Insightful Ideas

The human brain is excellent at finding patterns, a skill that has evolved to help us across many parts of life. However, it can also lead us astray when there is no real pattern at all, such as when we see shapes in clouds and ink blots. When it comes to investing, this is relevant because some patterns are important, such as the long-term relationship between the market and the economy, while others may be due to pure coincidence. Distinguishing between what makes for interesting trivia versus true investing principles is a challenging but important part of achieving long-term financial success.

Today we’ll walk through what’s been happening in the markets as a surge in headline volatility has shaped what we’re seeing. AI concerns have hit industries one by one prompting a “sell now, ask later” reaction – we’ll cover why in this episode of Charts that Matter.

Anytime there’s a leadership change at the Fed, it naturally creates a bit of uncertainty, because the Fed plays such a central role in setting monetary policy and guiding interest rates.

As we move deeper into earnings season, investors are shifting their attention away from big geopolitical headlines and toward the actual “report cards” companies are releasing. And with the market sitting near all time highs, understanding what these earnings reports really mean is more important than ever.

Gold, silver, and other precious metals have rallied sharply over the past two years, capturing a lot of investor attention. Gold recently climbed above forty-seven hundred dollars per ounce, while silver moved past ninety dollars—historic milestones for both metals. With prices at these levels, it’s natural for investors to ask an important question: Should I be investing in precious metals right now?

The year 2025 turned out to be remarkably successful for financial markets, even though many major events happened throughout the year. For the third consecutive year – and sixth among the past seven – the S&P 500 tallied double-digit gains – a remarkable run.