News & Insights
John Hancock: Weekly Market Recap Week Ended August 14
Moderating inflation Two reports reflected elevated but modestly easing inflationary pressures at the consumer and wholesale levels. The Consumer Price Index held steady at a 3.4% annual rate in July, slightly below June’s 3.5% figure. A subsequent report on producer prices showed inflation was little changed in July relative to the previous month. Robust […]
Visual Capitalist: Europe Was Once Bigger Than The U.S. Economy. What Happened?
The Growing Economic Gap Between the U.S. and Europe Over the past two decades, the economic paths of the United States and Europe have increasingly diverged. While both remain among the most important economic regions in the world, the U.S. has expanded at a considerably faster pace when measured by nominal gross domestic product (GDP). […]
John Hancock: Weekly Market Recap Week Ended August 7
Earnings juggernaut Profits continued to improve as earnings season entered its final stretch, with analysts now expecting the strongest growth rate since the second quarter of 2021. Second-quarter net income is expected to rise an average of 50.4% for companies in the S&P 500, based on reports already released as of Friday and forecasts for […]
PGIM: 2026 Mid-Year Market Outlook
Market Outlook: Key Themes Investors Are Watching in the Year Ahead Financial markets continue to navigate a complex environment shaped by evolving economic conditions, technological innovation, and global events. While uncertainty remains, investors may find opportunities by focusing on diversification, quality investments, and long-term strategies rather than reacting to short-term market swings. One of the […]
Visual Capitalist: America’s Fastest-Aging States
Which U.S. States Are Aging the Fastest? A Look at America’s Demographic Shift As the Baby Boomer generation continues to move into retirement, the age profile of the United States is changing rapidly. While every state is experiencing an increase in older residents, some are seeing much faster growth in their senior populations than others. […]
John Hancock: Weekly Market Recap Week Ended July 31
Earnings surge Earnings forecasts were sharply raised as the largest technology companies reported quarterly results and nearly two-thirds of S&P 500 companies had released their second-quarter numbers. As of Friday, analysts projected that earnings for S&P 500 companies rose an average 47.4% in the second quarter, up from a 38.0% forecast at the end of […]
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 […]