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.
Over the past two and one-half decades the federal government has buried taxpayers under a mountain of debt, now approaching $38 trillion.
Earnings season kicks into high gear this week, with the big banks unofficially firing the starting gun on Tuesday.
After joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, China’s trade with Latin America grew an average of 31% a year for approximately the next decade. In 2024, bilateral trade between the two regions hit $518 billion, overtaking the U.S. as South America’s top trading partner.
While energy policy in the US tends to be polarizing, nuclear energy enjoys broad support from both sides of the aisle. Republicans are drawn to nuclear’s energy security and reliability.
There's a base layer that underpins technological buildouts for disruptive technology — the need for natural resources.
Following Friday’s selloff amid the resurgence of tariff threats on China, I asked ChatGPT a simple question: ”How to Stay Calm In The Stock Market?” In this week’s post, I thought it would be helpful to review ChatGPT’s advice and discuss it in more detail.
Today we’ll go through the steps central banks typically follow through the debt cycle. Then we’ll contrast them with what central banks could do that might actually work.
President Trump again proposed that companies be required to report twice a year rather than every quarter. What are some pros and cons, and how would it affect investors?
As we write this, the market’s reaction to the government shutdown in the U.S. has been little more than a shoulder shrug. That would seem a rational response, particularly if this shutdown is short-lived.
The combined effects of declining capacity utilization in the United States and globally, the inherently deflationary power of artificial intelligence (AI), the Federal Reserve’s deliberate monetary restraint, and the liquidity-draining impact of tariffs will serve to impede economic growth and decrease inflation through 2025 and beyond.
Private equity secondaries transactions likely will surge to a record in 2025. Learn what’s driving institutional investors to use them.
