The AI trade isn't ending. It's expanding. Our latest commentary examines what's driving the recent selloff, where we see opportunities emerging, and why staying invested still matters. Read here: tinyurl.com/3eah5hve

The Leading Economic Index (LEI) was unchanged month over month in September, beating expectations for a 0.1% decline. Meanwhile, the Coincident Economic Index (CEI) rose 0.3% to a record high, signaling continued economic strength.

Initial jobless claims fell to 194K last week, below the 200K expected, while the 4-week average eased to 198K. Layoff figures remain low, signaling continued labor market resilience.

What could the Fed's next move mean for investors? @GeneGoldman recently sat down with @Ajshaps of @Ainvest_Wire to discuss the Federal Reserve's interest rate outlook and the potential implications for mortgage rates, Treasury yields, and the broader investment landscape. Watch the conversation to hear Gene's perspective on what investors may want to watch in the months ahead: youtu.be/xfRnRLsf1NM?si=N4Oo…

Mortgage applications fell 5.3% last week compared with previous week, while refinancing activity declined 2%. The avg contract rate eased to 7.41% from 7.50%, its first drop in two months. Elevated borrowing costs continued to weigh on demand.

Pending home sales fell 7.3% in September from the previous month and 11.3% year-over-year, with declines across all four regions. Higher mortgage rates continued to weigh heavily on affordability.

Housing construction slowed further in September, with housing starts falling 5.2% to an annualized rate of 1.22M, below expectations of 1.31M. Building permits, a leading indicator, also edged down 0.2% to 1.4M but exceeded estimates by 15k.

Where could opportunities emerge next? Our latest Sector Insights report examines all 11 S&P 500 sectors, highlighting outlooks, valuations, market trends, and key drivers shaping performance. Read the full report: tinyurl.com/mpjkk3bk

Earnings season takes center stage this week.@btklimke breaks down what investors should watch, including corporate guidance, earnings revisions, market breadth, and the latest signals from our weekly chartbook. Watch this week's The Week Ahead: cetera.com/research-and-insi…

US earnings revisions turned negative in 3 of the past 4 weeks, following 21 straight weeks of upgrades. Higher energy and borrowing costs may soften the earnings outlook, though estimates remain well above where they began this year.

Cetera Financial Group CIO @GeneGoldman joined @SchwabNetwork to discuss why the AI trade “is not over – it’s just a moving target” and why fixed income is one of our best bets right now as he anticipates lower bond yields. Watch here: schwabnetwork.com/video/ai-s…

Bonds are down this year, but a balanced 60/40 stock/bond allocation is up 7.8% YTD. A 60/40 blend has posted gains in 20 of the past 23 years. Since 1978, declines of 5% or more have occurred only 3 times, compared with 28 annual gains above 10%.

Fed officials have pumped the brakes on an October rate hike, but the latest CPI and PPI reports showed hotter-than-expected core price pressures. While we still expect another hike this year, December is our base case. For more Fed insights, see our latest Fed Monitor: tinyurl.com/3vxju29m

PPI inflation increased 1.3% in September, more than double the 0.6% expected. The annual rate climbed to 6.3%, its highest since 2022. It was another hawkish inflation report, but the futures market is pricing in less than 30% odds of an October hike.

US retail sales rose 0.8% in September, beating expectations of 0.3%, led by a 6.4% jump in gas station sales. Control group sales, a key GDP input that excludes gas, autos, and food services, increased by just 0.1% vs 0.3% expected.

Rising fuel prices are making air travel more expensive. The CPI category for airline fares is up 22.4% over the past year. Energy cost pass-through is adding to broader inflation pressures.

Headline CPI inflation increased 0.6% in September, matching expectations, while the annual rate rose to +3.7%. Core CPI increased 0.3%, ahead of expectations (+0.2%), and the annual pace climbed to +2.6%. Higher shelter costs drove core inflation up.

Ahead of this week's CPI report, our CIO @GeneGoldman shared insights with @InvestmentNews' James Rogers on why he expects energy to drive headline inflation. Read more here: investmentnews.com/equities/…

Hiring breadth remains weak despite an uptick in the pace of hiring this year. The employment diffusion index is at 51, indicating that only slightly more than half of industries have added jobs over the past year. It’s typically above 65 in expansions.

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell to 97.9 in September, just below its 52-year average of 98.0. Labor quality and inflation remain top concerns. While fewer owners say it’s a good time to expand, more expect sales to rise in the months ahead.