This Week in Review: With Focus on Fed, Dollar Rebounds, Oil Falters
For the week ended 24 March 2016Fed officials raise possibility of early rate hike Regional Fed indices show strength, flash PMI disappointsGerman business and investor sentiment riseHungary first...
View ArticleThis Week in Review: Fed To Proceed With Caution
For the week ended 1 April 2016Yellen ends early rate-hike speculationUS labor market extends gainsManufacturing shows signs of life in ChinaUS factory activity rebounds in MarchIPO market slows to...
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Boring Can Be Beautiful
by James Swanson, CFA, MFS Chief Investment StrategistWhile it's easy to get caught up in campaign season — whether in the United States, where raucous primaries are underway, or in the United Kingdom,...
View ArticleThis Week in Review: Yen Elbows Dollar From The Spotlight
For the week ended 8 April 2016Yellen: US economy on solid course; not a bubble economyJapan's Aso: Will take necessary steps to respond to yen surgeDutch voters reject EU trade deal with UkraineUS...
View ArticleThis Week in Review: China Stimulus Brings Stability
For the week ended 15 April 2016Q1 China GDP expands 6.7% year over year Brazil's lower house votes Sunday on impeachmentUS labor market shows strengthIEA: Oil market to come into better balance late...
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High Yield in the Crosshairs
by David P. Cole, CFA, Fixed Income Portfolio ManagerInvesting in high yield bonds is not for the faint of heart. That said, the risks associated with below-investment-grade bonds are frequently...
View ArticleThis Week in Review: Global Oil and Net Interest Rate Margins Impact Company...
For the week ended 22 April 2016Oil rallies for the weekThe ECB holds policy rates unchangedGoogle charged by the European CommissionEM nations cut interest ratesGlobal equities rose this week led by...
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Risk: Managing From All Angles
by Joseph C. Flaherty, Jr., Chief Investment Risk OfficerIn the countless discussions I've had with clients about the best way to manage risk in a portfolio, the critical takeaway is always the same....
View ArticleThis Week in Review: Fed Leaves Its Options Open
For the week ended 29 April 2016Fed leaves rates unchanged, notes slowing growth, downgrades global concernsBank of Japan declines to boost monetary stimulus; yen soarsUS continues weak Q1 GDP...
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Invert the Pyramid
by Bill Adams, MFS Chief Investment Officer, Global Fixed IncomeMany a market practitioner has been humbled in recent years trying to project the direction of US interest rates. Professional...
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Time To Take A Step Back?
As a disappointing first quarter earnings season rolls on, I am beginning to feel more cautious about the markets in the months ahead. We're in the midst of a third consecutive quarter of poor profits...
View ArticleThis Week in Review: US Employment Report Disappoints
For the week ended 6 May 2016US adds weaker-than-expected 160,000 nonfarm jobs in AprilCanadian wildfires crimp crude productionPuerto Rico defaults on muni bond paymentsLabour's Khan elected London...
View ArticleMind the Flashing Caution Light
Higher profit margins and abundant free cash flow has propelled the market for much of this business cycle but now we've had three quarters of negative S&P 500 earnings in a row and the weakness...
View ArticleThis Week in Review: A Few Rays of Sunshine Part the Clouds
For the week ended 13 May 2016US April retail sales rise a better-than-expected 1.3% Q1 German GDP grew 0.7%, more than doubling Q4 paceEurozone finance ministers discuss Greek debt relief Rousseff...
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Missing the Target?
by Ryan Mullen, MFS Senior Managing Director, Head of Defined Contribution InvestmentsWith the popularity of target date funds swelling assets to more than $763 billion at the end of 2015(i), defined...
View ArticleThis Week in Review: Fed Lays Groundwork for Summer Rate Hike
For the week ended 20 May 2016FOMC minutes: Most participants said June rate hike would be appropriate if US economy continues to improveUS consumer prices, industrial production strengthened in...
View ArticleThis Week in Review: US Growth Revised Up
For the week ended 27 May 2016Q1 US GDP revised up to 0.8% from 0.5%Flash PMIs softEU kicks Greek debt can down the road againOil revisits $50 a barrelGlobal equities rallied this week as the market...
View ArticleThis Week in Review: Weak US Payrolls Put Summer Rate Hike in Peril
For the week ended 3 June 2016US nonfarm payrolls up 38,000, jobless rate at 4.7%Japan postpones sales tax hike, more stimulus to comeFed Beige Book sees modest US growthOPEC fails to reach production...
View ArticlePricing Power Outage
Profits are eroding in an increasing number of market sectors as excess capacity depresses prices.Recorded 6 June 2016. For more market commentary from MFS, visit our YouTube channel.No forecasts can...
View ArticleThis Week in Review: Yellen Backpedals from Summer Rate Hike
For the week ended 10 June 2016Fed chair dropped reference to raising rates "in the coming months" in Monday speechBond yields hit record lows in Germany, Japan and UKSwiss reject universal basic...
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