Investment News and Insights | BlackRock (2024)

BlackRock Investment Institute (BII)

Weekly market commentary

Markets see a positive near-term macro and corporate backdrop for the U.S. and Japan. We eye risks ahead. Read why we stay overweight stocks in both countries.

Retirement

Women in Investing: Strategies for Financial Empowerment

For The Bid podcast’s International Women’s Day episode, Gargi Pal Chaudhuri and Anne Ackerley sat down for a conversation about women and investing.

Portfolio Management Views

Active management will drive muni returns in 2024

Market update from BlackRock's municipal bond team.

Portfolio Management Views

Tech was best in Q4 earnings but look to the rest as market broadens

Q4 earnings were driven by home runs from the tech-plus mega-cap stocks, but Equity CIO Carrie King sees the playing field expanding in the quarters ahead.

Portfolio Management Views

Unlocking alpha opportunity in a world of higher dispersion

As we navigate a new regime of structurally higher inflation and interest rates, learn how investors can take advantage of higher dispersion to generate alpha.

Retirement

Who benefits from guaranteed lifetime income - and how?

BlackRock modelling shows that guaranteed lifetime income boosts savings for all workers and is an important tool to ensuring retirees successfully spend down their nest eggs and don’t outlive their savings.

Multi-Asset

Why stocks can survive bond market bumps

In this article, Russ Koesterich discusses the reason behind the recent resiliency of stocks, despite rising rates.

Portfolio Management Views

Systematic Equity Outlook: Victory not yet secured

What's ahead for equity markets? BlackRock’s systematic equity experts reveal what is driving their 2024 outlook and stock market forecasts.

Multi-Asset

Multi-Asset Income

Improve your income potential with a tactical, unconstrained strategy that sources opportunities across geographies and asset classes. BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Fund has a proven record for delivering attractive yield and total return with low vol...

Equities

The opportunity in Japanese stocks

Japan has struggled for decades but may be writing its rags-to-riches story. Belinda Boa sees multiple forces converging in support of Japanese stocks.

Alternatives

Inflation: Subject to change

We explore the dynamics of inflation revisions and shifts in market prices in response to core PCE data and analyze the impact on portfolios.

Multi-Asset

Barbell equity exposure in ‘24

Equities

Four stock investing insights for 2024

Investors who clung to cash in 2023 missed appealing stock returns. Equity CIO Tony DeSpirito takes stock of the new year with four considerations for ‘24.

Factors

A systematic framework to factor tilting

Factors are cyclical. Individual factors may experience periods of underperformance. A time-varying approach to factors may supersede factor investing alone.

Alternatives

Three market surprises of 2023 & what we’re watching entering 2024

We reflect on three macro developments that defied market expectations and share some of the questions that are top of mind as we turn our attention to 2024.

Multi-Asset

Election year suggests a more subdued ‘24

In this article, Russ Koesterich discusses why equity performance in 2024 may be more muted and warrant more focused positioning across segments of the market.

Retirement

To spend or not to spend?

Why some retirees are spending down their assets while others are not.

Bonds / Fixed Income

The Fixed Income opportunity for 2024

Rick Rieder argues that fixed income asset returns can appear prospectively most attractive after a prolonged back up in rates, so we see compelling opportunity.

Portfolio Management Views

Meet the new bond, same as the old bond?

Our fixed income market outlook explores what’s ahead for bond investors with rate cuts on the horizon for 2024.

Equities

Taking Stock: Q1 2024 Equity Market Outlook

Cash-heavy investors may have missed some of 2023’s strong stock returns. Tony DeSpirito eyes 2024 and managing the potential opportunity cost of safety.

Fixed Income

Factors in fixed income? It’s (not so) academic.

Does factor investing work in fixed income? Our bond experts explore how factors can be used to create more efficient and outcome-oriented bond portfolios.

BlackRock Investment Institute

Grabbing the wheel: putting money to work

We believe the volatile economic regime requires a more dynamic approach to investing to have greater rewards. Learn more about our big investment calls for 2024.

Portfolio Management Views

Q3 earnings reveal big dispersion, bigger need for stock selection

The Q3 earnings season was largely positive. But Equity CIO Carrie King saw clear signs of dispersion that suggest a need to be selective in U.S. stocks.

Portfolio Management Views

NVIDIA CEO, tech visionary shares AI insights and outlook

BlackRock’s Tony Kim was joined by NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang for an insightful conversation on accelerated computing and the future of AI.

Multi-Asset

Mega-cap tech as a long-term exposure

Russ Koesterich discusses why mega-cap technology companies may serve investors well as we head into the year-end despite the elevated interest rate environment.

Portfolio Management Views

Rotation to Duration: Seeking a More Resilient Portfolio

Consider adding duration to your investment portfolio. A potential Fed pause creates an opportunity, and duration can offer protection from market volatility

Retirement

Not slowing down: 30 years of LifePath® target date funds

In the 30 years since we pioneered target date funds, we’ve continually evolved our LifePath franchise to deliver the retirement outcomes savers need. So when they retire, they can do so on their own terms. Whether that means slowing down – or not.

Alternatives

Targeting resilient portfolio construction with alternatives

As investors address today’s portfolio construction challenges, a balanced and outcome-oriented allocation to alternatives may help build portfolio resiliency.

Portfolio Management Views

Intro to AI for curious investors

Generative AI has piqued interest and moved markets this year. Stock picker Tony DeSpirito offers 3 reasons for excitement and 3 areas for awareness.

Portfolio Management Views

Drive for Show, Putt for Dough

Rick Rieder and team argue that investing in today’s financial markets, not unlike a good round of golf, requires a mastery of the “short game.”

Factors

When Momentum Loses Momentum

Investors that are willing to endure periods of cyclical underperformance for the momentum factor may be able to effectively capture the long-term premium with momentum ETFs.

Multi-Asset

As the economy slows, favor consistency over volatility

Russ Koesterich, Managing Director, discusses why a moderation in economic growth may warrant an increased allocation to lower volatility stocks in portfolios.

Market Insights

Stealth stagnation: why the U.S. economy is not as robust as you think

The U.S. economy is not as resilient to rapid rate hikes as many think. Read why why we think the economy has basically flatlined for the last 18 months.

Portfolio Management Views

5 factors favoring stock selection

As markets become more discerning, stock picking becomes more important to achieving financial goals. Tony DeSpirito cites 5 factors favoring selectivity.

Retirement

Lack of Access Is a Crucial Factor to Preventing Retirement Savings

Workers earning less than average are not saving for retirement due to a lack of access – with those that have intuitive and automated tools saving more.

Multi-Asset

60/40: Not dead, just different

Russ Koesterich, Managing Director with Global Allocation discusses why today’s environment of higher interest rates may call for a tactical hedging approach.

Factors

Factors & the Magnificent Seven

Factors tend to favor breadth over concentration. Narrow leadership by the Magnificent Seven has been a challenge for factors; however, taking a long-term view may help remind investors the benefits of staying invested in these long-run drivers of re...

Multi-Asset

Why investors in retirement may want to consider an income approach

We examine the accumulation vs decumulation story in today’s markets to showcase why an income-centric approach can help those investing in retirement.

Portfolio Management Views

Q2 earnings reveal two areas to watch among U.S. stocks

Q2 earnings had something for everyone. For stock picker Carrie King, it brought questions around the consumer and optimism for the future of industrials.

Alternatives

Fiscal-monetary entanglement

Monetary policy and fiscal policy are typically thought of as independent, however we see that dynamic changing. We explore considerations for investors.

Bonds / Fixed Income

Investing in a Changing World: From Carburetors to Compilers

Rick Rieder and team argue that thinking about the economy and financial markets from the perspective of a “carburetor” (or physical property) doesn’t make sense in a “compiler” (or intellectual property) world.

Multi-Asset

Select segments of growth still providing steady returns

Following the YTD strength in equity markets, Russ Koesterich discusses how a combination of cyclicals, and a growth bias may serve investors well in today’s market.

Portfolio Management Views

Equity investing for a new era: The return of alpha

The era of easy money is ended. What next for stock investors? Equities CIO Tony DeSpirito says to get selective as alpha is poised to drive outcomes now.

Multi-Asset

Smaller recession risk suggests stronger cyclicals

Russ Koesterich, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager discuss how improving economic expectations may suggest adding to cyclical areas of the market.

Retirement

See the moment

BlackRock’s Read on Retirement survey reveals that financial burnout is on the rise – and one to watch. Explore the insights to see what trends are shaping retirement and driving the drop in confidence.

Portfolio Management Views

Healthcare stocks offer a prescription for resilience plus growth

Healthcare stocks are a diversified opportunity set featuring doses of resilience and growth potential. Industry expert Erin Xie tackles 5 key questions.

Factors

A Sharper Lens – Factors & Sectors

It’s not factors versus sectors. It’s factors and sectors. Factors can help investors better understand their portfolios.

Multi-Asset

Economic resilience complicates hedging with bonds

Russ Koesterich, CFA, JD, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of the Global Allocation team discusses the outlook for stock/bond correlations going forward.

Bonds / Fixed Income

Investors Rediscover the Importance of Getting Paid Back

Rick Rieder and team argue that one of the most important questions investors should ask today is “Am I getting paid back for the risk I am taking?

Retirement

How to optimize retirement income

BlackRock worked with the Bipartisan Policy Center to lift the veil on how to optimize retirement income – and the role policymakers have to play in advancing financial security.