Category: Commentary/Video
218 posts categorized as "Commentary/Video"
13Aug
August 2021 Update on the U.S. Economy
The month of July saw further signs of a durable expansion across sectors in the United States, and encouragingly, continued improvement in the labor market. Our nowcast of the U.S. economy, the Astor Economic Index®, followed in kind, resuming its climb from the beginning of the year and at its highest level since January 2019….
27Jul
Millennials Prepare for What’s Next
As the millennial generation starts to turn 40, Astor CEO Rob Stein discusses the ramifications with Angela Miles on Business First AM. Will they be able to retire early? Will they need to work well past the age of 65? Rob shares his insights on what it means for the markets and the long term….
27Jul
Astor Weekly Economic Review – Episode 76 – The Economy in Recovery Mode
This week Astor CIO John Eckstein and Nick Porter translate the latest numbers and how they are impacting the American economy’s comeback from the COVID-19 pandemic’s setbacks. The real question: Why isn’t the rebound as robust as hoped for or expected? Approved with code AIM-7/26/21-OP417
16Jul
Astor Weekly Economic Review – Episode 75
With inflation on the rise, constraints on the labor force and the supply chain are the focus of this week’s podcast episode. Astor CIO John Eckstein and Nick Porter delve deep into the numbers and discuss if these are trends or just a blip on the radar. AIM-7/15/21-OP403
14Jul
Astor Q2 2021 Strategy Update Recording with CEO & Founder, Rob Stein.
Recording of Astor’s Q2 2021 Strategy Update call with CEO & Founder, Rob Stein.
13Jul
Rob Stein Discusses Inflation Surge on WGN!
Prices are UP! Prices for U.S. consumers jumped the most in 13 years – is it the pandemic? It’s the response to the pandemic mentions Rob. Watch the segment here!
9Jul
July 2021 Update on the U.S. Economy
The Astor Economic Index was essentially unchanged month over month, ending June at a level consistent with strong to very strong economic growth. Of course, a quiet month in the AEI® does not mean that there is no interesting economic data to dissect, and we delve into some highlights below. The story of the past…
7Jul
Astor Weekly Economic Review – Episode 74
Astor Investment Management CEO Rob Stein and CIO John Eckstein delve into the latest payroll and jobs numbers as the U.S. economy continues to pull itself out of the pandemic slowdown. AIM-7/6/21-OP397
23Jun
Astor Weekly Economic Review—Episode 73
Astor’s CIO John Eckstein and Nick Porter break down the latest on interest rates from The Fed and dive into the retails sales numbers that aren’t nearly what was expected. AIM-6/23/21-OP388
16Jun
June 2021 Update on the U.S. Economy
The Astor Economic Index® (“AEI”) improved once again in the month of May, ticking up to a post-pandemic high, and nearing levels last seen in 2019. The reading is consistent with the general macroeconomic narrative of the U.S. economy, with flush households, strong demand and burgeoning external support. Although GDP growth seems to be on…
24May
The ‘Macro’ Style of Investing and Why I’m Excited…
Let’s look back on a historic, discretionary macro trade: In September 1992, the British pound was fixed to the Deutschemark through the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM), a precursor to the Euro we know today. If you tried to sell pounds below a certain level, the Bank of England (the central bank of the UK)…
18May
My Compelling Reasons for Hyper-Inflation and Potential Impacts
Inflation itself is not a rally-killer for stocks. Rather, I believe it is the interest rate differential between a risk-free return against the risk on stock prices and dividend yield. I think that spread has favored stocks for some time and very aggressively for the past 12 months. As rates rise and stocks appreciate, I…
18May
Economic Fundamentals During Economic Recoveries
Case Study: Economic Fundamentals and Mid-Recovery Slowdowns The U.S. is amid a historic recovery, with U.S. GDP expanding at an eyewatering 4.3% (Q/Q SAAR) in Q4 2020 and 6.4% (advance number) in Q1 2021. While the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions, substantial fiscal stimulus, and loose monetary policy have contributed to a substantially sunnier economic outlook…
14May
May 2021 Update on the U.S. Economy
The Astor Economic Index® (“AEI”) improved slightly month over month and remains at a level indicative of strong fundamentals, reflecting very strong output measures across the U.S. economy, as well as declining jobless claim figures. The dip in the AEI from the second wave earlier this year has been mostly retraced as the U.S. recovers…
14Apr
April 2021 Update on the U.S. Economy
Macroeconomic data has teased us for several months with the hope of a new spring, and the month of March has aptly enough delivered on that promise. Much of the nation has substantially eased lockdown restrictions as the pace of vaccinations pick up pace, and the near-term trajectory of the U.S. economy is on substantially…
12Mar
March 2021 Update on the U.S. Economy
No news is good news, at least as the U.S. economy is concerned in its current state of slowly animating suspension. The Astor Economic Index has been range bound at a level approximating above average growth for several months and ended the month of February essentially unchanged. The labor market picked up some steam, with…
25Feb
Rob Stein Update on Inflation
As inflation expectations begin to accelerate and long rates begin to rise, I thought I would review my thoughts on inflation and rates from previous articles and the Outlook 2021. One of the basic definitions of inflation is “too much money chasing too few goods.” With the mailbox money from 2020 increasing money supply and…
22Feb
Rob Stein 2020 Review – ADA
Recording of Astor’s Q3 2020 call with CEO & Founder, Rob Stein. Rob Stein Q4 Review 2020 from Astor Investment Management on Vimeo. AIM-2/18/21-VP307
16Feb
February 2021 Update on the U.S. Economy
The theme in economic pundit circles during the month of January was short-term stagnation, and the Astor Economic Index certainly agrees, remaining essentially unchanged from where in began the year and in growth territory. As in prior months, the economy remains under substantial restrictions that are trending broadly towards easing, and we expect to see…
16Feb
Astor’s 2021 Outlook
2020 is destined to become one of those years that will be remembered just by mentioning two digits, much like ’87, ’01, and ’08 have become synonymous with the events of each respective year. All someone will need to say is “remember ’20,” and we’ll know everything that number entails—from the pandemic to the presidency,…