Someday, the dollar will cease to be the world’s reserve currency. But don’t hold your breath waiting; there is nothing even close to being able to take its role.
OpenAI will acquire the AI device startup co-founded by Apple Inc. veteran Jony Ive in a nearly $6.5 billion all-stock deal, joining forces with the legendary designer to make a push into hardware.
America’s fiscal woes are nothing to sneeze at, but they’re also nothing new. Which is why we expect markets to largely shrug off the latest credit-rating cut.
Cathie Wood’s funds made their biggest purchase of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. shares in nearly a year, underscoring a change in stance from being mostly sellers of the chipmaker since the third quarter of last year.
One of the biggest stories in the ETF market in 2025 has been the nonstop impressive asset-gathering pace of the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO).
The world’s largest asset manager is adding to bets on the artificial intelligence within its US model portfolios while trimming its overall equity risk because of tariff uncertainty.
Investors dumped US stocks Wednesday afternoon following a disappointing Treasury auction that sent bond yields surging past levels seen during April’s market rout.
Applications for US unemployment benefits fell to a four-week low, adding to evidence that the job market remains healthy in the face of growing uncertainty tied to trade policy.
In a year dominated by multimodal marvels and reasoning breakthroughs, perhaps the most economically significant shift in AI went largely underplayed: cost collapse.
Common sense and economic theory often collide. Take the stubborn belief that government stimulus spending and debt issuance reliably boost economic growth. It is a simple and seductive idea—when the economy falters, the government can step in, inject capital, and jumpstart growth.
During last month's tariff war, a big driver of stock-market declines was foreigners selling.
The shifting change in market leadership to international outperformance may call for a portfolio review to assess overexposure risks.
With the latest Target earnings report coming in weaker than expected, advisors might want to reassess how they gain exposure to the company.
Nvidia Corp. chief Jensen Huang blasted the “failure” of US restrictions intended to help contain China’s technological ascent, calling on the White House to lower barriers to AI chip sales before American firms cede that market to up-and-coming rivals such as Huawei Technologies Co.
US equities are likely to drive the global rally in the coming months on an improving corporate earnings outlook and a weaker dollar, according to cross-asset strategists at Morgan Stanley.
Most investors would jump at the chance to add more money to their portfolio, but they often fail to consider the hidden costs associated with it.
As investors, we need to step back and examine the history of previous debt downgrades and their outcomes for the stock and bond markets. Let’s start with what Moody’s rating agency stated about its rating change.
In an investment landscape dominated by market-cap-weighted benchmarks, the Barron’s 400 ETF (BFOR) offers a different path through GARP.
Alphabet Inc.’s investors are looking to this week’s developer conference to see if the company can reset the narrative amid fears that its long-standing market dominance is on shaky ground.
The 60/40 approach has not been what it was just a few years ago. Fortunately, there are alternatives.
By incorporating growth CDs into a diversified retirement plan, retirees can take advantage of equity market growth, protect their lifestyle, and avoid the fear of market downturns diminishing their savings.
President Donald Trump’s first overseas trip since returning to the White House is turning heads across the aerospace & defense and semiconductor industries.
The geography of employment in the US is being shaped by two distinct trends. The first is low levels of housing churn and, therefore, interstate migration, a normal part of the business cycle that should eventually turn around.
QTR Family Wealth, a full-service wealth management firm owned and led by brothers Wes and Chad Hunter, proudly announces the official launch of its independent Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm.
After Friday’s close, Moody’s downgraded U.S. treasuries, as S&P had 14 years ago, in 2011. I criticized the downgrade then…and I do now. The government cannot technically default, as the Fed can always buy the bonds for any auction.
On this episode of the “ETF of the Week” podcast, VettaFi’s Head of Research, Todd Rosenbluth, discussed the Thornburg International Equity ETF (TXUE) with Chuck Jaffe of Money Life. The pair discussed several topics related to the fund to give investors a deeper understanding of the ETF overall.
The shareholder meeting began to be streamed about ten years ago, but that has had no impact on attendance. This is one reason why I think Buffett is at peace with the idea of no longer presiding at the meeting – people will still come to Omaha the weekend before Mother’s Day.
Don’t allow your middle-aged clients depending on their 401(k) plan to fool themselves. Markets can’t rescue a failure to save until it hurts. And don’t let them kid themselves that a smoother ride with bonds won’t come at the cost of increased shortfall risk.
Fisher Investments recently wrote an interesting article asking whether corporate stock buybacks affect markets.
US stocks delivered their second-best weekly gain of the year on Friday, as Big Tech fueled a rally that brought the S&P 500 Index closer to an all-time high set nearly three months ago.
Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang outlined plans to let customers deploy rivals’ chips in data centers built around its technology, a move that acknowledges the growth of in-house semiconductor development by major clients from Microsoft Corp. to Amazon.com Inc.
One of the first and most promising uses scientists envision for the rapidly evolving technology of quantum computing is a new approach to drug development.
A rushed exit from conservatorship could increase mortgage rates and worsen home affordability.
While equities are on their way to recovering January 1 levels, enhanced volatility lends itself to active ETF strategies this year.
Global funds are pouring money back into India, driving billion-dollar corporate financing deals and sending stocks prices to near a seven-month high, as investors bet that Asia’s third-largest economy can emerge as a winner in President Donald Trump’s trade war.
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. made no major purchases during the market slump that preceded President Donald Trump’s trade war, instead whittling or selling off holdings in financial stocks during the first quarter.
Saudi Arabia is ramping up efforts to lure high frequency trading firms — a campaign that’s already brought in major players from Citadel Securities to Hudson River Trading — as it looks to bolster activity on the Middle East’s largest stock market.
In this video – Part 2 – Extreme Risk of High Valuation – Chuck Carnevale, Co-Founder of FAST Graphs, aka Mr. Valuation discusses the volatility of the stock market, using the S&P 500 (SPY) as a proxy.
By the end of April, the S&P 500 rallied its way back, recovering nearly all the declines notched in the opening days of the month when President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff plans tipped markets towards bear territory.
The artificial intelligence arms race has prompted a contest for America’s power plants.
Here is a look at real (inflation-adjusted) charts of the S&P 500, Dow 30, and Nasdaq composite since their 2000 highs. We've updated this through the April 2025 close.
Explore the performance journey of the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones since their peaks in 2000. This video analyzes how these key U.S. stock market indexes have navigated over two decades of economic shifts and technological change, revealing their distinct paths through April 2025.
To help exemplify the importance of UX, I’m breaking down a few of the most common UX myths, along with the top recommendations to avoid the pitfalls associated with them.
Retail investors have won again. When trade tensions flared in early April and about $6.6 trillion in market value vanished from US stocks in just two business days – the fifth-worst two-day drop since the S&P 500’s creation in 1957 – they didn’t panic.
Assessing a bear market rally proves challenging when you experience it firsthand. It is only in hindsight that the complete picture reveals itself to investors. Of course, after a bear market rally, investors tend to review their investments and speculate on what they should have done differently.
In the report, Portfolio Managers John Kerschner, Nick Childs, and Thomas Polus highlight three reasons why agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) look attractive in the present environment.
In this video, Chuck Carnevale, Co-Founder of FAST Graphs, aka Mr. Valuation discusses the volatility of the stock market, the truth about the S&P 500’s valuation, using the S&P 500 (SPY) as a proxy.
Commonwealth Financial Network®, a national RIA dedicated to providing financial advisors with holistic, integrated business solutions, has initiated a new partnership with Messina College, a two-year, all-residential degree program of Boston College that welcomed its first-ever class of students to the school’s Brookline Campus last summer.
Alexandra Levis, Founder & CEO of Arro Financial Communications, provides an in-depth look at how ETF issuers should think about approaching marketing. VettaFi’s Roxanna Islam breaks down some of the year’s top-performing ETFs, from international plays to precious metals.
While the U.S. and U.K. have different economic and regulatory landscapes, there are clear opportunities for the U.S. to improve retirement readiness by adopting some best practices from across the pond.
Global AI, a US tech firm, plans to collaborate with a Saudi Arabian artificial intelligence venture, Humain, in an agreement expected to be worth billions of dollars, according to a person familiar with the mattter.
The roller coaster continues! A stronger than expected first quarter earnings season and encouraging signs on the trade front—highlighted by the US-UK trade deal—helped lift the S&P 500 from its April 8 near-bear market lows, reversing nearly all post-Liberation Day (April 2) losses.
For my entire decades-long career in capital markets, I’ve made the case that gold is not just a shiny relic of the past, but a serious, strategic asset for modern investors. After years of pounding the table, it feels pretty good to say that the world’s central banks—and now the U.S. banking system—are finally catching up.
Today Tesla is not trading based on car sales but on future dreams of self-driving robo-taxis, robots, semis, and whatever else Elon dreams up. The car company may be worth $100 billion to $180 billion; the rest is what investors are willing to pay for Elon’s dreams.
For most of human history, an enchanted box that contained all knowledge and answered all questions would’ve been the stuff of allegory. For modern internet users, Google is one more thing to take for granted.
The US and China will temporarily lower tariffs on each other’s products in a dramatic ratcheting down of trade tensions that buys the world’s two largest economies three months to work toward a broader agreement.
With Wall Street kicking off another rally, American stocks are now trading like Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” shock never happened.
Warren Buffett opened his 60th—and final as CEO—Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting with the same understated clarity that has defined his career: "This is my 60th annual meeting... I think it'll be the best yet."
As the effects of US import tariffs begin to emerge, we shift our stance on equities to underweight.
Financial advisors will be working with millennials and Gen Z, either as new clients or as family members of existing ones.
US equity investors will be watching closely as trade talks kick off between the Trump administration and China, with trillions of dollars hanging in the balance for American companies.
For more than a year, Alphabet Inc. shareholders have fretted over long-term risks posed by artificial intelligence to the company’s money-printing search business. This week the threat became much more immediate.
Major tech companies lobbying to salvage a tax deduction for research and development are warning they may pull back from high-profile pledges of new US investments if Congress doesn’t fully reinstate the break.
US stocks opened higher Friday as traders weighed comments from President Donald Trump suggesting that an 80% tariff on China seemed right, just as negotiations between the two countries are set to begin on Saturday.
The culture clash between Bitcoin enthusiasts and gold bugs is about to be played out in the world of exchange-traded funds.
The US said it’s developing a fast-track process for screening foreign investments in the US, an effort Trump administration officials expect could smooth the way for billions from wealth funds in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
S&P 500® earnings per share estimates have come down sharply. According to FactSet, calendar year 2025 is now expected to show $266 in operating EPS for the Index.
US stocks climbed at the open Thursday as investors welcomed news of a trade agreement between the US and the UK — a widely anticipated development that some traders say could serve as a blueprint for broader global negotiations
In technology, disruption can happen slowly and then all at once. Alphabet Inc.’s Google unit is praying for the former right now.
Currently, the Three Tactical Rules are a “flashing yellow light” - a roughly neutral rating which represents a slight downgrade.
After entering the year with a cautious outlook, managers have become more defensively postured as the U.S. tariff policy has increased uncertainty.
Over years, the US cemented its position as an exceptional source of earnings growth that fueled outsize equity returns. Many investors are now questioning whether the US will retain its advantages as President Trump’s trade policies add uncertainty to the outlook across industries.
This video provides an update on the monthly moving averages we track for the S&P 500 and the Ivy Portfolio after the close of the last business day of the month.
Valid until the market close on May 31, 2025
This article provides an update on the monthly moving averages we track for the S&P 500 and the Ivy Portfolio after the close of the last business day of the month.
Tracking marketing metrics isn’t about labeling efforts as a success or failure — it’s about identifying opportunities to tweak and improve what’s already working. By understanding the data, you can make informed decisions that enhance your outreach and client engagement.
US stocks jumped at the open Wednesday as investors were encouraged by news that the US and China are set to start trade talks this weekend, even as traders awaited the Federal Reserve policy decision later in the day.
Sam Altman’s reputation for spin was out in full force this week in a published “letter to employees” announcing that he was abandoning plans to turn OpenAI into a for-profit company. Instead, it will “continue to be overseen and controlled” by its nonprofit board.
It was a glimpse of a very appealing future: A sleek 18-wheeler powered by Aurora Innovation Inc. trundled down Interstate 45 from Dallas to Houston last week with a trailer full of goods and a completely empty cab. At long last, autonomous trucking may have arrived.
So what has caused such a surge in international returns versus the U.S. so far this year? Is it just short-term noise, reversion to the mean, or something more systematic? If the last few months were purely short-term noise, we will soon know, as U.S. stocks will resume dominance.
After months of public pressure, OpenAI walked back part of its effort to create a more conventional for-profit company, but its restructuring plans still have not received the blessing of a major stakeholder: Microsoft Corp.
Markets clawed back early losses in April, but one thing has become clear – policy uncertainty and risk isn’t fading, it’s spreading.
Results from some of the Magnificent 7 names last week reignited the AI trade. Both Meta and Microsoft reported after-the-bell on Wednesday, blowing past analyst estimates
A key valuation metric touted by legendary investor Warren Buffett is signaling that equities are relatively cheap, bolstering the case that the sizzling rebound in US stocks has room to run.
If you’ve been inside a Walmart, Target or Home Depot in the past week, you may not realize that a trade war is underway between the U.S. and China, the world’s two largest economies. Store shelves are well stocked, and prices have largely held steady.
Warren Buffett is retiring, but his investment advice is likely to carry weight for years to come.
Warren Buffett is stepping down as chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the company he built alongside his later partner Charlie Munger for the past six decades.
Ahead of this quarter’s crop of tech earnings, I predicted companies would be reluctant to offer much in the way of forward guidance given the almost Covid-like upheaval of the global economy thanks to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. I was half right: There was some guidance — though it arrived with a large asterisk.
Warren Buffett picked the final minute of his 60th shareholder meeting to drop a long-awaited announcement that was still completely surprising for his fans, most of his board and even his successor.
In investing, success is often judged by numbers—returns on investment, percentage gains, and the ability to outperform benchmarks like the S&P 500. However, some investors frequently pursue a peculiar set of “awards” without realizing the pitfalls they embody.
While the S&P 500 index was almost unchanged in April, the dollar remained extremely weak, ending the month down over 4%.
Large Cap Growth
Death of the Dollar: An Eternal Tale
Someday, the dollar will cease to be the world’s reserve currency. But don’t hold your breath waiting; there is nothing even close to being able to take its role.
OpenAI to Buy AI Device Startup From Apple Veteran Jony Ive in $6.5 Billion Deal
OpenAI will acquire the AI device startup co-founded by Apple Inc. veteran Jony Ive in a nearly $6.5 billion all-stock deal, joining forces with the legendary designer to make a push into hardware.
Credit Downgrade: Markets Poised to Shake it Off
America’s fiscal woes are nothing to sneeze at, but they’re also nothing new. Which is why we expect markets to largely shrug off the latest credit-rating cut.
Cathie Wood Buys Most TSMC Depositary Receipts in Nearly a Year
Cathie Wood’s funds made their biggest purchase of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. shares in nearly a year, underscoring a change in stance from being mostly sellers of the chipmaker since the third quarter of last year.
5 Unique Passive ETF Ways of Owning the S&P 500
One of the biggest stories in the ETF market in 2025 has been the nonstop impressive asset-gathering pace of the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO).
BlackRock Adds to AI-Stocks Bet in $160 Billion Model Portfolios
The world’s largest asset manager is adding to bets on the artificial intelligence within its US model portfolios while trimming its overall equity risk because of tariff uncertainty.
Market Tests Investors’ Nerves as Stocks Sell Off After Auction
Investors dumped US stocks Wednesday afternoon following a disappointing Treasury auction that sent bond yields surging past levels seen during April’s market rout.
US Initial Jobless Claims Decline to Lowest Level in Four Weeks
Applications for US unemployment benefits fell to a four-week low, adding to evidence that the job market remains healthy in the face of growing uncertainty tied to trade policy.
The Real AI Revolution Is Accessibility
In a year dominated by multimodal marvels and reasoning breakthroughs, perhaps the most economically significant shift in AI went largely underplayed: cost collapse.
Stimulus Does Not Stimulate
Common sense and economic theory often collide. Take the stubborn belief that government stimulus spending and debt issuance reliably boost economic growth. It is a simple and seductive idea—when the economy falters, the government can step in, inject capital, and jumpstart growth.
Why Americans Stopped Saving Money
During last month's tariff war, a big driver of stock-market declines was foreigners selling.
Why International and Why Now
The shifting change in market leadership to international outperformance may call for a portfolio review to assess overexposure risks.
Target Earnings Troubles Call for a Diversified Approach
With the latest Target earnings report coming in weaker than expected, advisors might want to reassess how they gain exposure to the company.
Nvidia CEO Urges US to Ease AI Curbs After ‘Failure’ With China
Nvidia Corp. chief Jensen Huang blasted the “failure” of US restrictions intended to help contain China’s technological ascent, calling on the White House to lower barriers to AI chip sales before American firms cede that market to up-and-coming rivals such as Huawei Technologies Co.
US Stocks to Power Global Rally, Morgan Stanley Strategists Say
US equities are likely to drive the global rally in the coming months on an improving corporate earnings outlook and a weaker dollar, according to cross-asset strategists at Morgan Stanley.
The Case for International Equities in Target-Date Funds
Most investors would jump at the chance to add more money to their portfolio, but they often fail to consider the hidden costs associated with it.
Moody’s Debt Downgrade – Does It Matter?
As investors, we need to step back and examine the history of previous debt downgrades and their outcomes for the stock and bond markets. Let’s start with what Moody’s rating agency stated about its rating change.
A Balanced Approach to U.S. Equity Through GARP
In an investment landscape dominated by market-cap-weighted benchmarks, the Barron’s 400 ETF (BFOR) offers a different path through GARP.
Alphabet Traders Look to Developer Event to Shift AI Narrative
Alphabet Inc.’s investors are looking to this week’s developer conference to see if the company can reset the narrative amid fears that its long-standing market dominance is on shaky ground.
The Rebirth of the 60/40 Portfolio Has Been Greatly Exaggerated
The 60/40 approach has not been what it was just a few years ago. Fortunately, there are alternatives.
Growth CDs: Access Stock Market Appreciation With FDIC Protection
By incorporating growth CDs into a diversified retirement plan, retirees can take advantage of equity market growth, protect their lifestyle, and avoid the fear of market downturns diminishing their savings.
Trump’s Gulf Visit Ignites Record Military Sales and AI Infrastructure Boom
President Donald Trump’s first overseas trip since returning to the White House is turning heads across the aerospace & defense and semiconductor industries.
The Next Great Job Churn Is Already Starting
The geography of employment in the US is being shaped by two distinct trends. The first is low levels of housing churn and, therefore, interstate migration, a normal part of the business cycle that should eventually turn around.
QTR Family Wealth Launches Independent RIA Firm
QTR Family Wealth, a full-service wealth management firm owned and led by brothers Wes and Chad Hunter, proudly announces the official launch of its independent Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm.
Downgrades, Debt, and Durable Optimism
After Friday’s close, Moody’s downgraded U.S. treasuries, as S&P had 14 years ago, in 2011. I criticized the downgrade then…and I do now. The government cannot technically default, as the Fed can always buy the bonds for any auction.
Thornburg International Equity ETF (TXUE)
On this episode of the “ETF of the Week” podcast, VettaFi’s Head of Research, Todd Rosenbluth, discussed the Thornburg International Equity ETF (TXUE) with Chuck Jaffe of Money Life. The pair discussed several topics related to the fund to give investors a deeper understanding of the ETF overall.
Warren Buffett and the Berkshire Hathaway Paradox
The shareholder meeting began to be streamed about ten years ago, but that has had no impact on attendance. This is one reason why I think Buffett is at peace with the idea of no longer presiding at the meeting – people will still come to Omaha the weekend before Mother’s Day.
A 401(k) in Every Pot? The Glidepath to Nowhere
Don’t allow your middle-aged clients depending on their 401(k) plan to fool themselves. Markets can’t rescue a failure to save until it hurts. And don’t let them kid themselves that a smoother ride with bonds won’t come at the cost of increased shortfall risk.
Corporate Stock Buybacks – Do They Affect Markets?
Fisher Investments recently wrote an interesting article asking whether corporate stock buybacks affect markets.
S&P 500 Notches Weekly Gain on Big Tech Strength, Trade Optimism
US stocks delivered their second-best weekly gain of the year on Friday, as Big Tech fueled a rally that brought the S&P 500 Index closer to an all-time high set nearly three months ago.
Nvidia Opens AI Ecosystem to Rival Chipmakers to Aid Global Push
Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang outlined plans to let customers deploy rivals’ chips in data centers built around its technology, a move that acknowledges the growth of in-house semiconductor development by major clients from Microsoft Corp. to Amazon.com Inc.
Quantum Computing Could Be the Future of Drug Development
One of the first and most promising uses scientists envision for the rapidly evolving technology of quantum computing is a new approach to drug development.
The Future of the GSEs: Do No Harm
A rushed exit from conservatorship could increase mortgage rates and worsen home affordability.
As U.S. Stocks Recover YTD Losses, Look to Active Strategies
While equities are on their way to recovering January 1 levels, enhanced volatility lends itself to active ETF strategies this year.
India Is Hot Trade Again as Funds Chase Trump-Era Winners
Global funds are pouring money back into India, driving billion-dollar corporate financing deals and sending stocks prices to near a seven-month high, as investors bet that Asia’s third-largest economy can emerge as a winner in President Donald Trump’s trade war.
Buffett’s Berkshire Sat Out Market Drop, Trimmed Bank Stocks
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. made no major purchases during the market slump that preceded President Donald Trump’s trade war, instead whittling or selling off holdings in financial stocks during the first quarter.
Wall Street’s High-Frequency Traders Are Rushing Into Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is ramping up efforts to lure high frequency trading firms — a campaign that’s already brought in major players from Citadel Securities to Hudson River Trading — as it looks to bolster activity on the Middle East’s largest stock market.
The Extreme Risk of High Valuation: The Truth About the S&P 500’s Valuation (Part 2)
In this video – Part 2 – Extreme Risk of High Valuation – Chuck Carnevale, Co-Founder of FAST Graphs, aka Mr. Valuation discusses the volatility of the stock market, using the S&P 500 (SPY) as a proxy.
Is the Coast Clear Yet?
By the end of April, the S&P 500 rallied its way back, recovering nearly all the declines notched in the opening days of the month when President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff plans tipped markets towards bear territory.
A $12 Billion Window Into AI’s Race for Power
The artificial intelligence arms race has prompted a contest for America’s power plants.
The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq Since 2000 Highs as of April 2025
Here is a look at real (inflation-adjusted) charts of the S&P 500, Dow 30, and Nasdaq composite since their 2000 highs. We've updated this through the April 2025 close.
The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq Since Their 2000 Highs as of April 2025
Explore the performance journey of the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones since their peaks in 2000. This video analyzes how these key U.S. stock market indexes have navigated over two decades of economic shifts and technological change, revealing their distinct paths through April 2025.
4 Common Myths of Website User Experience
To help exemplify the importance of UX, I’m breaking down a few of the most common UX myths, along with the top recommendations to avoid the pitfalls associated with them.
Buying the Dip Still Works — Even in This New World
Retail investors have won again. When trade tensions flared in early April and about $6.6 trillion in market value vanished from US stocks in just two business days – the fifth-worst two-day drop since the S&P 500’s creation in 1957 – they didn’t panic.
A Bear Market Rally? Or, Just A Correction?
Assessing a bear market rally proves challenging when you experience it firsthand. It is only in hindsight that the complete picture reveals itself to investors. Of course, after a bear market rally, investors tend to review their investments and speculate on what they should have done differently.
Indicators Flashing Green for Agency MBS
In the report, Portfolio Managers John Kerschner, Nick Childs, and Thomas Polus highlight three reasons why agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) look attractive in the present environment.
Dissecting the Stock Market: The Truth About the S&P 500’s Valuation (Part 1)
In this video, Chuck Carnevale, Co-Founder of FAST Graphs, aka Mr. Valuation discusses the volatility of the stock market, the truth about the S&P 500’s valuation, using the S&P 500 (SPY) as a proxy.
Commonwealth Partners with Messina College, Creating Career Paths for First-Generation College Students
Commonwealth Financial Network®, a national RIA dedicated to providing financial advisors with holistic, integrated business solutions, has initiated a new partnership with Messina College, a two-year, all-residential degree program of Boston College that welcomed its first-ever class of students to the school’s Brookline Campus last summer.
Arro’s Alexandra Levis: How ETF Issuers Can Stand Out
Alexandra Levis, Founder & CEO of Arro Financial Communications, provides an in-depth look at how ETF issuers should think about approaching marketing. VettaFi’s Roxanna Islam breaks down some of the year’s top-performing ETFs, from international plays to precious metals.
Why Tariffs Won’t Bring Back the “Good Old Days”
While the U.S. and U.K. have different economic and regulatory landscapes, there are clear opportunities for the U.S. to improve retirement readiness by adopting some best practices from across the pond.
US Firm Global AI Secures Saudi Investment Worth Billions
Global AI, a US tech firm, plans to collaborate with a Saudi Arabian artificial intelligence venture, Humain, in an agreement expected to be worth billions of dollars, according to a person familiar with the mattter.
Three Takeaways From Earnings Season
The roller coaster continues! A stronger than expected first quarter earnings season and encouraging signs on the trade front—highlighted by the US-UK trade deal—helped lift the S&P 500 from its April 8 near-bear market lows, reversing nearly all post-Liberation Day (April 2) losses.
Basel III Makes It Official: Gold Is Money Again
For my entire decades-long career in capital markets, I’ve made the case that gold is not just a shiny relic of the past, but a serious, strategic asset for modern investors. After years of pounding the table, it feels pretty good to say that the world’s central banks—and now the U.S. banking system—are finally catching up.
Current Thoughts on Tesla
Today Tesla is not trading based on car sales but on future dreams of self-driving robo-taxis, robots, semis, and whatever else Elon dreams up. The car company may be worth $100 billion to $180 billion; the rest is what investors are willing to pay for Elon’s dreams.
Note to Feds: Don’t Destroy Google
For most of human history, an enchanted box that contained all knowledge and answered all questions would’ve been the stuff of allegory. For modern internet users, Google is one more thing to take for granted.
US, China to Slash Tariffs During 90-Day Reprieve for Talks
The US and China will temporarily lower tariffs on each other’s products in a dramatic ratcheting down of trade tensions that buys the world’s two largest economies three months to work toward a broader agreement.
‘Buy America’ Sweeps Across Global Markets After Trade Talks
With Wall Street kicking off another rally, American stocks are now trading like Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” shock never happened.
Buffett Steps Back, His Insights Remain
Warren Buffett opened his 60th—and final as CEO—Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting with the same understated clarity that has defined his career: "This is my 60th annual meeting... I think it'll be the best yet."
Barometer: Equities Set for Further Falls as Tariffs Bite
As the effects of US import tariffs begin to emerge, we shift our stance on equities to underweight.
The Advisor’s Guide to Communicating With Gen Z & Millennial Clients
Financial advisors will be working with millennials and Gen Z, either as new clients or as family members of existing ones.
Traders’ Guide to US Stocks Most Affected in China Trade Talks
US equity investors will be watching closely as trade talks kick off between the Trump administration and China, with trillions of dollars hanging in the balance for American companies.
Alphabet Shares Take $115 Billion Blow as Search Warnings Blare
For more than a year, Alphabet Inc. shareholders have fretted over long-term risks posed by artificial intelligence to the company’s money-printing search business. This week the threat became much more immediate.
Tech Industry Warns US Investment Pledges Hinge on Research Tax Break
Major tech companies lobbying to salvage a tax deduction for research and development are warning they may pull back from high-profile pledges of new US investments if Congress doesn’t fully reinstate the break.
US Stocks Rise at Open as Investors Look Ahead to China Talks
US stocks opened higher Friday as traders weighed comments from President Donald Trump suggesting that an 80% tariff on China seemed right, just as negotiations between the two countries are set to begin on Saturday.
Wall Street Brings the Bitcoin-Versus-Gold Clash to ETF Masses
The culture clash between Bitcoin enthusiasts and gold bugs is about to be played out in the world of exchange-traded funds.
US Unveils Plans to Fast-Track Deals as Trump Eyes Mideast Funds
The US said it’s developing a fast-track process for screening foreign investments in the US, an effort Trump administration officials expect could smooth the way for billions from wealth funds in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Dividend Hikes Offer Optimism Amid Tariff Turmoil
S&P 500® earnings per share estimates have come down sharply. According to FactSet, calendar year 2025 is now expected to show $266 in operating EPS for the Index.
US Stocks Advance as Trump Touts Trade Agreement With UK
US stocks climbed at the open Thursday as investors welcomed news of a trade agreement between the US and the UK — a widely anticipated development that some traders say could serve as a blueprint for broader global negotiations
Apple’s Wandering Eye Is Good for Everyone But Google
In technology, disruption can happen slowly and then all at once. Alphabet Inc.’s Google unit is praying for the former right now.
Tactical Rules Move to Neutral
Currently, the Three Tactical Rules are a “flashing yellow light” - a roughly neutral rating which represents a slight downgrade.
Tariff Risks Reshape Manager Positioning
After entering the year with a cautious outlook, managers have become more defensively postured as the U.S. tariff policy has increased uncertainty.
Is US Exceptionalism Over for Equity Investors?
Over years, the US cemented its position as an exceptional source of earnings growth that fueled outsize equity returns. Many investors are now questioning whether the US will retain its advantages as President Trump’s trade policies add uncertainty to the outlook across industries.
Moving Averages of the Ivy Portfolio and S&P 500: April 2025
This video provides an update on the monthly moving averages we track for the S&P 500 and the Ivy Portfolio after the close of the last business day of the month.
Moving Averages of the Ivy Portfolio and S&P 500: April 2025
Valid until the market close on May 31, 2025
This article provides an update on the monthly moving averages we track for the S&P 500 and the Ivy Portfolio after the close of the last business day of the month.
Take the Guesswork Out of Marketing: Use Metrics to Drive Real Results
Tracking marketing metrics isn’t about labeling efforts as a success or failure — it’s about identifying opportunities to tweak and improve what’s already working. By understanding the data, you can make informed decisions that enhance your outreach and client engagement.
US Stocks Rise on China Trade Talk Hopes Ahead of Fed Decision
US stocks jumped at the open Wednesday as investors were encouraged by news that the US and China are set to start trade talks this weekend, even as traders awaited the Federal Reserve policy decision later in the day.
OpenAI Can't Have Its Money Both Ways
Sam Altman’s reputation for spin was out in full force this week in a published “letter to employees” announcing that he was abandoning plans to turn OpenAI into a for-profit company. Instead, it will “continue to be overseen and controlled” by its nonprofit board.
Welcome the Driverless Trucks
It was a glimpse of a very appealing future: A sleek 18-wheeler powered by Aurora Innovation Inc. trundled down Interstate 45 from Dallas to Houston last week with a trailer full of goods and a completely empty cab. At long last, autonomous trucking may have arrived.
International Investing: A New Paradigm?
So what has caused such a surge in international returns versus the U.S. so far this year? Is it just short-term noise, reversion to the mean, or something more systematic? If the last few months were purely short-term noise, we will soon know, as U.S. stocks will resume dominance.
Microsoft Is Key Holdout for OpenAI Restructuring Plan
After months of public pressure, OpenAI walked back part of its effort to create a more conventional for-profit company, but its restructuring plans still have not received the blessing of a major stakeholder: Microsoft Corp.
Ongoing Policy Uncertainty Keeps Markets Uneasy
Markets clawed back early losses in April, but one thing has become clear – policy uncertainty and risk isn’t fading, it’s spreading.
Big Tech Breathes Life into Q1 Earnings
Results from some of the Magnificent 7 names last week reignited the AI trade. Both Meta and Microsoft reported after-the-bell on Wednesday, blowing past analyst estimates
Warren Buffett’s Favorite Valuation Indicator Flashes Buy Signal
A key valuation metric touted by legendary investor Warren Buffett is signaling that equities are relatively cheap, bolstering the case that the sizzling rebound in US stocks has room to run.
U.S. Ports Face Massive Slowdowns as Trump Tariffs Bite Hard
If you’ve been inside a Walmart, Target or Home Depot in the past week, you may not realize that a trade war is underway between the U.S. and China, the world’s two largest economies. Store shelves are well stocked, and prices have largely held steady.
Buffett's Legacy Includes Support of Index Investing
Warren Buffett is retiring, but his investment advice is likely to carry weight for years to come.
Warren Buffett Caps a Career Built on Humility
Warren Buffett is stepping down as chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the company he built alongside his later partner Charlie Munger for the past six decades.
AI Spending Is the Only Certainty in Silicon Valley Right Now
Ahead of this quarter’s crop of tech earnings, I predicted companies would be reluctant to offer much in the way of forward guidance given the almost Covid-like upheaval of the global economy thanks to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. I was half right: There was some guidance — though it arrived with a large asterisk.
Buffett Hands Successor a Giant Cash Pile and Many Questions
Warren Buffett picked the final minute of his 60th shareholder meeting to drop a long-awaited announcement that was still completely surprising for his fans, most of his board and even his successor.
The Awards You Never Get When Investing
In investing, success is often judged by numbers—returns on investment, percentage gains, and the ability to outperform benchmarks like the S&P 500. However, some investors frequently pursue a peculiar set of “awards” without realizing the pitfalls they embody.
QuantStreet May 2025 Letter: Negotiations
While the S&P 500 index was almost unchanged in April, the dollar remained extremely weak, ending the month down over 4%.