Quick takes on capital markets

Knowledge

Short, timely insights on the latest global macroeconomic and investment trends impacting investors, and portfolios.

07 Jan 2022
COVID-19 latest wave: High numbers, low impact
Aside from some volatility, markets are shrugging off the Omicron variant. Not only is the virus posing less of a risk to economic activity, but supply chain normalization has not been derailed by...
30 Dec 2021
Year-end review: Strong 2021 returns as growth peaks
Strong global growth helped to push many major asset classes to new all-time highs in 2021. Now that global growth may be plateauing, investors will need to be more discerning in the coming year. ...
17 Dec 2021
Credit spreads: Positioning for potential alpha
Wider credit spreads and higher 2-year UST yields are signaling that investors should position for the beginning of the rate hiking cycle. Future returns will likely come from alpha, rather than...
10 Dec 2021
Federal Reserve: Will an earlier liftoff rattle markets?
The Fed is accelerating its tapering process and could raise rates sooner than expected in 2022. For investors, however, rate hikes driven by a growing economy have historically been nothing to...
03 Dec 2021
Omicron: The world turned upside down?
Until health experts better understand the potential impact of the Omicron COVID variant, investors should remain vigilant, focusing on appropriate portfolio diversification to weather market...
19 Nov 2021
Mid-term elections: Dem control put to the test
In recent gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey, Republicans shaved 10-plus percentage points from Democratic statewide advantage—potentially signaling GOP momentum as attention turns...
12 Nov 2021
Emerging markets: Getting stronger even as they struggle
Despite difficult financial conditions weighing heavily on growth prospects, emerging markets are displaying a resiliency to market swings, thanks in large part to their more aggressive monetary...
05 Nov 2021
Federal Reserve: Loner or leader?
Unlike market expectations, which have priced a Fed rate hike in mid-2022, we believe the Fed will look through inflationary pressures and hold off on hiking the federal funds rate until December...
01 Apr 2022
Buying conditions: A shift in consumer sentiment
As ongoing supply chain issues from Asia and eastern Europe continue to impact supply and drive-up costs, firms producing discretionary or durable goods may soon find that consumers are becoming...
25 Mar 2022
China markets: All eyes on policymakers
Despite encouraging signals from policymakers in China, more concrete policy action will likely be required to sustain the recent positive market momentum. ...
18 Mar 2022
Fed tightening: Will it be enough?
Only once has the Fed waited for inflation to reach such high levels before it started to raise rates, and during the first year of that hiking cycle in 1980, they raised policy rates by more than...
11 Mar 2022
Surging house prices: A runway for rentals
While the median sales price of existing homes reached an all-time high in February, the high prices are also driving increased demand from potential buyers toward the rental market. ...
04 Mar 2022
Geopolitical conflicts: Why fundamentals ultimately matter
During a rapidly developing geopolitical conflict, although difficult, investors are best suited to stay level-headed, and consider that fundamentals are ultimately the most important driver of...
25 Feb 2022
Real cash holdings: Dwindling, but still elevated
Though household balance sheets are still healthy, dwindling real cash holdings for the lowest net worth households foreshadow a gradual downshift in consumer spending beyond H2 2022. ...