Research
Outlook 2024: A Turning Point
In 2024, we believe markets will make a definitive turn to a more recognizable place. En route, the transition will be marked by meaningful shifts in a few key areas. Inflation is going down. The risk of a recession is bubbling up again as the effect of post-pandemic...
Iran Escalation: How Markets Have Reacted to Geopolitical Events
As with the recent escalation in the Middle East, financial markets are constantly exposed to unpredictable events — from geopolitical conflicts and terror attacks to political transitions, corporate crises, and systemic financial shocks…
Risk-On Appetite Strong in 2026: Fund Flows Recap
With February behind us, we conducted a deeper dive into exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows over the month and year-to-date (YTD) periods. Flows measure the net movement of cash into and out of investment vehicles, such as mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETF).
How LPL Research Thinks About Dividends
Dividend strategies, a.k.a. equity income strategies, have outperformed to start the year, owing to the value-led cyclical rotation we are seeing in domestic equity markets. Looking beyond current performance, this week, we ask and answer the question “How should I think about dividend stocks or building an equity income portfolio?
Assessing the Impact of Developments in Iran: Watch Energy
Over the weekend, the United States and Israel conducted a coordinated series of missile and drone strikes against Iran, targeting several high-value military installations in an effort to hinder Iran’s nuclear development efforts…
Weekly Market Performance — February 27, 2026
LPL Research provides its Weekly Market Performance for the week of February 23, 2026. U.S. stocks fell for the week as concerns about AI’s disruptive impact drove a broader risk‑off shift. Technology and banks weakened, while defensive sectors held up better.
Continuation Funds: What They Are and Why They Matter
With traditional private equity investment exits facing difficulty over the past few years — albeit improving somewhat recently — private equity sponsors have increasingly relied on the use of continuation funds…