Although the Fed cited low inflation as a big reason it didn't raise rates, the housing market is showing continued pricing strength, says US Investment Strategist Kristina Hooper. Higher equity levels and a chance to refinance should mean extra spending money for consumers.

The stock market continued cheering the bad-news September jobs report last week, glossing over other glum headlines in the hopes it would nix a 2015 rate hike. US Investment Strategist Kristina Hooper says investors shouldn’t make the same leap of logic.

US Investment Strategist Kristina Hooper says that despite the market's confusion over a cacophony of Fed voices, it's critical not to lose confidence in what the Fed has been stating all along: Data will dictate its decision on rates.

Many Americans caught a lucky break when it came to retirement preparation, but they can't afford to be complacent.

As a divided FOMC continues sitting on its collective hands, we’ve analyzed what’s going on behind the scenes and outlined the investment implications of the Fed’s latest inaction. Read the new report from Allianz Global Investors’ US Capital Markets & Strategy team.

Powerful global deflationary forces will continue to put downward pressure on the prices of inputs and outputs for months, if not years, to come. Even if the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England raise policy interest rates over the months ahead, inflation risk premiums built into market interest rates will remain small. In the absence of strong wage increases, unprecedented global growth in the supply of resources and outputs relative to demand will linger—and inflation will remain constrained.

Kristina Hooper discusses the confusion created by Fed officials' public comments and how they stir up higher volatility—and more moaning and groaning among investors.

Choosing the right glide path isn't just about getting the most return for a certain level of risk anymore, writes Glenn Dial, Head of US Retirement Strategy at Allianz Global Investors. There's a sizeable disparity between what retirement savers are willing to do and what's needed to hit their goals.

The dog days of summer haven’t been too favorable for the stock market, historically, and this year could be more of the same. But a temporary pullback might be a buy signal, writes Kristina Hooper, US Investment Strategist for Allianz Global Investors.

Despite predictions of a jump in 2015, the VIX has historically shown the ability to stay lower than many believe possible. Greg Tournant, CIO US Structured Products at Allianz Global Investors, explains the root causes and implications of volatility in today’s market environment.

Kristina Hooper, US Investment Strategist for Allianz Global Investors, breaks down the key drivers that have led to a mounting debt crisis in Puerto Rico—one that, in some ways, rivals what has happened in Greece.

Targeting chief financial officers can help advisors get more plan participants to achieve financial wellness, justify their value to plan sponsors and win new business. But you have to speak their language and show them the numbers.

Kristina Hooper, US Investment Strategist for Allianz Global Investors, dissects the June employment report and the investment implications of a deepening debt crisis in Greece, which is likely to spur higher volatility and renewed contagion fears.

Investors should expect more volatility in the stock market and larger flows into US Treasuries this week given the increased likelihood of a Grexit. Rather than hide, investors could view this crisis as a buying opportunity—a chance to position their portfolios for the second half of 2015. Over the longer term, fundamentals like job creation and a healthier consumer play a far more important role.

Kristina Hooper, US Investment Strategist for Allianz Global Investors, explains the results of the 2015 Allianz Global Investors RiskMonitor Survey, a global study of prevailing views on portfolio construction, asset allocation and risk among a cross-section of institutional investors.

Although the FOMC tried hard not to make headlines, there’s still plenty to parse in its latest communications. Bonds are likely to exhibit more volatility as we near liftoff, which is likely to happen in September. And based on the Fed’s “dots” forecast, we may even see two rate hikes in 2015.

Getting the asset allocation right as plan participants close in on retirement is critical, writes Glenn Dial, Head of US Retirement Strategy at Allianz Global Investors. And professional advice can help them find that pinpoint accuracy.

Kristina Hooper says bucking the conventional wisdom on summer swoons in the stock market may be a smart play, regardless of when the Fed decides to raise interest rates.

Kristina Hooper, US Investment Strategist for Allianz Global Investors, breaks down last week's FOMC minutes and public remarks from Fed Chair Janet Yellen. Find out why the path of rate hikes and the timing of tightening both matter.

There's a new paradigm for enhancing plan design, and therefore improving outcomes for plan participants, writes Glenn Dial, Head of US Retirement Strategy at Allianz Global Investors. It's not just about the 3 F's anymore (fiduciary responsibility, fees and funds). Learn why you should look to the 3 R's instead: results, reliability and risk.

Kristina Hooper, US Investment Strategist for Allianz Global Investors, previews the upcoming FOMC meeting and its implications for the first interest-rate hike since 2006: "Suffice it to say that the Taylor Rule, which fairly accurately predicted the fed funds rate from 1988 through 2008, might as well be in my attic with my Duran Duran albums, Benetton rugbies and other vestiges of the '80s and '90s..."

As we move closer to the end of 2014, there are some key considerations that will wield significant influence over the stock market, writes Kristina Hooper.

Kristina Hooper prescribes four key takeaways from the Ebola epidemic and what it means for investors.

Kristina Hooper comments on escalating fears that a slowdown in global growth could hamstring the US recovery and what that means for monetary-policy outcomes in the United States.

Kristina Hooper comments on the divergence of monetary policy among global central banks and why the Fed must tread lightly while acting decisively and swiftly.

Kristina Hooper breaks down the hairy mix of economic data, central bank policy and geopolitical events, including Scotland's potential exit from the UK, that markets are combing through right now.

A widening gap in monetary policy in the United States and Europe reveals the disparity in economic growth that exists. Kristina Hooper explains the implications for investors and what history reveals about periods of Fed tightening.

Instead of getting clarity about when rate hikes will happen, investors are finding an increasingly divided Fed doing careful analysis and making nuanced arguments, writes Kristina Hooper.

In the dog days of summer, investors are buying both US stocks and Treasuries. Why the pull toward two asset classes that normally diverge? It could be a simultaneous expression of bullishness and hedge against risk, writes Kristina Hooper.

Consumers have been cautious about running up credit-card debt since the financial crisis. But is that necessarily bad for the economy? Kristina Hooper breaks it down.

Stocks have been immune to many of the threats to their prolonged march higher, but the prospect of the Fed raising rates sooner has many investors in a twist. Kristina Hooper explains why the eventual rate hikeand even a correctionwont be so bad.

The rebound in the US housing market has slowed in the first half of 2014 for a number of reasons. But local economies and their respective job markets tell the real story. Kristina Hooper breaks it down.

In the course of one slow news week, stocks went from celebration to selloff. What changed? Not the strong economic data, says Kristina Hooper. Its a classic flip-flop from investors who had time to mull over recent numbers and change their minds.

The markets are digesting a stellar jobs report, which may fuel debate over when the Fed will start raising rates. But its important for investors to understand the Feds holistic approach in order to avoid a kneejerk reaction, writes Kristina Hooper.

Home sales are on the rise due to lower interest rates and increased demand following a difficult winter, but wage growth must follow in order to keep the housing recovery going, writes Kristina Hooper.

The Federal Reserve is using a wide swath of economic data and anecdotal evidence to determine when to raise its benchmark interest rate. While prudent, it may stir up anxiety and volatility for equity investors, writes Kristina Hooper.

The stock market has always been susceptible to sudden jolts spurred by unpredictable acts of violence. But the Feds been the shock absorber to cushion the blow and to repair fractured sentiment, says Kristina Hooper. Todays crises are no different.

Allianz Global Investors US Investment Strategist Kristina Hooper analyzes the May employment report, including what it means for monetary policy, markets and investors.

Hovering over daily swings in your portfolio can keep your financial goals from taking flight, writes Kristina Hooper.

When gauging whether a rise in consumer credit is a sign of progress or cause for concern, investors should look beyond debt levels to assess whos taking on more debt and why, as well as the pace of economic activity, writes Kristina Hooper.

Last week?s batch of hot and cold jobs numbers pointed to a conflict that the Fed saw coming months ago, writes Kristina Hooper: The unemployment rate is a flawed metric for gauging the health of the economic recovery.

Economic conditions are gradually improving, but the housing market has lagged. Kristina Hooper highlights what it will take to get housing back on track.

Kristina Hooper puts the sharp pullback in the stock market in perspective for investors who may be wondering about a correction.

Personal income, not job growth, may have drawn the ire of investors as stocks sold off on Friday. But look for the market to rebound on continued economic progress and soothing remarks from the Fed, writes Kristina Hooper.

The upcoming jobs report, a bellwether for the health of the US economy, could reveal that the harsh winter has created a coiled spring in the labor market, writes Kristina Hooper.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen got a taste for how sensitive investors are to her public remarks last week, but the kneejerk response was probably an overreaction, writes Kristina Hooper.

Mid-March hasn?t been associated with much good luck in Europe historically. And with Ukraine mired in conflict, this year?s no different. But investors should resist the urge to react to geopolitical uncertainty and expect steady guidance from the Fed.

Like the great escape artist Harry Houdini, the markets have repeatedly escaped a series of potential catastrophes. Central banks around the world have coordinated policy making these escapes possible, but the end result is another trap from which we need to escape - seemingly permanent low interest rates for savers ("financial repression"), slow growth, and high asset prices. Financial repression is better than an outright debt deflation, but it causes its own problems. The outlook is for low returns.

The Federal Reserve?s loose monetary policy and gradual improvement in the economy are two big reasons the stock market can keep moving higher, says Kristina Hooper. Will it be reflected in this week?s consumer sentiment and spending data?

Kristina Hooper puts the soon-to-be-released February employment report in context, including what it means for Fed policy, consumer confidence and stocks.