News & Insights
Visual Capitalist: How Government Debt Has Diverged Across Major Economies (2005-2025)
How Government Debt Has Shifted Across Major Economies Over the past 20 years, government debt levels have moved in dramatically different directions across the world. While some countries have accumulated record levels of debt, others have managed to keep borrowing under control—or even reduce it altogether. According to data from the International Monetary Fund’s 2025 […]
John Hancock: Weekly Market Recap Week Ended May 8
Earnings juggernaut Profits continued to improve as earnings season entered its final stretch, with analysts now expecting the strongest growth rate since the fourth quarter of 2021. First-quarter net income is expected to rise an average of 27.7% for companies in the S&P 500, based on reports already released as of Friday and forecasts for […]
LPL: Paper vs. Physical
Paper vs. Physical: What Tighter Oil Supplies Could Mean for Investors Global oil markets are facing renewed pressure as disruptions in the Middle East tighten physical crude supplies and reshape investor expectations. While financial markets have largely focused on oil futures prices, a deeper issue is unfolding behind the scenes — a growing disconnect between […]
Visual Capitalist: Central Banks Buying And Selling Gold in 2026
Central Banks Shift Gold Strategies in 2026 Amid Global Uncertainty As geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty continue to shape global markets, central banks are taking noticeably different approaches to gold reserves in 2026. While several countries are aggressively increasing their gold holdings, others are reducing reserves to address financial and currency-related challenges. Gold has long […]
John Hancock: Weekly Market Recap Week Ended May 1
Bullish April U.S. stocks rebounded in a big way from their negative first-quarter results, with two indexes posting double-digit returns in April. The NASDAQ rose 15.3% to record its biggest monthly gain since April 2020, while the S&P 500’s 10.4% rise was that index’s biggest since November 2020. The Dow advanced 7.1% for its strongest […]
Federated Hermes: Musical Chairs At The Fed
Potential Leadership Changes at the Federal Reserve The Federal Reserve may soon face a significant leadership transition, with the current chair’s term nearing its expiration. A new nominee has already undergone the confirmation process, signaling a possible shift in direction for U.S. monetary policy. At the same time, recent developments surrounding investigations tied to Federal […]
Visual Capitalist: The $448B AI Spending Surge By Big Tech
Big Tech’s Massive Push Into AI Infrastructure Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept—it’s a present-day priority for the world’s largest technology companies. Over the past few years, major players like Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet (Google), Meta, and Oracle have dramatically increased their investments in AI-related infrastructure. Combined capital expenditures among these companies have surged […]
John Hancock: Weekly Markey Recap Week Ended April 24
Top-heavy earnings Approaching the midpoint of earnings season, a handful of U.S. mega-cap technology stocks are expected to continue generating a disproportionate share of overall earnings growth. Analysts expect the group of stocks known as the Magnificent Seven to post average first-quarter growth of 22.8%, according to FactSet. In contrast, the other 493 companies in […]
LPL: Long-Term Opportunities Always Present Themselves
Finding Opportunity in Volatile Markets: Why Long-Term Investors Stay Focused Market volatility can feel unsettling—but for experienced investors, it often signals something else: opportunity. Recent market swings, driven by geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices, have created uncertainty. The S&P 500, for example, pulled back from recent highs, reminding investors how quickly sentiment can shift. […]
Visual Capitalist: Who Owns America’s $39T Debt
Who Owns America’s $39 Trillion Debt—and Why It Matters The U.S. national debt has reached a staggering $39 trillion, raising an important question: Who actually owns this debt—and what does it mean for the economy? Understanding where this debt sits can provide valuable insight into financial markets, interest rates, and the long-term outlook for the […]