May 09, 2018 Energy Stocks: A Surprising Defensive Play? by Kurt Feuerman, Robert Milano With volatility rising, many equity investors are thinking proactively about downside protection. But traditional safe havens may not do the job. Defensive equity positions can be found today in surprising places—like the energy sector. Equities, Volatility Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
May 07, 2018 Small-Cap Stocks Can Help Shield Against Inflation by James MacGregor, Shri Singhvi, Erik Turenchalk As concerns about inflation spread, it’s time to gauge how different types of stocks will respond. Smaller companies in niche markets may be better positioned to cope with rising prices—especially in consolidating industries. Equities Likes 1 SHARE Bookmarks
May 03, 2018 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Three Reasons US Rates are Going Up by Eric Winograd The US Federal Reserve decided against an official short-term rate hike at this week’s meeting—hardly a surprise. But US Treasury yields continue to climb in 2018, and not all the explanations are good news. Economics, Rising Rates Likes 1 SHARE Bookmarks
May 03, 2018 What High-Yield Investors Can Learn from Big Blue’s Big Mistake by Will Smith How do you blow a No. 2 draft pick? For the New York Giants, it was a combination of bad math and overconfidence. But at least Big Blue can take comfort in having plenty of company: investors, particularly high-yield bond investors, are prone to similar mistakes. Fixed Income Likes 2 SHARE Bookmarks
May 02, 2018 Will the Emerging-Market Equity Rally Resume? A Wall Street Journal blog on Wednesday warned that the emerging-market trade is under threat. But we think investors shouldn’t be swayed by short-term market moves. History shows that EM equity performance cycles typically unfold over several years. Emerging Markets, Equities, Rising Rates Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
April 24, 2018 Dangerous Yield Curves Ahead? by Erin Bigley There’s new rumblings about an inverting yield curve ahead. Is it time to panic? Time to stick our heads in the sand? Or time to think sensibly? Economics, Fixed Income Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
April 20, 2018 Volatility Is Back—And That’s a Good Thing for Active Management by Richard Brink, Walt Czaicki, Scott Krauthamer It’s been a rocky start to 2018 for equity markets globally—volatility has returned with a bang and February saw the first 10% market correction in a while. So, why are active managers smiling? Active & Passive , Equities, Volatility Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
April 17, 2018 Who’s Afraid of Rising Rates? by Douglas J. Peebles Investing 101 tells us that rising interest rates are bad for a bond portfolio. But if you’ve got a long investment horizon, that isn’t necessarily so. We think investors should be more concerned about the end of the credit cycle than rising rates. Fixed Income, Rising Rates, Volatility Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
April 16, 2018 Safety Stocks: Mind the Debt by Nelson Yu Rising rates are adding new risks to equity markets. Stocks of companies that are saddled with debt have underperformed recently. And leverage is especially high in sectors widely seen as safe havens. Equities, Rising Rates, Volatility Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
April 11, 2018 Inflation? For Muni Investors, the Right Strategy Is Key by Daryl Clements Should municipal bond investors be thinking about inflation protection? Without a doubt. But some inflation strategies are better than others. Choosing the right one could make all the difference. Fixed Income, Inflation, Municipals, Rising Rates Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
April 09, 2018 Debt, Tech and Trade Wars Cloud the Investment Horizon by Sharon Fay Global equities posted their first quarterly decline in two years during a volatile first quarter. Growing concerns about rising rates, trade wars and regulation in the technology sector will require a new mindset for investors. Emerging Markets, Equities, Inflation, Rising Rates Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
April 03, 2018 Why Passive Investing Isn’t a Panacea by Richard Brink, Walt Czaicki, Scott Krauthamer The active/passive debate has been raging for years, and both approaches have merit. But there’s more to the story than meets the eye. Investors who commit too much to passive—and not enough to active—could face mounting risks. Active & Passive , Equities Likes 1 SHARE Bookmarks
March 26, 2018 What to Do About Rising Rates? Just Give It Time. Worried about rising rates? Don’t take your money out of the municipal market and put it in cash. That could cost you. Fixed Income, Municipals, Rising Rates Likes 1 SHARE Bookmarks
March 23, 2018 Will Geopolitics Fuel Global Volatility? by Darren Williams Economic trends clearly point toward higher inflation and interest rates ahead, which will likely make capital markets more volatile. Based on recent headlines, politics seems likely to add fuel to this fire. Economics, Rising Rates, Volatility Likes 2 SHARE Bookmarks
March 23, 2018 High Stakes: Why Trade Policy Matters by Eric Winograd Steel and aluminum tariffs aren’t a big deal for the US economy. But they may be for US trading partners and global growth. Focus on the trade shortfall also obscures a bigger concern: the US fiscal deficit. Economics, Policy & Regulation Likes 0 SHARE Bookmarks
March 22, 2018 Can Investors Make Money in a US–China Trade War? by Stuart Rae, John Lin President Trump’s plans for tariffs on about $60 billion of Chinese imports have rattled equity markets. Investors should begin to study which types of industries, countries and companies could win or lose if an all-out trade war erupts. Economics, Emerging Markets, Equities Likes 1 SHARE Bookmarks