Government Policy

Understand how policy decisions coming out of Washington may impact financial markets and your investments.

Congress Averts Government Shutdown

A surprising last-minute deal on Capitol Hill averted a government shutdown—for now. But lawmakers face a new mid-November deadline that will be just as tricky to navigate.

Bonds Shine with Fed's "Higher for Longer" Call

The Fed has indicated higher rates for longer, and that's good news for bond investors. What's the strategy to take advantage of what may be a once-in-a-generation opportunity?

Will Rising Federal Debt Slow Economic Growth?

Over the past 70 years, rising government debt generally has been accompanied by weaker economic activity. But it's not a simple relationship.

Unscrambling the Economy’s Mixed Messages

A barrage of conflicting economic data is keeping the investing horizon cloudy. What are market experts focusing on, why does it matter, and does it apply to your portfolio?

Fitch Downgrades U.S. Credit Rating

The surprise move takes the rating to AA+ from AAA.

Divergence: Rate Cuts, Pauses, and Hikes

Central bank policies are set to diverge from the steady hikes characterizing the first half of 2023, contributing to increased market volatility for the remainder of the year.

Artificial Intelligence: Investor Considerations

Artificial intelligence is all the buzz with investors. But how do you evaluate AI companies, and what are the intrinsic risks?

Artificial Intelligence: The Power and the Perils

The AI genie isn’t going back in the bottle, so how do individuals, companies, and governments harness its power while mitigating inherent risks?

Boring Can Be Beautiful: The Case for Bonds

After a disastrous 2022, things are looking up for bonds in 2023. Is now the time to put bonds back in your portfolio, and what should you consider before you start buying?

2023 Mid-Year Outlook: Corporate Bonds

We expect generally good performance during the second half of the year, although volatility may increase, especially for high-yield bonds.