Another year, another showdown in the U.S. over raising the debt limit. For many readers, it may feel like we’re having the same conversations, rehashing the same talking points, and navigating the same risks on the debt ceiling as we have in p

First quarter earnings season is nearly complete, and it has caused us to regret titling our earnings preview commentary on April 10, “Malaise Continues.” While the “better than feared” label fit the past couple of earnings se

Much has been written lately about the threats facing the reserve currency status enjoyed by the U.S. dollar. “De-dollarization” headlines appear on a near-daily basis, suggesting the dollar’s reign is in looming jeopardy, while cou

“Sell in May and go away” is probably the most widely cited stock market cliché in history. Every year a barrage of Wall Street commentaries and stories in the financial press floods in about this popular, but overused, stock marke

Investors use various analogies to describe the importance of small businesses in the domestic economy. Some refer to the small business sector as the backbone or the lifeblood of the economy.  At this current stage of the cycle, we could say th

Implied volatility, as measured by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) Volatility Index (VIX), closed yesterday at 16.46, its lowest closing level since mid-November 2021. Today we take a look at possible reasons for the decline in the VIX and

With tax season (mostly) behind us, the U.S. Treasury Department will have a better sense of how much cash it has on hand and when it will run through the extraordinary measures it is currently employing to pay its bills. The Treasury is unable to is

The commercial real estate (CRE) market has recently captured the spotlight after being flagged as the next potential shoe to drop following last month’s banking turmoil. While rising rates have weighed on financing costs and the recent bank fa

Today marks the six-month anniversary from the October 12, 2022 low in the S&P 500. Since the 25.4% drop in the index from January 3, 2022 through that day in October (is it me or do bear markets often end in October), the S&P 500 has rallied

First quarter earnings season kicks off this week with some big banks reporting toward the end of the week. In some ways this quarter’s earnings season will probably be déjà vu all over again—earnings declines and cautious g