration, investors must balance the risk of overexposure against the tax cost of diversifying. A thoughtful, tax-aware plan may help bring portfolios back in line.
Global Bond Yields Rise as Iran Conflict Escalates and Fed Outlook Wavers
U.S. equities were little changed on the week – the S&P 500 rose 0.1 per cent, the NASDAQ gained 0.4 per cent, and the Russell 2000 added 0.12 per cent – but those modest moves masked a far more turbulent week in the global rates markets.
Treasury Yields Snapshot: September 11, 2026
The yield on the 10-year note finished September 11, 2026 at 4.96% while the 2-year note ended at 4.63%.
Consumer Price Index: Inflation at 3.4% in August
Inflation rose 3.4% year-over-year in August, as it did for the 12 months ending July. The headline figure for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was in line with economist estimates.
A Broad-Based Rally
With a handful of stocks attracting most of the recent headlines, it’s easy to forget that investors continue to find opportunities across a broad range of sectors.
S&P 500 Slides Fourth Straight Day as Oil Prices, Yields Surge
US stocks fell for a fourth straight day, their longest slide since June, as the relentless climb in oil prices and fresh evidence of sticky inflation boosted Treasury yields and bets the Federal Reserve will lift interest rates.
Alignment in the Time of Dispersion: Introducing Syzygy Asset Management
While the name is new, Syzygy is not. Syzygy, formerly Research Affiliates, will extend our multi-decade sub-advisory relationships in asset allocation and long-only active equities and expand into other active diversification strategies in the coming quarters.
Why Momentum Can Still Work
In this article, Russ Koesterich argues that momentum remains supported by strong earnings growth, making the factor attractive despite market risks.
The Catalysts Behind Small Cap Outperformance
Portfolio Managers Jonathan Coleman and Aaron Schaechterle outline why they believe momentum in small-cap stocks relative to large caps can continue, highlighting favorable earnings growth prospects, appealing relative valuations, and other structural tailwinds.
What’s Really Driving up Treasury Yields?
2026 began with 10-year Treasuries right around 4%, which many viewed as a comfortable place. The comfort came from some simple math—2 plus 2 equals 4. The long-term real yield on the 10-year Treasury was around 2% and the Fed’s inflation target is 2%.
Short-Term Energy Outlook: September 2026
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), providing forecasts for energy markets. This article presents the annual production outlooks for crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs), comparing the September 2026 projections against the previous month's estimates.
The Muni Renaissance: Tax-Free Yields in a High-Rate Era
Elevated interest rates have investors scrambling for yield, and munis have been ready to answer the call with tax-exempt income.
Producer Price Index: Up 0.4% in August, Better Than Expected
The Producer Price Index (PPI) was up 0.4% in August, better than expectations.
Meta Upgraded at JPMorgan as Muse Highlights Better AI Position
Meta Platforms Inc. was upgraded to overweight at JPMorgan Chase & Co. on Thursday, the latest example of how sentiment toward the Facebook parent’s position with artificial intelligence has been improving.
Wall Street Is Betting On a Split Congress With Midterms on Tap
The midterm election season has entered its final stretch, and Wall Street is busy drawing up game plans for a range of scenarios. Yet, in a fortuitous turn of events, the best outcome for markets is also looking like the likeliest one.
Oil Hits $105 as Middle East Flareup Heightens Supply Worries
Brent oil spiked to $105 a barrel as rising tensions in the Middle East heightened concerns over global supplies.
Comparing Energy ETFs: Positioning Portfolios as Oil Hits $100
Brent crude oil rose above $100 a barrel for the first time since July, while the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crossed $95, with varying impacts on energy ETFs. The price surge followed escalation in the Middle East conflict, including U.S. military strikes on five Iranian oil tankers and Houthi attacks on Saudi energy facilities.
Strong S&P Earnings vs. Market Risks: Time for Equity Income
From an earnings perspective, this summer proved to be a largely fruitful one for many companies within the S&P 500.
How Firms Can Get Ahead of the Industry’s Talent Shortage Dilemma
As clients come to advisory shops more informed, due to the plethora of financial advice available online, firms will need to be able to “stress test the information or bias” they arrive with. A comprehensive team, with training across advisory areas, can offer clients more depth of service.
Apple’s Rally Pressures New CEO to Deliver on Foldable iPhone
Apple Inc.’s $570 billion summer surge is saddling new Chief Executive Officer John Ternus with high expectations heading into the company’s most anticipated event in years: the unveiling of the foldable iPhone on Wednesday.
Wall Street’s Leveraged ETF Push Gets New Twist With Hourly Bets
Defiance ETFs has submitted paperwork to the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a series of leveraged funds that would seek to double the moves of some individual stocks — over periods measured in just hours, rather than days.
Investing Myths Dismantled (Chapter 4 of 5)
Chapter 3 of this series ended with a simple question. If the math so plainly says avoid big losses, respect valuations, and mind your timing, why does so much of the industry preach the opposite?
The Real Winners of the Venezuela Oil Deal
If you’re planning on driving anywhere this Labor Day weekend, be prepared to pay the highest gas prices ever for this time of year. The national average hit $4.14 per gallon on Thursday, an approximately 30% increase from last year, according to AAA.
As Yields Rise, Active Shorter Duration Bond ETF TBUX Can Spike
Bond markets around the world have trembled in the last week, as uncertainty continues to rise. A mix of geopolitical, trade, debt, and currency pressures have put immense pressure on yields. The Yen carry trade situation alone has soaked bond markets, but when combined with U.S. debt fears and Hormuz concerns, the picture has shifted.
Rates Are High, But Credit Is Easy
The Federal Reserve has spent the past four years trying to cool price increases through higher interest rates. The federal funds rate is still well above its pre-pandemic average, mortgage rates remain elevated, and borrowing costs for households and businesses are considerably higher than they were in the era of ultra-low interest rates.
Oil Prices Near $100 Lift This Energy Income ETF
Oil prices climbed further Tuesday, with Brent crude rising 1% to $97.95 a barrel and briefly touching $99.46, according to the Associated Press. The benchmark has climbed from around $72 over the past two months. Fighting tied to the war with Iran has clouded hopes for reopening the Strait of Hormuz to tankers.
August 2026 Market Update: Record Highs, Narrow Breadth, and a Fed That Might Hike
The S&P 500 gained 2.7% in August 2026 and four indexes hit all-time highs, but only five of eleven sectors rose and the Fed’s speech at Jackson Hole put a rate hike back on the table.
World Markets Watchlist: September 8, 2026
Six of the nine indexes on our world markets watch list posted year-to-date gains through September 8, 2026.
Record ETF Launch Pace & Innovation Defined August
The U.S. ETF market reached $16.4 trillion in AUM in August 2026, driven by record product launches and a defensive shift to Treasuries.
Bonds. Worth a Look?
Chris Galipeau discusses high-conviction insights that go beyond media headlines.
The Wall of Political and Economic Risks Is Growing
Stock investors are caught between the pull of strong earnings and mounting macroeconomic risks, with key events carrying binary outcomes that argue for some protection.