Insights

Despite strong returns off March lows, we see more opportunity ahead.

The labor market continues to heal in remarkable fashion.

After spring's big rally, a possible pause in a still-bullish scenario.

2020's challenges and responses reflect Americans' indelible spirit.

Dramatic dislocations offer selective potential upside in fixed-income credit.

As the economy recovers, where spending is picking up.

It's over. Now investors will have to deal with rising challenges.

Equity overweight lowered as coming months may be choppy.

Proponents of Modern Monetary Theory do not think so.

Unprecedented sums are at the ready to prop up markets.

The outlook, as a recovering economy tends to lift cyclical stocks.

By clearing underbrush, the week's sell-off should make the market stronger.

Just as in life, emotions and biases can distort the way we invest.

As virus accelerates changes, the toughest place to be is in the middle.

A review of 5 myths that are tripping up the bears.

And right now, fear of missing out is driving the herd.

The job market in May blew out expectations with a gain of more than 2.5 million jobs.

It's looking 3 to 6 months out and sees clearing skies.

The dichotomy between market tranquility and abundant uncertainty has us remaining highly selective.

And investors may find some by including a balanced approach in their portfolios.

The Fed has been outspoken against negative rates, and a U-shaped recovery could shorten the period they are pinned to zero.

The money, that is. Despite massive stimulus, lending and spending have yet to perk up.

We are optimistic at this critical juncture for the U.S. economy.

With the bottom appearing to be in, there's nowhere to go but up.

And that should be good for the liquidity markets.

Any new stimulus must only target economic recovery.

Company fundamentals far more important now than macro analysis.

Much is to be determined, but e-commerce facilities, RV parks and suburbs are well positioned.

But there is a sharp dividing line between the winners and losers.

The virus and unemployment rate will dictate consumer behavior. Plus human nature.

Being in the right stocks starting to matter more than being in stocks.

The news is dismal, but stocks appear to be looking past it to a potential rebound in the year's second half.

Information technology and health care are attractive now.

As troubling data pours forth, the pain trade is to the upside.

Data over the next few weeks and months will be ugly, but better times lie ahead.

Companies that continuously innovate should continue to lead.

Market internals saw some promising developments but patience is warranted.

More regionalization, digitalization and taxes.

Income investors shift goals from growth to security.

That the Fed has been adjusting its policy action is impressive and important.

GDP fell 4.8% in the first quarter, but expect economic growth by the third.

The FOMC statement reiterated it will not hold anything back to aid the economy.

As Linda settles in at home, she ponders if we're getting ahead of ourselves.

Massive policy response and a crisis-fed acceleration of positive macro trends.

The length of the crisis will decide.

As investors navigate this storm, ESG is becoming a leading quality factor.

With market likely stuck in trading range, finding winners & losers becomes key.

Expecting challenging fundamental news in coming weeks, we pared our allocation to equities.

Portfolios should be worth more in 18-24 months.

A pullback is not unusual after a strong rally.

We see through this technical recession to a sharp recovery in the second half of 2020 and beyond.

The coming USD 30 trillion wealth transfer from baby boomers to 75 million millennials is expected to drive the growth of responsible investing.

As bad as it may seem, history suggests better days and opportunities lie ahead.

New OPEC and Russia reductions should raise prices, but demand must rise to stabilize the market.

Unprecedented stimulus is putting some investors' minds at ease.

And returns to secular bull uptrend as investors see light at end of tunnel.

We're in somewhat of a holding pattern as we await clarity ... and opportunity

As she adjusts to working from home, Linda wonders what happens when all the bills come due.

The disastrous March jobs report didn't even factor in the terrible last two weeks.

It's looking like a U-shaped recovery is the most likely outcome.

Insights on the innovation and opportunities that arise out of difficult times.

ESG implications of an increasingly virtual economy.

Federated Hermes strategists remain overweight equities but make adjustments.

Navigating volatile markets may take calming breaths, averaging in and time.

With so much still unknown, it seems too early to call a market bottom.

Fear, social distancing and avoidance of anything with a hint of risk.

Now is not the time to rebalance, Federated Hermes strategists say.

Perspectives on international investing in this volatile environment.

Bottoming process continues.

Monetary, fiscal and social policy must work in concert to manage crisis.

Social distancing certainly seems necessary but it comes at a steep near-term price.

The loan facility, broader than in 2008-09, includes short-term muni securities.

The robust programs are aimed at combating the impact of Covid-19.

Primary dealers and the short end of the commercial paper market are the latest to get support.

Past episodes of spiking spreads suggest opportunities await on the horizon.

Virus-related disruptions hitting munis (and other asset classes) eventually will end.

Shock from virus and oil lead us to drop GDP estimates, but recession averted.

News flow improves but bottoming is a process so expect continuing volatility.

A peak in virus cases outside of China, more stimulus and a lot of test kits.

It's all about the policy response and so far, policymakers are coming up short.

High yield has been underweight energy for some time on its roller-coaster past.

There are many unknowns but reasonable assumptions for now suggest short-term pain should give way eventually to long-term gains. But risks are real and need to be monitored.

The overnight and short-term markets have been performing well during the volatility.

A lot of unknowns but in the end, Linda expects consumers will save the day.

While in all likelihood future payroll reports will see pullback due to the virus, February's figures should not be ignored.

Efforts to treat and find a cure for Covid-19 likely to spur more innovation.

Might the virus slow the U.S. economy enough to boost Bernie's chances?

Coronavirus and possible Sanders victory are washing out the "weak hands."

The Fed must decide, on its own, if the coronavirus outbreak qualifies as such.

The week started just fine in North Carolina...then I came back late Thursday.

A move off these record lows will depend on if and when there's any positive virus news.

Six indicators can be predictive of the election outcome.

Virus fallout adds to temporary hits the economy already is taking from October's tax hike.

The real upside, Steve Auth says, could come post-election.

As news about the virus vacillates, so does the bond and stock markets' reactions.

Steve Chiavarone doesn’t think so.

Measured from October to January, holiday retail sales impressed.

Looking through the virus' late January impact, we still see strong year for S&P.

The past week's spike belies signs of improvement.

So far, it doesn't seem to be worrying much about the coronavirus.

What industry money managers are thinking about stocks and the economy as a new year gets underway.

Banner batch of reports show strength of the U.S. labor market.

As long as investors remain nervous, this market should run.

The coronavirus may cause short-term pain but underlying drivers of growth remain intact.

Some reforms actually could benefit businesses and the economy.

The Fed tries to corral several key rates to keep overnight markets in line.

Housing, trade and holiday spending did their part, but Q1 could be sloppy.

Let others focus on the coronavirus; Linda wants to talk about Iowa.

The coronavirus should prove more short-lived than debilitating for the market.

It was a pro-Trump crowd in Naples, although the subject of impeachment did come up.

The 'Early January Barometer' suggests they will continue to climb.

Linda shares how it's different in California. And when it comes to expectations, how it's not.

Boeing's woes may slow GDP growth this quarter but it should rebound soon after.

It was a really good year for fixed income. 2020 may prove more challenging.

Inflation isn't an issue yet; neither is the economy. Maybe investors are too bullish?

But there's too much noise in the data to make any bold claims.

Our annual rundown of out-of-consensus views sees substantial upside for equities this year.

Monetary accommodation, benign inflation and easing trade tensions should drive markets.

Senior Portfolio Manager Linda Bakhshian explains why fundamentals are key in picking dividend-paying securities.

With markets awash with money, stocks should have more room to run in 2020.

2019 is a hard act to follow, but we expect 8-10% growth on the S&P 500.

What should investors expect from the markets this year?

The central bank's full attention is on mitigating potential dislocations, and we think it will be successful.

Trade deals, Brexit clarity and a Fed hold cap a bullish week for stocks.

Prime Minister Johnson's overwhelming victory allows him to deal with the EU with a much stronger hand.

November's mediocre retail sales must be seen in context.

Everywhere Linda went this week, advisors were in a festive mood (except for Pats fans in Hartford!)

A small-cap stock rebound could be riding in on seasonality and a re-accelerating economy.

Linda heard a lot of worries during her Phoenix visit. But the one above? Hmm.

The labor market juggernaut rolls on.

We view pullbacks as opportunities to add.

The market's run should make for happy holidays even if it's a short shopping season.

A strong labor market, rising wages and lower gas prices represent a trifecta for consumer spending.

Barbara Miller says stores that best match online with traditional should keep doing well.

November and December retail sales are looking bright this year.

What can investors expect in 2020? CIO Deborah Cunningham explains her economic outlook.

What's the best indicator of the economy's health: strong consumers or weak manufacturing?

Reminiscing as she made the rounds in New Jersey, Linda wonders if a melt-up is developing.

Three Hermes portfolio managers share their views of the coming year.

A review of where we stand on our top 5 surprises for this year is, well, surprisingly good!

Not where Linda Duessel goes, including this week's audience in Vancouver.

It doesn't matter where Presidents Trump and Xi meet as long as they do before Dec. 15.

As long as investor sentiment remains subdued, this uptrend could continue.

Combined with healthy services growth and first phase of trade deal, stocks have surged.

Storm clouds that have been hanging over the market are dissipating.

But with pressing issues such as the repo market to address, it can't relax.

Sports and investing are a lot alike: They stir passions and are obsessed with performance.

It only makes us more confident the S&P 500 will hit our long-standing year-end target of 3,100.

There are a lot of reasons to think the economy is catching a second wind.

With confidence and dry powder, consumers won't be spooked this fall.

Dramatic headlines aside, market data is lining up for a potential run in equities.

In Nashville and Kansas meetings with bankers, impeachment and Syria never came up.

Geopolitical and economic developments are turning positive and should drive stocks higher this year.

What should investors expect from the IPO market in 2020?

The devil's in the details of the yet-to-be-signed U.S.-China mini trade deal.

Halloween will bring together many global events that may haunt the U.S. economy.

A variety of factors, from dovish Fed to a manufacturing bottom, could rally stocks into year-end.

If a trade deal emerges, leading to expectations for GDP and corporate-profit growth, look for a year-end rally.

Trade continues to drive the market as the seasonal tailwinds begin to blow.

What are the hallmarks of an investable IPO?

How to identify opportunities in the growth space.

Job-seekers are ghosting employers in one of the tightest labor markets in 50 years.

Sometimes, bad news is good news for the market.

After being rocked by poor manufacturing and service numbers, even a mixed report brings respite.

Impeachment talk and other geopolitical tensions aren't yet weighing down investors.

The chances of Trump being removed from office are negligible.

The dollar has strengthened even as the Fed has cut rates.

Lower yields should make for higher multiples. It hasn't happened ... yet.

The Fed itself isn't sure of policy in the rest of 2019.

Worries about oil shock are overblown as trade, Fed dominate market concerns.

There's been a violent shift from momentum to value. Will it continue?

Probable Fed cuts and healthy consumers suggest the inverted yield curve is crying wolf.

Brainwashed investors think things are really bad. That may be good for stocks.

Expect the soft August employment figures to be revised upward.

For every action, there is a reaction, a dualism that should prove soothing for investors.

As global market rates move closer to zero, policymakers confront what "effective lower bound'' is for the Fed's benchmark rate.

Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of International Fixed Income Ihab Salib discusses how emerging markets might fare, if a global recession materializes.

Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of International Fixed Income Ihab Salib offers insights on how trade tensions are affecting global bonds and what’s driving the strength of the dollar.

Politicized proposals calling for it don't make the grade.

The Fed leader successfully addressed several issues weighing on monetary policy.

With negative-yielding debt at a record and climbing, we're in uncharted waters.

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.

U.K.'s path to the Oct. 31 EU exit deadline is fraught with worrisome scenarios.

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.