FIBR News and Press, iShares U.S. Fixed Income Balanced Risk Factor ETF From 07/18/19

By Kevin Flanagan Throughout my travels, one overarching question people ask me is, Why is the Federal Reserve (Fed) so intent on cutting rates? It's a great question, don't you think? I mean, let's put it in some perspective. If I were to say to you that the unemployment rate is essential...

Originally Published July 15, 2019 By Kristina Hooper, Chief Global Market Strategist Weekly Market Compass: Some want the Federal Reserve to cut 50 basis points, but I believe 25 basis points is a better target There is a famous Rolling Stones song that provides ...

"No thief, however skillful, can rob one of knowledge, and that is why knowledge is the best and safest treasure to acquire." - L. Frank Baum, The Lost Princess of Oz When something does not make sense, then you have to dive into your barrel of knowledge to make sense of it. Greece is abou...

By James L. Caton Much drama has surrounded the Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell in recent months. Some leading indicators may be signalling a coming recession. In particular, a deepening inversion of the yield curve is cause for concern. Pressure is mounting from President Trump...

The data is improving and that should be a good thing. I've variously argued (both on this platform and on my site) that the most important takeaway from last week was also the simplest. US equities hit new highs even has bond yields rose. Here's a simple chart I used in my traditional Su...

By Robert Eisenbeis, Ph.D. Ohio State's Woody Hayes used to say that his problem with the forward pass was that "Three things can happen, and two of them are bad." Well, after Chairman Powell's testimony last week, the FOMC may find itself in a similar position, only maybe worse. The Commi...

The market is now at record highs, and unemployment is way down. Even so, a U.S. rate cut is expected as early as this week. During his congressional testimony last week, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell raised concerns over slower global growth and trade tensions, which in turn have con...

There are growing signs that the global economic slowdown is for real. As was the case in 1929, the combination of the peak of the credit cycle coupled with trade protectionism in the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act are similar conditions to those of today and potentially pose a serious economic chall...

The interest rate outlook has swung sharply since November 2018, with mainstream expectations now a full percentage point lower than they had been. For short-term interest rates (Federal Funds), the Wall Street Journal 's latest survey of economists shows average expectations of just two pe...

I said my peace on what I consider to be the big market stories last week, so I won’t belabour bonds and equities too much this week. FX markets, however, could well be the driver of the NarrativeTM in the next few months, at least judging by the rustling of the grapevine. This story ...