The first half of 2025 has shattered previous records in municipal bond issuance, revealing a market that appears robust and resilient—yet beneath the surface, ominous signs of overextension and vulnerability lurk. The astonishing surge, with issuance soaring to over $280 billion—up 14.3% from last year—may seem like a testament to investor confidence, but it also
Despite being the backbone of economic vitality and national security, U.S. infrastructure teeters on the brink of catastrophe. Over decades, a complacent approach has left vital systems—roads, bridges, airports, and utilities—ill-equipped to withstand the relentless assault of climate change. Recent events vividly illustrate this vulnerability: flooded runways at Fort Lauderdale, heat-induced bridge failures in New
For months, stakeholders in the luxury retail sector clung to an optimistic narrative: a robust rebound was imminent in 2025. After a seemingly promising fourth quarter filled with holiday cheer and post-election euphoria, expectations soared for a resurgence in consumer appetite for high-end goods. But reality has shown a starkly different picture. Data from Citigroup
For decades, investors in bonds have endured the suffocating grip of near-zero interest rates, forcing them to either settle for meager yields or reach for riskier assets. Now, according to Rick Rieder, BlackRock’s chief investment officer of global fixed income, that long drought has ended, opening what he calls a “generational opportunity.” This isn’t just
Municipal bonds—long celebrated as a bastion of safety for conservative investors—have recently projected a veneer of calm and resilience that might be dangerously misleading. While muni yields experienced slight upticks early in the week and Treasury yields declined modestly, the broader picture reveals a marketplace resting on tenuous technical conditions rather than robust fundamentals. The
Oregon’s recent decision to bankroll a potential Major League Baseball team through an $800 million bond raises profound questions about priorities and practicality. Governor Tina Kotek’s endorsement of Senate Bill 110, which imposes new taxes on athletes and team employees, is heralded by supporters as a bold investment in Portland’s future. Yet, beneath the excitement
In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), Nvidia and Microsoft stand out as rare beacons of sustained growth and innovation. Industry analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities believes these two giants are on the brink of joining an elite $4 trillion market capitalization club. This optimistic forecast aligns with an unmistakable surge in
Moderna’s recent announcement of a more effective mRNA-based flu vaccine represents a noteworthy moment in the realm of infectious diseases. The phase three trial highlighted a roughly 27% improvement in efficacy compared to existing vaccines for adults over 65, alongside strong performance across multiple flu strains. On the surface, this strides toward better prevention measures
Nvidia’s story has often been narrated as a rollercoaster—meteoric rises abruptly followed by grinding plateaus that test investor patience. Throughout 2025, this semiconductor juggernaut appeared shackled by uncertainty, with shares hovering in a narrow band and investors questioning the sustainability of its AI-driven growth. The persistent skepticism wasn’t misplaced. When a behemoth like Nvidia has
The recent surge in stock prices, heralded by the S&P 500 hitting fresh all-time highs, has been celebrated as a testament to resilient investor confidence. Yet beneath this euphoric veneer lies a sobering reality that many are ignoring: several key stocks are dangerously overbought and primed for a correction. Using the 14-day Relative Strength Index