Financial Advisor Transition

In bullish years, markets often have corrections. Yet, after a lengthy bullish run, it always surprises me how quickly investors and the media panic with the slightest hint of a market pullback.

The outlook for the Federal Reserve (Fed) through the first six months of 2024 has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride to say the least. While one could argue the overarching premise has been for rate cuts, it has certainly not been a smooth ride.

In this article, Russ Koesterich discusses why a higher rate environment may still allow stocks to end the year higher.

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).

With lots of chatter in the United States around the potential for a soft landing, Jeff Schulze, Head of Economic and Market Strategy at ClearBridge Investments, shares his thoughts on the matter and the overall state of the US economy in our latest “Talking Markets” podcast.

Many advisors are finding their clients show little interest these days in how the markets are doing.

In the second part of our series on global supply chains, portfolio managers Inbok Song and Peeyush Mittal examine the regions and countries that may benefit from industries and companies shifting operations.

Economies are struggling to shake off effects of COVID.

CIO Larry Adam outlines the positive events that are outweighing negative developments and looks at dynamics to focus on in the week ahead.

Better than expected inflationary data and corporate earnings reports helped boost S&P 500 to back-to-back rallies for first time since mid-2021.

Stocks extend yesterday’s gains as rates continue to ease.

To say Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has changed the outlook for financial markets is a vast understatement.

While the Russian and Ukrainian economies are being hit the hardest by Russia's invasion, the economic consequences of the war will not be confined to the countries fighting it.

Loomis Sayles' Macro Strategies Group looks at three scenarios for the Russia-Ukraine conflict and how those outcomes could impact financial markets.

As the summer progresses, US vacationers are out in force while the European and Asian holiday scene remains relatively subdued.

We begin with what we hope will be our final substantive COVID update. The vaccines have arrived and are going into people’s arms at an accelerating pace.

Last year featured a jaw-dropping list of extremes, from a once-in-a-century pandemic to record-breaking market moves. Howard Marks writes in his latest memo about approaching the investment environment left in 2020’s wake – one generating many questions and no easy answers.

Continuing our series, Going Independent, we want to provide those considering going out on their own with an easy-to-follow checklist of everything you need to do to form your own RIA.

Knowing if you’re ready to launch your own RIA is a big decision. For me, these four factors guided me to realize I was ready to break out on my own.

To some critics, Trump’s behavior and decision-making process may seem erratic, but I believe they make a sort of sense when viewed through the lens of game theory.

Economic activity descended in an elevator and will climb back up on the stairs.

Fed funds futures are on the move today, with longer dated futures now pricing in now two 25bps rate cuts by the end of the year. However, the market does not seem to be pricing in, yet, any material chance that the Fed cuts at its March meeting.

The Fed has another lever to pull to ease monetary policy, one that could increase savings rates and create more disposable income.

Oil has been on the move. Oil equities, however, not so much. Naturally, the performance of stocks and commodities can deviate at times as they are generally influenced by various idiosyncratic and sector-specific factors.

Just seven short weeks ago, the floating-rate loan market was standing tall with a 4.0% year-to-date return through October. Not only were loans on pace for the 5%+ calendar year mark that many anticipated, they had performed with remarkably low volatility and a performance profile that trumped all major asset classes.

With the U.S. economy humming and corporate fundamentals on solid footing, it's perhaps little surprise that markets have been cooperative this year. Investor sentiment remains strong and this has fueled higher-still stock prices, which of course is further supporting positive sentiment. It's a bull market.

A review of last month’s market-moving events across countries and asset classes.

The economic calendar is light, the week is short, and the A-Teams are taking some time off. It is the formula for punditry gone wild. But what will be the subject, especially if Bitcoin is not moving much? I suspect questions of two types. The first will focus on the tax cuts, identifying the winning and losing stocks and sectors. The second will update the list of worries for 2018.

Matthews Asia ended 3Q 2017 with US$31.4 billion in assets across Asia investment strategies. The investment team includes 45 members, with portfolio managers and analysts aligned by strategy.

A large chunk of French President Emmanuel Macron’s first 100 days in office came at a time when many Europeans were on holiday break. Here, Philippe Brugere-Trelat, Franklin Mutual Series Executive Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Franklin Mutual European Fund, says it’s unfair to judge Macron on such a short timeframe.

In September of 2010, we argued that oil prices were trading on psychology and entrenched beliefs, and could possibly have a real price of $10 per barrel. Investor bullishness was driven by the belief in peak oil theory, the slow transition to electric and hybrid engines, and the use of the commodity oil as an investment in the China boom.

While politics and the new government's agenda is still very much in the news, investor interest last week shifted to the bigger picture.

Fearing rising rates, some municipal investors have sought protection in passive laddered portfolios. The strategy’s seeming simplicity packs a lot of allure—but also hidden risks.