All Insights & Commentary

Filtered by Markets & Economics

  • Delayed not derailed

    Mark Luschini February 25, 2020

    In our outlook for 2020, we postulated a pro-growth, pro-cyclical stance was warranted, given the underlying strength of the U.S. economy and the burgeoning signs of a rebound in growth abroad that would provide a favorable setting for risk assets.

  • We expect global economic activity to rebound once Coronavirus subsides

    Michael Halloran February 24, 2020

    Market volatility has increased with the incoming economic data showing a significant disruption from the coronavirus outbreak, especially in China.

  • Too much of a good thing - or is it just normal?

    Gregory M. Drahuschak February 19, 2020

    The cliché that a rising tide lifts all ships points out that in a bull market most stocks move up. Multiple times in the past 40 years, however, the market tide allowed some stocks to rise much more than others.

  • The role of fixed income in a diversified portfolio

    Guy LeBas February 19, 2020

    Fixed income assets can provide crucial benefits to investment portfolios. While income generation is important, holding bonds also helps reduce overall portfolio risk and opens up opportunities for reallocation if equity markets falter.

  • Despite near-term Coronavirus uncertainty, stocks anticipate global improvement

    Michael Halloran February 18, 2020

    Stocks moved to fresh all-time highs last week, supported by positive earnings and signs of stabilization in the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

  • Shifting tides: The only constant is change

    Gregory M. Drahuschak February 13, 2020

    In order of importance, the direction of the overall market, sector selection, and individual stock choices determine equity market portfolio returns.

  • Another Goldilocks labor market report suggests a longer economic expansion

    Michael Halloran February 10, 2020

    Stocks reached record highs last week, reflecting healthy fundamentals and looking through the near-term impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

  • Positive monetary impulse, issues facing fixed income, and the stock detour

    Mark Luschini, Guy LeBas and Gregory M. Drahuschak February 6, 2020

    Financial markets take their cue from dovish guidance, strong muni performance, and the election's impact on the market are included in this month's Investment Perspectives.

  • Investors urged to stay the course

    Mark Luschini February 3, 2020

    The Wall Street adage, "stocks take the escalator up and an elevator down," pertains to the market tendency to rally along a shallower glide path than it does when some unwelcome news hits the tape and it typically turns into a swift selloff.

  • Coronavirus volatility should be transitory due to healthy underlying fundamentals

    Michael Halloran February 3, 2020

    Stocks fell last week in response to the economic uncertainty created by the coronavirus outbreak.

  • Tinkering around the edges

    Guy LeBas January 30, 2020

    The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) once again held their target for overnight interest rates unchanged in the month of January, the second-consecutive pause decision following a round of three insurance rate cuts in 2019.

  • We are encouraged by the improving global backdrop, despite Coronavirus fears

    Michael Halloran January 27, 2020

    Stocks are under near-term pressure due to fears that the coronavirus will disrupt the improving global economy.

  • Coronavirus impact on stocks likely short-term

    Gregory M. Drahuschak January 27, 2020

    For the 11th time in the past 50 years, global equity markets paused to assess a developing health concern. The spread of the latest coronavirus strain rekindled memories of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS) that also prompted global health and economic concerns.

  • U.S. consumer remains healthy and confident while global backdrop stabilizes

    Michael Halloran January 21, 2020

    Stocks reached new record highs again last week with two major steps taken toward cooling trade war tensions and reducing economic uncertainty.

  • The income conundrum

    Gregory M. Drahuschak January 16, 2020

    Following the peak in 1981, interest rates experienced a 39-year decline. A 2% yield on Treasury notes or bonds now is not achievable without going out to the 30-year Treasury bond, and the yield on the S&P 500 is approximately 1.8%.

  • Encouraged by an improving global backdrop and still healthy labor market

    Michael Halloran January 13, 2020

    Stocks continue to reach new all-time highs and we remain positive as we start the new year.

  • How you feel matters

    Gregory M. Drahuschak January 9, 2020

    The vast array of information available today should allow consumers and investors consistently to make rational decisions, but as the rapidly developing field of behavioral economics recognizes, emotions influence nearly every economic choice we make.

  • What happened to asset class returns in 2019?

    Michael Halloran January 8, 2020

    While 2018 had no major asset class gain more than 5%, 2019 saw many asset classes make double-digit gains, led by the NASDAQ Indexes total return of 35.2%.

  • Markets in 2020, fixed income year-in-review, and new highs look likely

    Mark Luschini, Guy LeBas and Gregory M. Drahuschak January 8, 2020

    Major issues persist with our optimistic outlook, a look back to fixed income in 2019, and a repeat of the market's 2019 result does not appear probable.

  • Maintaining our positive outlook despite rising Middle East tensions

    Michael Halloran January 6, 2020

    While we are watching Middle East developments closely, we remain optimistic on our outlook for the economy and stocks.

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