Market Commentary
Financial markets are dynamic and awash in numbers and data. But how much of it is just noise? Northwestern Mutual's market commentary, written by our experts, simplifies the complexities of stocks, economics and policy to help you better understand our view about what's moving the market.
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The Great Expectations Game: Putting the Recent Bond Market Volatility in Context
May 20, 2022 -
How We View Recent Market Volatility
May 19, 2022 -
Inflation’s Stubborn Streak
May 16, 2022 -
Viewing Market Turmoil Through a Fundamental Prism
May 09, 2022 -
Context About Recent Bond Market Volatility
May 05, 2022 -
What Does the Federal Reserve’s Latest Rate Hike Mean for Investors?
May 04, 2022 -
Glimmers of Optimism Amid the Gloom
May 02, 2022 -
Taking a Longer View Amid Short-Term Market Turmoil
April 25, 2022 -
Markets Await Direction on Rates, Inflation and the Economy
April 18, 2022 -
What a Yield Curve Inversion Means for Investors
April 15, 2022 -
Another Inflationary Shock to Contemplate
April 12, 2022 -
Yield-Curve Inversions, Higher Rates and Recession
April 11, 2022 -
Jobs Market and Inflation Come in Hot: But There’s More to the Story
April 04, 2022 -
The Yield Curve Is Tightening, but There’s More to the Story
March 28, 2022 -
Markets Give Nod to Higher Rates
March 21, 2022 -
Commodities Price Spike May Soften the Fed’s Approach
March 14, 2022 -
Strong Economy Can Carry Market Through Uncertain Times
March 09, 2022 -
World Weighs Humanitarian, Economic Toll of the Ukraine War
March 07, 2022 -
The Fed Is Raising Rates: Here's How Markets Have Performed in the Past
March 02, 2022 -
Markets Resilient Amid Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
February 28, 2022 -
The Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Perspective from NM Investment Leaders
February 24, 2022 -
Evidence Mounting That Inflation Has Peaked
February 21, 2022 -
Markets Price in 6 Rate Hikes in 2022
February 14, 2022 -
Earnings Reports Drive Big Swings in Market’s Largest Companies
February 07, 2022 -
Price Stability in Focus for the Fed
January 31, 2022 -
The '60/40 Portfolio' Isn’t Dead, But It Could Use a Tune-up
January 27, 2022 -
Fed to Chart the Course Ahead in First Policy Meeting of 2022
January 24, 2022 -
Inflation Hottest Since 1982, But It’s Bound to Fade Like the Walkman
January 18, 2022 -
REITs Outshine the Field in 2021 Asset Class Performance
January 18, 2022 -
The Long and Winding Road That Leads to ‘Normal’
January 12, 2022 -
Markets Pause to Consider Potential for Faster-Moving Fed
January 10, 2022 -
The Economy Is Ready to Walk Without the Fed’s Help
December 20, 2021 -
Inflation Hot but in Line With Expectations
December 13, 2021 -
An Economy Lurching Ever Closer to 'Normal'
December 08, 2021 -
Did the Fed Really Change Its Tune on Inflation?
December 06, 2021 -
Interest Rates, Omicron Deal Markets a One-Two Punch
November 29, 2021 -
Supply Chain Pressures Show Signs of Easing
November 22, 2021 -
Despite Plenty of Tailwinds, Consumer Sentiment Sours
November 15, 2021 -
Market Fears Begin to Fade
November 08, 2021 -
Markets Notch Records With Inflation at 30-year High
November 01, 2021 -
Inflation Sticking Around, but Patience Is Warranted
October 25, 2021 -
Markets Power Higher as Q3 Earnings Ramp Up
October 18, 2021 -
How to Avoid an Unwanted Tax Hit from Year-End Mutual Fund Distributions
October 14, 2021 -
Why We’re Looking Past a Sluggish Jobs Report
October 11, 2021 -
Markets Take a Breather, But a Transitory One
October 07, 2021 -
October Trading Opens on Positive Note
October 04, 2021 -
Markets in Holding Pattern as Several Uncertainties Come to a Head
September 27, 2021 -
Markets Await Fed Chairman’s Comments on Inflation, Quantitative Easing
September 20, 2021 -
Why the Federal Reserve May Taper Its Quantitative Easing Program
September 17, 2021 -
How Success Breeds Greater Risk in an Investment Portfolio
September 15, 2021 -
Job Openings Reached a Record 10.9 Million in July
September 13, 2021 -
Why 3 Big Market Fears Aren’t as Worrisome as Advertised
September 08, 2021 -
Delta Variant May Already Be Exerting Max Impact
September 07, 2021 -
September Could Prove Critical for Fed’s Taper Timeline
August 30, 2021 -
Markets Rise as Economy Continues Seeking an Equilibrium
August 23, 2021 -
Markets Welcome Tamer Inflation, Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
August 16, 2021 -
Trio of Worries Cool as Economic Data Remain Strong
August 09, 2021 -
Corporate Earnings Come in Well Ahead of Forecasts
August 02, 2021 -
Don’t Let Fears of a Correction Derail Your Financial Plan
July 30, 2021 -
Delta Variant Could Claim Market Narrative in Days Ahead
July 26, 2021 -
Inflationary Pressures Likely to Wane in Months Ahead
July 19, 2021 -
Is Dollar-Cost Averaging Better Than Lump-Sum Investing?
July 13, 2021 -
Data-Heavy Week Could Fuel Market Volatility
July 12, 2021 -
Labor Market, Productivity Gains Can Fuel Expansion for Some Time
July 09, 2021 -
Markets Bolstered by Consumer Confidence, Job Growth
July 06, 2021 -
Eurozone Growth Accelerates to 15-year High
June 28, 2021 -
A Fed Rate Hike by 2023? The Fed’s Pivot Doesn’t Change Our Outlook
June 21, 2021 -
Inflation Surges, But There’s More to The Story
June 14, 2021 -
Crypto: What to Know About the Buzz
June 10, 2021 -
A New Economic Framework for the Road Ahead
June 07, 2021 -
Risks and Opportunity in a Post-Pandemic Economy
June 07, 2021 -
How Active Fund Managers Turned the Tables
June 02, 2021 -
Data Mixed, Still Point Toward Broader Global Growth
June 01, 2021 -
Economic Recovery Gaining Momentum and Beginning to Expand Globally
May 24, 2021 -
Inflationary Pressures on the Rise, But Could Still Prove Temporary
May 17, 2021 -
Jobs Report a Blip on Overall Growth Trajectory
May 10, 2021 -
Economy Grows Stronger, Could Get More Stimulus
May 03, 2021 -
As Recovery Gains Momentum, Questions Linger About Inflation and Taxes
April 26, 2021 -
Strong Reports Show Broadening of Economic Recovery
April 19, 2021 -
Balancing Current Robust Growth With Future Expectations
April 12, 2021 -
Descending From the “Easy Policy” Mountain Summit
April 08, 2021 -
New Quarter Kicks Off With Solid Economic Momentum
April 05, 2021 -
Broad and Strong Trends Emerge as Quarter Ends
March 29, 2021 -
A Year Later: What We Learned From the COVID-19 Recession
March 23, 2021 -
Economic Data Mixed as Fed Pledges Continued Support
March 22, 2021 -
How Tax-Loss Harvesting Can Add Value to Your Investments
March 17, 2021 -
Signs of Future Inflationary Pressures Emerging as the Economy Continues to Reopen
March 15, 2021 -
The Markets and the Economy Are Connected
March 09, 2021 -
Economy Gains Strength as Services Sector Drives Job Growth
March 08, 2021 -
Rising Bond Yields Are a Sign Economic Recovery is Expanding
March 01, 2021 -
Data Point to Cyclical Uptick in Growth
February 22, 2021 -
Inflation Expectations Increase, Here’s Why That’s Okay
February 15, 2021 -
How History Anticipated a COVID-19 Bounce Back
February 11, 2021 -
Data and Earnings Confirm Outlook for Broader Economic Recovery
February 08, 2021 -
Speculative Activity Does Not Alter Outlook for Economic Recovery
February 01, 2021 -
The ‘Reddit Squeeze’ Doesn’t Change the Long-Term View
January 29, 2021 -
Manufacturing Momentum Builds to Open 2021
January 25, 2021 -
2021 Could Mark a Big Shift in Market Leadership
January 20, 2021 -
With All Eyes on the Inauguration, Stay Focused on the Long Term
January 19, 2021 -
Markets, Democracy Unswayed by Capitol Chaos
January 11, 2021 -
Once in a Lifetime ... Same as It Ever Was
January 11, 2021 -
Georgia Runoffs in the Spotlight This Week
January 04, 2021 -
Jobless Claims Rise, But Hope Is on the Horizon
December 21, 2020 -
Markets Brace for a Jam-Packed Week of News, Economic Data
December 14, 2020 -
A Market Rotation Is On … Why That’s a Good Sign for the Economy
December 07, 2020 -
Dow Briefly Eclipses 30,000 as Optimism Reigns
November 30, 2020 -
How Northwestern Mutual Selects Investments for Clients
November 30, 2020 -
Markets Balancing Challenges of Today With 2021 Optimism
November 23, 2020 -
Vaccine Hopes Buoy Markets
November 16, 2020 -
Stocks Open Week Strong on Pfizer’s Vaccine News
November 09, 2020 -
Election Day Perspectives: Our Experts Weigh In
November 04, 2020 -
The Election and Markets: 5 Key Points to Remember
November 02, 2020 -
More Positive Economic Signs Emerge, Despite Uncertainty
October 26, 2020 -
Elections and Markets: A Q&A with Northwestern Mutual Portfolio Managers
October 23, 2020 -
Retail Sales Impress Amid Concerns About a Second Wave
October 19, 2020 -
Stocks March in Line with Stimulus Negotiations
October 12, 2020 -
Climbing Out of the COVID-Induced Economic and Market Valley
October 07, 2020 -
Markets Rise and Fall with Ins and Outs of Stimulus Talks
October 05, 2020 -
Presidential Debate, Jobs Report Could Yield Another Choppy Week
September 28, 2020 -
Avoid ‘Overweighting’ Election Outcomes When Investing
September 24, 2020 -
Health Officials, Fed Help Clear a Foggy Outlook
September 21, 2020 -
Markets Sluggish, But the Recovery Marches On
September 14, 2020 -
Stocks Hit an Air Pocket as the Labor Market Mends
September 08, 2020 -
Consumers Spending Today, But Worried About Tomorrow
August 31, 2020 -
S&P 500 Completes V-Shaped Recovery
August 24, 2020 -
Job Recovery Continues, But Relief Talks Stall
August 17, 2020 -
Unemployment Rate Falls While Political Tensions Rise
August 10, 2020 -
Big Tech Shines Amid Uncertain Climate
August 03, 2020 -
After Sluggish Week, All Eyes on Stimulus, Earnings
July 27, 2020 -
Recovery Takes Shape, But Uncertainty Remains
July 20, 2020 -
More Signs of Economic Recovery
July 13, 2020 -
Stocks Disconnected from Reality? Here’s Why Valuations Are Still Rational
July 09, 2020 -
Economic Data Continues to Exceed Tempered Expectations
July 06, 2020 -
Why the Weeks Ahead Are Critical for Markets
June 29, 2020 -
Economy Improves, Though Coronavirus Cases Reaccelerate
June 22, 2020 -
Stocks Pause, But Recovery Still on Track
June 15, 2020 -
Signs of Resilience in Uncertain Times
June 08, 2020 -
Stocks Continue to Look Past Turbulence
June 01, 2020 -
Markets Rise, and Fall, With Vaccine Headlines
May 26, 2020 -
Stocks’ Weekly Winning Streak Ends After Dose of Reality
May 18, 2020 -
Have We Reached the Bottom of the Economic Valley? Markets Seem to Think So
May 11, 2020 -
As States Reopen, Market’s Attention Will Shift to Hard Data
May 04, 2020 -
More Stimulus on the Way
April 27, 2020 -
Signs of Progress on 3 Key Fronts on the Coronavirus Pandemic
April 20, 2020 -
Fed Reaches Deeper into Toolbox as Unemployment Claims Surpass 16 Million
April 13, 2020 -
4 Markers We’re Watching for Coronavirus Progress
April 08, 2020 -
Coronavirus Crisis Enters a New Stage
April 06, 2020 -
President Signs Largest U.S. Aid Package in History
March 30, 2020 -
Are Bond ETFs Passing the Test Right Now?
March 24, 2020 -
Fed Announces Major New Action to Cushion Economy, Stabilize Markets
March 23, 2020 -
Fed Cuts to Near Zero, President Announces Coronavirus Aid
March 16, 2020 -
Bond Yields, ‘Fear Gauge’ in Rare Territory
March 09, 2020 -
Our Broader Economic View as Virus Fear Pushes Markets Into a Correction
March 02, 2020 -
How the ‘Boris Bounce’ Mirrors Our Global Outlook
February 24, 2020 -
Consumers, Small Businesses Feeling Good in 2020
February 17, 2020 -
Jobs Data Shines While Virus Uncertainty Lingers
February 10, 2020 -
Market Volatility Returns on Heels of Virus Outbreak
February 03, 2020 -
Ever Changing ... Never Changing: A New Decade, Seismic Shifts and the Importance of Diversification
January 09, 2020 -
Peak Political Uncertainty
October 10, 2019 -
Is It Too Late Now to Say Sorry?
July 11, 2019