Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets Update

With markets hitting record highs and a tentative U.S.-Iran ceasefire in place, investors are sitting with a lot of open questions heading into the second half of 2026. In this episode, Megan Horneman works through the five questions she's hearing most from investors right now, from energy prices to Fed policy to what Q2 earnings season might reveal. - What the U.S.-Iran interim ceasefire mea...

The Fed didn’t raise rates, but the meeting still packed a punch and markets felt it immediately. We break down the first decision under new Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh and why a “no change” outcome can still read as hawkish when the inflation outlook shifts and the Fed changes how it communicates. If you care about interest rates, inflation, bond yields, and what gets priced into markets ne...

The producer price index for May came in at a monthly gain of 0.8% when stripping out food, energy, and trade, the fastest pace at that level since 2022. On a year-over-year basis, producer prices are up 5.1%. Megan Horneman breaks down what the numbers actually mean and why they matter beyond the headlines. In this episode, Megan covers: - Why the core PPI reading of 0.8% month-over-month is the...

Inflation moved higher again in May, and the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report shows prices are drifting further away from the Federal Reserve's 2% target. In this episode of Markets with Megan, CIO Megan Horneman discusses the latest inflation data, including rising energy costs, sticky services inflation, higher food and travel prices, and why real wages have slipped back into negati...

Inflation pressures are continuing to build, consumers are feeling squeezed, and the Federal Reserve may be forced to stay higher for longer. In today’s episode of Markets with Megan, Megan lays out a massive day of economic data covering housing, inflation, consumer spending, GDP, and what it all means for markets and interest rates. 🏠 Topics Megan Covers: • New home sales fell sharply across mo...

The Federal Reserve's April meeting minutes, released today, show a committee growing more uncomfortable with inflation. The language shifted from "somewhat elevated" to simply "elevated," and three members pushed to signal that the next rate move could be a hike, not a cut. This matters for anyone watching their portfolio right now. The market has already adjusted, pricin...

April's retail sales report came in roughly as expected, but the headline number doesn't tell the whole story. Megan Horneman breaks down what the data actually shows, why the core control group figure matters more than the top line, and why some of that consumer spending may reflect higher prices rather than higher volume. If you've been watching inflation reports closely, the reta...

That CPI headline might look “close enough,” but when we slow down and read the report like investors do, it’s hard to call April a win. We walk through why a 0.6% monthly jump in headline inflation and a 0.4% rise in core inflation point to renewed price pressure, not a smooth glide back to normal. If you care about the stock market, bond yields, mortgage rates, or your grocery bill, this breakdo...

The U.S. job market is showing renewed momentum, with the economy adding 115,000 jobs and posting the strongest two-month stretch of job gains since 2024. But beneath the surface, there are still signs to watch — including weaker labor force participation, rising underemployment, and consumer confidence hitting another record low. In this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman breaks down w...

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, but the tone of today’s meeting was more hawkish than markets expected. In this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan breaks down the latest Fed decision, the notable dissent within the committee, and why small wording changes in the Fed statement can have a big impact on markets. She also discusses rising energy prices, inflation concerns, higher bon...

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index for April came in better than expected, and it tells a notably different story from last week's near-record-low University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment reading. Megan breaks down what the numbers actually show and why the gap between these two indexes matters for investors watching consumer health. The most striking detail: optimism arou...

The global economic outlook is starting to shift as the ongoing Middle East conflict and continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz raise concerns about slower growth and higher inflation. In this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman takes a look at the latest economic downgrades from major global agencies, including the IMF, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia an...

The U.S. consumer continues to show surprising strength.  In today’s Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman breaks down the March retail sales report and explains why consumer spending came in much stronger than expected. Headline retail sales rose 1.7% in March, marking the biggest monthly increase in a year, while core measures also pointed to broad-based strength. Megan walks through what was drivi...

A geopolitical shock doesn’t stay on the map, it shows up in the data. Today we walk through fresh manufacturing and business activity numbers that hint the war with Iran is starting to ripple into the US economy, especially through supply chain disruptions and rising input costs. If you track markets, inflation, or economic growth, these small releases can be the early signal before bigger indica...

The housing market is starting to show signs of stress again. In today’s Markets with Megan, Verdenec CIO Megan Horneman dissects the latest housing data and explains how rising mortgage rates, higher material costs, and Middle East conflict concerns are beginning to weigh on both builders and buyers. Get insights on: • The sharp drop in home builder confidence in April • Why mortgage rates have c...

Was inflation already becoming a bigger problem before the war with Iran? In today’s Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman breaks down the latest personal income, spending, and core PCE inflation data to show what the economy looked like before the latest geopolitical shock hit energy markets. The takeaway: inflation was already proving sticky, and consumers were already feeling the squeeze. In this...

Markets surged on April 8 as investors reacted to news of a temporary two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Oil prices plunged, yields moved lower, and inflation expectations eased — fueling a powerful relief rally in equities. In this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman explains what’s really driving the move and why caution is still warranted. While the market is celebrating a...

We’re starting to see economic data reflect the impact of the war with Iran. In today’s Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman gives insight into how March data is beginning to show signs of supply chain stress, rising inflation pressure, and growing market uncertainty. She explains why investors are focused not only on oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz, but also on other critical goods like hel...

The first quarter of 2026 was a difficult one for investors. In this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman recaps a volatile start to the year as markets reacted to war in the Middle East, surging energy prices, private credit fears, rising inflation expectations, and hawkish central bank rhetoric. She also explains why stocks rebounded at the very end of the quarter—and why caution may st...

The latest economic data showed two relative bright spots in the economy: consumer spending and manufacturing. In this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman breaks down stronger-than-expected February retail sales, improving March ISM manufacturing data, and why inflation pressures may still keep the Federal Reserve on hold. Watch for insights on: - Consumer spending trends - Core retail s...

Markets are reacting to another shift in labor market data, as signs of weakening demand for workers begin to emerge. In this episode of Markets with Megan, Verdence CIO Megan Horneman breaks down the latest JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) report, which showed a sharp decline in job openings, the largest drop in 17 months. The data signals a cooling labor market, with 358,000 fewer...

Markets closed out the week under pressure as weakening consumer sentiment added another layer of concern to an already volatile environment. In this episode of Markets with Megan , Verdence CIO Megan Horneman breaks down the latest University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey , which showed confidence falling to a three-month low . Both current conditions and future expectations declined, wit...

Inflation may not be making headlines today, but new data suggests underlying price pressures are quietly building. In today’s episode of Markets with Megan, hear the latest import and export price data and why this often-overlooked inflation report could signal renewed pressure ahead, even before the full impact of the Iran conflict is felt. 📊 Topics Megan Covers: • Import prices surged 1.3% in...

Markets are facing renewed pressure as rising energy prices collide with a more hawkish tone from central banks around the world. In this episode of Markets with Megan, Verdence CIO Megan Horneman explains how persistent oil prices near $100 per barrel are beginning to shift the narrative, not just for markets, but for central bank policy. What started as a geopolitical shock is now evolving into...

The latest inflation report came in right on expectations, but the underlying data tells a more complicated story. In today’s episode of Markets with Megan, Megan disects the February Consumer Price Index (CPI) report and what it means for inflation, interest rates, and the Federal Reserve. 🚨 Topics Megan Covers: • Headline inflation rises 2.4% year-over-year • Core inflation comes in at 2.5% yea...