The U.S. economy continues to surprise with GDP growth revised up to 3.8% and consumer spending beating forecasts. Yet, as October approaches, investors face the prospect of government shutdown headlines and seasonal volatility. In this Protect Your Assets Market Briefing, David Hollander shares his take on what the latest data means, why diversification matters, and how to think about income planning in today’s environment.

The Fed’s recent rate cut pushed the Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq higher, while Treasuries and oil told a different story. In this Protect Your Assets market briefing, David Hollander explains what the Fed’s decision signals about the labor market, why job trends raise recession concerns, and how AI is reshaping the outlook. He also breaks down what investors should know about bonds now that much of the rally is priced in, how to approach equities at record highs, and which sectors may benefit most from lower rates and recent tax law changes.

This week’s briefing covers a softer labor market, declining Treasury yields, and why the Fed is widely expected to cut rates on September 17. We dig into what fewer job openings could mean for growth, how lower borrowing costs may affect mortgages and corporate activity, and where crude oil might find support after recent weakness. We also preview next week’s CPI and PPI releases, discuss why inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, and outline positioning ideas for a volatile September–October stretch. Plus, sectors we currently favor—financials and health care—and a reminder to use pullbacks to rebalance toward quality.

This week’s market briefing reviews the latest performance numbers and developments. The Dow gained 1.7%, the S&P is up more than 9% year to date, and small caps showed strength. A higher-than-expected Producer Price Index raised concerns about inflation, while attention now shifts to the Fed’s September meeting. David Hollander discusses the three factors influencing today’s market: inflation, Fed policy, and corporate earnings. The update also covers crypto as Bitcoin approaches new highs, ETFs expand, and global regulations evolve.

In this week’s Protect Your Assets Market Briefing, David Hollander examines key stock market trends for 2025, including a steepening yield curve, strong corporate earnings, and the potential impact of upcoming Fed rate cuts. Learn which sectors (like banks, small caps, utilities, and REITs) could benefit, and why consumer discretionary, financial services, and health care remain worth watching. Plus, explore bond strategies for a changing interest rate environment.