Latest Thoughts
As China emerged a year ago from the shadow of the stringent zero COVID-19 related measures that all but shut down its economy for over two years, much was expected in terms of its economic growth prospects. ...
To say 2023 was challenging may be an understatement. ...
Following the Federal Reserve's (Fed) aggressive rate-hiking campaign in 2022 and 2023, stocks are entering a phase in which the market narrative is focused on interest-rate-stability--as an inflation, we believe, comes down further. ...
Despite a heavy lobbying effort to cajole OPEC+ members to agree to a unified cut in oil production, Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of the energy cartel, was unable to orchestrate anything more than pledges on a 'voluntary' basis. ...
Opportunities abound in the markets, even during periods when the economy appears ripe for a regime shift. ...
As the market appears to be taking a rest and consolidating its $2.7 trillion rally leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, the historical pattern over the last five years suggests the shortened holiday week typically enjoys modest gains. ...
There is nothing like an eight-day winning streak to change the market narrative. ...
It's been another volatile year for municipal (muni) investors this year. ...
It's a tradition here to write about what scares us around Halloween each year. ...
Despite headwinds, the U.S. could experience structural changes in the labor market, residential real estate, and inflation as the post-pandemic economy progresses into the New Year. ...
Earnings season has kicked off with several of the big banks and a handful of other blue-chip companies having already reported results for the calendar third quarters. ...
U.S. Treasury yields have seemingly been moving in one direction lately (higher), with the 30-year-Treasury yield temporarily breaching 5% for the first time since 2007. ...
After a difficult September for stocks, investors are surely ready to flip the calendar to October. ...
India has emerged as a compelling economic growth story and an increasingly attractive alternative to China within the emerging markets complex. ...
Recent data suggests economic conditions in Europe are deteriorating, removing a key element of LPL Research's positive view of the attractively valued developed international equities asset class. ...
The BRIC acronym, without the "S," was introduced in 2001 by the Goldman Sachs chief economist who highlighted the prodigious growth and investment prospects of Brazil, Russia, India, and China combined. ...
Fixed income investors have had a rough time over the last few years. ...
Volatility has returned right on queue as U.S. equity markets continue to pull back from overbought levels. ...
Earnings season is mostly behind us with about 85% of S%P 500 companies having reported second quarter results. ...
The economy is doing better than expected, and the markets are responding accordingly. ...