LPL Research periodically conducts a detailed study that examines when and where active management has performed well. Our data includes actively-managed mutual funds across a variety of asset categories, going back 20 years. We assess active managem
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As the first quarter comes to a close, it’s clear that equity markets have endured a difficult stretch. The strong momentum that drove a record‑setting rally early in the year faded quickly as concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) spendi
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Earnings drive stock prices over time, but not all the time. Clearly, we’re in an environment where stocks are moving on developments in the Mideast and related moves in oil prices and interest rates. At the risk of writing about something that
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Perspectives on The Energy Sector and Underlying Sub-Sectors
Energy cycles have a way of rewarding investors who show up early, while punishing those who assume the next upturn will look exactly like the last one. Supply disruptions caus
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As the U.S.-Iran conflict and de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz enters its fourth week, market participants continue to search for some blue sky through the fog while remaining sensitive (in both directions) to fluid headlines flowing out of W
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Dollar Grows Stronger
The recent appreciation of the U.S. dollar (USD) against most currencies reflects investors’ assessment that the U.S. economy offers a uniquely strong combination of relative growth resilience, higher return
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Corporate credit markets have become unsettled about the potential for advanced agentic AI tools from firms such as Anthropic and OpenAI to automate functions across legal, analytical, marketing, and sales workflows, effectively targeting the softwar
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Raise your hand if you’ve encountered this headline recently: “Market Drops Sharply on Fears of Wider Mideast War”. What about this one: “Stocks Fall as Oil Prices Hit New Highs”? Or this: “Wall Street Sees Volatil
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The ongoing situation in the Middle East continues to drive markets in the short term. Oil production and shipping channels remain the focal point from an investor’s perspective as surging crude prices have led to concerns about the potential f
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All Eyes on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz
Investors’ attention remains squarely focused on Iran, as it should be. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is trading near $100 per barrel, more than $40 above the recent mid-December lo
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