Volatility often evokes emotional responses from investors. Two big sell-offs in early 2025 reminded us why it’s important to fight those responses and stay invested through downturns.
Current volatility and optimism are some of the topics being discussed in this new roundtable from Royce Investment Partners.
July didn’t need to reach the halfway point before bitcoin notched double-digit gains.
In the latest report by the Census Bureau, building permits unexpectedly inched up to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.397 million in June.
In the latest report by the Census Bureau, housing starts rose 4.6% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.321 million.
It’s a quirk in the booming world of passive investing: Famed tech fund QQQ is the most profitable offering in the $11.7 trillion ETF industry, but Invesco Ltd. earns virtually nothing from running it. Now the asset manager is asking shareholders to change that.
Conventional wisdom has it that the rise of robotaxis is bad for Uber Technologies Inc. and oh so good for Tesla Inc.
If you’re a venture capitalist, you dream of backing the next billion-dollar startup to one day feast on the returns of a sale.
GE Aerospace just hit it out of the park on earnings.
When you have a significant underperformance period, investors have a good reason for wondering if you’ve lost your investing mojo.
As of June 2025, the relative valuation of the cheapest 50% of the U.S. stock market compared to the expensive half is at the 3rd percentile in our 40+ years of data.
Last week, Nvidia—whose processors are a key driver of the AI wave—became the world’s first publicly traded company to hit $4 trillion in market value.
The second quarter featured a trade war, armed conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, and continued turmoil in Washington, yet markets continued to rally, likely due to an elevated money supply and an increase in passive investing.
Contrary to popular belief, investors can use TradFi best practices to analyze on-chain KPIs of DeFi networks and the underlying fundamentals of the tokens that drive them.
With inflation proving to be sticky, sovereign debt burdens escalating, and trust in institutions coming under scrutiny, investors are reassessing the role that hard assets play in protecting and preserving long-term purchasing power.
Not sure which to choose? Here are some things to consider about individual bonds vs. bond funds.
Nominal retail sales in June were up 0.64% month-over-month and up 3.92% year-over-year. However, after adjusting for inflation, real retail sales were up 0.35% month-over-month and up 1.22% year-over-year.
As inflation concerns continue to influence 2025 market dynamics, investors seek equity-based strategies to provide rising-price protection.
Builder confidence received a slight boost in July with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act but remained near its lowest level in over 2.5 years.
The Census Bureau's Advance Retail Sales Report for June showed consumer spending was higher than expected, with headline sales rising 0.6%.
The latest Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index showed activity expanded for the first time in four months. The index was rose nearly 20 points to 15.9 in July, the highest level since February. The latest reading was better than the forecast of -1.2.
In the week ending July 12th, initial jobless claims were at a seasonally adjusted level of 221,000. This represents a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's figure. The latest reading was lower than the 233,000 forecast.
Goldman reported record equity trading revenue in second-quarter earnings on Wednesday and trounced its peers with a rebound in investment banking revenue that was fueled by a 70% jump in deal-making fees versus the same period last year.
Swedish private equity group EQT AB reported better-than-expected underlying profit in the first half of 2025 as exit volumes jumped and all of its funds performed at or above plan.
Just four months into his tenure at the Pentagon, private equity billionaire Steve Feinberg has landed his first big deal: a $400 million bet on the US’s only miner of rare-earth elements, a key commodity in the rivalry with China.
June was a month of stabilization and subtle strength for preferreds.
Three themes are worth emphasizing as we reach the midpoint of 2025: tariffs, interest rates, and global diversification. We emphasize these themes even amid recent heightened geopolitical tensions.
Global equity markets swung from steep losses to fresh highs during the quarter. In early April, President Trump imposed a baseline 10% tariff and reciprocal tariffs of up to 50% on dozens of trading partners, only to suspend most reciprocal tariffs for 90 days amid market panic.
Investors may be happy to shift some of their focus away from the ongoing tariff saga and back toward economic data and earnings reports.
In this video, Chuck Carnevale, co-founder of FAST Graphs, aka Mr. Valuation, discusses Becton Dickinson (BDX), 53 years of dividend growth, a medical diagnostics company that has increased its dividend for 53 consecutive years.
The U.S. economy remains resilient despite headline volatility tied to shifting trade and tariff policies. Meanwhile, we continue to see a lot of volatility in the economic data as the world adjusts to these changing policies.
The two teams share aligned values and a commitment to providing customized wealth management solutions for their clients.
Your technology matters. Your processes matter. But your team determines whether you scale or stagnate. Your people will make or break your growth story; choose wisely.
Meeting AI is proving to be a great starting point for enterprise wealth management teams to gain instant productivity. Acting quickly offers the additional compounding of long-term productivity and data advantages.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s stock traders posted the largest revenue haul in Wall Street history, as volatility sparked by the Trump administration’s trade war spurred a second straight record quarter for the unit.
What was once dismissed as a fringe fantasy by a niche band of crypto believers is now being tentatively examined by the government-sponsored entities at the core of the US housing market.
Chief executive officers in the US and beyond are becoming accustomed to the policy swings of President Donald Trump and are deciding they can pursue growth ambitions regardless.
In roughly seven years, Qube Research & Technologies has grown into a hedge fund powerhouse without setting foot in the US — the industry’s mecca. That’s about to change.
Low volatility exchange traded funds are a compelling solution for those looking to dampen risk while staying invested.
Wholesale inflation cooled to its lowest level in nine months in June. The producer price index for final demand was flat month-over-month after rising 0.3% in May. This was lower than the expected 0.2% growth.
For many years, the pension plan has often been a drag on a corporation’s financial positions. Now that’s generally no longer the case, and it’s time to consider what’s next.
The RAFI™ Fundamental Index has a value tilt, but to characterize it as a value index would be an oversimplification that misses the important advantages that the fundamental index offers above standard “value” index approaches.
As artificial intelligence transforms industries, investors face a critical question: How can they strategically approach investments in AI ETFs? Rene Reyna, head of Thematic and Specialty Product Strategy for ETFs at Invesco, offers valuable insights into navigating this complex landscape.
High yield bonds have historically delivered attractive long-term returns, and since the Great Financial Crisis they have also become higher quality, as weaker borrowers have departed the sector for the private credit and leveraged loan markets.
Markets continued their strong run last week before pulling back slightly as a flurry of tariff rhetoric hit the wires. It’s important to understand markets are rallying because they assume these tariff threats are more political posturing than lasting economic policy.
Drew O’Neil discusses fixed income market conditions and offers insight for bond investors.
A couple of years ago, I wrote about absolute versus relative returns. Given the latest market run, I am getting a lot of questions about chasing returns, and individuals comparing themselves to the S&P 500 index.
Emerging market (EM) countries are often generalized as all the same and driven by commodity prices. The reality can be very different. Here's what you should know about EM stocks now.
With the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law on July 4, this note briefly discusses some of the implications for energy broadly and the energy infrastructure space.
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) release for June puts the year-over-year inflation rate at 2.67%. The latest reading keeps inflation below the 3.73% average since the end of the Second World War for a 25th straight month. Additionally, for a 5th consecutive month, inflation sits below the 10-year moving average which is at 3.01%.
Gas prices were practically unchanged this week, remaining near their lowest level in a month. As of July 14th, the price of regular gas was unchanged while the price of premium gas was down 1 cent from the previous week.
On Wednesday, Vanguard expanded its fixed income ETF selection with the launch of three new funds.
As 2025 progresses, investors and policymakers are navigating a highly complex economic landscape shaped by three powerful and interrelated forces: evolving trade policy, a cautious U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), and growing concerns over U.S. fiscal discipline.
How can you be sure the information and recommendations your advisor offers you are not biased by their political views?
Inflation affects everything from grocery bills to rent, making the Consumer Price Index (CPI) one of the most closely watched economic indicators. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks this by categorizing spending into eight categories, each weighted by its relative importance.
Investors who overlook the potential of card reward programs may be missing out on benefits that can contribute to the abundant lifestyle they are looking to build.
BlackRock Inc. pulled in $46 billion to its investment funds, and assets hit a record $12.5 trillion as clients rode out the volatility of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies in the second quarter.
JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s investment bankers eked out a surprise gain in the second quarter, signaling what may be the start of a dealmaking rebound after widespread hesitation tied to US tariff policies.
Apple Inc. has struck a $500 million deal to buy rare-earth minerals from MP Materials Corp., the US producer that just last week secured backing from the Pentagon.
Housing affordability has become a flashpoint in the US economy. How can the country be truly wealthy when the bulk of a rising generation can’t afford a home?
Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. plan to resume sales of some AI chips in China after securing Washington’s assurances that such shipments would get approved, a dramatic reversal from the Trump administration’s earlier stance on measures designed to limit Beijing’s AI ambitions.
Inflation heated up for a second straight month in June. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the headline figure for the Consumer Price Index was at 2.7% year-over-year, up from 2.4% in May and higher than the expected 2.6% growth.
We continue to believe we are seeing a rare opportunity in EM local debt, and our conviction has been strengthened by the Trump administration’s trade and economic policies, which suggest continued dollar weakness and relative strength for EM local currencies.
It is easy to invest when markets are rallying, but it can be tough for investors to stay in their seats when markets inevitably decline again.
Every year around this time, we update our Periodic Table of Commodities Returns to reflect the performance of raw materials in the first six months. I’m biased, but few tools do a better job of providing a clear, interactive picture of the commodities landscape than ours.
The right level of regulation requires careful calibration.
Geopolitical flare-ups and a “wait-and-see” Federal Reserve stance have created plenty of noise, but markets continue to defy the headlines with a balanced global allocation and improving sentiment indicators.
Tokenization of real assets might make liquidity problems even more obvious. Making assets digital doesn't mean they'll be easier to sell or trade. It could just highlight how hard they really are to sell, and it won’t change the market demand either.
In this paper, we study the emotional benefits and time-saving value that paid professional financial advice provides to clients.
When I read Barry Ritholtz’s recent book, I agreed with it almost 100 percent. The main themes of Ritholtz’s book are, first, that nobody can predict anything, let alone the stock market, and that therefore, second, you should invest in a low-cost index fund.
US mega caps are attractive as they’re likely to be boosted by the fiscal spending bill as well as a robust earnings outlook, according to Morgan Stanley strategists.
Banks are looking to sell $2.25 billion of term loans and $2 billion equivalent of bonds for Boots, to help finance its acquisition by US private equity firm Sycamore Partners, according to people familiar with the matter.
Bitcoin breached $120,000 for the first time, with investor enthusiasm showing few signs of dimming as the US House of Representatives prepares to consider key industry legislation during its “Crypto Week” starting Monday.
Next week, the Q2-2025 earnings season will begin in earnest as a barrage of S&P 500 companies report, starting with the Wall Street money center banks on Tuesday and Wednesday. Since earnings drive the market by supporting investor expectations, what should investors expect? Let’s dig into the details.
Fixed income benchmarks have two fundamental flaws. First, their exposures prioritize the needs of borrowers rather than investors. Second, they tend to expose investors to the biggest risks at the worst times.
The resilient job market has supported stock gains, but Washington policy has been a primary market driver so far this year.
There’s a connection between our willingness to let the debt problem fester and investors throwing their money into a wildly overvalued stock market. In both cases, we’ve grown way too comfortable with uncertainty.
The second quarter’s rapid recovery from April’s market volatility reminds us how powerful a systematic rules-based approach to tax management can be.
ClearBridge Investments believes tariffs remain the key risk to corporate profits in the second half of the year and is less concerned about geopolitical events or the outlook for fiscal and monetary policy.
Most of us are not prepared for the incredible degree of change Artificial Intelligence (AI), combined with automation, is bringing to society.
At a private markets conference focused on the ultra-rich in London this week, the typically discreet sector was notably candid about its growing interest in private credit.
Banks from Wells Fargo & Co. to smaller Japanese lenders are flocking to top-rated collateralized loan obligation deals, pushing up secondary prices for buyout debt.
A multibillion-dollar capital markets experiment is unfolding on Wall Street, as entrepreneurs use blank-check companies and reverse mergers to take their holdings of digital assets public.
A full three months since President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcements sparked panic in financial markets, macro developments have been benign. The passage of the Big Beautiful Bill has brought clarity on the fiscal outlook, but uncertainty on trade negotiations remains. Franklin Templeton Fixed Income CIO Sonal Desai explains what this means for investors going forward.
Bitcoin options traders are already setting their sights on higher prices as the original cryptocurrency extends its record-breaking rally for a second day.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. bosses grew curious last summer as they clocked an unusual number of absences at the training sessions that kicked off their ultra-competitive junior analyst program.
With the price of digital assets testing the boundaries of plausibility, and Congress promising legislation to boost the industry further, now might be a good time for bank regulators to take notice.
I have been a pension nerd since I was 20 years old. So I have been hearing for literally decades that there is a simple, magical solution to all our retirement funding problems: Just take more risk! When the investments pay off, the coffers will be replenished and all will be well.
Nothing says talent war like a $100 million job offer. Mark Zuckerberg has been on a hiring blitz for AI’s most revered scientists, sending them cold emails and offering them roles in his new Superintelligence Labs division whose goal is nothing less than to build artificial-intelligence software that’s smarter than humans.
Three ETF strategies that launched in June stand out, bringing something interesting to the table for investors.
Volatility/Downside Protection
Resisting Temptation in Volatile 2025 Markets
Volatility often evokes emotional responses from investors. Two big sell-offs in early 2025 reminded us why it’s important to fight those responses and stay invested through downturns.
US Small-Cap Forecast—More Volatility and Cautious Optimism
Current volatility and optimism are some of the topics being discussed in this new roundtable from Royce Investment Partners.
Parabolic Move for Bitcoin Could Be Coiling Right Now
July didn’t need to reach the halfway point before bitcoin notched double-digit gains.
Building Permits Unexpectedly Inch Up 0.2% in June
In the latest report by the Census Bureau, building permits unexpectedly inched up to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.397 million in June.
Housing Starts Up 4.6% in June, Higher Than Expected
In the latest report by the Census Bureau, housing starts rose 4.6% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.321 million.
Invesco Aims to Unlock Hundreds of Millions in Profit From QQQ
It’s a quirk in the booming world of passive investing: Famed tech fund QQQ is the most profitable offering in the $11.7 trillion ETF industry, but Invesco Ltd. earns virtually nothing from running it. Now the asset manager is asking shareholders to change that.
The Battle of the Robotaxis is Beginning
Conventional wisdom has it that the rise of robotaxis is bad for Uber Technologies Inc. and oh so good for Tesla Inc.
Big Tech ‘Acquihiring’ Is an Ugly But Useful Trend
If you’re a venture capitalist, you dream of backing the next billion-dollar startup to one day feast on the returns of a sale.
GE Aerospace Investors Don’t Realize They Have a Cash Machine
GE Aerospace just hit it out of the park on earnings.
We’re in Good Company
When you have a significant underperformance period, investors have a good reason for wondering if you’ve lost your investing mojo.
Value: That Was Then, This is Now
As of June 2025, the relative valuation of the cheapest 50% of the U.S. stock market compared to the expensive half is at the 3rd percentile in our 40+ years of data.
Beyond Nvidia: Are You Overlooking An AI Opportunity?
Last week, Nvidia—whose processors are a key driver of the AI wave—became the world’s first publicly traded company to hit $4 trillion in market value.
Third Quarter Strategic Income Outlook
The second quarter featured a trade war, armed conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, and continued turmoil in Washington, yet markets continued to rally, likely due to an elevated money supply and an increase in passive investing.
Revolution—Not Evolution: The Crypto Dilemma
Contrary to popular belief, investors can use TradFi best practices to analyze on-chain KPIs of DeFi networks and the underlying fundamentals of the tokens that drive them.
Bitcoin and Gold: Three Model Forecasts for 2030 and Beyond
With inflation proving to be sticky, sovereign debt burdens escalating, and trust in institutions coming under scrutiny, investors are reassessing the role that hard assets play in protecting and preserving long-term purchasing power.
Bonds vs. Bond Funds: Which Is Right for You?
Not sure which to choose? Here are some things to consider about individual bonds vs. bond funds.
The Big Four Recession Indicators: Real Retail Sales Rise 0.4% in June
Nominal retail sales in June were up 0.64% month-over-month and up 3.92% year-over-year. However, after adjusting for inflation, real retail sales were up 0.35% month-over-month and up 1.22% year-over-year.
3 Equity ETFs Designed to Combat Inflation in 2025
As inflation concerns continue to influence 2025 market dynamics, investors seek equity-based strategies to provide rising-price protection.
NAHB Housing Market Index: Builder Confidence Receives Slight Boost
Builder confidence received a slight boost in July with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act but remained near its lowest level in over 2.5 years.
Retail Sales Up 0.6% in June, Better Than Expected
The Census Bureau's Advance Retail Sales Report for June showed consumer spending was higher than expected, with headline sales rising 0.6%.
Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index: Highest Level Since February
The latest Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index showed activity expanded for the first time in four months. The index was rose nearly 20 points to 15.9 in July, the highest level since February. The latest reading was better than the forecast of -1.2.
Unemployment Claims Down 7K, Lower Than Expected
In the week ending July 12th, initial jobless claims were at a seasonally adjusted level of 221,000. This represents a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's figure. The latest reading was lower than the 233,000 forecast.
Goldman’s Big Hedge Fund Bet Was Perfectly Timed
Goldman reported record equity trading revenue in second-quarter earnings on Wednesday and trounced its peers with a rebound in investment banking revenue that was fueled by a 70% jump in deal-making fees versus the same period last year.
EQT Underlying Profit Surges as Exits Climb to €13 Billion
Swedish private equity group EQT AB reported better-than-expected underlying profit in the first half of 2025 as exit volumes jumped and all of its funds performed at or above plan.
Feinberg Brings Wall Street Drive to Rare-Earth Minerals Push
Just four months into his tenure at the Pentagon, private equity billionaire Steve Feinberg has landed his first big deal: a $400 million bet on the US’s only miner of rare-earth elements, a key commodity in the rivalry with China.
Capital Relief and Lower Bond Yields Support Preferreds in June
June was a month of stabilization and subtle strength for preferreds.
Stretched Dollar, Equities Boost Diversification Case
Three themes are worth emphasizing as we reach the midpoint of 2025: tariffs, interest rates, and global diversification. We emphasize these themes even amid recent heightened geopolitical tensions.
Q2 2025 Commentary and Market Outlook International and Global Growth Equities
Global equity markets swung from steep losses to fresh highs during the quarter. In early April, President Trump imposed a baseline 10% tariff and reciprocal tariffs of up to 50% on dozens of trading partners, only to suspend most reciprocal tariffs for 90 days amid market panic.
Inflation Week on Wall Street Comes as Tariff Risk Re-Emerges
Investors may be happy to shift some of their focus away from the ongoing tariff saga and back toward economic data and earnings reports.
After 53 Years of Dividend Growth – Is This Stock Finally Worth Buying?
In this video, Chuck Carnevale, co-founder of FAST Graphs, aka Mr. Valuation, discusses Becton Dickinson (BDX), 53 years of dividend growth, a medical diagnostics company that has increased its dividend for 53 consecutive years.
Despite Economic Uncertainties and Wild Market Swings, U.S. Economic Fundamentals Refuse to Buckle
The U.S. economy remains resilient despite headline volatility tied to shifting trade and tariff policies. Meanwhile, we continue to see a lot of volatility in the economic data as the world adjusts to these changing policies.
Bluespring Wealth Partners Merger Creates $865M AUM Firm
The two teams share aligned values and a commitment to providing customized wealth management solutions for their clients.
Talent Is the Tipping Point: Why the Right Team Makes or Breaks RIA Growth
Your technology matters. Your processes matter. But your team determines whether you scale or stagnate. Your people will make or break your growth story; choose wisely.
Why You & Your Advisors Need AI-Powered Meeting Tools
Meeting AI is proving to be a great starting point for enterprise wealth management teams to gain instant productivity. Acting quickly offers the additional compounding of long-term productivity and data advantages.
Goldman Posts Best Stock-Trading Quarter in Wall Street History
Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s stock traders posted the largest revenue haul in Wall Street history, as volatility sparked by the Trump administration’s trade war spurred a second straight record quarter for the unit.
Bitcoin Chases American Dream in Norm-Shattering Mortgage Push
What was once dismissed as a fringe fantasy by a niche band of crypto believers is now being tentatively examined by the government-sponsored entities at the core of the US housing market.
JPMorgan and Citi Clients Are Getting Comfortable With Chaos
Chief executive officers in the US and beyond are becoming accustomed to the policy swings of President Donald Trump and are deciding they can pursue growth ambitions regardless.
Qube to Enter US After Building $30 Billion Hedge Fund Giant
In roughly seven years, Qube Research & Technologies has grown into a hedge fund powerhouse without setting foot in the US — the industry’s mecca. That’s about to change.
Weathering the Storm: Case for Low Volatility ETFs
Low volatility exchange traded funds are a compelling solution for those looking to dampen risk while staying invested.
Producer Price Index: Wholesale Inflation Cooler Than Expected in June
Wholesale inflation cooled to its lowest level in nine months in June. The producer price index for final demand was flat month-over-month after rising 0.3% in May. This was lower than the expected 0.2% growth.
Midyear Liability-Driven Investing Outlook: What’s Next for Corporate Pensions?
For many years, the pension plan has often been a drag on a corporation’s financial positions. Now that’s generally no longer the case, and it’s time to consider what’s next.
Must Value Be Anti-Growth?
The RAFI™ Fundamental Index has a value tilt, but to characterize it as a value index would be an oversimplification that misses the important advantages that the fundamental index offers above standard “value” index approaches.
A Practical Guide to AI ETFs
As artificial intelligence transforms industries, investors face a critical question: How can they strategically approach investments in AI ETFs? Rene Reyna, head of Thematic and Specialty Product Strategy for ETFs at Invesco, offers valuable insights into navigating this complex landscape.
Higher Quality High Yield: Addition by Subtraction
High yield bonds have historically delivered attractive long-term returns, and since the Great Financial Crisis they have also become higher quality, as weaker borrowers have departed the sector for the private credit and leveraged loan markets.
Corporate Guidance Key as Tariffs Threats Resurface
Markets continued their strong run last week before pulling back slightly as a flurry of tariff rhetoric hit the wires. It’s important to understand markets are rallying because they assume these tariff threats are more political posturing than lasting economic policy.
Callable Bond Considerations
Drew O’Neil discusses fixed income market conditions and offers insight for bond investors.
Relative Returns Or Absolute. What’s More Important?
A couple of years ago, I wrote about absolute versus relative returns. Given the latest market run, I am getting a lot of questions about chasing returns, and individuals comparing themselves to the S&P 500 index.
Benefits of Emerging Markets Diversification
Emerging market (EM) countries are often generalized as all the same and driven by commodity prices. The reality can be very different. Here's what you should know about EM stocks now.
One Big Beautiful Bill and MLP/Midstream Implications
With the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law on July 4, this note briefly discusses some of the implications for energy broadly and the energy infrastructure space.
Inflation Since 1872: A Long-Term Look at the CPI
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) release for June puts the year-over-year inflation rate at 2.67%. The latest reading keeps inflation below the 3.73% average since the end of the Second World War for a 25th straight month. Additionally, for a 5th consecutive month, inflation sits below the 10-year moving average which is at 3.01%.
Gas Prices Practically Unchanged This Week
Gas prices were practically unchanged this week, remaining near their lowest level in a month. As of July 14th, the price of regular gas was unchanged while the price of premium gas was down 1 cent from the previous week.
Vanguard Unveils 3 New Fixed Income ETFs
On Wednesday, Vanguard expanded its fixed income ETF selection with the launch of three new funds.
Economic Crosscurrents in 2025: Inflation, Interest Rates, and Investment Strategy
As 2025 progresses, investors and policymakers are navigating a highly complex economic landscape shaped by three powerful and interrelated forces: evolving trade policy, a cautious U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), and growing concerns over U.S. fiscal discipline.
Do Political Biases Shape Your Planner’s Financial Advice?
How can you be sure the information and recommendations your advisor offers you are not biased by their political views?
Inside the Consumer Price Index: June 2025
Inflation affects everything from grocery bills to rent, making the Consumer Price Index (CPI) one of the most closely watched economic indicators. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks this by categorizing spending into eight categories, each weighted by its relative importance.
How to Get and Maximize 12 Amex Business Gold Cards
Investors who overlook the potential of card reward programs may be missing out on benefits that can contribute to the abundant lifestyle they are looking to build.
BlackRock Hits Record $12.5 Trillion in Assets Amid Turmoil
BlackRock Inc. pulled in $46 billion to its investment funds, and assets hit a record $12.5 trillion as clients rode out the volatility of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies in the second quarter.
JPMorgan’s Surprise Dealmaking Gain Shows Tariff Fear Easing
JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s investment bankers eked out a surprise gain in the second quarter, signaling what may be the start of a dealmaking rebound after widespread hesitation tied to US tariff policies.
Apple to Buy Rare Earths From Pentagon-Backed US Producer MP
Apple Inc. has struck a $500 million deal to buy rare-earth minerals from MP Materials Corp., the US producer that just last week secured backing from the Pentagon.
Can Wall Street Help Solve the US Housing Crisis?
Housing affordability has become a flashpoint in the US economy. How can the country be truly wealthy when the bulk of a rising generation can’t afford a home?
Nvidia, AMD to Resume AI Chip Sales to China in US Reversal
Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. plan to resume sales of some AI chips in China after securing Washington’s assurances that such shipments would get approved, a dramatic reversal from the Trump administration’s earlier stance on measures designed to limit Beijing’s AI ambitions.
Consumer Price Index: Inflation Rises to 2.7% in June, Higher Than Expected
Inflation heated up for a second straight month in June. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the headline figure for the Consumer Price Index was at 2.7% year-over-year, up from 2.4% in May and higher than the expected 2.6% growth.
Still A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity
We continue to believe we are seeing a rare opportunity in EM local debt, and our conviction has been strengthened by the Trump administration’s trade and economic policies, which suggest continued dollar weakness and relative strength for EM local currencies.
2025 Mid-Year Outlook: Stay Invested
It is easy to invest when markets are rallying, but it can be tough for investors to stay in their seats when markets inevitably decline again.
Precious Metals Crushed Their Commodities Peers in the First Half of 2025
Every year around this time, we update our Periodic Table of Commodities Returns to reflect the performance of raw materials in the first six months. I’m biased, but few tools do a better job of providing a clear, interactive picture of the commodities landscape than ours.
Rethinking Bank Regulation
The right level of regulation requires careful calibration.
Ceasefires, Chairmen & Consumer Confidence: Navigating a Summer of Surprises
Geopolitical flare-ups and a “wait-and-see” Federal Reserve stance have created plenty of noise, but markets continue to defy the headlines with a balanced global allocation and improving sentiment indicators.
Tokenization Won’t Fix the Liquidity Problem, It Will Expose It
Tokenization of real assets might make liquidity problems even more obvious. Making assets digital doesn't mean they'll be easier to sell or trade. It could just highlight how hard they really are to sell, and it won’t change the market demand either.
The Emotional and Time Value of Advice
In this paper, we study the emotional benefits and time-saving value that paid professional financial advice provides to clients.
The Trial of Barry Ritholtz
When I read Barry Ritholtz’s recent book, I agreed with it almost 100 percent. The main themes of Ritholtz’s book are, first, that nobody can predict anything, let alone the stock market, and that therefore, second, you should invest in a low-cost index fund.
Morgan Stanley Says Tax Cuts and Earnings to Boost US Mega Caps
US mega caps are attractive as they’re likely to be boosted by the fiscal spending bill as well as a robust earnings outlook, according to Morgan Stanley strategists.
Banks Are Bringing Boots $4.25 Billion Buyout Debt to Market
Banks are looking to sell $2.25 billion of term loans and $2 billion equivalent of bonds for Boots, to help finance its acquisition by US private equity firm Sycamore Partners, according to people familiar with the matter.
Bitcoin Soars Past $120,000 as US Congress Starts ‘Crypto Week’
Bitcoin breached $120,000 for the first time, with investor enthusiasm showing few signs of dimming as the US House of Representatives prepares to consider key industry legislation during its “Crypto Week” starting Monday.
Q2-2025 Earnings Season Preview
Next week, the Q2-2025 earnings season will begin in earnest as a barrage of S&P 500 companies report, starting with the Wall Street money center banks on Tuesday and Wednesday. Since earnings drive the market by supporting investor expectations, what should investors expect? Let’s dig into the details.
Are You Buying What They Selling? We’re Not—Here’s Why.
Fixed income benchmarks have two fundamental flaws. First, their exposures prioritize the needs of borrowers rather than investors. Second, they tend to expose investors to the biggest risks at the worst times.
On Firmer Ground?
The resilient job market has supported stock gains, but Washington policy has been a primary market driver so far this year.
Uncertain Moments
There’s a connection between our willingness to let the debt problem fester and investors throwing their money into a wildly overvalued stock market. In both cases, we’ve grown way too comfortable with uncertainty.
Tax Loss Harvesting Through the Volatile First Half of 2025
The second quarter’s rapid recovery from April’s market volatility reminds us how powerful a systematic rules-based approach to tax management can be.
US Equity Midyear Outlook: Looking Toward 2026 for Upside
ClearBridge Investments believes tariffs remain the key risk to corporate profits in the second half of the year and is less concerned about geopolitical events or the outlook for fiscal and monetary policy.
AI and Automation – Are You Ready?
Most of us are not prepared for the incredible degree of change Artificial Intelligence (AI), combined with automation, is bringing to society.
Private Credit Lures the Ultra-Rich Sitting on $3.1 Trillion
At a private markets conference focused on the ultra-rich in London this week, the typically discreet sector was notably candid about its growing interest in private credit.
CLOs Attract Domestic, Foreign Banks, Pushing Up Loan Prices
Banks from Wells Fargo & Co. to smaller Japanese lenders are flocking to top-rated collateralized loan obligation deals, pushing up secondary prices for buyout debt.
Crypto Treasury Firms Swarm Wall Street in SPAC, Merger Boom
A multibillion-dollar capital markets experiment is unfolding on Wall Street, as entrepreneurs use blank-check companies and reverse mergers to take their holdings of digital assets public.
Stop Me if You Think You’ve Heard This One Before
A full three months since President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcements sparked panic in financial markets, macro developments have been benign. The passage of the Big Beautiful Bill has brought clarity on the fiscal outlook, but uncertainty on trade negotiations remains. Franklin Templeton Fixed Income CIO Sonal Desai explains what this means for investors going forward.
Bitcoin Options Traders Eye $120,000 as Token Extends Record Run
Bitcoin options traders are already setting their sights on higher prices as the original cryptocurrency extends its record-breaking rally for a second day.
Big Banks Are Tired of Losing Recruits to Private Equity
JPMorgan Chase & Co. bosses grew curious last summer as they clocked an unusual number of absences at the training sessions that kicked off their ultra-competitive junior analyst program.
Crypto Renaissance Means It’s Time to Protect Banks
With the price of digital assets testing the boundaries of plausibility, and Congress promising legislation to boost the industry further, now might be a good time for bank regulators to take notice.
Social Security Needs More Than Risky Wagers
I have been a pension nerd since I was 20 years old. So I have been hearing for literally decades that there is a simple, magical solution to all our retirement funding problems: Just take more risk! When the investments pay off, the coffers will be replenished and all will be well.
Zuckerberg’s $100 Million AI Job Offers Are Paying Off
Nothing says talent war like a $100 million job offer. Mark Zuckerberg has been on a hiring blitz for AI’s most revered scientists, sending them cold emails and offering them roles in his new Superintelligence Labs division whose goal is nothing less than to build artificial-intelligence software that’s smarter than humans.
June 2025’s Most Innovative ETF Launches
Three ETF strategies that launched in June stand out, bringing something interesting to the table for investors.