As the year comes to a close, seasonal market trends often come into focus. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management explains two well-known market patterns—the Santa Claus rally and the January effect—and why strong market performance during the year can increase the likelihood of a year-end rally and stronger performance from small- and mid-sized companies.
Two major events shaped the markets this week: another Federal Reserve interest rate cut and the results of the national election. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management explains what the Fed’s move toward lower rates could mean for borrowers and investors, and why the election outcome may shift market leadership toward smaller companies while long-term economic themes like AI infrastructure and rebuilding U.S. infrastructure remain intact.
An upcoming Federal Reserve meeting could mark a major shift in the interest rate cycle. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management explains why the Fed’s potential rate cuts may bring volatility to markets, how different outcomes could affect investor sentiment, and why assets such as gold, gold miners, and bonds may benefit from a declining interest rate environment.
Markets have recently stabilized after a period of volatility, but historically September is one of the most challenging months for stocks—especially during election years. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management discusses seasonal market patterns, why bonds and precious metals often perform well during volatile periods, and how portfolios are positioned for potential market swings ahead.
After months of calm markets, volatility has recently returned. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management discusses the factors driving market swings, including economic data, Federal Reserve policy expectations, and uncertainty surrounding the election cycle. He also explains why this type of volatility can be normal during election years and how portfolios are positioned to manage these conditions.
Market leadership appears to be expanding beyond the largest technology companies. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management explains how the stock market in 2024 is being driven by a broader range of industries, including industrial companies tied to infrastructure spending, healthcare innovation, and emerging technology firms benefiting from the growth of artificial intelligence.
The first month of the year can provide important signals for markets, especially during election years. In this discussion, Susan Shoemaker and Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management review recent earnings results, the rapid expansion of data centers supporting artificial intelligence, and how the January market indicator may help shape expectations for the rest of the year.
Election years often follow recognizable patterns in the financial markets. In this discussion, Susan Shoemaker and Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management review historical election-year trends since 1950, how market volatility tends to evolve throughout the year, and why greater political clarity often leads to stronger markets after elections.
Global tensions in the Middle East can create uncertainty in energy markets and financial markets. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management discusses the potential economic impact of conflict involving Iran, the importance of the Strait of Hormuz to global energy supply, and why current market signals suggest the situation may be viewed as a short-term risk rather than a long-term economic disruption.
Interest rates and inflation trends will play a key role in shaping the economy in 2026. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management explains why the bond market is signaling potential Federal Reserve rate cuts, how housing costs influence inflation, and why lower interest rates could create additional tailwinds for the economy and financial markets.
The U.S. dollar may be entering a period of gradual decline, and history shows that certain sectors tend to benefit during those cycles. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management discusses past periods of dollar weakness, the industries that performed best during those times, and how investors can position portfolios to take advantage of similar market trends.
As 2026 begins, markets appear positioned for another positive year, though volatility may increase due to the midterm election cycle. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management discusses the outlook for stocks and bonds, Federal Reserve interest rate expectations, and how the next phase of artificial intelligence adoption could drive growth across multiple industries.
Many investors are comparing today’s artificial intelligence boom to the late-1990s dot-com bubble. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management explains why the comparison may be misleading, how the Y2K technology cycle drove the original tech bubble, and why the current AI investment cycle could continue driving economic growth for years.
Markets continue to move in a “two steps forward, one step back” pattern, but overall conditions remain positive. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management reviews earnings season, sector leadership, the ongoing buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure, and why the historically strong November-to-May period could support further market gains.
As the quarter comes to a close, markets have delivered strong performance and key long-term investment trends remain firmly in place. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management discusses the outlook for stocks and bonds, the continued buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure, growing energy demand, and why these themes may continue driving markets into 2026.
The Federal Reserve has begun cutting interest rates again, signaling a shift in monetary policy that could influence both stock and bond markets. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management explains why rate cuts are happening, how they affect bond prices and borrowing costs, and why the current environment may support continued growth in both equities and fixed-income investments.
After several weeks of volatility, markets and the economy appear to be returning to a more stable environment. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management reviews economic growth expectations, interest rate trends, the VIX volatility index, and why the market may continue moving forward in a steady “two steps forward, one step back” pattern.
Markets have recently entered a corrective phase, with the S&P 500 down modestly while the largest technology companies have pulled back more significantly. In this discussion, Bob Graham and Liz from Riggs Asset Management review the current market correction, investor sentiment levels, global market strength, and why periods of extreme pessimism can sometimes signal potential opportunities for long-term investors.
Recent weeks have brought extreme volatility to both the stock and bond markets. In this update, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management discusses how bond market instability likely influenced the administration’s tariff pause, why markets recently staged one of the strongest rallies in history, and why the current environment may represent the beginning of a longer market bottoming process and potential buying opportunities for investors.
Recent developments from the Federal Reserve and key market indicators suggest conditions may be improving for investors. In this video, Bob Graham of Riggs Asset Management discusses the Fed’s shift in quantitative tightening, recent market corrections, and several signals—including market breadth and volatility—that could point to a stabilizing stock market.
Gold has quietly been outperforming the stock market and reaching new highs. In this video, Bob Graham explains why investors and central banks are increasing their gold holdings, how gold compares to the S&P 500 since 1971, and why it remains a powerful hedge against inflation, geopolitical risk, and market uncertainty.