Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets Update

This week Megan unravels the latest shifts in consumer sentiment and economic expectations, revealing a refreshing uptick in confidence. She digs into the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, highlighting a rise in both current economic conditions and future outlooks, now at a four-month high. With inflation expectations for the next year dropping to 2.7%, consumers are breathing a sig...

How does the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report impact the Federal Reserve's next move on interest rates? Discover the Fed’s likely decision to opt for a 25 basis point rate cut instead of a 50 basis point cut. With the persistent inflationary concerns, particularly within the core CPI that excludes volatile food and energy prices, and the stubbornly high costs in the services sector an...

Are small businesses signaling a storm on the horizon? This episode unpacks the latest Small Business Optimism Index for August, which has plummeted to its lowest level since June 2022. You'll discover why uncertainty among small businesses is skyrocketing, reaching its highest point since 2020. We'll dissect the key areas of concern, including inventory planning, sales expectations, and...

Are we on the brink of an economic slowdown, or is there still hope on the horizon? Join us as we dissect the crucial August jobs report, which has left the markets in turmoil and everyone speculating about the Federal Reserve's next move. This "Goldilocks" report revealed a mixed bag: the addition of 142,000 jobs and a slight dip in the unemployment rate to 4.2%, but with the prior...

Could the future of the economy hinge on the often-overlooked ISM services report? Discover why this seemingly mundane data holds the key to understanding consumer behavior and the Federal Reserve's next moves. Today on Markets with Megan, we dissect the latest report released on September 5th and reveal how the service sector is outshining manufacturing, maintaining its expansion even as oth...

Can a weakening labor market actually be a good sign? Join us on Markets with Megan as we dissect the unexpected factors that drove a dramatic equity market rebound in August. With the S&P initially down over 7%, it seemed like a grim start, but improving inflation numbers, potential Fed rate cuts, and a surprising surge in retail sales flipped the script. We'll break down how these eleme...

What if the economic indicators we've relied on for years are painting a dire picture too grim to ignore? On Markets with Megan, we dissect the latest ISM manufacturing report, revealing a sector mired in contraction for 21 out of the last 22 months. Discover how these troubling trends could impact GDP, inflation, and corporate margins, as manufacturers grapple with rising costs and increasin...

Can NVIDIA sustain its dominance in the AI chip market, or are we witnessing the beginning of a tech bubble? On this episode of Markets with Megan, we dissect NVIDIA's highly anticipated second-quarter earnings report, a pivotal moment that could either solidify its market leadership or spark serious questions about the longevity of the current tech rally. With the company's market cap s...

Is the Fed about to pull off the impossible—a perfect soft landing for the economy? Join Megan Horneman on this episode of "Markets with Megan," where we discuss the recent Fed pivot that has everyone talking. After the Jackson Hole Symposium, Chairman Jerome Powell hinted at potential rate cuts in the upcoming September meeting. We address three important questions: Is inflation truly u...

Can the resurgence of growth and technology stocks sustain the bullish momentum in the market, or is it merely a fleeting illusion? This week on Markets with Megan, Megan dissects the stock market rebound we've witnessed over the past two weeks, driven by strong performances in tech and surprising earnings reports from retail giants like Walmart and Target. She challenges the narrative of a r...

Is it too soon to call the bottom? Megan Horneman, Chief Investment Officer of Verdence Capital Advisors gives follow-up to Monday's sell of and what that means moving forward. "We think it's too early to call this bottom", stating that volatility is not behind us. Reason being? Economic data was light this week, a recession is still on the table due to the prices paid componen...

This is a Special Edition of Markets with Megan today after the markets experienced an incredibly volatile Monday. Is August truly the most treacherous month for equity markets? In this episode of Markets with Megan , we dissect the recent rollercoaster ride in global equities, marked by a sharp downturn followed by a fleeting "dead cat bounce." We delve into the abyss of plunging tech s...

Are central banks around the globe shifting gears? This week on Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman explores the pivotal monetary policy decisions that are shaping economies worldwide. From the Bank of Japan's unusual rate hike to defend a faltering yen to the Bank of England's unexpected rate cut amid a divided vote, the landscape is rapidly changing. The Central Bank of Brazil's ca...

As the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) prepares to unveil its latest decisions, our latest podcast episode dives deep into the economic data influencing these critical choices. We analyze housing, job market trends, and consumer confidence data to provide an outlook on potential Fed policy shifts. Join us as we unravel the economic puzzles ahead and consider the implications of a potential ra...

Can the latest GDP report signal a turning point for the economy? Join Megan as she dissects the surprising 2.8% GDP growth for the second quarter, a stark improvement from the previous quarter’s 1.4%. Understand how personal consumption, especially in services and auto spending, has been a major driver of this growth. It's a quick analysis of the AI boom's contribution to equipment spen...

Can a single index truly predict economic recessions? Join Megan as she answers this question in our latest episode. This month, the Leading Indicator Index has once again shown a negative trend, marking 27 out of the past 28 months. She unpacks the components behind this month's reading, such as declining ISM new orders, rising jobless claims, the infamous yield curve inversion, and waning c...

The latest episode of our podcast shines a light on the intriguing dynamics of the housing market, focusing on the contrasting trends between multifamily and single-family homes. In June, we witnessed some unexpected developments that could reshape the future of real estate. With a notable 3% increase in housing starts and an even more impressive 3.4% rise in building permits, the housing market i...

In this episode, Megan discusses the unexpected consumer spending behavior despite the high credit card debt and soaring interest rates. June's retail sales data has painted a surprising picture, showing how consumers navigate these economic pressures. Contrary to the anticipated decline, retail sales remained flat, providing a beacon of stability amid financial challenges. One of the standou...

Is the battle against inflation finally taking a turn for the better? We dissect two key reports that could signal major movements in the market. First, we bring you the good news from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, where a surprising deflationary reading hints at easing pressures for the Federal Reserve. Falling prices in sectors like energy, vehicles, and airline fares are shaping the ec...

Is the Federal Reserve gearing up for a rate cut as early as September? Join us on today's episode as we review Chairman Jerome Powell's latest testimony to Congress. We'll dissect his comments on inflation and interest rates, and why his cautious optimism toward the 2% inflation target is making waves in the financial markets. Also, with a cooler job market on the horizon, investor...

In our latest podcast episode, we delve into some pressing economic issues that could have far-reaching implications for the broader economy and individual financial decisions. The latest ISM services report has revealed a worrying trend: a drop to 48.8, indicating the first contraction in the service sector since May 2020. This contraction is particularly concerning given the current economic env...

In the latest episode, we explore the significance of the ISM Manufacturing Report and its implications for the U.S. economy. The report, which gauges the health of the manufacturing sector, recently registered a contraction with a reading of 48.5, underscoring ongoing economic challenges. Megan emphasizes that this metric, below the crucial 50-point threshold indicating expansion, signals potenti...

In the 150th milestone episode of "Markets with Megan," we delve into some critical economic indicators that are currently shaping the Federal Reserve's approach to interest rates. Specifically, we discuss the unexpected slowdown in core PCE inflation, labor market trends, and what these mean for future rate policies. This episode is particularly significant as it not only reflects...

In our latest podcast episode, we delve into the surprising uptick in the first quarter GDP for 2024, which has defied expectations and sparked a wave of cautious optimism. This third reading showed a slight increase to 1.4%, up from the previous estimate of 1.3%. This unexpected growth has left many economists and analysts scratching their heads, trying to decipher the mixed signals sent by vario...

Megan addresses the alarming drop in housing starts and building permits, which have reached their lowest levels since June 2020. Both single-family and multifamily homes are affected, signaling a broad-based decline in construction activity. Housing starts are a crucial indicator of construction activity, while building permits serve as a leading indicator for future construction. The decline in...