3 Monthly Economic Reports You Should Be Checking: Jobs Report, GDP, CPI March 26, 2021 10:30 AM   |  

Monthly economic reports can move markets, so you might want to brush up on your macroeconomics. Watch for the jobs report, GDP, and CPI.

3 min read  |  Fundamental Analysis
Gearing Up: Tesla's Path to the S&P 500 Index Has Been a Wild Ride December 17, 2020 10:44 AM   |  

Tesla’s addition to the benchmark S&P 500, which will result in the largest-ever rebalancing of the index, has big implications for the broader market because of Tesla’s market cap.

5 min read  |  Economic Trends
Doves, Hawks, and the Three Bears: Taming the Inflation Animal in 2020 September 2, 2020 2:46 PM   |  

After years of tepid inflation—that is, a general rise in prices—recent readings indicate it could be on the rise, helped by dovish monetary policy and fiscal stimulus. Is that good or bad? Here's a primer on inflation and what it could mean for your portfolio.

6 min read  |  Portfolio Strategy
What Happens When the Stocks in an Index Change? August 26, 2020 2:06 PM   |  

Why do stock indices change their components and what happens when there's a change?

3 min read  |  Investing Basics
Seeking a Big-Picture View of the Economy? Industrial Production & Capacity Utilization August 3, 2020 12:06 PM   |  

Interpreting reports on industrial production and capacity utilization can help traders and investors identify the state of the economic business cycle.

4 min read  |  Fundamental Analysis
Bollinger Bands: What They Are and How to Use Them March 23, 2020 10:30 AM   |  

Learn about the Bollinger Bands technical indicator and how it can help identify volatility and overbought/oversold conditions in stocks and indices.

3 min read  |  Technical Analysis
Focus on Small Caps: What Is the Russell 2000 Index? January 30, 2020 10:30 AM   |  

Large caps might get a lot of attention, but small-cap stocks are still a popular investment subset. And it’s important to track them separately from their larger siblings. Learn about small-cap stocks and the Russell 2000 Index.

5 min read  |  Investing Basics
Index Fund vs. Mutual Fund Showdown: Is There Room for Both at the Top? January 22, 2020 10:30 AM   |  

Index funds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Actively managed funds versus passive management. What do all these terms mean? Here’s a breakdown for investors.

5 min read  |  ETFs & Mutual Funds
The Hidden Risks of Index Trading January 7, 2019 3:00 AM   |  

SPX and S&P 500 futures don’t always move up and down together. Which one should you look at if you want to know what the market might be doing?

3 min read  |  thinkMoney Magazine
What is an Annuity? A Way to Turn Savings into Income May 10, 2018 10:00 AM   |  

Learn about fixed and variable annuities and how you might use them to help turn your retirement savings into income for life.

5 min read  |  Annuities
Grounded: Recent Dow Transports Slump a Red Flag for Economy? November 14, 2017 11:00 PM   |  

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) has scaled all-time high after all-time high this year. But what about transportation index?

3 min read  |  Economic Trends
Volanthology: A Tour of VIX and Other Volatility Indexes September 15, 2017 12:00 AM   |  

Learn about the VIX and other volatility indexes and how some investors use them to assess potential risk.

4 min read  |  Options Trading Basics
Vol Whisperer: VVIX and Skew—I’m Watching You April 16, 2017 11:00 PM   |  

Can you calculate fear? Certain market measures help traders determine when the market seems “fearful.” Learn to do this for yourself to better evaluate risk.

2 min read  |  Options Trading Basics
Conference Board LEI: A Recession Indicator? October 25, 2016 12:00 AM   |  

While no single indicator can provide a full, guaranteed snapshot of an economy, the Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) covers a lot of ground.

3 min read  |  Fundamental Analysis
Trading the Range: A Potential Strategy for Active Investors September 7, 2016 12:00 AM   |  

The S&P 500 is in a short-term trading range, but remains in a long-term bullish trend. Here’s how some investors are trading the range.

4 min read  |  Technical Analysis
Economic Reports Primer: Personal Income and Spending August 16, 2016 12:00 AM   |  

Learn why the Fed and traders follow the personal income and spending reports, especially the Personal Consumption Expenditures Index.

2 min read  |  Fundamental Analysis
Let the Money Flow: A Look at Active Vs. Passive Managed Funds June 13, 2016 12:00 AM   |  

In recent years, passively managed index funds have attracted big money flows. What are the advantages and risks of investing in index funds?

4 min read  |  ETFs & Mutual Funds
Options Tricks: Resuscitating Your Dead Mutual Funds December 31, 2015 11:00 PM   |  

There’s a way to generate “income” from dead investments, even if they aren’t optionable—how to hedge mutual funds with options.

8 min read  |  Advanced Options Strategies
Passive vs. Active: Smart Beta Blend Intensifies Investing Debate July 19, 2015 8:00 PM   |  

Ask yourself if your investing goals and personality traits favor active or passive strategies—or combining the best of both in a smart beta approach.

4 min read  |  Investment Guidance
Will Active Mutual Fund Managers Go With the Dinosaurs? March 2, 2015 7:40 AM   |  

The rising costs and spotty track record of actively managed funds leads some investors straight to indexing. Others are looking for their stock market savior.

3 min read  |  Investment Guidance
Deconstructing the Dow August 31, 2014 8:00 PM   |  

The Dow has long been viewed as a proxy for the U.S. market and economy, but investors should be mindful of its limitations.

6 min read  |  Investing Basics
50 Shades of Green: Environmental Trends with Benefits April 5, 2013 2:19 PM   |  

Climate-conscientious stock-picking that's evolved past volatile solar and wind.

4 min read  |  Portfolio Strategy
Sniff Out Inflation: Gauge Sentiment with Gold, CRB, and CPI March 5, 2013 10:58 AM   |  

The line between “good” and “bad” inflation is a thin one and tough to recognize. We grade the standard inflation measures.

3 min read  |  Investing Basics
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