Market Trends & Outlook

Rate Hikes: The Fed Won’t Hike Nearly As Much As Expected

Currently, with inflation pushing more than 7%, the highest level in decades, it is not surprising to see the market "pricing in" a more aggressive rate-hiking campaign by the Federal Reserve. As shown via the Daily Shot, the markets expect a certainty of 4-rate hikes in 2022.

The Bubble Was In ARKK’s Arc, Not Value Stocks

It’s easy to sympathize with Cathie Wood’s plaintive cry that value stocks look like a bubble. As long-time energy investors, we’ve watched awestruck as the ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) traced out its stratospheric path for both performance and AUM. “Bubble” was a wholly inadequate sobriquet (see ARKK’s Investors Have In Aggregate Lost Money).

Consumer Spending Decline Makes A Recession More Likely

“How are you feeling?”  That’s often the way we greet people these days.  As the Omicron variant becomes widespread, negatively impacting most Americans’ lives. 

Consumer Spending Decline Makes A Recession More Likely

“How are you feeling?”  That’s often the way we greet people these days.  As the Omicron variant becomes widespread, negatively impacting most Americans’ lives. 

“Passive ETFs” Are Hiding The Bear Market

Passive ETFs are hiding a bear market in stocks. That may sound like a strange statement when you look at major stock market indexes hovering near all-time highs. However, much like an iceberg, what we see on the surface hides much of what lies beneath.

“Passive ETFs” Are Hiding The Bear Market

Passive ETFs are hiding a bear market in stocks. That may sound like a strange statement when you look at major stock market indexes hovering near all-time highs. However, much like an iceberg, what we see on the surface hides much of what lies beneath.

Speculative Mania – Was 2021 The Peak?

"Speculative" is a word that aptly sums up the year 2021. The question that remains, however, is whether we have seen the peak in that speculative behavior, or will 2022 continue the trend?

Speculative Mania – Was 2021 The Peak?

"Speculative" is a word that aptly sums up the year 2021. The question that remains, however, is whether we have seen the peak in that speculative behavior, or will 2022 continue the trend?

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The Fed’s Dilemma: Why Rate Cuts Could Trigger a “Crack-Up Boom”

The crack-up boom happens when everyone tries to get out of a losing currency and into “hard assets” like gold, real estate, and other real things.

Rate Cut Hype Fuels Growth: August 2025 HANDLS Monthly Report

Suffice to say, all of this reinforces a timeless investing principle: diversification pays off over the long haul.

How Leading Consumer Brands Have Emerged Stronger Since 2019

The last five years have been among the most intense stress tests in modern business history.

The Market’s “Lost” Moment: How Many Seasons Can This Rally Run?

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?