Equity Markets – Deep Dive Into Equity Market Trends

August CPI Rises to 3.4% as Gas Prices Surge, Cementing Fed Rate Hike Bets

August CPI rose to 3.4% annually as gas prices surged, pushing Fed rate hike odds toward 70% ahead of next week's meeting. Here's the full breakdown of what drove the increase and why the core rate tells a more mixed story.

Matt Hardy September 14, 2026

Economic Data

PPI Today, CPI Tomorrow: The Last Inflation Data Before the Fed’s Big Decision

PPI lands today and CPI tomorrow — the last inflation data before the Fed's September 16 decision, with markets pricing a genuine coin-flip on a rate hike. Here's what's at stake and how markets are positioning ahead of the numbers.

Matt Hardy September 13, 2026

Weekly Market

Week Ahead: CPI, PPI, and the Fed Decision That Could Move Every Market

This week's PPI and CPI data could decide the Fed's September rate hike, with oil near $100 and yields at multi-year highs adding pressure. Here's the full data calendar and what to watch.

Matt Hardy September 13, 2026

Weekly Market

This Week in Markets: Stocks Slide as Oil Surges Toward $100, All Eyes on CPI and the Fed

Stocks slid this week as oil neared $100 a barrel, US-Canada trade tensions escalated, and a hot jobs report raised Fed rate-hike odds ahead of critical CPI and PPI data. Here's the full week in review.

Matt Hardy September 12, 2026

Stock Buybacks

A $100 Billion Buyback: Capital Return vs. AI Capex in Big Tech’s Biggest Debate

A $100 billion buyback authorization highlights a real strategic split in Big Tech: return cash to shareholders, or plow it into AI infrastructure like rivals are doing. Here's the full financial picture behind the decision.

Matt Hardy September 12, 2026

Stock Buybacks

S&P 500 Buybacks Set to Hit a Record: What the Excise Tax Debate Could Mean

S&P 500 buybacks are on pace for a record year, with the 1% excise tax still a minor cost. Here's the real data on the buyback boom, the tax-hike debate, and whether record repurchases are bullish or a red flag.

Matt Hardy September 11, 2026

Inflation & Interest

Mortgage Rates Hit a One-Year High: What’s Pushing 30-Year Rates Toward 7%

Mortgage rates hit a one-year high in September 2026, with the 30-year fixed at 6.71%-6.89% depending on the tracker. Here's what's driving the increase and whether rates could reach 7%.

Matt Hardy September 11, 2026

Inflation & Interest

Core PCE Stuck at 3.3%: What the Fed’s Preferred Inflation Gauge Really Shows

Core PCE held at 3.3% in July, stuck above the Fed's target for a second straight month. Here's what the Fed's preferred inflation gauge shows, why it's plateaued, and what it means before September's meeting.

Matt Hardy September 10, 2026

Economic Data

US Retail Sales Fell 0.6% in July: A Cooling Consumer or a Prime Day Timing Quirk?

US retail sales fell 0.6% in July 2026, but a Prime Day calendar shift explains much of the drop — sales were still up 5% year-over-year. Here's what the data really shows about the American consumer.

Matt Hardy September 10, 2026

Economic Data

Q2 2026 GDP Slows to 1.5%: Why AI Investment Is Propping Up a Narrower Economy

US GDP grew just 1.5% in Q2 2026, down from 2.1%, as AI investment and consumer spending offset a drag from trade and government cuts. Here's what the data really shows about the health of the expansion.

Matt Hardy September 9, 2026