Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan said she is "cautiously optimistic†on interest rates and acknowledged there may be more uncertainty facing businesses-including the Supreme Court tariff ruling. ...

Market Reactions - Wall Street showed mixed trading after the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's tariffs, with the S&P 500 up by 0.1% in midday trading [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 125 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite increased by 0.3% [2] - Investors exhibited cautious trading, anticipating that tariffs may not be entirely eliminated, as the White House might shift to targeting specific countries or industries [6] Economic Indicators - Reports indicated slowing U.S. economic growth and rising inflation, but investors had a muted response to these developments [7] - Traders are still betting on at least two interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve by the end of the year, with some adjusting the timing of these cuts to later in the summer [8] Company Performance - Ralph Lauren's stock initially rose by 3.3% following the Supreme Court's ruling but later fell back to a 0.1% decrease, reflecting past concerns over tariffs impacting profits [4] - Akamai Technologies experienced an 11% drop in stock price despite reporting stronger-than-expected results for the end of 2025, as its profit forecast for the upcoming year fell short of estimates [10] - Comfort Systems' stock rose by 2.4% after reporting stronger profits than analysts expected, with the CEO noting "unprecedented demand" [11] Global Market Trends - In international markets, European stock indexes gained, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong fell by 1.1% after reopening, and South Korea's Kospi rose by 2.3% [12]

The University of Michigan US Feb consumer sentiment index was revised lower by -0.7 to 56.6, weaker than expectations of no change at 57.3.US Dec new home sales fell -1.7% to 745,000, better than expectations of 730,000.The US Feb S&P manufacturing PMI fell -1.2 to 51.2, weaker than expectations of no change at 52.4.The US Dec core PCE price index (the Fed's preferred inflation gauge) rose +0.4% m/m and +3.0% y/y, stronger than expectations of +0.3% m/m and +2.9% y/y.US Dec personal spending rose +0.4% m/m ...

Nasdaq leads Wall Street higher as Supreme Court rules Trump's tariffs are unlawful Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock 4:11pm: Tariff relief US stocks finished Friday’s session higher as investors welcomed the news that the Supreme Court ruled Trump’s tariffs on its trade partners are unlawful. The Nasdaq led the gains, up 0.9% at 22,886 points. The S&P 500 was up 0.7% at 6,909 points and the Dow Jones added 0.5% at 49,625 points. 2:30pm: Trump threatens more tariffs President Trump respo ...

Treasuries ticked higher in choppy trading, ending a two-day selloff, amid heightened geopolitical tensions and ongoing concerns about the outlook for inflation. Yields were mixed, with the benchmark 10-year note falling to 4.07% and policy-sensitive two-year note yields marginally rising to 3.47%. Most Read from Bloomberg The market pared steeper losses earlier in the session after President Donald Trump’s comments about negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, warning that the nation had 10 t ...

Market Overview - The Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 281.36 points (-0.57%) to 49,381.30, while Dow Futures fell by 322.00 points (-0.65%) to 49,400.00, primarily driven by a hotter-than-expected Producer Price Index (PPI) report [1] - The PPI report raised concerns that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates high for an extended period, leading to a spike in Treasury yields and negatively impacting growth-oriented sectors and major financial institutions [1] Sector Performance - The financial and industrial sectors experienced the most significant losses, with Goldman Sachs declining by 2.92% to $906.73, followed by IBM down 2.19% and American Express down 2.18% [2] - Boeing and Sherwin-Williams both fell by 2.10%, reflecting concerns over industrial demand and rising input costs [2] - Other notable decliners included Salesforce, down 1.44%, and The Walt Disney Company, down 1.32% [2] Defensive Stocks - Defensive stocks gained traction as investors sought safety, with Verizon Communications rising by 1.72% to $48.84 [3] - Consumer staples outperformed, with Procter & Gamble up 0.89% and McDonald's up 0.86% [3] - Cisco Systems increased by 0.61%, and Chevron rose by 0.57%, indicating a rotation into low-beta assets and dividend-paying equities during the session [3]

Economic Outlook - The current economic situation is not favorable, with expectations that it will worsen in the near future [2] - There is a significant concern regarding the impact of tariffs on inflation, with economists questioning their effectiveness [3][4] Tariffs and Manufacturing Jobs - The anticipated positive effects of tariffs on manufacturing jobs have not materialized, as manufacturing jobs have declined over the past year [9] - The overall trade deficit remains a concern, particularly in the context of a service-oriented economy where goods constitute less than 10% of GDP [10] Impact on Different Income Groups - Tariffs are viewed as regressive, disproportionately affecting lower-income individuals who spend a larger percentage of their income on goods [11][12] - The increase in jobs in the U.S. has primarily been in the healthcare sector, which is unrelated to tariff policies [12] Institutional Credibility - There is a noted decline in institutional credibility among economic advisors, particularly in the context of the Trump administration, which has affected the respect and trust within the economics profession [15][16] Federal Reserve and Interest Rates - Concerns have been raised about the new Fed chairman's ability to operate independently from political pressures, particularly from Trump [17] - Statements regarding AI's impact on productivity and interest rates have been met with skepticism, as there is uncertainty about the pace at which AI will influence the macro economy [19]

When it comes to the stock market, there are no guarantees. If you’ve invested in the stock market as part of your retirement planning strategy, it’s good to be prepared. This means knowing the signs of a potential market downturn (insofar as such things can be predicted) and finding other ways to protect your portfolio. Sure, the stock market has, according to the Official Data Foundation, had an average annual return of 10.56% over the past 70 years (in reality, it’s 6.71% adjusted for inflation). But ...

Core Viewpoint - The State Street SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (RWR) is positioned to benefit from potential catalysts in 2026, particularly a rebound in the commercial real estate sector driven by falling long-term interest rates [1]. Group 1: Interest Rate Dynamics - REITs are sensitive to interest rate changes, with higher rates increasing borrowing costs and making fixed-income investments more attractive, which negatively impacts commercial real estate values [3]. - Falling interest rates reduce borrowing costs and can boost commercial property values, potentially leading to a significant increase in REITs and REIT ETFs like RWR [4]. Group 2: Current Market Data - The current price of RWR is $106.47, with a day's change of -1.43% [5]. - The 52-week price range for RWR is between $83.14 and $108.13, indicating volatility in its market performance [6]. Group 3: Long-term Interest Rate Influences - The 10-year Treasury yield, which significantly impacts REITs, has not yet responded to the Federal Reserve's cuts in the Federal Funds Rate [6]. - If the 10-year Treasury yield falls below 4%, RWR's value is expected to increase substantially [8]. Group 4: Inflation Trends - The annual inflation rate in the U.S. was 2.4% as of January, down from 2.7% in 2025 and significantly below the pandemic peak of 7%, indicating a potential return to the Federal Reserve's 2% target [10]. - Factors contributing to the decline in inflation include the waning impact of tariffs, lower oil prices, and the absence of major natural disasters, which could support a decrease in long-term rates and subsequently boost REIT share prices [11]. Group 5: Future Outlook for REITs - The State Street SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF could see significant gains if the 10-year Treasury rate declines, which is likely if inflation continues to fall within the Federal Reserve's target range [12].

There are many reasons why volatility in the fixed income (bond) market can be expected to continue for the remainder of 2026. Indeed, we've only just kicked off the year, and the amount of volatility we've already seen to start 2026 has been notable. Quick Read Job reports show red across the board outside healthcare, construction and hospitality sectors. Inflation declined from 9% in 2022 to 2.4% today, nearing the Fed’s 2% target. Housing costs represent over one-third of CPI as rents and propert ...