LPL: Midterm Elections
What Midterm Election Years Have Historically Meant for Investors Election years often bring increased attention to Washington, but for investors, market history may be more important than political headlines. Midterm election years have historically introduced more uncertainty into the financial markets. Debates over government spending, fiscal policy, and regulatory priorities can create short-term volatility as […]
Visual Capitalist: Where America Produces Natural Gas
Where America’s Natural Gas Is Produced—and Why It Matters Natural gas plays a vital role in powering homes, businesses, and industries across the United States. While production occurs in many states, a relatively small number of regions account for the majority of the nation’s natural gas output. Texas remains the country’s largest natural gas […]
John Hancock: Weekly Market Recap Week Ended July 24
Energy shocks Escalation in the Middle East conflict and further shipping disruptions in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea lifted oil prices. U.S. crude was trading around $90 per barrel on Friday afternoon, up from roughly $82 at the end of the previous week and $69 as recently as early July. Earnings upgrade Earnings […]
Visual Capitalist: Silver vs. Gold Annual Returns During Downturns
Gold vs. Silver: Understanding How Precious Metals Perform During Market Downturns When markets become volatile, many investors turn to precious metals as a way to diversify their portfolios. While gold and silver are […]
First Trust: Warsh Has The Fed Right Where He Wants It
Fed Policy Outlook: Why Patience May Be the Strategy The Federal Reserve enters its next policy meeting facing mixed economic signals and continued uncertainty surrounding inflation and interest rates. While some investors are anticipating rate cuts, others believe the central bank may hold steady—or even leave the door open for future increases if inflation proves […]
Visual Capitalist: America’s Largest Private Companies By Revenue
America’s Largest Private Companies Continue to Shape the U.S. Economy While publicly traded companies often dominate financial headlines, many of America’s most influential businesses remain privately owned. These organizations generate billions of dollars in annual revenue, employ hundreds of thousands of people, and play a critical role in industries ranging from agriculture and food production […]
LPL: What AI’s Next Act Might Look Like
What’s Next for Artificial Intelligence? Investors Shift Focus from Spending to Results Artificial intelligence (AI) has been one of the biggest forces driving the stock market in recent years, and it continues to influence investment trends in 2026. However, the conversation is beginning to change. Rather than focusing solely on how much companies are investing […]
Visual Capitalist: The States Driving Americas Economic Growth
Which States Are Leading U.S. Economic Growth? Economic growth across the United States remained positive in 2025, but not all states expanded at the same pace. While the national economy grew by 2.1% after adjusting for inflation, some states significantly outperformed the average, highlighting where business activity, population growth, and investment continue to gain momentum. […]
John Hancock: Weekly Market Recap Week Ended July 10
Earnings build-up Wall Street analysts modestly boosted their expectations as major U.S. banks prepared to open quarterly earnings season. As of Friday, analysts surveyed by FactSet were forecasting an average second-quarter earnings growth rate of 23.6% for companies in the S&P 500, up from a 23.3% forecast a week earlier. Either outcome would mark the […]
John Hancock: 2026 Global Macroeconomic Outlook
Global Economy Faces Geopolitical Challenges in the Second Half of 2026 As we move into the second half of 2026, investors continue to navigate an economic landscape shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, inflation concerns, and evolving central bank policies. While the conflict in the Middle East remains an important factor influencing global markets, many major economies […]