Recent Featured News Articles

Several underlying pressures are beginning to build across the stock market, even as some headlines focus on short-term moves.  One signal that something may be out of balance is stock valuations, which help determine whether stocks are undervalued or overvalued by comparing their market price to the related company’s profits. According to this measure—known as the price-to-earnings ratio—the market looks to be priced modestly above average.   Cash flow—the actual money companies generate after spending—tells a more concerning story.   Many large companies are pouring…

The global economy is under mounting pressure as oil prices surge in in the wake of the escalating Iranian conflict. Analysts warn that as the conflict drags on, deepening oil shortages could drive prices significantly higher, with some scenarios pointing toward prices as high as $200 per barrel. The impact of the surge is already being felt at the pump, where higher gasoline prices are cutting into monthly budgets and reducing consumer spending. 

The U.S. economy is in a fragile state as rising geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs begin to ripple through everyday life. Major financial institutions are steadily raising their expectations for a major downturn. Moody’s Analytics places the probability of a recession near 50% within the next year, while Goldman Sachs has lifted its estimate to around 30%, and firms like…

Fresh government data is reshaping the economic picture in early 2026, revealing a slower and more fragile backdrop than previously understood. Revised figures show that U.S. growth expanded at just a 0.7% annual rate in the final quarter of 2025, sharply lower than earlier estimates and a steep drop from prior momentum. At the same time, core…

Conflict around the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted one of the most important energy routes in the world, a waterway responsible for roughly one-fifth of global oil flows. Analysts warn that as much as 20 million barrels of daily supply have already been affected, pushing oil prices sharply higher and raising the possibility that crude could approach $150 per…

A fast-growing corner of the financial system came under scrutiny last week after consumers rushed to pull money from several large private credit funds. Firms, including Blackstone and Blue Owl Capital, faced billions of dollars in withdrawal requests from clients seeking to redeem shares in funds that make loans directly to companies. While the firms largely met those requests, the withdrawal surge raised new questions…

For much of the past three years, the stock market has told a story of momentum and technological promise. But beneath the surface, the broader economy is losing steam. U.S. gross domestic product, the government’s broadest measure of output, slowed to a 1.4% annualized pace in the fourth quarter of 2025, down sharply from 4.4% the prior…

America’s fiscal math is getting harder to ignore. Newly released data from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects a $1.85 trillion deficit for the federal government this fiscal year. The CBO further projects annual shortfalls climbing above $3 trillion within a decade. Debt held by the public is set to move past 100% of gross domestic product this year and continue rising. Interest payments alone are expected to absorb more than a…

A mix of fiscal strain, shifting monetary policy, and geopolitical tension is reinforcing the case for higher gold prices over the long term. The U.S. budget deficit is projected to remain near historic highs, with the Congressional Budget Office forecasting it will exceed $3 trillion annually by 2036. Interest costs on federal debt are set to consume a record…

With the U.S. federal debt now roughly equal to the size of the U.S. economy, Washington is carrying an increasingly colossal burden. Large deficits have helped sustain activity, but they have also left the government with less room to respond to shocks. Rising interest costs are consuming a growing share of federal revenue, reducing the government’s ability to address…

Warning signs are stacking up across the U.S. economy. Consumer confidence has dropped to its lowest level in more than a decade, reflecting rising concern about job security, stubbornly high prices, and shrinking financial cushions.   While top-line data such as employment and growth remain positive, the benefits are uneven. Higher-income households continue to spend, but lower-…

Global markets flashed a warning signal last week as a “sell America” wave hit U.S. stocks, Treasuries, and the dollar at the same time. The flare-up followed renewed tariff threats tied to the White House’s push to acquire Greenland, sparking a broad risk-off move across global trading desks. The U.S. Dollar Index dropped while Treasuries sold off, and major U.S. indexes slid…