How Oil Prices Impact Inflation, the Fed and Markets

The stock market has grown increasingly volatile, with the S&P 500 seeing its first 5% pullback of the year. Factors such as the potential postponement of the Federal Reserve's initial rate cut, downturns in technology and artificial intelligence stocks, and...

Three Market Insights for Investors in Q2 2024

The year 2024 opened with intense debates on whether the Federal Reserve would manage a "soft" or "hard" landing to stabilize the economy, alongside discussions on the durability of the previous year's market surge. However, just three months in, the focus has shifted...

How Residential and Commercial Real Estate Impact Markets

As major stock market indices approach all-time highs, investor concerns about the economy persist. Positive trends in inflation and employment may position the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates later this year, yet apprehensions remain, particularly in the real...

How Presidential Elections Affect the Stock Market

With the presidential election season heating up, there will no doubt be a flurry of daily headlines between now and election day on November 5. A rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump seems inevitable with Trump currently leading many presidential polls among...

Perspective on the Magnificent 7 and Valuations

The stock market continues to reach new heights, driven by a stronger-than-expected economy and the largest technology stocks. In particular, Nvidia, a maker of graphics chips used in artificial intelligence applications, recently helped to push markets higher after...

How Consumer Spending Supports the Economy and Markets

Consumer spending is the backbone of the U.S. economy, constituting over two-thirds of our nearly $28 trillion GDP. When consumers spend money on everyday goods and services, and make large one-time purchases, it not only helps to spur economic growth but is also a...