This is a great opportunity to engage directly with the experts and get answers to your specific questions about the current investment environment and the ROBO Global ETFs.
Global central bankers have ducked a chance to push for tight borrowing constraints on the biggest hedge funds, whose importance to core government bond and other financial markets has grown enormously in the past decade.
Huawei Technologies Co. is trying to export small quantities of AI chips to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, an effort to establish a foothold in markets dominated by Nvidia Corp. despite ongoing manufacturing challenges.
Rare earth magnet producer MP Materials Corp. secured a $400 million equity investment from the US Department of Defense to build a new plant, with a $1 billion financing commitment from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The shares soared.
US equities swung between small gains and losses at the open Thursday as investors parsed through a slew of tariff headlines and looked ahead to corporate results that are due to start in the earnest next week.
In the week ending July 5th, initial jobless claims were at a seasonally adjusted level of 227,000. This represents a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's figure. The latest reading was lower than the 236,000 forecast.
Private equity firms are bringing their portfolio companies back to the US IPO market, testing investor demand for firms that have more debt than other recent listings.
The Treasury market rallied after an auction of 10-year notes drew strong demand, easing concerns that investors will balk at financing swelling US deficits.
Liberation Day seems like a lifetime ago. But the 90-day pause is almost over, and—thus far—there are few deals that have been consummated.
We expect tariff policy to remain a key part of the narrative pushed by the administration.
In this month’s issue, Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity explains how markets in many regions are weathering US policy uncertainty and offers an upbeat assessment of Vietnam after a recent research visit.
In the weeks leading up to last month’s Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran, oil prices climbed – not due to actual supply disruptions, but in response to a geopolitical risk premium.
In this article, you’ll learn how to evaluate crypto ETFs with the same rigor you apply to traditional investment products.
A new era of regulation is bound to bring high hopes for the crypto bulls. House Republicans are now gearing up for “Crypto Week” – during which the committee has agreed to prioritize digital asset legislation and review several crypto-related bills.
At the recent 2025 Morningstar Investment Conference, CEO Kunal Kapoor highlighted a growing trend that is reshaping the investment landscape.
Our strategy work and quantitative insights suggest the conditions behind more than a decade of U.S. equity outperformance are starting to shift.
Our long-time investors are probably wondering why we haven’t made any gains over the last 18 months.
Looking at the first half of 2025 reveals a nuanced landscape for private equity (PE) and principal investors.
Our monthly workforce recovery analysis has been updated to include the latest employment report for June. The unemployment rate unexpectedly inch lower to 4.1%. Additionally, the number of new non-farm jobs (a relatively volatile number subject to extensive revisions) came in at 147,000.
The artificial intelligence investment landscape reached a critical inflection point in Q2 2025, with the ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence Index (THNQ) delivering exceptional returns of 24.4%.
Advisors who rely solely on instinct or inertia will get left behind, because having a real business plan is a powerful differentiator. But any plan is only as strong as its execution.
ClearBridge Investments believes positive forces from One Big Beautiful Bill Act passage and future interest rate cuts should soon outweigh negative forces of tariff actions.
If you're thinking about adding subscription services to your financial planning practice, you're not alone. More advisors are moving beyond the traditional AUM model to offer monthly subscription plans, and for good reason.
Most of us grew up in an era in which you simply had to figure things out on your own, but that’s no longer how it works in business today. The stakes are higher, the competition is fierce.
Reckoner Capital Management is testing investors’ hunger for a new category of risky bets with an exchange-traded fund that uses leverage to juice returns on collateralized loan obligations.
Wall Street’s latest tax dodge doesn’t hide in the Cayman Islands or rely on complex derivatives.
Futures traders have been unwinding some large bullish bets on Treasury bonds, adding to the recent upward pressure on US yields after a surprisingly strong jobs report last week.
Wall Street’s latest tax dodge doesn’t hide in the Cayman Islands or rely on complex derivatives. It’s engineered to turn a publicly traded fund into a tax-minimizing machine that hums quietly on autopilot.
Opinions of the One Big Beautiful Bill tend toward the extreme. One of its main authors calls it “the greatest piece of Republican legislation in a generation,” while one of its most authoritative critics says it makes him ashamed to be an American.
Nearly six months into Donald Trump’s presidency, a Trump Doctrine is coming into view.
Markets rebounded sharply in 2Q 2025 following April’s tariff-driven selloff. Our mid-year market outlook breaks down the recovery, Fed policy, and where to invest next.
Are interest rates too high? A lot of people think they are, and a growing chorus of voices is calling on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to cut rates.
Elevated interest rates and market uncertainty make for an interesting tandem regarding getting core bond exposure. When considering yield, reinforcing a portfolio to absorb market shocks, or both, consider this active option from Vanguard: the Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS).
Tariff volatility rocked markets for much of the second quarter, creating pressure on U.S. bonds and equities. In the challenging environment, rife with uncertainty and investor concern, a handful of funds generated significant performance.
How the Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Fund’s strategy helped it achieve outperformance during a historic period for global markets.
The headline employment figure came in stronger than expected and better than feared following the weak ADP report, but the details were far from a blockbuster.
In the latest Alternative Allocations, with guest Brian Ullsperger from Andersen, Tony Davidow examines the traditional 60/40 portfolio and how it can be expanded to include alternatives to meet clients’ needs.
Apple Inc.’s top executive in charge of artificial intelligence models is leaving for Meta Platforms Inc., another setback in the iPhone maker’s struggling AI efforts.
Gas prices fell for a second straight week, hitting their lowest level in nearly a month. As of July 7th, the price of regular gas was down 4 cents while the price of premium gas was down 3 cents from the previous week.
So many businesses are stuck in this endless cycle of chasing leads, hoping that persistence will eventually pay off. Here’s the truth: chasing leads is not only ineffective, it’s damaging your business.
If you’ve been following the mainstream financial media lately, you might think the airline industry is in crisis. From headlines about tariffs and labor costs to geopolitical tensions and delays at Newark Airport, it sounds like air travel should be tanking.
We upgrade equities to neutral from underweight as falling interest rates and improving economic conditions in emerging markets offset uncertainty over US tariff policies.
They have been called “the four most costly words in the annals of investing,” and surely that’s true: This time is different. Still — hear me out! — there are reasons to entertain the possibility that, well, this time really is different.
Asian countries including Japan and South Korea said they’ll keep pushing for a better deal for their exports to the US after President Donald Trump shifted his tariff deadline to Aug. 1 and tweaked the rates he’s set for many economies.
HSBC is turning cautious on three of the biggest US bank stocks following a record rally that’s brought the group within shouting distance of an all-time high.
Robinhood Markets Inc. Chief Executive Officer Vlad Tenev said the firm is in talks with regulators over its offering of tokenized equities in Europe, after the launch drew rebuke from companies including OpenAI.
Cathie Wood, a longtime backer of Elon Musk, is standing by the Tesla Inc. chief executive after a turbulent start to the week that saw shares in the electric vehicle-maker plunge after the billionaire businessman announced he’s forming a new political party.
US equities were steady at the open on Tuesday as President Donald Trump’s latest tariff warnings left room for hope that he was still open to negotiations.
For those breaking into the financial industry, it’s an exciting time. The opportunity to achieve success and make an impact on an industry that could help people for years to come .
Private equity has officially conquered the registered investment advisor (RIA) landscape. It is now responsible for a significant portion of RIA-linked M&A activity.
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index held steady in June, inching down 0.2 points to 98.6.
It was a positive quarter for emerging markets equities.
The earnings bar is fairly low for the second quarter, setting companies up for a potential easy jump—but there will likely be more focus on forward guidance.
As the second half gets underway, we think a modest overweight to risk assets is called for.
This year, so far, the world has been riddled with geopolitical news, resonating in widespread unrest, yet seemingly yielding less impact on financial markets.
In the immediate aftermath of Friday’s much anticipated Employment Report it seemed like the judgement from analysts, talking heads, and even markets was unanimous (or nearly so) that there was good news to celebrate.
Below, we recount highlights from constituents of the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index (ROBO) and the ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence Index (THNQ).
Semiconductor equities and related ETFs notched impressive performances in the first half of the year. They were buoyed by ongoing enthusiasm for the AI trade and post-Liberation Day resurgence by the Magnificent Seven.
Investors attempting to manage volatility in their portfolio often employ defensive equity strategies to define their optimal market exposure and risk profile. Such strategies are designed to help limit losses on the downside, while also allowing investors to participate in the market’s gains.
In this video, Chuck Carnevale, co-founder of FAST Graphs, reviews 13 stocks investors asked to see.
Eight of the nine indexes on our world watch list have posted gains through July 7, 2025.
June's employment report showed that 82.8% of total employed workers were full-time (35+ hours) and 17.2% of total employed workers were part-time (<35 hours).
U.S. stocks are no longer the best-performing asset class this year. Gold and foreign stocks are the best performers.
Multiple jobholders accounted for 5.3% of civilian employment in June.
In part 2 of this series, this article looks past the data center operators and focuses on the natural gas pipelines and the manufacturers of natural gas power plant equipment.
As leaders of the China-led group of emerging-market economies known as the BRICS descend on Rio de Janeiro for their summit starting Sunday, expect the usual coterie of talking heads offering prepared remarks to the media with the city’s iconic Sugarloaf mountain serving as a picturesque backdrop.
Last week, the U.S. labor market took center stage, delivering conflicting signals. The S&P 500 reached many record highs during the shortened trading week.
In last week’s letter, I referenced Torsten Sløk’s excellent midyear outlook for Apollo Global Management. Today I’ll share some longer quotes which will, I hope, help you visualize where the economy is headed.
The moving average for the per-capita light vehicle sales series peaked in August 1978. Almost 50 years later, it is down nearly 37% from that peak.
A pre-summer frenzy in junk loans is seeing the market start to overheat, prompting investors to get a bit more picky about deals after spreads reached the tightest levels in years.
Traders are swarming to equity-focused, exchange-traded funds listed in Taiwan, with demand from retail investors and a strong local currency driving up flows.
President Donald Trump plans to announce trade deals and deliver tariff warnings on Monday, as countries negotiated through the weekend to avoid the highest punitive measures on their exports to the US before a Wednesday deadline.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is leading a potential transaction for Gray Media Inc. to help the company refinance some of its existing debt, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
AstraZeneca Plc is discussing a partnership deal with Summit Therapeutics Inc. in which it could pay as much as $15 billion over time to license a lung-cancer drug, according to people familiar with the matter.
BlackRock Inc. is considering a sale of its stake in the leasing rights to Saudi Aramco’s natural-gas pipeline network back to the energy giant, according to people familiar with the matter.
The yield on the 10-year note ended July 3, 2025 at 4.35%. Meanwhile, the 2-year note ended at 3.88% and the 30-year note ended at 4.86%.
Tariffs have been the dominant theme in economic policy this year. While President Trump has long held protectionist views, his administration’s approach to international commerce has been more belligerent than was seen in his first term.
The bull market is alive and well, even amid widespread talk of the “death of U.S. exceptionalism.
Investors looking for cash flow from commercial real estate may want to check out the debt side.
This quarter might best be described as the “Big Beautiful Bounce”. Or the BBB. History has proven time and time again that markets do come back – but this was a historically quick market turnaround.
After a tumultuous few months, June of 2025 saw a strong rally which took global markets to (or close to) new highs. The rally was broad-based, with international and U.S. markets all up strongly.
From investing to economics to politics, patterns emerge, lessons resurface and the past becomes a powerful guide for navigating today’s unpredictable landscape. Timing, perspective and adaptability can make all the difference in managing the complexities of modern markets.
As the global economy navigates a complex landscape, investors are left wondering: are they right to be optimistic or are they being complacent? This article from Franklin Templeton Institute explores the signs of resilience as well as numerous risks.
Though some urge rate cuts, doing that won't necessarily reduce borrowing costs if the market doesn't agree with the timing. It could raise inflation fears, hurting Treasuries.
Do you feel like you spend more and more money every month but get less and less for it? That’s because you are.
Sharp U.S. policy shift and elevated uncertainty reflect an evolution of the new macro regime. What matters: getting a grip on uncertainty by identifying its core features.
The Senate has approved its own version of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" tax-and-spending plan. Here's how it differs from the version the House passed in May, and what's next.
Value investing has long been out of favor in US stocks and last quarter was no different, as an index of beaten-down shares badly trailed the broader market’s furious rally.
As President Donald Trump and his advisers begin weighing replacements for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, they’re running into one significant complication: It’s not clear that Powell will leave the US central bank next year.
Wells Fargo & Co. is ramping up buying top-rated collateralized loan obligations, after largely staying away from the $1.3 trillion market following interest rate hikes in 2022, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
Global Markets
Office Hours with ROBO Global ETFs
This is a great opportunity to engage directly with the experts and get answers to your specific questions about the current investment environment and the ROBO Global ETFs.
Central Banks are Flying Blind on Hedge Fund Leverage
Global central bankers have ducked a chance to push for tight borrowing constraints on the biggest hedge funds, whose importance to core government bond and other financial markets has grown enormously in the past decade.
Huawei Seeks AI Chip Customers in Middle East, Southeast Asia
Huawei Technologies Co. is trying to export small quantities of AI chips to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, an effort to establish a foothold in markets dominated by Nvidia Corp. despite ongoing manufacturing challenges.
Pentagon Invests in Rare Earth Magnet Producer to Back New Plant
Rare earth magnet producer MP Materials Corp. secured a $400 million equity investment from the US Department of Defense to build a new plant, with a $1 billion financing commitment from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The shares soared.
Stocks Steady as Traders Look Through Chaos to Corporate Results
US equities swung between small gains and losses at the open Thursday as investors parsed through a slew of tariff headlines and looked ahead to corporate results that are due to start in the earnest next week.
Unemployment Claims Down 5K, Lower Than Expected
In the week ending July 5th, initial jobless claims were at a seasonally adjusted level of 227,000. This represents a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's figure. The latest reading was lower than the 236,000 forecast.
Private Equity-Backed US IPOs Return With Plenty of Leverage
Private equity firms are bringing their portfolio companies back to the US IPO market, testing investor demand for firms that have more debt than other recent listings.
US Treasuries Jump as Strong Auction Calms Investor Jitters
The Treasury market rallied after an auction of 10-year notes drew strong demand, easing concerns that investors will balk at financing swelling US deficits.
At the Midway Point: Returning to the Fundamentals
Liberation Day seems like a lifetime ago. But the 90-day pause is almost over, and—thus far—there are few deals that have been consummated.
Midyear Commodity Outlook: Better for Commodities than Consumers
We expect tariff policy to remain a key part of the narrative pushed by the administration.
Emerging Markets Insights: Seeking Clarity on Tariffs
In this month’s issue, Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity explains how markets in many regions are weathering US policy uncertainty and offers an upbeat assessment of Vietnam after a recent research visit.
Charting Commodity Markets
In the weeks leading up to last month’s Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran, oil prices climbed – not due to actual supply disruptions, but in response to a geopolitical risk premium.
How to Choose a Crypto ETF: A Practical Guide for Financial Advisors
In this article, you’ll learn how to evaluate crypto ETFs with the same rigor you apply to traditional investment products.
Beyond Bitcoin ETFs: The Blockchain Trade
A new era of regulation is bound to bring high hopes for the crypto bulls. House Republicans are now gearing up for “Crypto Week” – during which the committee has agreed to prioritize digital asset legislation and review several crypto-related bills.
Morningstar’s Kunal Kapoor on the Public/Private Market Convergence
At the recent 2025 Morningstar Investment Conference, CEO Kunal Kapoor highlighted a growing trend that is reshaping the investment landscape.
Non-U.S. Investing In a Fragmenting World
Our strategy work and quantitative insights suggest the conditions behind more than a decade of U.S. equity outperformance are starting to shift.
Late 2021 Speculation is Back
Our long-time investors are probably wondering why we haven’t made any gains over the last 18 months.
Private Equity Halftime Report: Key Trends for Advisors
Looking at the first half of 2025 reveals a nuanced landscape for private equity (PE) and principal investors.
U.S. Workforce Recovery Analysis: June 2025
Our monthly workforce recovery analysis has been updated to include the latest employment report for June. The unemployment rate unexpectedly inch lower to 4.1%. Additionally, the number of new non-farm jobs (a relatively volatile number subject to extensive revisions) came in at 147,000.
AI Posts Strong Q2 Returns as Inference Economy Takes Hold
The artificial intelligence investment landscape reached a critical inflection point in Q2 2025, with the ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence Index (THNQ) delivering exceptional returns of 24.4%.
The Building Blocks of a Scalable Business Plan: How Intention Helps to Drive Growth
Advisors who rely solely on instinct or inertia will get left behind, because having a real business plan is a powerful differentiator. But any plan is only as strong as its execution.
The Long View: Push-pull
ClearBridge Investments believes positive forces from One Big Beautiful Bill Act passage and future interest rate cuts should soon outweigh negative forces of tariff actions.
Breaking Down the Regulatory Requirements for Subscription Services
If you're thinking about adding subscription services to your financial planning practice, you're not alone. More advisors are moving beyond the traditional AUM model to offer monthly subscription plans, and for good reason.
The Key Components for Effective Change
Most of us grew up in an era in which you simply had to figure things out on your own, but that’s no longer how it works in business today. The stakes are higher, the competition is fierce.
First Leveraged CLO ETF Tests Retail Crowd’s Appetite for Risk
Reckoner Capital Management is testing investors’ hunger for a new category of risky bets with an exchange-traded fund that uses leverage to juice returns on collateralized loan obligations.
Wall Street Builds S&P 500 ‘No Dividend’ Fund in New Tax Dodge
Wall Street’s latest tax dodge doesn’t hide in the Cayman Islands or rely on complex derivatives.
Treasury Bulls Unwind Big Bets as Strong Data Pushes Yields Up
Futures traders have been unwinding some large bullish bets on Treasury bonds, adding to the recent upward pressure on US yields after a surprisingly strong jobs report last week.
Wall Street Builds S&P 500 ‘No Dividend’ Fund in New Tax Dodge
Wall Street’s latest tax dodge doesn’t hide in the Cayman Islands or rely on complex derivatives. It’s engineered to turn a publicly traded fund into a tax-minimizing machine that hums quietly on autopilot.
Megabills Didn’t Break the Economy Before and Won’t Now
Opinions of the One Big Beautiful Bill tend toward the extreme. One of its main authors calls it “the greatest piece of Republican legislation in a generation,” while one of its most authoritative critics says it makes him ashamed to be an American.
Trump Is Opening a New Chapter in US Foreign Policy
Nearly six months into Donald Trump’s presidency, a Trump Doctrine is coming into view.
2025 Market Review & Mid-Year Market Outlook: Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty
Markets rebounded sharply in 2Q 2025 following April’s tariff-driven selloff. Our mid-year market outlook breaks down the recovery, Fed policy, and where to invest next.
Are Interest Rates Too High?
Are interest rates too high? A lot of people think they are, and a growing chorus of voices is calling on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to cut rates.
Defense, Yield, or Both? An Active Bond ETF for Any Market
Elevated interest rates and market uncertainty make for an interesting tandem regarding getting core bond exposure. When considering yield, reinforcing a portfolio to absorb market shocks, or both, consider this active option from Vanguard: the Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS).
WGMI a Second Quarter Top Performer
Tariff volatility rocked markets for much of the second quarter, creating pressure on U.S. bonds and equities. In the challenging environment, rife with uncertainty and investor concern, a handful of funds generated significant performance.
Outperformance in Extraordinary Times
How the Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Fund’s strategy helped it achieve outperformance during a historic period for global markets.
Jobs Report Better Than Feared
The headline employment figure came in stronger than expected and better than feared following the weak ADP report, but the details were far from a blockbuster.
Examining the 60/40 Portfolio With Brian Ullsperger
In the latest Alternative Allocations, with guest Brian Ullsperger from Andersen, Tony Davidow examines the traditional 60/40 portfolio and how it can be expanded to include alternatives to meet clients’ needs.
Apple Loses Top AI Models Executive to Meta’s Hiring Spree
Apple Inc.’s top executive in charge of artificial intelligence models is leaving for Meta Platforms Inc., another setback in the iPhone maker’s struggling AI efforts.
Gas Prices Fall for Second Straight Week
Gas prices fell for a second straight week, hitting their lowest level in nearly a month. As of July 7th, the price of regular gas was down 4 cents while the price of premium gas was down 3 cents from the previous week.
Make Sure You’re Not Chasing Ghosts
So many businesses are stuck in this endless cycle of chasing leads, hoping that persistence will eventually pay off. Here’s the truth: chasing leads is not only ineffective, it’s damaging your business.
Wall Street Is Wrong on Airlines: Americans Are Flying Like Never Before
If you’ve been following the mainstream financial media lately, you might think the airline industry is in crisis. From headlines about tariffs and labor costs to geopolitical tensions and delays at Newark Airport, it sounds like air travel should be tanking.
Equities Enter Slightly Calmer Waters
We upgrade equities to neutral from underweight as falling interest rates and improving economic conditions in emerging markets offset uncertainty over US tariff policies.
What If This Time Really Is Different for Investors?
They have been called “the four most costly words in the annals of investing,” and surely that’s true: This time is different. Still — hear me out! — there are reasons to entertain the possibility that, well, this time really is different.
Asian Economies in Rush to Cut Tariff Deals as US Deadline Moves
Asian countries including Japan and South Korea said they’ll keep pushing for a better deal for their exports to the US after President Donald Trump shifted his tariff deadline to Aug. 1 and tweaked the rates he’s set for many economies.
Wall Street Bank Stocks’ Furious Rally Spurs HSBC Downgrades
HSBC is turning cautious on three of the biggest US bank stocks following a record rally that’s brought the group within shouting distance of an all-time high.
Robinhood Discussing Tokenized Equities With Regulators
Robinhood Markets Inc. Chief Executive Officer Vlad Tenev said the firm is in talks with regulators over its offering of tokenized equities in Europe, after the launch drew rebuke from companies including OpenAI.
Cathie Wood Bats Away Latest Musk Controversy After Tesla Slide
Cathie Wood, a longtime backer of Elon Musk, is standing by the Tesla Inc. chief executive after a turbulent start to the week that saw shares in the electric vehicle-maker plunge after the billionaire businessman announced he’s forming a new political party.
Stocks Hold Steady on Hope Trade Talks Have Room for Negotiation
US equities were steady at the open on Tuesday as President Donald Trump’s latest tariff warnings left room for hope that he was still open to negotiations.
Lessons on Building a Successful Career in Finance
For those breaking into the financial industry, it’s an exciting time. The opportunity to achieve success and make an impact on an industry that could help people for years to come .
The Great RIA Consolidation: Private Equity Reshapes Wealth Management
Private equity has officially conquered the registered investment advisor (RIA) landscape. It is now responsible for a significant portion of RIA-linked M&A activity.
NFIB Small Business Survey: Optimism Remains Steady While Uncertainty Falls
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index held steady in June, inching down 0.2 points to 98.6.
A Solid Quarter Signals Promising Potential
It was a positive quarter for emerging markets equities.
2Q Earnings: The Beat Goes On?
The earnings bar is fairly low for the second quarter, setting companies up for a potential easy jump—but there will likely be more focus on forward guidance.
Multi-Asset Midyear Outlook: Selectivity Matters
As the second half gets underway, we think a modest overweight to risk assets is called for.
Fixed Income In Focus: 2025 Mid-Year Recap
This year, so far, the world has been riddled with geopolitical news, resonating in widespread unrest, yet seemingly yielding less impact on financial markets.
Not So Hot
In the immediate aftermath of Friday’s much anticipated Employment Report it seemed like the judgement from analysts, talking heads, and even markets was unanimous (or nearly so) that there was good news to celebrate.
The AI Arms Race Heats Up: June’s Robotics & Automation Playbook
Below, we recount highlights from constituents of the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index (ROBO) and the ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence Index (THNQ).
After Impressive First Half, This Chip ETF Has Fuel for More Upside
Semiconductor equities and related ETFs notched impressive performances in the first half of the year. They were buoyed by ongoing enthusiasm for the AI trade and post-Liberation Day resurgence by the Magnificent Seven.
A Dynamic Approach to Defensive Equity
Investors attempting to manage volatility in their portfolio often employ defensive equity strategies to define their optimal market exposure and risk profile. Such strategies are designed to help limit losses on the downside, while also allowing investors to participate in the market’s gains.
13 More Stocks Investors Asked To See
In this video, Chuck Carnevale, co-founder of FAST Graphs, reviews 13 stocks investors asked to see.
World Markets Watchlist: July 7, 2025
Eight of the nine indexes on our world watch list have posted gains through July 7, 2025.
A Closer Look at Full-time and Part-time Employment: June 2025
June's employment report showed that 82.8% of total employed workers were full-time (35+ hours) and 17.2% of total employed workers were part-time (<35 hours).
A Concise and Comprehensive Review of Asset Class Performance in 1H 2025
U.S. stocks are no longer the best-performing asset class this year. Gold and foreign stocks are the best performers.
Multiple Jobholders Account for 5.3% of Workers in June 2025
Multiple jobholders accounted for 5.3% of civilian employment in June.
Behind the Meter Solutions Investing Guide
In part 2 of this series, this article looks past the data center operators and focuses on the natural gas pipelines and the manufacturers of natural gas power plant equipment.
Brazil's BRICS Fixation Has Delivered Few Benefits
As leaders of the China-led group of emerging-market economies known as the BRICS descend on Rio de Janeiro for their summit starting Sunday, expect the usual coterie of talking heads offering prepared remarks to the media with the city’s iconic Sugarloaf mountain serving as a picturesque backdrop.
Weekly Economic Snapshot: The Labor Market’s Conflicting Signals
Last week, the U.S. labor market took center stage, delivering conflicting signals. The S&P 500 reached many record highs during the shortened trading week.
At The Crossroads
In last week’s letter, I referenced Torsten Sløk’s excellent midyear outlook for Apollo Global Management. Today I’ll share some longer quotes which will, I hope, help you visualize where the economy is headed.
Vehicle Sales: June 2025
The moving average for the per-capita light vehicle sales series peaked in August 1978. Almost 50 years later, it is down nearly 37% from that peak.
Hot Junk Loan Market Hits Stumbling Blocks as Investors Feel Squeeze
A pre-summer frenzy in junk loans is seeing the market start to overheat, prompting investors to get a bit more picky about deals after spreads reached the tightest levels in years.
Taiwan Stock ETFs Lead Inflows in Asia With $19 Billion Haul
Traders are swarming to equity-focused, exchange-traded funds listed in Taiwan, with demand from retail investors and a strong local currency driving up flows.
Trump Sets Aug. 1 Start for Tariffs Ahead of Wednesday Deadline
President Donald Trump plans to announce trade deals and deliver tariff warnings on Monday, as countries negotiated through the weekend to avoid the highest punitive measures on their exports to the US before a Wednesday deadline.
Goldman Sachs Shops High-Yield Debt Deal for Gray Media
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is leading a potential transaction for Gray Media Inc. to help the company refinance some of its existing debt, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
Summit Is in Talks for $15 Billion Partnership With AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca Plc is discussing a partnership deal with Summit Therapeutics Inc. in which it could pay as much as $15 billion over time to license a lung-cancer drug, according to people familiar with the matter.
BlackRock Weighs Selling Stake in Saudi Aramco Gas Pipelines
BlackRock Inc. is considering a sale of its stake in the leasing rights to Saudi Aramco’s natural-gas pipeline network back to the energy giant, according to people familiar with the matter.
Treasury Yields Snapshot: July 3, 2025
The yield on the 10-year note ended July 3, 2025 at 4.35%. Meanwhile, the 2-year note ended at 3.88% and the 30-year note ended at 4.86%.
Mid-Year Themes
Tariffs have been the dominant theme in economic policy this year. While President Trump has long held protectionist views, his administration’s approach to international commerce has been more belligerent than was seen in his first term.
The Bull Market is Alive and Well
The bull market is alive and well, even amid widespread talk of the “death of U.S. exceptionalism.
Need Income? Europe’s Commercial Real Estate Debt is Worth a Look
Investors looking for cash flow from commercial real estate may want to check out the debt side.
Growth Equity Portfolio Second Quarter Review June 30, 2025
This quarter might best be described as the “Big Beautiful Bounce”. Or the BBB. History has proven time and time again that markets do come back – but this was a historically quick market turnaround.
Quantstreet July 2025 Letter: Geopolitics and Markets
After a tumultuous few months, June of 2025 saw a strong rally which took global markets to (or close to) new highs. The rally was broad-based, with international and U.S. markets all up strongly.
Lessons From the Past, Strategies for the Future
From investing to economics to politics, patterns emerge, lessons resurface and the past becomes a powerful guide for navigating today’s unpredictable landscape. Timing, perspective and adaptability can make all the difference in managing the complexities of modern markets.
Quick Thoughts: The Global Reset
As the global economy navigates a complex landscape, investors are left wondering: are they right to be optimistic or are they being complacent? This article from Franklin Templeton Institute explores the signs of resilience as well as numerous risks.
Easy Money? Rate Cuts May Not Ease Borrowing Costs
Though some urge rate cuts, doing that won't necessarily reduce borrowing costs if the market doesn't agree with the timing. It could raise inflation fears, hurting Treasuries.
Price Inflation Accounts for Entire Increase in Retail Sales Since Pandemic
Do you feel like you spend more and more money every month but get less and less for it? That’s because you are.
Getting a Grip on Uncertainty
Sharp U.S. policy shift and elevated uncertainty reflect an evolution of the new macro regime. What matters: getting a grip on uncertainty by identifying its core features.
Senate Approves Revised Tax and Spending Bill
The Senate has approved its own version of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" tax-and-spending plan. Here's how it differs from the version the House passed in May, and what's next.
Stock Pickers Shine, Sniffing Out Value During Market Tumult
Value investing has long been out of favor in US stocks and last quarter was no different, as an index of beaten-down shares badly trailed the broader market’s furious rally.
Powell Silence on His Future Complicates Trump Fed Chair Search
As President Donald Trump and his advisers begin weighing replacements for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, they’re running into one significant complication: It’s not clear that Powell will leave the US central bank next year.
Wells Fargo to Ramp Up Buying CLOs After Three-Year Retreat
Wells Fargo & Co. is ramping up buying top-rated collateralized loan obligations, after largely staying away from the $1.3 trillion market following interest rate hikes in 2022, according to people with knowledge of the matter.