The AI investment story is maturing, with major tech firms raising a record $108 billion in debt in 2025 to finance infrastructure, a sharp departure from previous cash-funded growth. This increased use of leverage and riskier financing mechanisms is generating concern among stock traders and contributing to rising market volatility.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, there’s so much to be thankful for in 2025, especially for investors. After a challenging start to the year, the economy and markets regained their footing quickly, with nearly all asset classes on track for solid gains heading into year-end. Looking ahead, there are reasons for optimism to continue into 2026 as well.
Answers to questions investors are currently asking about Treasury bonds, tax policy, credit quality and other issues currently affecting fixed income investments.
The SEC has granted Dimensional exemptive relief to offer dual share class funds, a move that allows certain mutual funds to offer an ETF share class under the same structure. This monumental decision, following the expiration of Vanguard's patent, is expected to open the floodgates for other asset managers seeking to offer their existing mutual fund clients the tax efficiency and structural benefits of ETFs.
Sun Life Financial Inc.’s newly unified asset-management division plans to hire about 20 senior executives as it looks to turn a collection of investment managers into a more coordinated global powerhouse.
We enter 2026 after a year of robust global stock gains on AI optimism, falling interest rates and a resilient world economy. Beneath this stability, however, lies a more fragile environment.
It’s been a tough year for high-quality stocks in Europe. Yet despite vexing market conditions, the underlying business features that define quality stocks often remain intact. For investors, there are compelling reasons to maintain conviction in companies with robust profitability and resilient business models—even when short-term returns disappoint.
Last week's economic landscape was defined by conflicting signals from key indicators, suggesting a growing divergence between investor behavior and underlying consumer health.
Looking at your portfolio and feeling a distinct lack of income? Now may be the time to get more income into portfolios, with this version of covered call ETFs offering a solid option.
Vanguard continues its push into the active ETF market with the introduction of three news funds focused on equities. These are the Vanguard Wellington U.S. Value Active ETF (VUSV), Vanguard Wellington U.S. Growth Active ETF (VUSG), and Vanguard Wellington Dividend Growth Active ETF (VDIG). This bolsters the current active equity roster to now eight funds for the issuer.
This month’s Muni Monthly covers performance, supply and demand technicals, fundamentals and valuations for the month ending October 2025.
As measured by the largest ETF dedicated to the sector, real estate stocks are offering middling performances this year. That is disappointing considering the Fed has pared interest rates two times. However, that tepid sentiment arguably belies opportunity with ETFs such as the ALPS Active REIT ETF (REIT).
In times of uncertainty — whether in sport or in markets — the ability to separate fact from feeling — or ideology — is critical. This principle applies across leadership, investing and even today’s AI-driven economy.
The interview features Cynthia Murphy and John Davi, Founder, CEO, and CIO of Astoria Portfolio Advisors, discussing their firm's investment philosophy and the current market environment. Davi explains Astoria's three verticals: managing risk-based ETF portfolios, running quantitative stock selection models, and offering their own equity, fixed income, and alternative/real asset ETFs. The conversation highlights key market concerns like high inflation and the dominance of the "Mag Seven" stocks, with Davi recommending diversification into international stocks, mid-cap stocks, financials, industrials, and inflation-fighting strategies like gold and Bitcoin, especially for traditional 60/40 portfolios.
Alternative investments have already gained plenty of traction in 2025, and things may very well be the same for 2026. However, it’s crucial to evaluate which kind of alternative investments could provide a more potent use case than others.
The S&P 500 Index edged higher to start Friday, recovering some of the losses caused by recent concerns over stretched valuations and a potential AI bubble. The recovery was supported by remarks from Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams, who suggested there is room to lower interest rates soon. These comments immediately boosted market expectations for a December rate cut.
The article examines the high valuations of AI-focused tech giants like Alphabet and Nvidia, contrasting the risk of an "AI bubble" with their powerful profitability. While Berkshire Hathaway's new stake in Alphabet signals confidence, both companies require substantial future growth to justify their current multiples.
The article examines how tech giants like Meta are using massive, off-balance-sheet special-purpose vehicles to finance multi-billion dollar data centers. Despite these complex structures, large investors are treating the debt as a direct obligation of the tech company, leading to a subsequent sell-off of Meta’s publicly traded corporate bonds.
The end of the government shutdown left the SEC with an avalanche of paperwork, forcing staff to prioritize new company registration statements critical for initial public offerings (IPOs). More than a dozen companies had to revise their IPO timelines due to the delays, creating market uncertainty.
European stocks fell, tracking their deepest weekly decline since August, as a risk-off mood hit some of this year’s top-performing technology shares. The decline was driven by investor concerns over lofty tech valuations and uncertainty regarding the US Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates. The market slightly recovered after a Fed official hinted there was room for rate cuts in the near term.
The continued slump in the housing market is now being compounded by a weakening U.S. labor market and a surge in mass layoffs. This labor uncertainty is making potential buyers reluctant to commit to purchases, even as affordability improves and mortgage rates stabilize. This dynamic is leading homebuilders to reduce construction and staffing, further worsening the job market.
While passive portfolios have excelled recently due to mega-cap dominance, the article warns that market disruption and concentration make them vulnerable to a sudden reversal in sentiment. It asserts that skilled active management is essential now to identify future winners and benefit from a potential broadening of the equity market.
The ETF industry continues to grow, with new funds arriving all the time. Each year, hundreds of ETFs arrive on the scene, from covered call ETFs to active bond ETFs and everything in between.
Macro Signposts highlights takeaways from the data analysis conducted by our team of economists and other experts.
Are you looking to combine small-cap upside with income? With markets seeing increased volatility and large-caps looking expensive, marrying the two could boost portfolios.
We examine valuations in historical context, how today’s market compare to the tech bubble of the 1990s and what’s driving stock gains now.
Okay, this is for more than just millennials. It’s for anyone who feels stuck and can’t get started with their investing strategy. If you poke around on the internet, it sounds like my generation might be in the most trouble.
October ETF launches saw a plethora of funds join the ETF ecosystem, representing important trends and intriguing ideas.
Every market needs speculation, but when it spreads into nearly every asset class, investors face a different kind of challenge. Sometimes the smartest move is the least exciting one.
Join the experts at Pictet Asset Management for an educational webcast exploring how AI is being used to evolve active investing.
Be wary of claims that indexing and passive investing have huge hidden costs. In my view, passive investing involves owning, as close as is economically feasible, every stock weighted to market capitalization. So this means total stock index funds.
BlackRock Inc.’s Tony DeSpirito, global chief investment officer of fundamental equities, is leaving the firm along with three other employees in that group as the asset manager shakes up its actively managed stock funds.
After peaking at just over $126,000 in early October, Bitcoin has dropped 30% — breaking through key thresholds, spooking ETF investors, and rattling holders big and small. One group in particular remains exposed: traders who bet on a rebound — and now find themselves underwater while paying for it.
The growing clout of private companies like OpenAI is causing Wall Street to redraw the boundaries of its equity research business.
Nvidia Corp. delivered a surprisingly strong revenue forecast and pushed back on the idea that the AI industry is in a bubble, easing concerns that had spread across the tech sector.
keep hearing some version of this argument: Yes, we’re in an AI bubble. But even in the dot-com crash, the best companies survived and made people rich. Just look at Amazon.com Inc.
Just six months ago, Alphabet Inc. investors feared the company could be a casualty of the artificial intelligence revolution. But after a trillion-dollar rally those concerns have flipped, and now the biggest worry is if the stock is getting too expensive for its own good.
In today’s equity markets, investors face a paradox: share price swings are more dramatic than ever yet often have little to do with a company’s underlying health or earnings. So how can investors achieve true diversification and risk reduction in a world driven by fickle market forces?
With the federal government shutdown now over, until the end of January at a minimum, the money and bond markets have turned their attention back to the Fed. Specifically, the conjecture is centered on whether another rate cut will be forthcoming at the December 10 FOMC meeting.
As 2025 draws to a close, investors and advisors will be considering their tax-loss harvesting opportunities. By selling some investments at a loss, those investors can reduce their overall tax bills next year.
GMO has posted a new 7-Year asset class forecast as of October 31, 2025.
In this Money Metals podcast episode, host Mike Maharrey talks with money manager Michael Pento of Pento Portfolio Strategies about what he sees as a dangerously distorted financial system.
As 2025 nears its final 100 calendar days, market focus is already beginning to turn forward and attempt to reconcile what market drivers could remain in place, and what could change in the first year of the new half-decade. While not an exhaustive list, here’s some of our early keys to 2026.
The gains were erased after Federal Reserve officials hinted they were hesitant to cut rates, leading to broad market losses. This challenging environment reinforces the long-term need for investors to seek global diversification outside of the overvalued U.S. dollar and domestic assets.
Stocks started the week with strong gains following the government reopening agreement, but the momentum was quickly erased by concerns over Federal Reserve policy. Hesitancy from Fed Chairman Powell to cut rates pushed down the odds of a December cut, causing the Dow to drop significantly from its record level.
The wealth management industry is on a collision course with a talent crisis due to a looming retirement wave and rising demand for financial professionals. The key to survival hinges on making talent development a strategic priority and adapting to the next generation of clients.
On this episode of the “ETF of the Week” podcast, VettaFi’s Head of Research, Todd Rosenbluth, discussed the Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF (XMMO) with Chuck Jaffe of Money Life. The pair discussed several topics related to the fund to give investors a deeper understanding of the ETF.
Covered call strategies have become a very popular fund type in recent years. By leaning on the options market, covered call funds offer high levels of income but can limit upside.
Join the experts at State Street Investment Management, Stringer Asset Management, and 3EDGE Asset Management for an educational webcast unpacking where investors can find opportunities in 2026.
Join the experts at T. Rowe Price for a product due diligence session exploring the unique challenges of today’s market environment and how to make better asset allocation decisions for your clients.
