Stock markets are at all-time highs, public companies are shutting down their operations to buy bitcoin, consumers can bet in real time on almost anything they can imagine, “meme stocks” are back in full force, even the US government is buying stocks.
Despite short-term bearish sentiment, the case for Bitcoin remains underpinned by persistent macro weakness, potential Fed easing, and renewed distrust in traditional financial systems.
As we recently argued, investors don’t need to worry about the federal government shutdown showdown causing a recession. Before the current shutdown, the federal government had been shut for eighty days in the prior thirty years, with none of those days during a recession.
For most investors, energy security probably tends to be an afterthought until an event drives a jump in prices at the pump, as seen with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, energy security is about much more than geopolitics, especially as demand for electricity is poised for growth.
Active fixed income ETFs can provide the refresh many investors want as the year draws to an end in an uncertain rate market.
Pictet Asset Management just added three funds to a 2025 that’s seen a record number of actively managed ETF launches: the Pictet AI Enhanced International Equity ETF (PQNT), Pictet Cleaner Planet ETF (PCLN), and Pictet AI & Automation ETF (PBOT).
Every market cycle eventually changes investor psychology to believe risk has been conquered.
Debt-driven growth definitely feels good. We all enjoy it immensely as long as it lasts. Then the lights go out and the party’s over. Yes, it starts again, but not until we all stumble around in the dark for a while.
In another sign that we are entering an era of even looser monetary policy, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell hinted that balance sheet reduction is about to come to an end.
There is little question that the key economic storyline of Q3 was the fact that new job creation was not anywhere near as solid as the markets and, perhaps more importantly, the Fed believed.
Monetary and fiscal policy are now decisively stimulative to the economy thanks to interest rate cuts and the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This should provide a tailwind to investments.
The third quarter demonstrated the market’s ability to focus on powerful, long-term themes like technological productivity and monetary policy, even amidst significant short-term political noise. While large technology companies were once again a driver of headline returns, the positive performance across nearly all global asset classes rewarded a diversified approach.
The stock and bond markets are taking the government shutdown—and lack of data releases—in stride, but how long the calm might last is an open question.
In a week marked by renewed S&P 500 volatility stemming from reignited tariff talks and the ongoing challenge of a government shutdown that continues to delay crucial government reports, investors and analysts have increasingly turned to secondary economic indicators for a timely view of the U.S. economy.
In Game 1 of the 2025 National League Championship Series, the Dodgers looked ready to break the game open. Bases loaded, one out, Max Muncy at the plate.
If an investor has ever asked “Can you help me pay less in taxes?” then you’re not alone.
As the bond market expects more rate cuts to come after September’s drop of 25 basis points, investors may want to consider intermediate bonds as a way to maximize income.
Rare earth elements have become the latest flashpoint in the collision between geopolitics and markets.
As funded status rises, the idea of plan hibernation may become more attractive, enabling strategic use of pension surplus.
As the calendar has now turned squarely into Q4, the sweepstakes for who will be nominated as next Chair of the Federal Reserve will no doubt increase.
With Congress unable to reach an agreement on funding the government, a government shutdown began when the new fiscal year started on October 1.
According to Wall Street Horizon’s proprietary data, Q3 2025 marked a record in the number of new U.S. ETF launches. The tally (above 200) brought the trailing four-quarter sum to more than 800. Investors have never had more choice to tweak their strategies, aim for higher income yields, or even bet on single stocks in new, creative ways.
The U.S. economy shows moderate growth and rising inflation, with manufacturing lagging and services expanding. Recession fears have faded; policy uncertainty and deficits remain concerns. AI drives market highs, gold surges, and investment focuses on healthcare, materials, and gold.
One of the most interesting changes was Vietnam’s upgrade from frontier to emerging market. This will affect all FTSE indexes as of September 2026, likely with a phased implementation.
We examine the broader implications of China’s threat to expand restrictions on rare-earth exports.
Recent data shows that even after strong international stock performance year-to-date U.S. stock markets continue to dominate global equity indexes, representing around two-thirds of the market capitalization of all global stocks, as represented by the MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI).
Big banks begin reporting Tuesday and are expected to benefit from a steeper yield curve, strong trading, and investment banking demand. The profit path ahead is less certain.
Medicare open enrollment, which is underway and runs until December 7, allows individuals to change or sign up for plans, potentially saving money and/or improving their coverage. Our Bill Cass shares the key things you need to know.
During the third quarter of 2025, the U.S. markets demonstrated notable resilience despite facing a complex mix of trade tensions, policy shifts, and economic sector-specific developments.
Many investors are likely familiar with the rapidly increasing demand for electricity, and the role nuclear power can play therein. Rcapacity is complicated in a country that has only added three large reactors since 1996. But recent news from the U.S. military may jump start nuclear power infrastructure supply chains.
With gold scaling record highs on what feels like a daily basis, mainstream financial analysts are scrambling to raise their price forecasts.
The financial markets have been laser-focused on upcoming policy decisions from the Fed, and rightfully so. Following the resumption of the current rate cut cycle, investors have been wondering what exactly this second phase will ultimately look like.
Argentina's latest lifeline does not address the nation's structural issues.
As our title suggests, September saw positive performance in fixed income markets but a great and overdue catch-up for municipal bonds.
This Packers season has parallels to today’s financial markets. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) boom has propelled markets higher for the past 3 years. The S&P 500 is up just shy of 15% through 9/30/25, following 20%+ years in 2023 and 2024.
The sector is also emerging as the most in-demand S&P 500 sector this quarter. XLV has attracted some $872 million in net new money by Oct. 13, according to our data. That places XLV among top 10 equity ETF asset gatherers this quarter.
Last week’s headlines around China tariffs and corresponding weakness in oil prices brought back memories of April and May when oil and energy stocks sold off sharply on the heels of tariff news. The weakness in energy infrastructure has been particularly acute.
Sentiment in the fixed income markets remains bullish and issuance is robust, but spreads are tight so we are staying defensive and investing opportunistically.
If you want to understand where we are in the cycle, skip the noise and follow profits. Corporate profits are the lifeblood of investment, hiring, and market returns.
Sunday, October 12 marked the third anniversary of this bull market. Fast forward three years, and this bull market is still going strong. But will it continue? You may be surprised to know that bull markets lasting three years tend to keep going for a while.
With official data halted by the U.S. government shutdown, investors turn to private and high-frequency indicators to track jobs, spending, and growth in real time.
Doug Drabik discusses fixed income market conditions and offers insight for bond investors.
The GENIUS Act shows the way forward for payment stablecoins.
CIO Sean Taylor assesses a strong quarter for emerging markets which was driven by returns in North Asia and Latin America, and AI-related themes.
The Vanguard Retirement Outlook broke down exactly how retirement-ready the American workforce is, on a generational basis.
September proved to be a powerful month for ETF flows, even as investors faced elevated long-end volatility, concerns about fiscal deficits, and a shifting macroeconomic backdrop. Rather than retreat from markets, investors leaned into opportunity, particularly in fixed income.
Tech and its derivatives have led returns thus far. After hefty multiple expansion, earnings will need to take the driver’s seat.
On a recent episode of the Money Metals podcast, host Mike Maharrey interviewed Brien Lundin. Brien Lundin is the CEO of Jefferson Financial, publisher of Gold Newsletter, and organizer of the New Orleans Investment Conference.
Trump’s threat to impose 100% tariffs roiled markets Friday, and clearly, if implemented, would send stocks much lower. But this may also be the last salvo before a final deal is worked out.
With the U.S. government shut down, the Labor Department was unable to release the monthly employment report on October 3. You could almost sense the economics community experiencing a kind of withdrawal, not sure of how to cope with the deprivation of data.
