An Unexpected Rate Hike Japan has long been known for ultra low interest rates, stubbornly low inflation, and a weak yen versus the dollar. But a lot of that has changed recently. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised its benchmark interest rate at the end of July, a move that sent ripple effects through global…Read more
Up, Down, and All Around What a week. A seemingly minor pullback began last Thursday after some weaker-than-expected U.S. manufacturing data, which was exacerbated by a weaker-than-expected Jobs report on Friday, and then the whammy of major stock market volatility in Japan over the weekend sent the S&P volatility index (VIX) to 65 on Monday…Read more
Recession-Bound? Economists rely on many metrics to measure the health of the economy — and one is currently suggesting its health may be faltering. The so-called Sahm Rule signaled the U.S. may be in the early stages of a recession, spooking some investors and contributing to the recent sell-off in the stock market. What Is…Read more
