Government Policy

Understand how policy decisions coming out of Washington may impact financial markets and your investments. Or explore other investing topics:

Congress Scrambling to Avoid Government Shutdown

Historically, government shutdowns have not caused a major reaction in the markets. But shutdowns can increase market volatility, and an extended shutdown could have an impact on the overall economy.

Will Rising Federal Debt Slow Economic Growth?

Over the past 70 years, rising government debt generally has been accompanied by weaker economic activity. But it's not a simple relationship.

Fed Pauses but Projects One More Hike This Year

The September Federal Reserve meeting provided few surprises, but ongoing uncertainty about the Fed's next move may mean more volatility ahead.

Schwab Market Perspective: Tension

Competing narratives have emerged to describe the state of the U.S. economy.

Unscrambling the Economy’s Mixed Messages

A barrage of conflicting economic data is keeping the investing horizon cloudy. What are market experts focusing on, why does it matter, and does it apply to your portfolio?

Fitch Downgrades U.S. Credit Rating

The surprise move takes the rating to AA+ from AAA.

Divergence: Rate Cuts, Pauses, and Hikes

Central bank policies are set to diverge from the steady hikes characterizing the first half of 2023, contributing to increased market volatility for the remainder of the year.

Artificial Intelligence: Investor Considerations

Artificial intelligence is all the buzz with investors. But how do you evaluate AI companies, and what are the intrinsic risks?

Artificial Intelligence: The Power and the Perils

The AI genie isn’t going back in the bottle, so how do individuals, companies, and governments harness its power while mitigating inherent risks?

Boring Can Be Beautiful: The Case for Bonds

After a disastrous 2022, things are looking up for bonds in 2023. Is now the time to put bonds back in your portfolio, and what should you consider before you start buying?