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Markets in a Minute: Is the Banking System at Risk?
On March 10, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporate (FDIC) officially took over Silicon Valley Bank in order to protect depositors, marking a remarkably swift end to a bank that had been in business for four decades. Then on March 12,...
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Weekly Market Insights: Markets Cautious After Banking Woes; Awaiting Fed Reaction
Amid the reverberations of two U.S. banks being taken over by regulators and the spread of uncertainty to European banks, stocks trended higher last week on the strength of the technology sector.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was...
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Weekly Market Insights: Bad News Gives Markets a One-Two Punch
Stocks tumbled last week as investors reconsidered their interest rate expectations after Fed Chair Powell’s Congressional testimony that rates may need to go higher. Stocks also were rattled when a west coast bank was placed...
Read MoreMoney with Murphy: China’s Reopening
China is finally reopening after years of rolling lockdowns. What impact will this have on the global economy? Watch this week’s Money with Murphy to get Kara’s take.Watch Video >>
Read MoreMarkets in a Minute: Battle Royale- The Federal Reserve Versus Inflation
Two months into 2023, the Federal Reserve is still fighting inflation in the battle royale that began in early 2022. At various points throughout the battle, each combatant has appeared to gain the upper hand. Throughout the conflict,...
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Weekly Market Insights: Fed’s Reassurance Boosts Stocks.
A late-week surge, triggered by reassuring Fed-speak, propelled stocks higher last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.75%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced 1.90%. The Nasdaq Composite index picked up 2.58% for...
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Weekly Market Insights: FOMC Says Inflation is Still Too High
Concerns over a firmer monetary policy were heightened by fresh economic data, touching off a climb in bond yields and a slide in stock prices last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average skidded 2.99%, while the Standard & Poor’s...
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Weekly Market Insights: Mixed Results As Interest Rate Concerns Grow
Growing concerns about further interest rate hikes, prompted by fresh economic data, reversed early-week gains and left stocks mixed for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.13%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
Read MoreMoney with Murphy: Hard Landing, Soft Landing, or No Landing?
Our original outlook for this year was titled “landing in turbulence.” More recently, though, some have suggested that we are headed for no landing – simply continued economic growth. Kara parses apart what the...
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Weekly Market Insights: Mixed Feelings and Mixed Earnings
Stocks drifted lower as a week of mixed earnings reports and resurgent worries over Fed monetary policy dragged on investor sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.17%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined...
Read MoreMarkets in a Minute: Earnings Season
Markets in a Minute: Earnings SeasonWith the Federal Reserve slowing its interest rate increases and inflation slowing to a tolerable level, the question remains: what can companies earn in this softer economic environment? Now that we...
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Weekly Market Insights: Powell: Inflation Heading in the Right Direction
Stocks were mixed last week following better-than-expected corporate reports and increasing optimism over a slowdown in interest rates.The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged lower, slipping -0.15%. The Standard & Poor’s 500 rose...
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Weekly Market Insights: Earnings and Data Tell Two Different Stories on Near Future.
Stocks added to their early 2023 gains amid a busy stream of mixed corporate earnings results and conflicting economic data.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.81%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 2.47%. The Nasdaq...
Read MoreMoney with Murphy: Turbulence Ahead
The Fed appears to be winning the battle against inflation, but with the potential side effect of lower economic demand. Slower economic activity may cause companies to struggle to maintain earnings, but lower valuations may benefit...
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Weekly Market Insights: Mixed Results Following Weak Economic Data
Stocks showed mixed results last week as recession fears resurfaced in response to weak economic data and a tepid start to a new corporate earnings season. The Dow Jones Industrial Average skidded 2.70%, while the Standard &...
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Weekly Market Insights: Inflation Cools, Stocks Warm Up
Stocks rallied last week thanks to fresh confirmation of inflation’s cooling trend and growing optimism that an inflation slowdown may provide the Fed with space to ease up on future rate hikes.The Dow Jones Industrial Average...
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Weekly Market Insights: New Year's Rally in Reply to Positive Economic News
A strong Friday rally triggered by fresh signs of moderating inflation pushed stocks into positive territory to begin the new year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.46%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced 1.45%....
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Weekly Market Insights: Erratic Holiday Trading Leaves Stocks in Doldrums
In a holiday-shortened week, erratic trading left stocks marginally down for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.17%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 slipped 0.14%. The Nasdaq Composite index fell 0.30%. The MSCI...
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Weekly Market Insights: Recession Concerns, Fed Talk Keep Stocks Cold
Hawkish comments by the Fed and weak economic data heightened investors’ recession concerns and sent stocks lower last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.66%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 retreated 2.08%. The...
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Weekly Market Insights: Stocks Slide on Recession Concerns
Recession fears and concerns that the Fed may consider a longer rate-hike cycle sent stocks lower for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2.77%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 fell 3.37%. The Nasdaq Composite index...
Read MoreMoney with Murphy: Holiday Spending
After three years of COVID concerns and supply chain disruptions, Americans are finally eager to spend this holiday season. What does this say about the health of the US consumer – and the market? Learn more in this week’s...
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Weekly Market Insights: Easing on Rate Hikes and Job Numbers Cheer Markets
Stocks ended higher last week as investors navigated the crosscurrents of a potential easing in future rate hikes and continued strength in the labor market.The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.24% higher, while the Standard &...
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Weekly Market Insights: Fed Talks Turkey on Lower Rates, Boosting Markets
Growing optimism that the Fed may be ready to ease future interest rate hikes sent stocks higher in a quiet trading week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.78%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 1.53%. The Nasdaq...
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Weekly Market Insights: Markets Down Ahead of Thanksgiving Holiday
The stock market edged lower last week as it digested a crosscurrent of conflicting economic data and contrasting comments from Fed officials.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat (-0.01%), while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
Read MoreMarkets in a Minute: Inflation, Goldilocks, and the Fed
With lower-than-expected inflation in the month of October, we may all be wondering if there are brighter economic days ahead. Read more about the impact of inflation and Fed rate increases on the economy in this week’s Markets...
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Weekly Market Insights: Cooling Inflation Brings Market Gains
A cooling inflation number ignited a powerful rally on Thursday, sending stocks to strong gains for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 4.15%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 5.90%. The Nasdaq Composite index...
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Weekly Market Insights: Stocks Slip After Powell Comments
Hawkish comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell, following the announcement of another 75 basis points interest rate hike last week, cast a pall over financial markets, sending yields higher and stocks lower.The Dow Jones Industrial...
Read MoreMarkets in a Minute: Vegas, Baby: Investing vs. Gambling
Is investing in the stock market just like gambling in Las Vegas? While the answer to that question is a hard “no,” most investors don’t make the best of their investment odds. Read the latest Markets in a...
Read MoreMoney with Murphy: Third-Quarter Earnings Season
This quarter, 72% of companies reported earnings higher than analysts’ expectations – but this rate is actually below average for the past 5 and 10 years. Hear Kara’s thoughts on Q3 earnings reports in the latest...
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Weekly Market Insights: Wall Street Flips the Script & Enjoys a Rally.
A positive start to a new earnings season and late-week hopes for a near-term easing in Fed rate hikes lifted investors’ spirits and powered stocks to gains for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 4.89%, while the...
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Weekly Market Insights: Volatility Reigns; Inflation Remains Unchecked.
Stocks were mixed last week amid wide intra- and inter-day price swings, as technology shares bore the brunt of the downdraft.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.15% for the week. Meanwhile, the Standard & Poor’s 500...
Read MoreMoney with Murphy: Market Outlook Preview
Recent headlines have been grim with the S&P 500 down more than 20% so far this year, having recently touched new lows. The Bloomberg Aggregate bond index, while not down quite as much, has wiped out several years’ worth of gains...
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Weekly Market Insights: Boost Early in Week Keeps Markets Ahead
A powerful two-day stock rebound cemented a positive week for investors as a new trading month began.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.99%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 1.51%. The Nasdaq Composite index increased 0...
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Weekly Market Insights: U.S. and U.K. See Financial Turbulence
Rising recession fears and uncertainty in the bond and currency markets sent stocks to new 2022 lows last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 2.92%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 slumped 2.91%. The Nasdaq Composite...
Read MoreMoney with Murphy: Bond Market Volatility
With some of the highest levels of volatility in many decades, bonds are having an existential crisis. Can bonds still play a valuable role in a portfolio? Find out more with this week's Money with Murphy.Watch Video >>
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Weekly Market Insights: Fallout From Powell Comments Continues
Last week, Fed Chair Powell said the U.S. would not tame inflation without economic pain. This week heightened recession fears and sent stocks broadly lower.The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 4.00%, while the Standard &...
Read MoreMarkets in a Minute: Commodities & Housing
As the S&P 500’s bear market completes its ninth month, two areas of the economy have experienced rapid changes: commodity price spikes coupled with impending shortages and a housing boom that is quickly petering out. How serious...
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Weekly Market Insights: White Hot Inflation Report Alarms Investors
A hotter-than-expected inflation report sent stocks sharply lower last week as investors faced the prospect of more aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve for perhaps a longer period.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell...
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Weekly Market Insights: Markets Upbeat, Despite Gloomy Inflation Talk
In a holiday-shortened week of trading, stocks posted healthy gains despite more tough talk on monetary policy from Fed officials.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.66%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 gained 3.65%. The...
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Weekly Market Insights: Markets Sag, Job Numbers Soar
The overhang of Fed Chair Powell’s Jackson Hole speech the previous week carried over into last week as investors recalibrated stock valuations amid a seemingly more assertive monetary policy stance.The Dow Jones Industrial...
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Weekly Market Insights: Powell comments spur sell-off on Wall Street
A comprehensive sell-off on Friday following comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell drove stocks to losses for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 4.22%, while the Standard & Poor's 500 dropped 4.04%. The Nasdaq Composite...
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Weekly Market Insights: Markets Tap Brakes, But Hold Fast Against Downbeat News
Stocks tumbled on Friday, sending stocks to a weekly loss after an otherwise quiet August week of trading.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped -0.16%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 lost 1.21%. The Nasdaq Composite index...
Read MoreMarkets in a Minute: Will the Inflation Reduction Act Actually Reduce Inflation?
The Inflation Reduction Act about to pass the House has been heralded as a major legislative victory for the president and his party. But will it really matter for the economy or the markets? Read the latest Markets in a Minute to...
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Weekly Market Insights: Stocks Have Warmer Week as Inflation Cools
An improving inflation outlook buoyed investors’ spirits last week, helping lift stocks to solid gains.The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 2.92%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 3.26%. The Nasdaq Composite index...
Read MoreMoney with Murphey: Corporate Earnings
Last week we got word that the U.S. economy had contracted for the second quarter in a row. With a weaker economy, the next question is, what will happen to earnings? In this week’s Money with Murphy, I talk about corporate...
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Weekly Market Insights: Mixed Week For Markets; Jobs On The Rise
Stocks turned in a mixed performance last week as investors struggled with headlines suggesting that the Fed was unlikely to soon ease up on its current monetary tightening policy.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.13%, while...
Read MoreMarkets in a Minute: Recession? Does it Matter?
As economic growth cools and inflation heats up, we are hearing more about recessions. Let’s talk recession and what’s happening with the latest GDP report.Recession? Does it matter? Last week, the Bureau of Economic...
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Weekly Market Insights: Markets Rally; Earnings Better Than Expected
Undaunted by another Fed rate hike and news of a contracting economy, the stock market rallied last week on better-than-expected corporate earnings.The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 2.97%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
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Weekly Market Insights: Markets React to Dim Forecast, 2Q Reports
Stocks rallied last week as investor spirits lifted thanks to a better-than-expected start to the second-quarter earnings season.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.95%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 2.55%. The...
Read MoreUpcoming Webinars
Upcoming WebinarsQ2 Review and OutlookPlease join Kara Murphy, CIO, and the Kestra Investment Management team for a Q2 market review and outlook.Date: Wednesday, July 20Time: 4:00 p.m. CT / 5:00 p.m. ETREGISTER FOR WEBINARKIM Model...
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Weekly Market Insights: Friday Rally Stems Week of Losses
A record-high inflation report, the prospects of a more aggressive Fed, and growing recession fears sent stocks lower– though losses were pared by a Friday rally.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.16%, while the Standard...
Read MoreMoney with Murphy: Mid-Year Reflection
Money with Murphy: Mid-Year ReflectionOur 2022 theme of downshifting, or slowing of growth, is certainly coming to fruition as we close out the first half of the year. Watch the latest Money with Murphy for some insight into what we...
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Weekly Market Insights: Stocks Rally Despite Mixed Data
In a holiday-shortened trading week, stocks rallied despite mixed economic data and vacillating energy prices and bond yields.The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 0.77%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 1.94%. The...
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Weekly Market Insights: Stocks Rally, Despite Recession Concerns
Prospects of cooling inflation powered a rally in stock prices last week despite growing recession concerns.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 5.39%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 climbed 6.45%. The Nasdaq Composite index...
Read MoreMarkets in a Minute: What’s Next for the Housing Market?
Lofty prices and higher mortgage rates are beginning to shake the foundation of the single-family housing market. Are we headed for a 2008-style correction? Read the latest Markets in a Minute for our take on what’s next...
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Weekly Market Insights: Fed Rate Hike Triggers Market Dip
Stocks moved lower last week as recession fears deepened following a Fed hike in interest rates and weak economic data.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 4.79%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dropped 5.79%. The Nasdaq...
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Weekly Market Insights: Stocks Dip on Inflation Report
A higher-than-expected inflation report triggered a sell-off on Friday, leaving stocks in the red for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 4.58%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dropped 5.05%. The Nasdaq Composite index...
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Weekly Market Insights: Stocks Slip on Mixed Economic News
In a holiday-shortened week of volatile trading, stocks surrendered some of the previous week’s strong gains.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.94%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined 1.20%. The Nasdaq Composite...
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Weekly Market Insights: Confidence in Fed Helps Spark Market Rally
Stocks posted solid gains for the week, buoyed by the release of Fed meeting minutes and upbeat earnings from mid-size and discount retailers.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 6.24%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced...
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Weekly Market Insights: Fed Signals More Aggressive Action on Interest Rates
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Markets in a Minute: Ukraine
With the war in Ukraine approaching its one-month mark and inflationary pressures rising, many investors are asking: What’s there to feel good about? The Fed is mulling the same question as it contemplates its next steps.
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Money with Murphy Episode 16: Ukraine
The war in Ukraine is in its second week. In my latest Money with Murphy, I talk about the most pronounced market impacts and share some suggestions for how you can help from a humanitarian perspective.
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Markets in a Minute: Ukraine
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has humanitarian and geopolitical consequences but what are the implications for the global economy and equities?
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Money with Murphy Episode 15: Ukraine
The Ukraine-Russia crisis has recently taken over the headlines. In today’s Money with Murphy, I take a look back to what brought us here and why investors should care.
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Weekly Market Insights: Inflation and Ukraine Rattle Investors Another Week
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Markets in a Minute: Inflation
With inflation hotter than expected and spreading beyond pandemic-affected industries, the Fed appears poised to take more aggressive steps to rein in price increases. What does that mean for stocks?
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Weekly Market Insights: Inflation and Ukraine Fears Cool Markets
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Market Review and Outlook: Downshifting
As we reflect on the past year and the road ahead, it can be helpful to think of the economy as a car that’s been traveling above the speed limit and now must slow down as the terrain gets a bit rougher. Please read the attached...
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