Economic Insights

Don’t Fight the Fed

Investors concerned about the prospect of future interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve may find it beneficial to review the historical performance of balanced portfolios during previous periods of rising interest rates.

Don’t Fight the Fed

Investors concerned about the prospect of future interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve may find it beneficial to review the historical performance of balanced portfolios during previous periods of rising interest rates.

Goldman Sachs Destroys An Investing Myth?

Did Goldman Sachs destroy a persistent myth about investing in stocks? Sam Ro recently suggested such was the case for the “sacred CAPE ratio.”

Bailouts and the Demise Of Capitalism and Free Markets

Bailouts are the root cause of the dysfunction of capitalism and the demise of free markets.

Recession Risk: Rising Rapidly (Or, Could We Be In One Already?)

Recession risk is rising rapidly. In fact, it is possible that we may already be in one.

Oil Spikes And Economic Outcomes

Oil spikes have historically negatively impacted economic outcomes. As the chart below shows, oil spikes typically are short-lived due to some exogenous geopolitical event. However, as was the case from 2003-2008, fundamental concerns, in this case, the fear of "peak oil," can lead to more extended periods of higher prices.

Finding Opportunities in a Volatile 2022

Volatility has plagued the markets so far in 2022 as steadfast inflation at almost 8% (a 40 year high), geopolitical strife from the Russia-Ukraine war, commodity price appreciation from agricultural products to industrial metals (because of inflationary pricing and geopolitical sanction hurting supply), and the Federal Reserve’s quantitative tightening agenda (to tame inflation) have been risk-on trades for markets, highlighting macroeconomic uncertainty and projecting a possible slowdown in GDP growth globally.

The Future of Platinum-Group Elements after Russia’s War in Ukraine

It is common knowledge that Russia is a major exporter of oil and natural gas. Just the fear of disruption of Russian energy exports has sent oil and natural gas markets into a tizzy. Russia, however, is not just a Slavic Saudi Arabia.

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For months, investors have been scaling what feels like an endless wall of worry. Each concern that gets resolved seems to spawn new uncertainties, yet the market has continued its relentless climb higher.

Can Markets Keep Their Cool? July 2025 HANDLS Monthly Report

Politics Trumps the Numbers, Can Markets Keep Their Cool?

The Calm Before the Storm: A Volatility Pro’s Reflection on Markets at All-Time Highs

We’ve lived this movie before. Last August, AAII bullish sentiment struck a 52-week high right before the Fed launched its September rate cutting cycle.

The Ripple Effect: How Smart Money Uses the VIX to Beat Market Panic

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