Nvidia Corp. chief Jensen Huang blasted the “failure” of US restrictions intended to help contain China’s technological ascent, calling on the White House to lower barriers to AI chip sales before American firms cede that market to up-and-coming rivals such as Huawei Technologies Co.
US equities are likely to drive the global rally in the coming months on an improving corporate earnings outlook and a weaker dollar, according to cross-asset strategists at Morgan Stanley.
With mainstream investment products increasingly finding a second home on the blockchain, it’s a good time to ask what role central banks would play if everything they have learned while policing double-entry bookkeeping over the last 350 years becomes irrelevant.
Most investors would jump at the chance to add more money to their portfolio, but they often fail to consider the hidden costs associated with it.
As investors, we need to step back and examine the history of previous debt downgrades and their outcomes for the stock and bond markets. Let’s start with what Moody’s rating agency stated about its rating change.
In an investment landscape dominated by market-cap-weighted benchmarks, the Barron’s 400 ETF (BFOR) offers a different path through GARP.
Alphabet Inc.’s investors are looking to this week’s developer conference to see if the company can reset the narrative amid fears that its long-standing market dominance is on shaky ground.
By incorporating growth CDs into a diversified retirement plan, retirees can take advantage of equity market growth, protect their lifestyle, and avoid the fear of market downturns diminishing their savings.
President Donald Trump’s first overseas trip since returning to the White House is turning heads across the aerospace & defense and semiconductor industries.
The signal of announcing trade pacts is an important start.
The geography of employment in the US is being shaped by two distinct trends. The first is low levels of housing churn and, therefore, interstate migration, a normal part of the business cycle that should eventually turn around.
Given the recent market volatility and the possibility of an adverse wealth effect, it's worth quantifying the relationship between stock returns and economic activity.
Don’t allow your middle-aged clients depending on their 401(k) plan to fool themselves. Markets can’t rescue a failure to save until it hurts. And don’t let them kid themselves that a smoother ride with bonds won’t come at the cost of increased shortfall risk.
Fisher Investments recently wrote an interesting article asking whether corporate stock buybacks affect markets.
US stocks delivered their second-best weekly gain of the year on Friday, as Big Tech fueled a rally that brought the S&P 500 Index closer to an all-time high set nearly three months ago.
Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang outlined plans to let customers deploy rivals’ chips in data centers built around its technology, a move that acknowledges the growth of in-house semiconductor development by major clients from Microsoft Corp. to Amazon.com Inc.
One of the first and most promising uses scientists envision for the rapidly evolving technology of quantum computing is a new approach to drug development.
Technology and trends have made individual investors an important part of the private market.
While equities are on their way to recovering January 1 levels, enhanced volatility lends itself to active ETF strategies this year.
Technology stocks have been buffeted by market volatility in early 2025, with shares tied to artificial intelligence (AI) hit especially hard.
So far in 2025, markets have had plenty to absorb: the Trump administration’s tariffs, Germany’s latest investment commitments, the implications of the DeepSeek moment, and escalating military conflicts (now including one on the India-Pakistan border).
Manufacturing activity contracted for a third consecutive month in New York State, according to the Empire State Manufacturing May survey. The diffusion index for General Business Conditions fell 1.1 points to -9.2. The latest reading was worse than the forecast of -8.2.
Saudi Arabia is ramping up efforts to lure high frequency trading firms — a campaign that’s already brought in major players from Citadel Securities to Hudson River Trading — as it looks to bolster activity on the Middle East’s largest stock market.
In this video – Part 2 – Extreme Risk of High Valuation – Chuck Carnevale, Co-Founder of FAST Graphs, aka Mr. Valuation discusses the volatility of the stock market, using the S&P 500 (SPY) as a proxy.
Are you trying to grow a stable team of advisors and retain top talent? Young advisors are looking for RIA firms that offer remote work flexibility, a clear path toward advancement and role transparency.
Here is a look at real (inflation-adjusted) charts of the S&P 500, Dow 30, and Nasdaq composite since their 2000 highs. We've updated this through the April 2025 close.
Explore the performance journey of the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones since their peaks in 2000. This video analyzes how these key U.S. stock market indexes have navigated over two decades of economic shifts and technological change, revealing their distinct paths through April 2025.
A solution that merely saves time on administrative tasks will quickly become stale as the business grows. Success lies in determining how the AI tool you are implementing will have a lasting effect on the advisor’s workday routine.
Retail investors have won again. When trade tensions flared in early April and about $6.6 trillion in market value vanished from US stocks in just two business days – the fifth-worst two-day drop since the S&P 500’s creation in 1957 – they didn’t panic.
Assessing a bear market rally proves challenging when you experience it firsthand. It is only in hindsight that the complete picture reveals itself to investors. Of course, after a bear market rally, investors tend to review their investments and speculate on what they should have done differently.
In this video, Chuck Carnevale, Co-Founder of FAST Graphs, aka Mr. Valuation discusses the volatility of the stock market, the truth about the S&P 500’s valuation, using the S&P 500 (SPY) as a proxy.
Alexandra Levis, Founder & CEO of Arro Financial Communications, provides an in-depth look at how ETF issuers should think about approaching marketing. VettaFi’s Roxanna Islam breaks down some of the year’s top-performing ETFs, from international plays to precious metals.
Global AI, a US tech firm, plans to collaborate with a Saudi Arabian artificial intelligence venture, Humain, in an agreement expected to be worth billions of dollars, according to a person familiar with the mattter.
For my entire decades-long career in capital markets, I’ve made the case that gold is not just a shiny relic of the past, but a serious, strategic asset for modern investors. After years of pounding the table, it feels pretty good to say that the world’s central banks—and now the U.S. banking system—are finally catching up.
Today Tesla is not trading based on car sales but on future dreams of self-driving robo-taxis, robots, semis, and whatever else Elon dreams up. The car company may be worth $100 billion to $180 billion; the rest is what investors are willing to pay for Elon’s dreams.
Are you prepared to adjust your portfolio in the coming months for the possibility that calm, tranquil markets and a resumption of the bullish trend emerge?
With Wall Street kicking off another rally, American stocks are now trading like Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” shock never happened.
While coming in much stronger than expected, the latest employment data confirmed what we already suspected: the economy is slowing.
Warren Buffett opened his 60th—and final as CEO—Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting with the same understated clarity that has defined his career: "This is my 60th annual meeting... I think it'll be the best yet."
US equity investors will be watching closely as trade talks kick off between the Trump administration and China, with trillions of dollars hanging in the balance for American companies.
Major tech companies lobbying to salvage a tax deduction for research and development are warning they may pull back from high-profile pledges of new US investments if Congress doesn’t fully reinstate the break.
US stocks opened higher Friday as traders weighed comments from President Donald Trump suggesting that an 80% tariff on China seemed right, just as negotiations between the two countries are set to begin on Saturday.
The culture clash between Bitcoin enthusiasts and gold bugs is about to be played out in the world of exchange-traded funds.
The US said it’s developing a fast-track process for screening foreign investments in the US, an effort Trump administration officials expect could smooth the way for billions from wealth funds in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
US stocks climbed at the open Thursday as investors welcomed news of a trade agreement between the US and the UK — a widely anticipated development that some traders say could serve as a blueprint for broader global negotiations
In technology, disruption can happen slowly and then all at once. Alphabet Inc.’s Google unit is praying for the former right now.
Currently, the Three Tactical Rules are a “flashing yellow light” - a roughly neutral rating which represents a slight downgrade.
After entering the year with a cautious outlook, managers have become more defensively postured as the U.S. tariff policy has increased uncertainty.
Over years, the US cemented its position as an exceptional source of earnings growth that fueled outsize equity returns. Many investors are now questioning whether the US will retain its advantages as President Trump’s trade policies add uncertainty to the outlook across industries.
Private equity transaction volumes remain limited despite predictions for a boom in 2025. With interest rates remaining elevated and the economic backdrop increasingly uncertain, executing acquisitions and IPOs is proving a challenge, leading financial sponsors to hold portfolio companies for longer.
US stocks jumped at the open Wednesday as investors were encouraged by news that the US and China are set to start trade talks this weekend, even as traders awaited the Federal Reserve policy decision later in the day.
Sam Altman’s reputation for spin was out in full force this week in a published “letter to employees” announcing that he was abandoning plans to turn OpenAI into a for-profit company. Instead, it will “continue to be overseen and controlled” by its nonprofit board.
It was a glimpse of a very appealing future: A sleek 18-wheeler powered by Aurora Innovation Inc. trundled down Interstate 45 from Dallas to Houston last week with a trailer full of goods and a completely empty cab. At long last, autonomous trucking may have arrived.
Over the past two weeks, the market has had a furious nine-day rally, the longest winning streak in 21 years.
So what has caused such a surge in international returns versus the U.S. so far this year? Is it just short-term noise, reversion to the mean, or something more systematic? If the last few months were purely short-term noise, we will soon know, as U.S. stocks will resume dominance.
Record gold prices drove first-quarter demand in 2025 to the highest level since 2016.
April's employment report showed that 82.6% of total employed workers were full-time (35+ hours) and 17.4% of total employed workers were part-time (<35 hours).
Vanguard’s David Sharp marks the firm’s 50th anniversary, explores recent investor behavior, and highlights several new fixed income ETFs. VettaFi’s Stacey Morris analyzes the rollercoaster year for energy ETFs.
With investors experiencing heightened anxiety about their financial futures, your approach can make the difference between client retention and attrition. This comprehensive guide from our senior consultants explores actionable strategies for effective client communication during market volatility.
This article focuses on asset-based fees that cover both advice and investment-related costs, which is a model that I believe is best-suited for most individuals, as advisors can add value across multiple dimensions.
Markets clawed back early losses in April, but one thing has become clear – policy uncertainty and risk isn’t fading, it’s spreading.
You’ve built your book. Refined your process. You know how to serve clients and grow your business. But what if your current firm is acting like an outdated piece of equipment? One that doesn’t match how you actually operate? One that limits what’s possible?
If you’ve been inside a Walmart, Target or Home Depot in the past week, you may not realize that a trade war is underway between the U.S. and China, the world’s two largest economies. Store shelves are well stocked, and prices have largely held steady.
While tariff negotiations may well bear fruit eventually, investors today are trying to figure out the impact of changing trade pacts on GDP growth, interest rate levels, the value of the dollar, and the ability of the Treasury to refinance $9.2 trillion of our $36 trillion federal debt in 2025.
The April U.S. Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) from S&P Global came in at 50.8, below the 51.4 forecast. The reading marks the 27th consecutive month of expansion and the slowest growth since November 2023.
Shockingly, given that I thought most readers would find interest rate swaps dull or wonky, we have received a few emails asking for more information. Given the importance of liquidity to all markets and how interest rate swap spreads are a good liquidity barometer, it's worth giving you that “coming article” now.
In investing, success is often judged by numbers—returns on investment, percentage gains, and the ability to outperform benchmarks like the S&P 500. However, some investors frequently pursue a peculiar set of “awards” without realizing the pitfalls they embody.
While the S&P 500 index was almost unchanged in April, the dollar remained extremely weak, ending the month down over 4%.
April was a volatile and policy-sensitive month in the markets. Every week, my colleagues and I were joined by Professor Jeremy Siegel to discuss how macroeconomic data, Federal Reserve policy and the variety of tariff proposals from President Trump shaped sentiment and the investment landscape.
Economic data can be soft or hard. “Soft” data reflects attitudes, expectations, opinions, and feelings. It’s a step removed from the “hard” data reflecting actual events. Soft data is still valuable because future expectations shape the hard data that follows.
US stock futures rose Friday, putting the S&P 500 Index on track to post the longest winning streak in more than 20 years after a government report showed buoyant hiring in April, providing evidence of resilience in an economy beset by trade pressures.
The moving average for the per-capita light vehicle sales series peaked in August 1978. Almost 50 years later, it is down 35.2% from that peak.
Uncertainty reigned through April and likely will continue to do so, at least in the near term. Markets have reacted, both negatively and positively, to every headline coming out of Washington.
Like sailors lured by the Sirens' song, today’s investors risk being captivated by seductive narratives in the market. While diversification remains a time-tested strategy for building wealth, we examine the risks and returns investors are embracing today.
Morgan Stanley is working on a plan to add cryptocurrency trading to its E*Trade platform, in what would be the most significant move by a major US bank to help everyday customers buy into the asset class since the Trump administration began removing regulatory barriers.
The US economy’s contraction last quarter was something of a head fake, driven by a surge in imports as businesses tried to front-run tariffs.
A spate of solid corporate earnings pushed US stocks higher in overnight trading, putting major indexes on track for an eighth straight advance and close to wiping out all of the losses suffered after Donald Trump’s major tariff announcement.
SEI® (NASDAQ:SEIC) today announced that Summit Wealth Group, a fast-growing enterprise advisor practice, has selected SEI to support the firm’s vision and evolution for strategic growth.
Many American consumers recently endured their first inflationary cycle, and recent trade headlines have elevated fears of a another bout with higher costs. While not impacted by tariffs, energy markets may play a critical role in driving the price level during the balance of this year.
With flexibility, humility and disciplined processes, equity investors can find a way forward.
After the U.S. imposed substantial tariffs on China, Beijing responded with tariffs of its own and with restrictions on exports of seven rare earth minerals. The latter action will be a particular hindrance to American manufacturers.
When Meta Platforms Inc. reports earnings on Wednesday afternoon, the social media giant will face a high hurdle to satisfy anxious investors.
Citadel Securities is urging the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new leadership to examine a list of what it argues are emerging and mounting risks, including opaque trading in so-called private rooms and the push by US stock markets to operate around the clock.
The fintech revolution has opened doors to optimizing home office operations, but the question remains: How can wealth managers effectively harness their tech stack to reduce fragmentation and simplify processes related to vendor workflow management?
Think of the drafting process like investing—scouts meticulously rank players based on their strength, speed, flexibility, and mental acuity, much like we analyze the economy and financial markets to shape our outlook. The true value of these players might take years to unfold...
Barry Ritholtz, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Ritholtz Wealth Management, breaks down the current market environment and discusses key ideas from his latest book, How Not to Invest. VettaFi’s Todd Rosenbluth offers highlights from the 2025 etf.com Awards.
US stocks traded steady on Tuesday as traders digested a slew of corporate earnings results and parsed comments from the White House about trade negotiations.
Social Security does face challenges. The trust fund reserves, built up during years when payroll taxes exceeded payouts, are projected to run dry around 2033. If Congress does nothing, benefits will need to be cut by about 20%. That’s serious, but it’s a solvency issue, not a scam.
The sole pursuit of shareholder value — i.e. of maximizing stock price — leads not to a focus on creating the greatest possible value for the firm’s customers, but to a focus on financial metrics and financial engineering.
American leaders are now engaged in an effort to reverse the loss of manufacturing. The hope is to restore a path to prosperity for struggling regions and their residents. Tariffs are being employed liberally as a means to this end.
Innovative ETFs
Nvidia CEO Urges US to Ease AI Curbs After ‘Failure’ With China
Nvidia Corp. chief Jensen Huang blasted the “failure” of US restrictions intended to help contain China’s technological ascent, calling on the White House to lower barriers to AI chip sales before American firms cede that market to up-and-coming rivals such as Huawei Technologies Co.
US Stocks to Power Global Rally, Morgan Stanley Strategists Say
US equities are likely to drive the global rally in the coming months on an improving corporate earnings outlook and a weaker dollar, according to cross-asset strategists at Morgan Stanley.
What Will Central Banks do When Tokens Replace Money?
With mainstream investment products increasingly finding a second home on the blockchain, it’s a good time to ask what role central banks would play if everything they have learned while policing double-entry bookkeeping over the last 350 years becomes irrelevant.
The Case for International Equities in Target-Date Funds
Most investors would jump at the chance to add more money to their portfolio, but they often fail to consider the hidden costs associated with it.
Moody’s Debt Downgrade – Does It Matter?
As investors, we need to step back and examine the history of previous debt downgrades and their outcomes for the stock and bond markets. Let’s start with what Moody’s rating agency stated about its rating change.
A Balanced Approach to U.S. Equity Through GARP
In an investment landscape dominated by market-cap-weighted benchmarks, the Barron’s 400 ETF (BFOR) offers a different path through GARP.
Alphabet Traders Look to Developer Event to Shift AI Narrative
Alphabet Inc.’s investors are looking to this week’s developer conference to see if the company can reset the narrative amid fears that its long-standing market dominance is on shaky ground.
Growth CDs: Access Stock Market Appreciation With FDIC Protection
By incorporating growth CDs into a diversified retirement plan, retirees can take advantage of equity market growth, protect their lifestyle, and avoid the fear of market downturns diminishing their savings.
Trump’s Gulf Visit Ignites Record Military Sales and AI Infrastructure Boom
President Donald Trump’s first overseas trip since returning to the White House is turning heads across the aerospace & defense and semiconductor industries.
Trade Progress: Small Steps
The signal of announcing trade pacts is an important start.
The Next Great Job Churn Is Already Starting
The geography of employment in the US is being shaped by two distinct trends. The first is low levels of housing churn and, therefore, interstate migration, a normal part of the business cycle that should eventually turn around.
The Wealth Effect Is Not Always Virtuous
Given the recent market volatility and the possibility of an adverse wealth effect, it's worth quantifying the relationship between stock returns and economic activity.
A 401(k) in Every Pot? The Glidepath to Nowhere
Don’t allow your middle-aged clients depending on their 401(k) plan to fool themselves. Markets can’t rescue a failure to save until it hurts. And don’t let them kid themselves that a smoother ride with bonds won’t come at the cost of increased shortfall risk.
Corporate Stock Buybacks – Do They Affect Markets?
Fisher Investments recently wrote an interesting article asking whether corporate stock buybacks affect markets.
S&P 500 Notches Weekly Gain on Big Tech Strength, Trade Optimism
US stocks delivered their second-best weekly gain of the year on Friday, as Big Tech fueled a rally that brought the S&P 500 Index closer to an all-time high set nearly three months ago.
Nvidia Opens AI Ecosystem to Rival Chipmakers to Aid Global Push
Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang outlined plans to let customers deploy rivals’ chips in data centers built around its technology, a move that acknowledges the growth of in-house semiconductor development by major clients from Microsoft Corp. to Amazon.com Inc.
Quantum Computing Could Be the Future of Drug Development
One of the first and most promising uses scientists envision for the rapidly evolving technology of quantum computing is a new approach to drug development.
A Universe of Potential Opportunity Lies Beyond the Public Markets
Technology and trends have made individual investors an important part of the private market.
As U.S. Stocks Recover YTD Losses, Look to Active Strategies
While equities are on their way to recovering January 1 levels, enhanced volatility lends itself to active ETF strategies this year.
Investing in the Great Tech Shake-Up Amid a Tariff Storm
Technology stocks have been buffeted by market volatility in early 2025, with shares tied to artificial intelligence (AI) hit especially hard.
India’s Power Play
So far in 2025, markets have had plenty to absorb: the Trump administration’s tariffs, Germany’s latest investment commitments, the implications of the DeepSeek moment, and escalating military conflicts (now including one on the India-Pakistan border).
Empire State Manufacturing Survey: Activity Continued to Decline Modestly in May
Manufacturing activity contracted for a third consecutive month in New York State, according to the Empire State Manufacturing May survey. The diffusion index for General Business Conditions fell 1.1 points to -9.2. The latest reading was worse than the forecast of -8.2.
Wall Street’s High-Frequency Traders Are Rushing Into Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is ramping up efforts to lure high frequency trading firms — a campaign that’s already brought in major players from Citadel Securities to Hudson River Trading — as it looks to bolster activity on the Middle East’s largest stock market.
The Extreme Risk of High Valuation: The Truth About the S&P 500’s Valuation (Part 2)
In this video – Part 2 – Extreme Risk of High Valuation – Chuck Carnevale, Co-Founder of FAST Graphs, aka Mr. Valuation discusses the volatility of the stock market, using the S&P 500 (SPY) as a proxy.
Want to Build a Strong Advisor Team? 3 Ways to Retain Top Talent
Are you trying to grow a stable team of advisors and retain top talent? Young advisors are looking for RIA firms that offer remote work flexibility, a clear path toward advancement and role transparency.
The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq Since 2000 Highs as of April 2025
Here is a look at real (inflation-adjusted) charts of the S&P 500, Dow 30, and Nasdaq composite since their 2000 highs. We've updated this through the April 2025 close.
The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq Since Their 2000 Highs as of April 2025
Explore the performance journey of the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones since their peaks in 2000. This video analyzes how these key U.S. stock market indexes have navigated over two decades of economic shifts and technological change, revealing their distinct paths through April 2025.
The Next Chapter of AI? Proactivity.
A solution that merely saves time on administrative tasks will quickly become stale as the business grows. Success lies in determining how the AI tool you are implementing will have a lasting effect on the advisor’s workday routine.
Buying the Dip Still Works — Even in This New World
Retail investors have won again. When trade tensions flared in early April and about $6.6 trillion in market value vanished from US stocks in just two business days – the fifth-worst two-day drop since the S&P 500’s creation in 1957 – they didn’t panic.
A Bear Market Rally? Or, Just A Correction?
Assessing a bear market rally proves challenging when you experience it firsthand. It is only in hindsight that the complete picture reveals itself to investors. Of course, after a bear market rally, investors tend to review their investments and speculate on what they should have done differently.
Dissecting the Stock Market: The Truth About the S&P 500’s Valuation (Part 1)
In this video, Chuck Carnevale, Co-Founder of FAST Graphs, aka Mr. Valuation discusses the volatility of the stock market, the truth about the S&P 500’s valuation, using the S&P 500 (SPY) as a proxy.
Arro’s Alexandra Levis: How ETF Issuers Can Stand Out
Alexandra Levis, Founder & CEO of Arro Financial Communications, provides an in-depth look at how ETF issuers should think about approaching marketing. VettaFi’s Roxanna Islam breaks down some of the year’s top-performing ETFs, from international plays to precious metals.
US Firm Global AI Secures Saudi Investment Worth Billions
Global AI, a US tech firm, plans to collaborate with a Saudi Arabian artificial intelligence venture, Humain, in an agreement expected to be worth billions of dollars, according to a person familiar with the mattter.
Basel III Makes It Official: Gold Is Money Again
For my entire decades-long career in capital markets, I’ve made the case that gold is not just a shiny relic of the past, but a serious, strategic asset for modern investors. After years of pounding the table, it feels pretty good to say that the world’s central banks—and now the U.S. banking system—are finally catching up.
Current Thoughts on Tesla
Today Tesla is not trading based on car sales but on future dreams of self-driving robo-taxis, robots, semis, and whatever else Elon dreams up. The car company may be worth $100 billion to $180 billion; the rest is what investors are willing to pay for Elon’s dreams.
The Storm Before the Calm
Are you prepared to adjust your portfolio in the coming months for the possibility that calm, tranquil markets and a resumption of the bullish trend emerge?
‘Buy America’ Sweeps Across Global Markets After Trade Talks
With Wall Street kicking off another rally, American stocks are now trading like Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” shock never happened.
Employment Data Confirms Economy is Slowing
While coming in much stronger than expected, the latest employment data confirmed what we already suspected: the economy is slowing.
Buffett Steps Back, His Insights Remain
Warren Buffett opened his 60th—and final as CEO—Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting with the same understated clarity that has defined his career: "This is my 60th annual meeting... I think it'll be the best yet."
Traders’ Guide to US Stocks Most Affected in China Trade Talks
US equity investors will be watching closely as trade talks kick off between the Trump administration and China, with trillions of dollars hanging in the balance for American companies.
Tech Industry Warns US Investment Pledges Hinge on Research Tax Break
Major tech companies lobbying to salvage a tax deduction for research and development are warning they may pull back from high-profile pledges of new US investments if Congress doesn’t fully reinstate the break.
US Stocks Rise at Open as Investors Look Ahead to China Talks
US stocks opened higher Friday as traders weighed comments from President Donald Trump suggesting that an 80% tariff on China seemed right, just as negotiations between the two countries are set to begin on Saturday.
Wall Street Brings the Bitcoin-Versus-Gold Clash to ETF Masses
The culture clash between Bitcoin enthusiasts and gold bugs is about to be played out in the world of exchange-traded funds.
US Unveils Plans to Fast-Track Deals as Trump Eyes Mideast Funds
The US said it’s developing a fast-track process for screening foreign investments in the US, an effort Trump administration officials expect could smooth the way for billions from wealth funds in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
US Stocks Advance as Trump Touts Trade Agreement With UK
US stocks climbed at the open Thursday as investors welcomed news of a trade agreement between the US and the UK — a widely anticipated development that some traders say could serve as a blueprint for broader global negotiations
Apple’s Wandering Eye Is Good for Everyone But Google
In technology, disruption can happen slowly and then all at once. Alphabet Inc.’s Google unit is praying for the former right now.
Tactical Rules Move to Neutral
Currently, the Three Tactical Rules are a “flashing yellow light” - a roughly neutral rating which represents a slight downgrade.
Tariff Risks Reshape Manager Positioning
After entering the year with a cautious outlook, managers have become more defensively postured as the U.S. tariff policy has increased uncertainty.
Is US Exceptionalism Over for Equity Investors?
Over years, the US cemented its position as an exceptional source of earnings growth that fueled outsize equity returns. Many investors are now questioning whether the US will retain its advantages as President Trump’s trade policies add uncertainty to the outlook across industries.
Gridlock
Private equity transaction volumes remain limited despite predictions for a boom in 2025. With interest rates remaining elevated and the economic backdrop increasingly uncertain, executing acquisitions and IPOs is proving a challenge, leading financial sponsors to hold portfolio companies for longer.
US Stocks Rise on China Trade Talk Hopes Ahead of Fed Decision
US stocks jumped at the open Wednesday as investors were encouraged by news that the US and China are set to start trade talks this weekend, even as traders awaited the Federal Reserve policy decision later in the day.
OpenAI Can't Have Its Money Both Ways
Sam Altman’s reputation for spin was out in full force this week in a published “letter to employees” announcing that he was abandoning plans to turn OpenAI into a for-profit company. Instead, it will “continue to be overseen and controlled” by its nonprofit board.
Welcome the Driverless Trucks
It was a glimpse of a very appealing future: A sleek 18-wheeler powered by Aurora Innovation Inc. trundled down Interstate 45 from Dallas to Houston last week with a trailer full of goods and a completely empty cab. At long last, autonomous trucking may have arrived.
“Resistance Is Futile” – For Both Bulls And Bears
Over the past two weeks, the market has had a furious nine-day rally, the longest winning streak in 21 years.
International Investing: A New Paradigm?
So what has caused such a surge in international returns versus the U.S. so far this year? Is it just short-term noise, reversion to the mean, or something more systematic? If the last few months were purely short-term noise, we will soon know, as U.S. stocks will resume dominance.
First Quarter Gold Demand at Highest Level Since 2016
Record gold prices drove first-quarter demand in 2025 to the highest level since 2016.
A Closer Look at Full-time and Part-time Employment: April 2025
April's employment report showed that 82.6% of total employed workers were full-time (35+ hours) and 17.4% of total employed workers were part-time (<35 hours).
David Sharp Talks Vanguard’s 50-Year Journey, Recent Investor Behavior, and New ETFs
Vanguard’s David Sharp marks the firm’s 50th anniversary, explores recent investor behavior, and highlights several new fixed income ETFs. VettaFi’s Stacey Morris analyzes the rollercoaster year for energy ETFs.
Client Communication Strategies During Market Volatility
With investors experiencing heightened anxiety about their financial futures, your approach can make the difference between client retention and attrition. This comprehensive guide from our senior consultants explores actionable strategies for effective client communication during market volatility.
The Hidden Cost in Investing: Negative Compounding & the Opportunity Cost of Fees
This article focuses on asset-based fees that cover both advice and investment-related costs, which is a model that I believe is best-suited for most individuals, as advisors can add value across multiple dimensions.
Ongoing Policy Uncertainty Keeps Markets Uneasy
Markets clawed back early losses in April, but one thing has become clear – policy uncertainty and risk isn’t fading, it’s spreading.
Does Your Practice Need a Torpedo Bat?
You’ve built your book. Refined your process. You know how to serve clients and grow your business. But what if your current firm is acting like an outdated piece of equipment? One that doesn’t match how you actually operate? One that limits what’s possible?
U.S. Ports Face Massive Slowdowns as Trump Tariffs Bite Hard
If you’ve been inside a Walmart, Target or Home Depot in the past week, you may not realize that a trade war is underway between the U.S. and China, the world’s two largest economies. Store shelves are well stocked, and prices have largely held steady.
Fixed Income and Tariff Policy: Advising Clients in an Era of Uncertainty
While tariff negotiations may well bear fruit eventually, investors today are trying to figure out the impact of changing trade pacts on GDP growth, interest rate levels, the value of the dollar, and the ability of the Treasury to refinance $9.2 trillion of our $36 trillion federal debt in 2025.
S&P Global Services PMI: Slowest Growth in 17 Months
The April U.S. Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) from S&P Global came in at 50.8, below the 51.4 forecast. The reading marks the 27th consecutive month of expansion and the slowest growth since November 2023.
Interest Rate Swaps: The Plumbing of the Financial System
Shockingly, given that I thought most readers would find interest rate swaps dull or wonky, we have received a few emails asking for more information. Given the importance of liquidity to all markets and how interest rate swap spreads are a good liquidity barometer, it's worth giving you that “coming article” now.
The Awards You Never Get When Investing
In investing, success is often judged by numbers—returns on investment, percentage gains, and the ability to outperform benchmarks like the S&P 500. However, some investors frequently pursue a peculiar set of “awards” without realizing the pitfalls they embody.
QuantStreet May 2025 Letter: Negotiations
While the S&P 500 index was almost unchanged in April, the dollar remained extremely weak, ending the month down over 4%.
Top Lessons from Professor Siegel This April
April was a volatile and policy-sensitive month in the markets. Every week, my colleagues and I were joined by Professor Jeremy Siegel to discuss how macroeconomic data, Federal Reserve policy and the variety of tariff proposals from President Trump shaped sentiment and the investment landscape.
Soft Data Gets Softer
Economic data can be soft or hard. “Soft” data reflects attitudes, expectations, opinions, and feelings. It’s a step removed from the “hard” data reflecting actual events. Soft data is still valuable because future expectations shape the hard data that follows.
US Stock Futures Extend Gains After Strong Jobs Report
US stock futures rose Friday, putting the S&P 500 Index on track to post the longest winning streak in more than 20 years after a government report showed buoyant hiring in April, providing evidence of resilience in an economy beset by trade pressures.
Vehicle Sales: April 2025
The moving average for the per-capita light vehicle sales series peaked in August 1978. Almost 50 years later, it is down 35.2% from that peak.
April Showered with Tariff Talk, Market Volatility
Uncertainty reigned through April and likely will continue to do so, at least in the near term. Markets have reacted, both negatively and positively, to every headline coming out of Washington.
Diversification vs. the Siren's Song
Like sailors lured by the Sirens' song, today’s investors risk being captivated by seductive narratives in the market. While diversification remains a time-tested strategy for building wealth, we examine the risks and returns investors are embracing today.
Morgan Stanley Plans to Offer Crypto Trading to E*Trade Clients
Morgan Stanley is working on a plan to add cryptocurrency trading to its E*Trade platform, in what would be the most significant move by a major US bank to help everyday customers buy into the asset class since the Trump administration began removing regulatory barriers.
US Economic Weakness Is Being Exaggerated – For Now
The US economy’s contraction last quarter was something of a head fake, driven by a surge in imports as businesses tried to front-run tariffs.
US Stock Rally Hits 8th Day, Close to Erasing Post-Tariff Rout
A spate of solid corporate earnings pushed US stocks higher in overnight trading, putting major indexes on track for an eighth straight advance and close to wiping out all of the losses suffered after Donald Trump’s major tariff announcement.
Summit Wealth Group Launches RIA, SEI Powers Evolved Business Model
SEI® (NASDAQ:SEIC) today announced that Summit Wealth Group, a fast-growing enterprise advisor practice, has selected SEI to support the firm’s vision and evolution for strategic growth.
Energy Prices Are Not Well Grounded
Many American consumers recently endured their first inflationary cycle, and recent trade headlines have elevated fears of a another bout with higher costs. While not impacted by tariffs, energy markets may play a critical role in driving the price level during the balance of this year.
Three Ways to Avoid the Eye of the Equity Market Storm
With flexibility, humility and disciplined processes, equity investors can find a way forward.
Rare Earth Restrictions
After the U.S. imposed substantial tariffs on China, Beijing responded with tariffs of its own and with restrictions on exports of seven rare earth minerals. The latter action will be a particular hindrance to American manufacturers.
Meta Earnings Have High Bar to Clear After Shares Outperform
When Meta Platforms Inc. reports earnings on Wednesday afternoon, the social media giant will face a high hurdle to satisfy anxious investors.
Citadel Securities Warns SEC That Private Rooms, 24-Hour Trading Are Emerging Risks
Citadel Securities is urging the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new leadership to examine a list of what it argues are emerging and mounting risks, including opaque trading in so-called private rooms and the push by US stock markets to operate around the clock.
Corralling Your Tech Stack: Streamlining Wealth Management Operations
The fintech revolution has opened doors to optimizing home office operations, but the question remains: How can wealth managers effectively harness their tech stack to reduce fragmentation and simplify processes related to vendor workflow management?
A Look at What is Shaping our Market Views
Think of the drafting process like investing—scouts meticulously rank players based on their strength, speed, flexibility, and mental acuity, much like we analyze the economy and financial markets to shape our outlook. The true value of these players might take years to unfold...
Barry Ritholtz: How Not to Invest
Barry Ritholtz, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Ritholtz Wealth Management, breaks down the current market environment and discusses key ideas from his latest book, How Not to Invest. VettaFi’s Todd Rosenbluth offers highlights from the 2025 etf.com Awards.
US Stocks Steady as Traders Assess Earnings, Tariff Headlines
US stocks traded steady on Tuesday as traders digested a slew of corporate earnings results and parsed comments from the White House about trade negotiations.
No, Social Security Is Not a Ponzi Scheme
Social Security does face challenges. The trust fund reserves, built up during years when payroll taxes exceeded payouts, are projected to run dry around 2033. If Congress does nothing, benefits will need to be cut by about 20%. That’s serious, but it’s a solvency issue, not a scam.
The Finance Curse
The sole pursuit of shareholder value — i.e. of maximizing stock price — leads not to a focus on creating the greatest possible value for the firm’s customers, but to a focus on financial metrics and financial engineering.
The Trials and Tribulations of Trade
American leaders are now engaged in an effort to reverse the loss of manufacturing. The hope is to restore a path to prosperity for struggling regions and their residents. Tariffs are being employed liberally as a means to this end.