Global Economy

Semiconductors are often called ‘the new oil.’ And just like oil, chips can be subject to supply-chain disruptions. Here’s an industry snapshot for 2021.

The value of an investment is impacted not just by returns in its local market, but also by the value of the currency in which it's denominated. How might dollar fluctuation impact your portfolio and what can you do about it?

The value of a dollar is in constant motion. Sometimes, it strengthens against other currencies (or commodities), and sometimes, it weakens. But, is a weaker dollar good or bad?

The import and export of goods and services across national borders helps drive economic and stock market growth. But international trade has its critics, and sometimes politics—and supply chain hiccups such as those related to the coronavirus pandemic—get in the way.

Markets, as well as economies, run in cycles—sometimes up, sometimes down, sometimes sideways—each for an uncertain amount of time. Cycles present risks and opportunities for investors. Here are a few things investors should know about cycles, recessions, and recoveries.

As the COVID-19 pandemic ground commercial activity to a halt in early 2020, the United States turned to fiscal and monetary authorities for help in getting the flagging economy up and running. Here’s a primer on these two types of stimulus.

As the U.S. economy pulled back in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve turned to a tool it used in the 2008–09 financial crisis: quantitative easing (QE). Here’s a crash course for investors.

Tariffs have been part of American economic history from the country’s origins. Are tariffs good or bad for investors?

Rare earth metals, used in everyday products such as electronics, automobiles and medical devices, have emerged as a potential weapon in the ongoing trade dispute. Here’s a primer on rare earths, and the stocks and sectors that may be affected.

If a no-deal Brexit should come to pass, there would likely be further market volatility. But an “oasis” factor could help fortify the U.S. economy.

Geopolitical risks come in many forms, and can impact an investment portfolio in a number of ways. Here are a few basic points to consider.