The Blog

Retail sales rose +0.8% month-over-month, exceeding expectations for a +0.3% gain, with August's increase also revised higher to +1.3%.

As the bull market enters its fifth year, the shift in investor sentiment over this period is an important reminder that market and economic conditions can turn around when they’re least expected.

The third quarter combined solid economic and corporate fundamentals with renewed pressure from oil and interest rates.

Business investment remained strong in Q2, with continued spending on computing equipment, software, and other intellectual property.

The Fed raised its benchmark rate by +0.25% to a range of 3.75%–4.00%, its first rate hike since 2023.

As an asset class, commodities have not only outperformed this year, but have also supported other areas of the market such as U.S. stocks.

The 10-year Treasury yield climbed above 4.90% this week, its highest level since October 2023, while the 30-year moved above 5.3%.

Equity markets traded higher in August, with strength extending across most broad stock market indexes.