Insights

A scarcity of disclosures is creating an information vacuum for ESG investors who rely only on off-the-shelf ratings.

Millennials' biggest impact on consumption and housing will come in the years ahead.

Some argue a more moderate, incremental approach to fixing health care is better.

There could be many reasons for the yield-curve inversion. More than $16 trillion of negative-yield global debt is certainly among them.

New rules getting rid of 'dirty' fuel used in shipping could boost refiners.

Is this soft patch and sell-off an omen of things to come or a pause that refreshes? For now, the evidence suggests the latter.

Solutions for avoiding insolvency involve shared sacrifice and political compromise.

If one does the math, it's difficult to see how U.S. consumers will be hurt by new tariffs on China. It's easier to see how China, with its response, may end up hurting itself.

Fed disappointment and Trump tariff threat spark volatility, but the longer-term story on stocks remains a good one.

A healthy report does not dissuade the Fed from another rate cut.

Considerations for a changing rate environment.

Rate cut shows Fed still unsure of the right policy level.

Rate cut seen as preventative medicine in the face of global uncertainties.

As Democratic hopefuls get set for round two, Linda explores how the election season may shape up and potentially impact stocks.

As breathtaking as the market’s 20%-plus rise has been from December’s panicky low, it seems all the market needs to grind higher is no news.

In a 3-in-1 piece, Steve Chiavarone makes the case that a recession isn't imminent, shows how the U.S. may benefit from the trade war, and explains why technology and millennials should buttress markets over the longer term.

GDP was boosted by retail sales, personal consumption and government spending.

A visit to Colorado helps Linda make sense of the Fed and the markets.

Concern over the size of high-yield muni debt is unwarranted.

A more dovish Fed is among the reasons Federated is sticking with 2019's 2.7% GDP growth forecast.

The Fed is sending signals that July's expected rate cut could go beyond a quarter point.

Fed rate cuts shouldn't affect the way this strategy works.

A quarter-point cut is baked in. But a half-point? The market likely would love that.

Senior Equity Strategist Linda Duessel discusses how Brexit, trade wars and China’s slowdown could affect the equity market in the coming months.

Senior Portfolio Manager Randy Bauer outlines how the limited interest rate risk and low volatility of ultrashort bonds can support investors regardless of market, rate and economic cycles.

Senior Equity Strategist Linda Duessel offers insights on what is likely to move the equity market in the months ahead and whether tariffs still pose a challenge. She also discusses where investors may find opportunity in this environment.

It stands for Modern Monetary Theory, an in-vogue populist policy that's not much concerned with deficits.

The benefits may not exceed the costs of raising the minimum wage.

How will earnings, tariffs and interest rates affect the markets?

We're looking to the yield curve, currencies and security selection for alpha.

Only 0.1% of investment-grade companies defaulted in the last 35 years.

Jump in payrolls raises questions about market's priced-in Fed cuts.

Celebrating our country's birth and this record-setting expansion.

We're cautiously bullish on stocks this summer but see potential storm clouds.

We don’t think this business cycle has run its course.

Client Portfolio Manager Jordan Stuart discusses IPOs, their role in moving capital into new growth channels and their favorable outlook.

The election season is adding to uncertainties, but that's not such a bad thing.

Federated takes advantage of strong June, pares equity overweight in stock-bond model amid uncertainties.

2019 is shaping up to be another big year for initial public offerings.

A long list of Democratic presidential hopefuls will be debating the next 2 nights.

And why they likely won't if the Fed doesn't cut rates later.

It's all about technology and brainpower.

Would more than one rate cut undermine cash as an attractive asset class? Probably not. Debbie Cunningham explains.

Senior Portfolio Manager R.J. Gallo discusses his outlook for interest rates.

CIO for Global Money Markets Debbie Cunningham discusses her outlook for the second half of the year.

Here are three key reasons.

Not always, and here's why.

Fed holds off for now but signals rate cuts are at the ready.

All the angst over tariffs and trade belies a consumer who is doing just fine.

The journey toward a trade deal has been turbulent, but we eventually expect to see land and another up-leg for stocks.

Increasingly smarter, eco-friendly cars require continuous tech updates.

Major changes must be made to address the decreasing birth and fertility rate in the U.S.

May's jobs report was a downer, so why are the markets so upbeat?

Profits, margins and valuations look attractive regardless of what the Fed may or may not do.

Events in coming weeks may determine if yields have further to fall.

The fund favors developed and emerging-markets companies with competitive advantages, sustainable business models and responsible governance.

Investors are overreacting to the flattening of the short end of the yield curve.

Using tariffs to address a non-trade issue with Mexico creates a destabilizing undertow.

But we reject the pervading pessimistic view about the U.S. economy.

The coming Democratic debates kick off what promises to be a very interesting 2020 presidential election season.

Despite slowing manufacturing, ugly U.S.-China trade talks, Brexit mess and more, 2019 GDP likely to be solid.

This week's European Parliament elections could provide guidance on the question.

Our melt-up scenario has melted with the prolonged trade talks, but not our longer bullish view on the year.

When it comes to stocks, the "middle ground'' doesn't have to mean ho-hum.

Shoppers shrugged off several issues causing 'Mapril' retail sales to be solid.

The U.S.-China trade fracas has not roiled credit markets.

Many reasons to expect inflation to remain low for longer (... Jones? Think The Monkees).

"Trust but verify," an iconic message of the Reagan era, is just as apt today when it comes to the U.S.-China trade war.

U.S.-China trade negotiations have gotten testy, but a resolution likely will be reached, calming market angst.

We still expect an eventual trade deal and view interim market messiness as an opportunity.

With volatility rising on trade uncertainty, investors may desire some stability.

The best time to consider small caps? Any time.

April sees surprisingly strong jobs gain, near 50-year low in jobless rate.

Linda, who isn't (her sister is), sees potential trade-war surprises as risks to an otherwise bullish backdrop.

The markets are looking (too hard) for guidance from the Fed.

Policymakers hewed to their policy of 'patience.'

Q1 GDP growth was driven by stronger inventory and net trade.

Some sectors face headwinds but earnings and the economy remain supportive.

The fund searches the world for companies with enduring competitive advantages for its concentrated portfolio.

On continued benign inflation and strong P/E multiples, we are sticking to our full-year S&P target of 3,100.

It may not feel like it to some, but most Americans did get a tax cut.

Risks between upward and downward moves appear relatively balanced.

The risk markets’ sharp reversal after a tough December owes a lot to the Federal Reserve’s decision to forego future rate increases.

Fundamentals and news flow suggest the stock market may be heading to new highs.

Earnings, economy and technicals supportive of stocks.

Even if Q1 earnings decline, a year-end target of 3,100 on the S&P 500 remains our forecast.

After a strong first quarter, high yield and other credit securities settle into a clip-the-coupon environment.

April tends to be kind, not cruel, to stocks.

After all the concern, Q1 ended up having a solid average monthly gain of 180,000 jobs.

Single-payer buzz is hurting managed-care stocks. That's good for value investors.

Housing momentum is building as millennials move in and home prices moderate.

The Fed essentially used the March meeting to reboot its message after its dramatic policy shift over the last two quarters.

Concerns about an inverted curve may be cast in a paradigm that no longer exists.

As the saga drags on, there's one outcome the markets almost certainly wouldn't like—a no-deal Brexit.

Corporate earnings and GDP growth got tangled in several temporary issues in Q1 and should bounce back.

By most measures, a recession isn't in the cards anytime soon.

Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of High Yield Bond Group Mark Durbiano discusses the factors that have contributed to this year’s turnaround in the high-yield bond market.

Portfolio Manager Deborah Bickerstaff describes where she's finding opportunities for dividends.

What should investors look for when evaluating a dividend stock? Portfolio Manager Deborah Bickerstaff explains

The Federal Reserve was 3-for-3 in correct policy responses at its recent meeting.

Uncertainty climbs as investors interpret a dovish Fed and rally in long Treasury bonds as a possible recession signal. Might it be an opportunity?

With the secular bull marking its sixth birthday, there's plenty of room left to run. Helping it along are the still-deep scars from 2008-09's near-Armageddon experience.

The FOMC statement confirms the dramatic shift in Fed expectations since late 2018.

The middle of the stock market is making a comeback.

In a week of lies and disappointments, the market continued to run, hitting a high for the year.

With no hike expected, markets will look to changes in the dot plot and balance sheet taper for answers.

We think EM stocks are poised for a comeback.

Why should the long-term investor consider small-cap growth stocks? Diversification and performance.

There was a lot of noise surrounding February's jobs number, but the bottom line is, the labor market remains healthy.

A pullback not only is expected, it will be welcomed by many.

At this later stage of the cycle, Federated views this asset class primarily as a good 'clip the coupon' story.

China-U.S. trade outcomes range from very good to not good at all.

Inflation shows little sign of breaking out. Until it does, it's difficult to see long rates breaking up in any significant manner.

If they do, stocks could float to our 3,100 year-end target.

A number of trends are impacting the way this market operates, and that's not necessarily healthy for investors.

Innovations across retailing, transportation, entertainment and health care translate to continuing growth opportunities for investors.

Fed's Powell wants the markets to forget his vacillations of late 2018.

Technology continues to refine and reshape the way Americans get care.

Capex and consumer spending beat expectations, helping to drive GDP growth of 2.6%.

This expansion is on track to become the nation’s longest, yet it’s behaving as if it’s closer to the middle than late innings.

Rising optimism suggests the market is overbought, but momentum suggests that any pullback may prove short-lived.

Developments are breaking the way we thought they may, boding well for our year-end forecast of 3,100 on the S&P

Democratic tax proposals might hurt everyone if they pull the U.S. into recession.

Portfolio manager John Sidawi sees opportunities as headwinds in three key areas—Fed rate policy, the dollar's direction and idiosyncratic risks—shift to potential tailwinds.

The Fed is supporting the market. Might China be next?

Retail sales were solid in October and November; what happened in December?

A look at economic and political stress in Britain, Italy and ... well ... really the entire EU.

Which areas of the market are poised for growth this year? Portfolio Manager Steve Chiavarone breaks it down by asset class.

The brutal end-of-year sell-off in risk assets didn't change the reasons why small-cap stocks should still be an option for risk-oriented long-term investors.

The next few weeks could prove significant as the market awaits signs of progress on U.S.-China trade and the global economy.

Yes, we’re forecasting a 32% rally from Christmas Eve 2018 to New Year’s Eve 2019.

A Fed on pause, an easing of trade worries and the pricing in of most geopolitical worries make for EM tailwinds.

January's rally was particularly strong across fixed-income credit sectors. With spreads narrowing, momentum could ease in the months ahead. But the outlook remains positive.

Portfolio Manager Steve Chiavarone discusses why he believes we’re in the midst of another industrial revolution and how millennials fit in to this changing economic landscape.

Client Portfolio Manager Jordan Stuart describes where he's seeing opportunities in the market.

It's not just online shopping. Retailers are using big data in all its forms to anticipate and meet customers' needs ... and to operate more efficiently, too.

But expect sharp revisions in coming months as it fades.

The Fed adds to reasons to believe in this rally, making inevitable pullbacks potential buying opportunities.

Fed Chair Powell should have let the statement do the talking.

The Fed kept rates steady, making markets happy with a dovish pause.

By working collaboratively with companies to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals, this fund seeks to capitalize on new market opportunities while also making the world a better place.

Liquidity products offer access, stability and, now, return.

The White House and Congress must come to terms on full immigration reform to avoid another shutdown.

A conversational shift by midyear from "synchronized global slowdown" to "synchronized global stimulus" heads the list.

China and the unwinding of post-crisis policies likely will weigh on markets for some time. But short of a recession, it's still a bullish story for stocks.

It was a no good, very bad fourth quarter for the credit bond markets, too. It's hard to see the first quarter being the same.

There's a lot of pessimism as earnings season is set to go full bore. That may be a good thing.

The dawn of the fifth generation of wireless technology suggests a bright future for U.S. economic investment and growth.

The Fed, China and earnings appear set to break the bulls' way, but the bears should still have their moments in coming months.

No one really knows the reason for Q4's falloff. What we do know is if this is just a soft patch, then there should be more upside for investors.

The "January Barometer" suggests 2019 could be a strong year.

The majority of BBB-rated debt is issued deliberately by healthy companies, not those on the brink.

Yes, the economy is slowing but an outright recession just doesn't seem to be in the cards.

Will the robust labor report keep the Fed actively engaged in tightening monetary policy?

There are a lot of scary economic and market headlines out there. They don't always reflect reality.

Look for cash to be key, if not king, in 2019.

Equity market behavior is strongly correlated with high yield performance.

Trade friction, political instability and contrarian opportunities could shape the global investing environment in the new year.

3 factors may dictate how bonds do in 2019: the Fed (is it close to neutral?), the economy (how slow will it grow?) and inflation (will it remain muted?).

Cash markets will not be affected if President Trump forces a partial government shutdown.

Policymakers hike rates and signal two more in 2019.

Portfolio Manager Ann Ferentino outlines the reasons why muni bonds are attractive now.

How did 2018 tax reform impact the municipal bond market? Portfolio Manager Ann Ferentino explains.

Senior Portfolio Manager Ryan Bend discusses risks and opportunities in a volatile market.

Stocks must work through headwinds to accomplish the typical end-of-year rally.

We won't know for certain until January, but think consumer spending may trump market volatility.

Once 2018's messiness subsides, the market and economy should take a turn for the better, with the S&P 500 eventually hitting new highs in 2019.

Algorithmic-driven trading associated with massive passive investing is abetting volatility in the market.

Several factors that drove yields lower have turned more favorable, but a lack of clarity still clouds the outlook.

There are many parallels between the markets and economy today and in 2015-16. For those fearing recession, that's a good thing.

Fed, Trump-Xi and OPEC line up for a potentially bullish finish to the year.

Concerns about liquidity, recession and a trade war are certain to weigh on markets next year.

It's possible a Fed rate hike this month could be its last in this cycle.

It’s fair to say 2018 didn’t go as planned. But there are reasons to believe 2019 will be different and better.

We see a year-end Santa Claus rally taking stocks up to their September high.

Fed Chair Powell shifts his view on interest-rate levels.

If Trump and Xi just kick the can down the road, the markets should be fine with that.

Fed chair signals that policymakers will go slowly on further rate increases.

Immigration reform should be a "common-ground" item for our political parties.

An anticipated surge in retail sales and seasonal hiring look to boost spirits and the economy.

There are reasons to be optimistic.

The longer-term outlook remains positive but there are some stones in the road along the way.

Phil Orlando is keeping a close eye on equity market technicals and potential Fed policy changes.

We expect OPEC will reverse its recent increase in production at its meeting in December.

That's where Presidents Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet, and what happens there may well determine what happens here with the market.

Promising new technologies, and new applications of existing technologies, are creating a wealth of opportunities.

It's a little messy for the markets right now but the longer-term outlook remains bright.

Volatile period doesn't change solid fundamentals, indicating potential upside if markets settle down as expected.

Chief Equity Strategist Phil Orlando outlines three important swing factors that could help decide the outcome of the midterm elections.

A split Congress might find common ground on several key issues.

The FOMC left policy rates and most language of its policy statement unchanged.

Federated's trio of CIOs thinks a split Congress won't undo Trumponomics but won't build on it, either.

Gridlock? If history is a guide, the stock market will be fine with that.

The labor market posted terrific job gains despite extreme weather.

Federated's base case is there's still a good amount of upside in stocks but it could be sloppy for awhile.

In October, the cash sector watched the market volatility from solid ground.

Results provide three good reasons why we think investors should remain bullish on stocks.