Shows
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateUnexpected Resilience in the Labor Market? | S3 E121 | 02-11-26The labor market just surprised investors and it may change the Federal Reserve narrative.In today’s episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman breaks down the delayed January Non-Farm Payrolls report, which showed the U.S. economy added 130,000 jobs, beating expectations and signaling more resilience than many anticipated.Despite prior concerns about weakening job openings and rising layoffs, this report revealed encouraging signs:📈 Payroll growth beat forecasts⬇️ Unemployment ticked down to 4.3%👷 Temporary workers increased for the third straight month — often a leading indicator of hiring strength⏱️ Average workweek r...
2026-02-1104 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets Update6 Forces Behind Today’s Market Volatility | S3 E120 | 02-10-26Markets are off to a volatile and unstable start in 2026 —but why?In today’s Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman walks through the six key forces driving market volatility, explaining how economic data, policy uncertainty, and shifting investor behavior are colliding across asset classes.What 6 forces are shaking the markets?1️⃣ A weakening labor marketJob openings have fallen to their lowest level since 2020, while January layoffs surged nearly 120% year over year, raising concerns that labor market cracks are widening.2️⃣ Rising AI capital expenditures pressuring big techHeavy investment in AI by major...
2026-02-1006 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateAre We Past “Strong” Jobs Data Now? | S3 E119 | 02-05-26Markets reacted negatively to today’s economic data — and the labor market was at the center of the concern.In this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman breaks down the latest U.S. labor market data, including the JOLTS report, Challenger job cuts, and weekly jobless claims, and explains why markets didn’t like what they saw.Job openings fell to 6.5 million, the lowest level since September 2020, while the number of unemployed Americans climbed to 7.5 million. For the first time since the post-pandemic recovery began, there are now more unemployed workers than available job openin...
2026-02-0504 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateManufacturing Surged… Now What? | S3 E118 | 02-04-26Some encouraging economic data gave markets something to digest today — even as volatility stayed front and center.In this episode of Markets with Megan, Verdence CIO Megan Horneman breaks down the latest Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data for both manufacturing and services, highlighting a surprising jump in manufacturing activity. January marked the largest monthly increase since June 2020, pushing manufacturing back into expansion territory for only the third time in three years.Megan walks through what’s driving the improvement, including a surge in new orders, easing supply pressures, and improving, though still fragile, employment conditions. On t...
2026-02-0403 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateDid January Really Predict the Rest of 2026? | S3 E117 | 02-03-26January is often seen as a roadmap for the rest of the year — and the markets may already be sending signals for 2026. In today’s episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman breaks down how stocks, bonds, commodities, and the economy performed in January and what investors should take away from it.We dive into the historical “January Effect” and why a positive January has historically led to positive full-year returns for the S&P 500. Megan also explores what’s happening beneath the surface of the economy, including slowing job creation, resilient consumer spending, mixed inflation data, and rising...
2026-02-0306 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateOur 12 Days of Christmas Wishlist for Markets | S2 E 110 | 12-22-25As we wrap up the year, we’re trading headlines for holiday wishes. 🎄In this special year-end episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman shares her “12 Days of Christmas” market wish list for 2026. It's a mix of realistic hopes, long shots, and conversation-starting ideas you can take straight to the holiday dinner table.From interest rates and inflation to global markets, housing, earnings growth, and government policy, this episode walks through what could shape the year ahead, and why each of these wishes matters for investors.Not all wishes come true...
2025-12-2204 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateSpecial Edition: Inside the FOMC - What Does it all Mean? | S2 E108 | 12-18-25Why does Fed Structure Matter More Than Headlines?In this special edition of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman, Chief Investment Officer at Verdence Capital Advisors, explains the structure of the Federal Reserve and the role of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the group responsible for voting on U.S. monetary policy.Learn how rotating FOMC voting members, a potentially new Fed Chair in 2026, and the balance between “hawks” and “doves” influence policy debates and market reactions. Megan also addresses recent headlines around Fed leadership, central bank independence, and why committee dynamics often matter more than any...
2025-12-1704 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateNovember’s Market Whiplash Explained | S2 E101 | 12-01-25Another month, another impressive market turnaround, but is the momentum here to stay? In today’s episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman breaks down the latest economic data to explain what’s driving the rally, how conditions have shifted since the spring, and whether investors should trust this strength going into year-end.Megan covers the key indicators showing improvement, the areas still flashing caution, and what the Federal Reserve and inflation trends may mean for the next leg of the market move.Stay informed with #MarketsWithMegan as Megan breaks down the market reversal, the broa...
2025-12-0104 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateRebound or Red Flag? 3Q25 Recap | S2 E086 | 10-06-25It was a strong quarter for investors — but what does the third quarter of 2025 really tell us about where markets and the economy are headed next? In this episode of Markets with Megan, Verdence Chief Investment Officer Megan Horneman breaks down the biggest stories from Q3: the impact of the government shutdown, economic data delays, and how stocks, bonds, and commodities performed.Find out what sectors led the rally, where risks may be hiding heading into Q4, and what investors should watch next as the Fed, inflation, and consumer spending continue to shape the out...
2025-10-0603 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateWhat's the Price of Ignoring Prices? | S2 E082 | 09-26-25📊 The equity markets cheered today’s inflation report — but should they? On this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman breaks down the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge (core PCE), the latest personal income and spending data, and why consumer behavior may not be sustainable. Inflation has now been climbing for four consecutive months, sitting at a sticky 2.9% year-over-year. Meanwhile, spending continues to outpace income, driving the savings rate to its lowest level this year.What does this mean for rate cuts, market complacency, and your financial outlook? 👉 Explore the full history of Markets with Megan episode...
2025-09-2602 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateGDP: Did Economists Get It Wrong (Again)? | S2 E081 | 09-26-25🚨 The U.S. economy just shocked Wall Street… AGAIN. Despite predictions, growth keeps beating expectations. In this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan breaks down the latest economic data, including the final Q2 GDP reading, and what it means for markets, investors, and YOU.📊 From surprise growth to shifting forecasts, CIO Megan Horneman unpacks the real story behind the headlines helping you see where the economy might be headed next.👉 Want more smart market insights every week?🔗 Get a full history of episodes here: http://MarketsWithMegan.fm#StockMarket #Economy #Investing #Finance #WealthManagement #GDP #MarketUpd...
2025-09-2602 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateFed's Mixed Signals: Growth Up, Rates Down | S2 E079 | 09-17-25The Fed Cuts Rates Again—But Does the Math Add Up?The market got the rate cut it wanted—25 basis points—but the Fed’s projections are raising eyebrows. In this episode of Markets with Megan, Verdence Capital Advisors CIO Megan Horneman unpacks the details behind the Federal Reserve’s decision and why the dot plot might not tell the whole story.What’s behind the contradiction of stronger GDP, lower unemployment, higher inflation, and more rate cuts? Megan explains how the bond market is reacting, what it means for investors, and why she’s cautious about...
2025-09-1704 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateIs PPI Report the Fed's Green Light | S2 E076 | 09-10-25The Producer Price Index (PPI) is out — and it’s sending a big signal about inflation, the Fed, and the future of markets.In this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman breaks down:✅ What the latest PPI numbers tell us about producer-level inflation 📊✅ Why this matters for consumer prices, wages, and supply chains 💵✅ How the Federal Reserve could react in upcoming meetings 🏦✅ The ripple effects on stocks, bonds, and the economy 📉If you’re watching inflation trends and Fed policy, this PPI report is a must-watch indicator. Take 2 minutes. Stay ahead of the market moves...
2025-09-1002 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets Update30 Out of Last 32 Months in Contraction? | S2 E072 | 09-02-25📊 Manufacturing in the U.S. just won’t recover. The latest ISM Manufacturing Index shows another month in contraction—making it 30 out of the past 32 months below 50. Headlines are calling this “good news” because prices paid dipped, but Megan Horneman discusses why the reality isn’t as positive as it sounds.👉 In this episode of Markets with Megan, we cover:Why U.S. manufacturing can’t shake its slump 🏭The truth behind the “prices paid” data and Fed rate cut chatter 💸How inflation pressures are still lurking despite optimistic headlines 🔥What to watch next in the ISM Se...
2025-09-0204 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateSurprise Earnings! What’s next? | S2 E071 | 09-02-25The 2Q earnings season recap is in — and the results were stronger than expected! 📈 Nearly 80% of companies beat Wall Street estimates, with year-over-year earnings growth topping 12%. That’s above both forecasts and the 10-year average.In this episode of Markets with Megan, CIO Megan Horneman breaks down:✅ Why recession fears are fading (mentions of “recession” fell 90% on earnings calls)✅ How Amazon & Walmart surprised with stronger-than-expected retail performance 🛍️✅ Why tech & semiconductors (led by Nvidia) drove the biggest gains 🚀✅ What rising tariffs and shifting consumer spending habits could mean ahead✅ Why 3Q earnings expectations may be too high — and could s...
2025-09-0203 min
Markets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateA Housing Market Tug-of-War | S2 E067 | 08-19-25The August housing report is in, and it’s raising eyebrows. 🏡📉 In this episode of Markets with Megan, Verdence Chief Investment Officer Megan Horneman breaks down the latest Housing Starts and Building Permits data, what it signals for the real estate market, and how it ties into the broader U.S. economy.With interest rates, inflation, and home affordability all in the spotlight, Megan answers the big questions:🏠 Are higher borrowing costs slowing down builders?📊 What does the permits vs. starts gap mean for future supply?💵 How might this impact homebuyers, sellers, and investors?
2025-08-1902 minMarkets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateEquity Euphoria or Economic Mirage? July Recap | S2 E066 | 08-07-25July 2025 was a historic month for U.S. equity investors! 📈 In this episode of Markets with Megan, Verdence CIO Megan Horneman breaks down the key drivers behind the S&P 500 hitting 15 record highs, the behavior of the bond markets, and the latest economic data that had investors buzzing. 🌍 From equity strength to interest rate expectations, Megan uncovers whether this market momentum has real staying power or if investors should prepare for a shift. Tune in for expert insight on:📊 S&P 500 & Russell 1000 performance💵 Bond yield trends📉 Inflation signals🏦 Central bank watch
2025-08-0702 minMarkets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateAre Jobless Claims About to Spark a Market Shift? | S2 E065 | 08-07-25📉 U.S. jobless claims are rising. But is this a red flag for the economy or just a temporary shift in the labor market? In this episode of Markets with Megan, 📊 Chief Investment Officer Megan Horneman disects the latest unemployment data, what it means for the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy, and how it could impact your investment strategy heading into the fall.🏛️ Is the Fed’s tightening cycle finally cooling the job market?💼 Are we seeing early signs of a soft landing, or is something deeper brewing beneath the surface?📈 Megan breaks down the number...
2025-08-0702 minMarkets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateHousing Prices Staying Hot or Getting Chilly? | S2 E061 | 07-29-25Housing prices just won't quit—but is that about to change? In this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman, CIO of Verdence Capital Advisors, unpacks the latest housing price data and what it means for buyers, sellers, and the broader economy. With affordability still a major issue and inventory constraints tightening, Megan breaks down what’s fueling these price trends, how the Fed might respond, and why this data matters for investors.➡️ Tune in to hear how this housing report ties into inflation and what to watch for in upcoming market movements.📲...
2025-07-2902 minMarkets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateCould Strong Retail Sales Delay Fed Rate Cuts? | S2 E058 | 07-17-25Retail sales just surprised Wall Street — again. On this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman, CIO of Verdence Capital Advisors, dives into the latest economic data and why the U.S. consumer continues to defy expectations. June’s retail report came in stronger than economists anticipated, sparking questions about inflation, interest rate policy, and whether this resilience is sustainable.Megan breaks down:- What categories drove the surprise- Why these numbers matter to investors and the Fed- How markets are reacting- What it means for future rate cuts and...
2025-07-1704 minMarkets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateHow Markets Are Reacting to Rising Tensions with Iran | S2 E053 | 06-23-25After U.S. military action over the weekend, markets opened with mixed signals. Megan Horneman, CIO of Verdence Capital Advisors, shares how investors are interpreting the unfolding events in the Middle East, what’s happening with oil and gold, and how this could influence the Fed's path on interest rates.Key topics covered:-Market reaction to geopolitical tension-Investor sentiment and safe-haven assets-Fed rate cut outlook for 2025Historical market performance post-conflict📉 What’s the real risk to inflation?📈 Will the Fed still cut in September?💡 Why staying disci...
2025-06-2304 minMarkets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateRecession Red Flag: ISM Services Drop | S2 E050 | 06-04-25The U.S. economy just sent a warning signal. ⚠️ In this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman breaks down the ISM Services Index report for May—and it's not pretty. For the first time in 11 months, the index dropped below 50, indicating contraction in the critical U.S. services sector.🔍 What does this mean for the markets?⚠️ Is a recession back on the table?💼 How will this impact the Fed’s next move?Megan walks you through the key indicators, the market reaction, and what investors should watch next. 📊 Stay informed. Stay ahead.👇...
2025-06-0402 minMarkets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateRecession Red Flag: ISM Services Drop | S2 E050 | 06-04-25The U.S. economy just sent a warning signal. ⚠️ In this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman breaks down the ISM Services Index report for May—and it's not pretty. For the first time in 11 months, the index dropped below 50, indicating contraction in the critical U.S. services sector.🔍 What does this mean for the markets?⚠️ Is a recession back on the table?💼 How will this impact the Fed’s next move?Megan walks you through the key indicators, the market reaction, and what investors should watch next. 📊 Stay informed. Stay ahead.👇...
2025-06-0402 minMarkets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateHousing Market In Crisis Again? | S2 E046 | 05-22-25The U.S. housing market just hit a new low. In this episode of Markets with Megan, Verdence CIO Megan Horneman breaks down the shocking April home sales data—revealing the worst April for existing home sales since 2009, during the depths of the Great Recession.📉 Sales fell for the fourth time in five months, driven by weak demand, high interest rates, and uncertain buyer sentiment. Megan explains what this means for the broader economy, mortgage markets, and your investments.🏡 Topics Covered:- April housing market report breakdown- Why home sales are collapsing- Ho...
2025-05-2201 minMarkets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateCracks in the Consumer: Retail Sales Miss the Mark | S2 E043 | 05-15-25📉 CRACKS IN THE CONSUMER? Here’s what the April retail sales data just revealed—and why markets are watching closely.In this episode of Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman breaks down the April retail sales report and uncovers signs that the consumer—who powers the bulk of U.S. GDP—might be starting to weaken. From auto and clothing sales slumping to the all-important control group declining for the fourth time in seven months, the signs are subtle, but significant.📌 Topics Covered:- The April retail sales surprise: what rose, what fell- Why the...
2025-05-1503 minMarkets with Megan: A Quick Financial Markets UpdateUS-UK Trade Deal: Unpacking the New Framework | S2 E040 | 05-08-25📈 Markets are rallying—and it’s all thanks to trade. In this special episode of Markets with Megan, CIO Megan Horneman dives into the just-announced US–UK trade framework and what it means for investors.🚨 The UK is slashing tariffs on cars, buying billions in Boeing parts, and opening the door to US agricultural exports. Is this the first domino in a broader trade thaw?Tune in to learn:Why this deal is a game-changer for equitiesWhich sectors are leading and laggingHow this could shape future global trade talks
2025-05-0803 min