Tom Lydon

Small-caps and related exchange traded funds have garnered plenty of attention in 2023 -- much of it for the wrong reasons.

The United Nations (UN) is advocating for a “Blue Deal,” which highlights the potency of the ocean economy.

When it comes to accessing clean technology and green energy stocks in broad-based form, investors might find the best option is thematic ETFs.

With 2024 soon arriving, optimism could be reborn that broader gauges of emerging market stocks could finally outperform domestic rivals. Betting on that happening is easier said than done. That’s particularly so when considering the MSCI Emerging Markets Index’s now lengthy losing streak against the S&P 500. Currently, major global banks have tepid forecasts for that benchmark in 2024, forecasting single-digit gains. But there will be pockets of opportunity for potentially greater upside. India could again be one of those destinations.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is widely viewed as a disruptive technology, and it is. That’s the form of AI most familiar to end users and market participants. Being a disruptive technology means investment implications for the technology sector. But other sectors and industries stand to benefit from generative AI’s evolution.

Among Asia’s major economies, China has long been the benchmark against which other countries’ growth is measured. India, currently the continent’s third-largest economy behind China and Japan, appears poised to take the baton of economic growth leadership.

November was kind to fixed income investors as bonds posted their best month of 2023. High yield corporate debt participated in that rally as highlighted by the fact that the largest junk bond exchange traded fund is higher by nearly 4.3% over the past month.

The 28th United Nations Climate Change conference, also known as COP28, is taking place this week in Dubai.

As of late Monday, bitcoin had surged nearly 14% over the past seven days, running through 42% for the first time since May 2022.

In the Chinese zodiac, 2024 is the year of the dragon. For stocks in the world’s second-largest economy, next year could be the year of the bull, as some major global banks are forecasting a resurgence by China equities.