Federal Reserve

Inflation & Prices

Fed’s ‘Goldilocks’ Economic Strategy Disintegrating amid Hormuz Strikes

Photo via Chen Mengtong/China News Service/VCG/Newscom

Markets are pricing in practically no chance of a rate cut when officials meet later this month, according to the CME Fedwatch.

2 min read

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Indicators

Labor Market Flexes Muscle and Exhibits Flab in Latest BLS Data

Job gains are heavily concentrated in healthcare and social assistance, which added 125,000 jobs last month for the lion’s share of new gigs.

2 min read
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Indicators

Molasses-Like Jobs Growth Not Enough to Trump Fed’s Rate-Cut Inertia

Hiring in January was not just slower than expected, according to ADP. It was way, way, way slower than expected.

2 min read
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Advisor Upside

Investors Trade in Stocks for Bonds After Big Gains in 2025

Planners and investors are sticking to portfolio targets and rebalancing after years of strong stock market gains, according to Vanguard research.

2 min read

Banking

Luxury Card Cage Match Heats Up With Rising Perks, Prices

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside, Photo by Konbturut Woradee via iStock

Credit card issuers are enticing big spenders with luxurious perks and prestige brands, funded in part by fees that are higher than ever.

5 min read

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside, Photo by Gearstd via iStock

Markets

Limbo for Longer: Don’t Expect More Fed Rate Cuts Before Mid-2026

2026 presents a catch-22 for the Fed. It normally cuts rates to buoy hiring, which tightened last year, but that could drive up inflation.

5 min read
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Advisor Upside

Munis, Mortgage-Backed Securities Among Advisors’ Top Picks for 2026

No reason to chase yield as advisors stick to quality fixed income.

4 min read
Photo via Spencer Jones/Plexi Images/GHI/UCG/Universal Images Group/Newscom

Banking

Freed from Asset Cap, Wells Fargo Ramps up Lending

Loans in Wells Fargo’s corporate and investment banking business climbed 14% in the three months through December.

2 min read

Advisor Upside

America is Still No. 1, Says Goldman Sachs

Photo by John Warg via Unsplash

Despite some minor risks, the American economy and markets are far from being in decline, according to the investment bank.

2 min read

International Economics

US Trade Deficit Shrinks to Lowest Since 2009

Photo via Corine Solberg/Sipa USA/Newscom

Imports fell 3.2% from the previous month to $331.4 billion in October, and exports rose 2.6% to $302 billion.

2 min read

Photo via sean pavone/Newscom

Real Estate

Trump Seeks to Lock Corporate America Out of Local Housing Markets

For prospective buyers, this could lead to not having to go up against, say, Blackstone, when you put in a bid for a home.

2 min read
Photo via Ingram Publishing/Newscom

Indicators

US Manufacturing Activity Grinds to 14-Month Low

US factory activity contracted for the tenth straight month in December, according to the latest Institute for Supply Management survey.

2 min read
Photo via Spencer Jones/Plexi Images/GHI/UCG/Universal Images Group/Newscom

Finance

Unchained Wells Fargo Heads into 2026 With Fresh Momentum

For the first time since 2018, the Wells Fargo stagecoach is rolling into a new year without the burden of a Federal Reserve asset cap.

2 min read

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