The Pulse of Caution The general feeling in the markets has certainly shifted. The broad optimism that defined the rally since April seems to be evaporating, replaced by a more hesitant and selective investor stance. That "buy everything" attitude is now facing significant headwinds, and last week's sharp downturn in...
“Trade policy uncertainty" has become every investor’s nightmare. If you were hoping for a calm week in the markets, the bond market has something to say. As investors place their hopes on upcoming tariff negotiations with Japan, China, and Mexico, the market is signalling that the real story might not...
The Covid-19 pandemic triggered a financial and economic meltdown of epic proportions, rivaled only by the Great Depression, resulting in the fastest bear market in history.  While the energy industry is being forced to completely reinvent itself, with renewables coming out on top and diversification the new name of the game,...
In a surprise move that shocked global markets, Chile, which has about 40% of the world’s known lithium reserves, announced it was proposing a plan to nationaliize production of the rare earth metal - a key component in EV battery production. Almost immediately, lithium mining stocks nose-dived. Albemarle Corp (ABM)...
The Magnificent Seven: Heroes or Market Villains? Wall Street is back in record territory, thanks mainly to a handful of tech giants affectionately dubbed the "Magnificent Seven." Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and company have added an eye-popping $4.7 trillion in market capitalization since early April. While it's tempting to celebrate, investors...
When the Market Hopes, and the Fed Holds Back Investors love a good narrative, and this week’s features Jerome Powell as the reluctant protagonist in a drama driven by market optimism and presidential pressure. With the Federal Open Market Committee meeting on May 6–7, many are hoping for fireworks, but...
The Lights Are On, But What Do We See? Washington is back online, and the data printers are warming up after the longest government shutdown in history. For 43 days, it felt like economists were trying to navigate a blizzard without a map, relying on patchy private reports and squinting...
The one sentence from Powell that could ruin the holidays. Welcome to a critical week for your portfolio. We find ourselves staring down the barrel of the final Federal Reserve meeting of the year. While many of us are busy untangling holiday lights or figuring out if eggnog actually tastes...
Rally or Reversal? CPI Holds the Answer As 2024 winds down, the markets are buzzing with optimism. Stocks are climbing, cryptocurrencies are soaring, and even the Federal Reserve seems poised to ease the reins on interest rates. But don’t get too comfortable just yet—the November Consumer Price Index (CPI) report,...
Markets, yields, and the election—Barclays has a bold prediction. With the U.S. elections just days away, analysts at Barclays are projecting a scenario of relative market calm in the aftermath, expecting a mild rally that could drive both bond yields and stock prices higher. Despite concerns of potential unrest, the...