In the months leading up to the presidential election, and now almost one year into President Trump’s term, there has been a great deal of ongoing speculation about how this President and Congress might influence the financial markets. In particular, and top of mind for many market participants, is the degree to which potential tax … Continued
Since 1982, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has held an annual economic policy symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This event, typically in late August, is closely watched by the markets in search of guidance about future changes in interest rate policy. Given the Fed’s recent track record of raising rates slowly, but lowering … Continued
Investors have had a lot to be excited about thus far in 2017. With stocks reaching new all-time highs and longer-term interest rates trending lower, every asset class, with the exception of commodities, has delivered a positive return. However, two important markets – the U.S. stock market and the U.S. bond market – have begun … Continued
As we reflect on the last eight years, various stages of the economic and market recovery have unfolded like chapters in a book. Many parts have told a predictable tale and, at various times, we have been left wondering if there would be an unpredictable twist or a surprise ending. While the story may be … Continued
With another year in the history books and equity markets off to a strong start in 2017, we can’t help but reflect on the Federal Reserve’s role in this elongated period of appreciation in the stock market. Recently, the improvement in the economic outlook has resulted in the Fed initiating a tightening cycle which has … Continued
Recently a client asked about the short rebate and whether it was to blame for disappointing hedge fund performance. We thought we would write about it here in case there were others with the same question. What is the short rebate? When a hedge fund shorts a security it must first borrow it. In order … Continued
Forecasting in 2016 was a tough business to be in given the wild year politically, the meaningful jump in interest rates – and rising geopolitical uncertainty broadly. It is hard to imagine the U.K. decision to leave the European Union or the U.S. election outcome making the world a more predictable place, yet each of … Continued
In a year characterized by the unexpected, maintaining a disciplined approach to managing your portfolio was our primary objective. During the unsettled economic environment that existed during the first half of the year, we used market volatility to rebalance your portfolio into the extreme sentiment we observed. In the second half, given the noteworthy risk … Continued
When companies have excess cash on their balance sheet, they have a few buckets they can allocate towards. However as it relates to sharing that cash with stockholders, it all comes down to buybacks and dividends. Whereas companies have long returned cash to shareholders, momentum shifted earlier this decade towards share repurchases with corporate America … Continued
The unexpected victory of Donald Trump has been a reminder of the growing dissatisfaction many Americans have with the political establishment of this country. Even though we can look to history, which tells us elections and presidents don’t typically have a lasting impact on financial markets, many are questioning whether it will be different this … Continued