Market Insights

As with many things in life, investing is often about managing expectations on the economy, markets and portfolio returns. Doing so can be challenging since

In March 2021, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.6%, the largest one-month increase since August 2012. Over the previous 12

Economic growth is heating up as consumers spend more, businesses ramp up activity and record amounts of government stimulus flow through the system. In general,

One of the beneficiaries of the lockdowns and social distancing measures of the past year has no doubt been the housing market. It is well

The past few weeks have seen one blockbuster economic report after another. From the 916,000 jobs that were added in March to retail sales jumping

Technology companies rolled out tools to help public health officials and policymakers around the world monitor mobility trends with data collected from smartphone apps. Since

It goes without saying that rising markets are positive for investors. However, as with all things, maintaining balance is the key to long-term success. Just

Despite the jump in interest rates this year, the yields on many corporate bonds remain low. This is driven by many of the same factors

As we begin the second quarter, it would be an understatement to say that investors have faced historic challenges over the past year. From the

The S&P 500 and Dow both reached new all-time highs last Friday. Year-to-date, the stock market has continued to grind higher despite short-term worries around

As the economic recovery gathers steam and vaccine distribution accelerates, many investors are concerned about how the Fed may react. If inflation and long-term interest

With the latest $1.9 trillion stimulus package now signed into law, over $5 trillion has been authorized over the past year to combat the economic

Investors have grown uneasy over the past few weeks as stock and bond markets have swung in both directions. Although last week’s jobs report confirmed

The sudden rise in interest rates has spooked some investors. Fears of runaway inflation, the Fed losing control, and concerns over highly-valued sectors have resulted

Recent frigid weather across the American South resulted in state emergencies, including in Texas where millions were without power and potable water for several days.

Consumer spending is the backbone of the $21 trillion U.S. economy. When times are good and consumers are confident in their jobs and financial situations,

Investors often find it more natural to be pessimistic. After all, with one’s hard-earned savings on the line, it’s hard not to focus on what

Over the course of 11 trading days from January 13 to January 28, 2021, the stock of GameStop, a struggling brick-and-mortar video game retailer, skyrocketed

What captures the attention of investors, the media and the general public is often not what matters for portfolios, saving for retirement or achieving financial

With financial markets recovering due to economic optimism, reduced political uncertainty and the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, interest rates have also increased. The 10-year Treasury

As the stock market continues its steep climb after last year’s bear market crash, some investors worry about the possibility of a bubble. Over this

Benjamin Graham, often considered to be the father of value investing, drew a stark distinction between speculating and investing. He considered speculation to be the

For investors, the new year is a time to reflect on the lessons of the past twelve months. There is much to consider after the

U.S. retail sales suffered in the spring of 2020 due to safety concerns, government-mandated lockdowns, and economic uncertainty wrought by the coronavirus pandemic. Sales —

The U.S. is beginning to roll out the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine this week just days after it was approved by the FDA.

Nearly a year after the pandemic began, the continued rise of COVID-19 cases around the country is prompting many cities and states to enforce new

As we approach the end of 2020, the stock market is hovering near record highs. While there have been many lessons for long-term investors this

It’s no secret that 2020 has been a difficult year for everyone. Whether you or someone you know has been affected by COVID-19, the economic

In April 2020, the U.S. economy lost an astonishing 20.8 million jobs, by far the largest loss recorded in a single month dating back to

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, new restrictions and lockdown measures are being considered. Some states have implemented curfews, dining restrictions, mask rules and more

After a heated campaign amid a challenging year for all Americans, the presidential election now has a projected winner. Roughly half of the country disagrees

Despite short-term uncertainty around the presidential election and recent stock market turbulence, there are clear signs that the economy continues to recover. The latest GDP

With the U.S. presidential election just around the corner, it’s important for investors to remember what affects markets in the long run. While our votes

As the economy continues to recover from the pandemic, it’s likely that corporate profits will follow suit. The stock market, after all, has not only

The stock market’s strong performance since March has not been shared by all parts of the market. Some sectors, notable technology-driven ones, have fared better

Recent economic data show that we may be near the halfway point in the recovery from the COVID-19 shutdown. However, there is evidence that the second half may

After what has been a challenging year, many investors are worried about how markets may react in the fourth quarter. With the presidential race underway and

The Federal Reserve has always played a central role during periods of economic crisis, and this year’s pandemic-induced recession has been no exception. In general, the

After a historic six-month rally, the stock market has fallen almost 10% from its all-time high at the beginning of September. Although not as severe

After last week’s failed Senate vote on a new pandemic stimulus bill, negotiations between the White House and Congress appear to have stalled. Although the

The stock market has hit a rough patch with high-flying tech stocks facing pressure. This is the first period of volatility after the bear market crash

With the stage set for the presidential election in November, some investors may be concerned about the impact of politics on the stock market and

Long-term investors understand that financial markets can behave unpredictably over the course of days, weeks and months. How an investor reacts to this short-term uncertainty

After less than six months, the stock market has surpassed where it started the year and is near a new record high. As of last

The loss of jobs is the main challenge of any economic downturn and the current recession is no exception. Even once businesses re-open, the economic recovery

As August begins, the economic recovery is sending mixed signals. This is primarily due to the accelerating number of COVID-19 cases in many parts of

With all of the market-moving events of the past few years – from the global pandemic to trade wars and more – it’s understandable that

Once again, the stock market is back to where it started the year. At the moment, the S&P 500 is flat year-to-date and less than

The U.S. dollar has had a tumultuous year due to the financial market volatility and on-going economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 crisis. While investing

While public health concerns continue to escalate due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in many parts of the country, last week’s jobs report and

During the first half of 2020, investors experienced a global pandemic, an economic shutdown, the end of an eleven-year bull market, and now the early