Matt Hardy – Page 2 – Equity Markets

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 14, 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 14, 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 13, 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 13, 2026

Economic Data

Mortgage Rates Just Hit 6.71%—What Does That Mean for Home Buyers in 2026?

Summary:The average U.S. 30-year fixed mortgage rate reached 6.71% on September 3, 2026, up from 6.66% a week earlier. For buyers, the increase means higher monthly principal-and-interest payments and less…

Matt Hardy September 12, 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 12, 2026

Economic Data

Jobs, GDP or Inflation: Which U.S. Economic Data Matters Most for Stocks?

Summary:For U.S. stock investors, inflation often matters most in the short term because it can change Federal Reserve interest-rate expectations, which directly affect valuations. Jobs data is nearly as important…

Matt Hardy September 11, 2026

Economic Data

Why Does the U.S. Economy Feel So Expensive Even When Inflation Is Cooling?

60-Word Summary Inflation is cooling, but that does not mean prices are returning to their old levels. Americans are still paying more for housing, food, energy, medical care, insurance, and…

Matt Hardy September 11, 2026

Economic Data

What the August 2026 Jobs Report Really Means for the U.S. Economy

Summary:The August 2026 jobs report will offer an important test of whether the U.S. labor market is stabilizing or losing momentum. With July payrolls falling by 23,000 and unemployment at…

Matt Hardy September 10, 2026

Stock Buybacks

Buybacks Under the Microscope: How the New 1% Tax is Reshaping Corporate Strategy in the USA

For decades, the share buyback has been a cornerstone of corporate financial strategy in the United States. A mechanism for returning capital to shareholders, it has been lauded by executives…

Matt Hardy September 7, 2026