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Uncharted Territory: Understanding This Economic Cycle

The economy is in uncharted territory. Figure 1 graphs the Leading Economic Index (LEI), which tracks ten data points that tend to change before the overall economy does. Economists monitor the LEI because it includes data that can provide insight into future economic activity, such as unemployment claims, building permits,…

09/01/24 | Chart of the Month

Investing Based on Politics is a Bad Idea for Your Portfolio

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Americans are preparing to vote in what polls forecast to be a tight race. Like many investors, you may wonder how the election outcome could affect financial markets and whether you should change your investment strategy. While elected leaders can influence economic growth by…

08/01/24 | Chart of the Month

Long-Term Perspective: Market Volatility is the Price of Admission for Investing

The S&P 500, a testament to the resilience of the market, gained over +15% in the first six months, marking its 16th highest first-half return since 1931. The equity market’s rise continued into early July, and the index set a new all-time closing high on July 16th. However, the stock…