AlexSecret Scott Wren, senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, predicts the S&P 500 ( SP500 ) will climb to 7,500 by the end of the year, citing strong economic fundamentals and supportive market conditions. In an interview with CNBC, Wren outlined a bullish case for equities despite current geopolitical uncertainties, emphasizing that recent pullbacks represent buying...
AlexSecret Scott Wren, senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, predicts the S&P 500 ( SP500 ) will climb to 7,500 by the end of the year, citing strong economic fundamentals and supportive market conditions. In an interview with CNBC, Wren outlined a bullish case for equities despite current geopolitical uncertainties, emphasizing that recent pullbacks represent buying opportunities for investors. The strategist pointed to several economic tailwinds driving his optimistic outlook, including continued AI-related capital expenditures and resilient consumer spending. “Americans with jobs, unemployment rates low, and money in their pockets, they’re going to go out and spend it,” Wren said, adding that deregulation and potential tax rebates from the Big Beautiful Bill will further support growth. On energy markets, Wren is taking a more cautious approach, trimming exposure to energy-related positions and reallocating toward financials ( XLF ), industrials ( XLI ), and utilities ( XLU ). He views the current conflict affecting the straits as “an event that is of limited duration,” expecting oil prices ( CO1:COM ), ( CL1:COM ) to decline meaningfully once the situation stabilizes. Wren acknowledged that inflation could tick up slightly, with Wells Fargo forecasting a 2.9% CPI expectation for year-end, but he remains unconcerned about its broader economic impact. The firm also projects record earnings for the S&P 500 ( SP500 ) and approximately 2.9% GDP growth, with Wren noting that “interest rates are not at levels that are going to really create a lot of headwinds for the economy.” From a sector perspective, the strategist is shifting commodity allocations toward industrial ( XLI ) and precious metals ( GLTR ), ( DBP ) while noting that the technology sector is becoming “a little more interesting” at current valuations. Wren emphasized the importance of remaining cyclically oriented rather than defensive during market dips, pointing to technic...
Monty Rakusen The S&P U.S. Manufacturing PMI index rose to 52.3 in March, vs. the initial estimate of 52.4 and 51.6 in February. Higher output and new orders helped to support the PMI in March. Some firms reported an uplift in demand, linked in part to safety stock building and attempts to secure supply and prices following the outbreak of war in the Middle East. However, growth was mainly domesti...
Monty Rakusen The S&P U.S. Manufacturing PMI index rose to 52.3 in March, vs. the initial estimate of 52.4 and 51.6 in February. Higher output and new orders helped to support the PMI in March. Some firms reported an uplift in demand, linked in part to safety stock building and attempts to secure supply and prices following the outbreak of war in the Middle East. However, growth was mainly domestically driven. International sales continued to decline as tariffs and shipping challenges weighed on foreign demand. "Faster growth of output in March points to encouraging resilience for U.S. manufacturing in the face of the outbreak of war in the Middle East," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. "Business confidence regarding output in the year ahead has also so far held up well," said Williamson. Firms are hopeful that March's overall increase in sales will be sustained over the coming months, and with planned uplifts to capital expenditure and R&D also noted, confidence in the outlook remained positive overall. However, worries over energy prices and tariffs meant expectations softened slightly since February. More on Manufacturing Chicago PMI falls more than expected in March U.S. PMI Composite edges down in March, manufacturing PMI rises
In 2023, the Swedish government announced that the country’s schools would be going back to basics , emphasizing skills such as reading and writing, particularly in early grades. After mostly being sidelined, physical books are now being reintroduced into classrooms, and students are learning to write the old-fashioned way: by hand, with a pencil or pen, on sheets of paper. The Swedish government ...
In 2023, the Swedish government announced that the country’s schools would be going back to basics , emphasizing skills such as reading and writing, particularly in early grades. After mostly being sidelined, physical books are now being reintroduced into classrooms, and students are learning to write the old-fashioned way: by hand, with a pencil or pen, on sheets of paper. The Swedish government also plans to make schools cellphone-free throughout the country. Educational authorities have been investing heavily. Last year alone, the education ministry allocated $83 million to purchase textbooks and teachers’ guides. In a country with about 11 million people, the aim is for every student to have a physical textbook for each subject. The government also put $54 million towards the purchase of fiction and non-fiction books for students. These moves represent a dramatic pivot from previous decades, during which Sweden—and many other nations— moved away from physical books in favor of tablets and digital resources in an effort to prepare students for life in an online world. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Nordic country’s efforts have sparked a debate on the role of digital technology in education, one that extends well beyond the country’s borders. US parents in districts that have adopted digital technology to a great extent may be wondering if educators will reverse course, too. Read full article Comments
(RTTNews) - Franklin Templeton, an investment company and a subsidiary of Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN), said on Wednesday that it has decided to acquire 250 Digital, an active cryptocurrency investment management firm led by Christopher Perkins and Seth Ginns of CoinFund Managem
(RTTNews) - Franklin Templeton, an investment company and a subsidiary of Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN), said on Wednesday that it has decided to acquire 250 Digital, an active cryptocurrency investment management firm led by Christopher Perkins and Seth Ginns of CoinFund Managem
Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest is expanding retail access to private-market innovation, announcing that investors can now gain exposure to OpenAI ( OPENAI ) through three of its flagship exchange traded funds. The firm said the ARK Innovation ETF ( ARKK ), ARK Next Generation Internet ETF ( ARKW ), and ARK Fintech Innovation ETF ( ARKF ) will, for the first time, include direct cap table exposure to the...
Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest is expanding retail access to private-market innovation, announcing that investors can now gain exposure to OpenAI ( OPENAI ) through three of its flagship exchange traded funds. The firm said the ARK Innovation ETF ( ARKK ), ARK Next Generation Internet ETF ( ARKW ), and ARK Fintech Innovation ETF ( ARKF ) will, for the first time, include direct cap table exposure to the artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT. The move comes alongside an increased allocation within the ARK Venture Fund ( ARKVX ), reinforcing the firm’s conviction in AI as a long-term driver of economic transformation. CEO Cathie Wood has consistently emphasized the importance of democratizing access to disruptive technologies typically reserved for venture capital investors. Ark Invest views artificial intelligence as a foundational shift reshaping productivity, commerce, and information access. The firm believes AI could significantly lower barriers to entrepreneurship while enhancing the capabilities of knowledge workers through autonomous digital agents. While adding private-company exposure introduces valuation uncertainty and liquidity constraints, ARK says it views OpenAI as a key player in the evolving AI landscape, with the inclusion intended to provide investors with indirect access to potential growth tied to ongoing developments in the sector. More on markets Countdown to Trump’s address to the nation: What will he say? Treasury yields surge in March, posting the biggest monthly jump since 2024 Wells Fargo lowers its year-end S&P 500 target from 7,800 to 7,300 S&P 500 is on pace for its worst month since 2022 as broad selloff deepens Selling pressure intensifies as now nearly 300 of the S&P 500 names trade lower in 2026
Trump Drops By Supreme Court To Hear Challenge To Birthright Citizenship Order Update (0950ET): President Trump dropped by the Supreme Court on Wednesday for oral arguments in the high-profile Trump v. Barbara challenging his executive order restricting birthright citizenship - making him the first sitting US president to attend Supreme Court oral arguments . BREAKING President Trump has just arri...
Trump Drops By Supreme Court To Hear Challenge To Birthright Citizenship Order Update (0950ET): President Trump dropped by the Supreme Court on Wednesday for oral arguments in the high-profile Trump v. Barbara challenging his executive order restricting birthright citizenship - making him the first sitting US president to attend Supreme Court oral arguments . BREAKING President Trump has just arrived at the Supreme Court as the Justices hear oral arguments in the Birthright Citizenship case. pic.twitter.com/gc1jUdclki — Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) April 1, 2026 The stop was on Trump's official schedule sent out by the White House, which Trump announced on Tuesday. 🚨 BREAKING: President Trump said he is GOING to the Supreme Court when they hear the birthright citizenship case tomorrow Wow! This could truly be THE most important case in modern US history—and 47’s taking it seriously No more anchor babies! pic.twitter.com/e5BZZzk0ws — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 31, 2026 The line has already formed outside of the Supreme Court for Wednesday’s oral arguments in Trump v. Barbara, which will determine the legality of Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship. People at the front of the line told me they got here yesterday. pic.twitter.com/OnXAWzhKsz — amanda moore 🐢 (@noturtlesoup17) March 31, 2026 * * * Authored by Matthew Vadum via The Epoch Times, The U.S. Supreme Court on April 1 will consider whether President Donald Trump’s executive order excluding the children of illegal immigrants and legal temporary visitors from automatic birthright citizenship is constitutional. Trump, who has frequently used the term “anchor babies” to refer to children born in the United States to illegal immigrant parents, issued Executive Order 14160 on Jan. 20, 2025, in hopes of ending the practice. His order, which is about to be considered by the justices, was blocked by lower courts. U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer said in the government’s petition that...