Newsletter
Market Recap
The S&P 500 Index returned -0.1%. Energy led all S&P 500 sectors with a +12.6% return as geopolitical tensions caused oil to trade higher. Financials (+6.2%) was the second-best performing sector, followed by the defensive trio of Real Estate (+2.5%), Health Care (+2.4%), and Consumer Staples (+2.1%). Technology (-3.4%) underperformed as AI stocks gave back some of their gains from earlier in the year.
AI Gives Answers. Guidance Requires Judgment.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has given financial professionals new tools that can make it faster and sharper to do some behind-the-scenes work, from research to scenario modeling of certain portfolios. AI can struggle with the behavioral and judgment work that can determine most real-world financial outcomes. The research here can help show the value of a financial professional. Many consumers still want a person involved in major financial decisions, and they increasingly prefer that person to AI.
Labor Day Closing
US Financial Markets and our office will be closed on Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day.