As markets grapple with the implications of artificial intelligence, the AI frenzy has meant that the six largest companies accounted for more than half of the U.S. market’s return in 2023 and year-to-date (August 2024) they have accounted for nearly half again.
While agency mortgage-backed securities offer compelling valuations, not every mortgage is created equally.
The last two years brought challenges for investors across all walks of life, but particularly for retirees.
Last week, the Federal Reserve made a significant move by cutting its overnight lending rate by 50 basis points. This marks the first rate cut since 2020, signaling the Fed is aggressively supporting the economy amid a backdrop of softening economic data. For investors, understanding how similar rate cuts have historically impacted markets and which sectors tend to benefit is key to navigating the months ahead.
Two weeks ago, I began reviewing Martin Gurri’s important book, The Revolt of the Public. Rather than try to do a general review, I am going to liberally quote from Gurri’s book and interviews, trying to let him explain himself in his own words.
I attended and spoke at the European Blockchain Convention this week in Barcelona, where the energy around digital assets, Bitcoin and Web3 was palpable. Among the 6,000 attendees, there was a sense that we’re on the brink of a new era in finance and digital infrastructure.
The latest data suggests the U.S. economy is headed toward a soft landing rather than a recession. With Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts underway, markets are backing this view.
Strategies and best practices for equity portfolios.
After months if not years of investors asking when the Fed would cut rates, we finally got our answer.
Portfolio Manager Andrew Mattock, CFA, assesses the key components of the growth measures announced by the central bank and financial regulators in terms of their potential impact on the economy and the Chinese equity market.
Gold has forged multiple new record highs so far this year, and is now up some 30% year to date, 3.5% in the past week alone.
Chair Powell successfully staved off hard landing concerns by reiterating the FOMC is confident in economic growth and inflation progress.
Taxes can have a major impact on the long-term growth of a portfolio. Find out how continuous, thoughtful tax management can help investors maximize their wealth.
The economy is not the stock market. And that’s good news.
Explore fixed-income tools that generate income and infrastructure.
A new wave of opportunity seems set to flow into private credit markets, which could enhance risk-adjusted returns and diversify portfolios. What's driving this potential?
The TCJA is set to expire at the end of 2025, bringing unprecedented uncertainty. From potential tax rate hikes to changes in deductions, our Bill Cass highlights what you need to know to plan ahead.
Tax cuts are popular but not affordable for most nations.
Regardless of whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins the US presidential election in November, Chinese decision-makers expect bitter disputes over trade, technology, and Taiwan. Feeling under siege, China is girding itself for long-term enmity with the world’s largest economy.
High-dividend-yielding equity investments are likely to get closer looks in the fourth quarter after strong recent performance.
Following the first half of 2024, the NDX succumbed to significant selling pressure as investors fretted about AI-related tech spending.
In theory, growing a pool of wealth over decades – whether for a family, an endowment, or a pensioner – is a straightforward endeavor.
Chief Investment Officer Sean Taylor provides his insights on how the Fed’s 50 basis point-rate cut may affect emerging economies, particularly in Asia and Latin America, how it impacts portfolio allocations and the sectors he believes are poised for growth amid this shift.
When stock markets rise, the bullish narrative tends to dominate, overlooking the potential impact of market declines. This oversight stems from two main problems: a basic misunderstanding of math and time’s critical role in investing.
The next president will face a difficult fiscal context.
Barry Bannister, Managing Director and Chief Equity Strategist at Stifel, put out an excellent research piece on future returns based on what industry folks call the “equity risk premium.”
Policy, more likely to be dictated by economic circumstances, may not resemble generous populist proposals, which could limit their impact on stock markets.
In the span of a few days in late July, the market got live to two contrasting theories at once: that U.S. inflation is collapsing while Japanese inflation will remain stubbornly high.
Fixed income strategy and opportunities have remained relatively unchanged over the past few months. However, the much-talked-about monetary policy change has commenced.
On September 18, 2024, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.5%, bringing the federal funds rate down to a range of 4.75% to 5%. This move, aimed at managing inflationary pressures while addressing the gradual rise in unemployment, underscores the Fed’s balancing act between fostering economic growth and taming inflation.
Historically, investors have struggled to add meaningful alpha through security selection. A dynamic new credit scoring approach could change that.
In the latest episode of ETF 360. VettaFi's Kristen Chang spoke to Winslow Capital's Barry Peters about their new active growth funds
Fixed income investors may want to take a middle-ground approach with bonds and opt for debt with intermediate maturity dates.
News of that day included rioting in northern England, apparently in response to misinformation spread online claiming the person who stabbed to death three children and injured eight others in Southport was a Muslim immigrant.
Taxes may be the biggest fee your tax-sensitive clients are paying on their investment portfolios. And neither they nor you, their advisor, may be aware of just how big that fee is.
With their unrivaled depth and breadth, US capital markets lend themselves well to multi-asset strategies. The US equity market is a key portfolio building block and has outpaced the stock markets of other developed markets over the past decade.
Schwab Sector Views is our six- to 12-month outlook for stock sectors, which represent broad sectors of the economy. The Schwab Center for Financial Research (SCFR) combines a factor-based approach with a market and economic assessment to determine the ratings. For the basics on sectors, please see Stock Sectors: What Are They? How Are They Used?
With only one week left in the fiscal year, it looks like the budget deficit for the federal government for Fiscal Year 2024 is going to come in at about $1.9 trillion, which is 6.7% of GDP.
The seasons are changing. This weekend marks the autumn equinox—a time of year when the days get shorter, the weather gets cooler, and the leaves start to turn (at least for our friends in the north). While our calendars will show that fall has officially arrived, it may not feel like it as much of the nation will be enjoying unseasonably warm weather.
Fiscal responsibility is not a priority in this election.
I was pleasantly surprised by the Federal Reserve (Fed) decision to begin the easing cycle with a 50-basis point (bp) cut as the real economic data came in relatively stronger than expected.
Successful investing doesn’t have to be a thrill ride.
For families seeking to help their children save for higher education, 529 plans continue to gain broader appeal.
On September 18, the Federal Reserve cut the Federal funds rate, as expected, announcing at the same time that the Fed will continue to reduce its balance sheet. In my view, both of these decisions were appropriate. The Fed reduced short-term rates by 50 basis points, which was consistent with economic conditions that remain near the threshold of recession.
A potential recession could push even more investors to bond, but recession or not, investors can reap the benefits of core bond exposure.
At this year's Future Proof, Jeffrey Gundlach took to the main stage and sat down for a candid conversation with CNBC’s Scott Wapner.
In 2021, the stock/bond correlation flipped to positive after remaining negative for a majority of the preceding 20 years.
While it seems fitting that rates are beginning to fall within days of the Autumnal Equinox, I doubt Fed officials were aiming for the play on words. So, what were they paying attention to as they made this most recent decision?
Corporate tax rate policy is a routine hot-button issue during every presidential election cycle, and this year’s campaign is no different.
Since mid-2022, when the Federal Reserve was in the midst of its aggressive hiking cycle, investors piled over $1.6 trillion into money market funds, which include Treasury bills.
