Today marks a bittersweet moment for the Independent Market Observer (IMO) as we publish our final blog post and bring IMO to a close. Thank you to our readers for following along over the years. We look forward to continuing to share timely market perspectives through the combined research efforts of Commonwealth Financial Network and LPL Financial. I will continue writing for the LPL Research blog, and I hope you will join me there to keep abreast of the latest market and economic news.

Given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the surge in oil prices, inflation is top of mind for many investors. But is it here to stay? In this month's episode, Sam and I discuss what message the bond market is sending on interest rates and how the Fed will react to the inflationary environment.

With a weak jobs report and inflation running hot, many investors are wondering what the Fed will do next. In this month's edition of the Market Observatory, Sam and I dive into the details of the latest data and what it could mean for the central bank in the months ahead.

The first half of 2026 was shaped by market-moving headlines. The conflict in the Middle East was the most significant story, triggering a short-term market sell-off. But investors also focused on the Supreme Court’s decision that the mechanism by which the Trump administration implemented last year’s tariffs was illegal, increased scrutiny on AI infrastructure spending and the ability to earn a return on it, and a transition of Fed leadership from Jerome Powell to Kevin Warsh.

Midterm elections. A change of leadership at the Fed. The shifting AI theme. There's a lot for investors to think about as we move into the second half of the year. To help navigate the path ahead for markets and the economy, Sam and I welcomed a special guest to this month's Market Observatory, Marc Zabicki, LPL's chief investment officer.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is in full swing. It will include 104 games played in 16 stadiums, 11 of which are in major U.S. cities. But here's the big question for investors: Will the World Cup be a win for the U.S. economy?

Despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and rising oil prices, stock markets have reached all-time highs. It seems investors have been able to look past the short-term noise and focus on the fundamentals. But are there other risks on the horizon?

Stocks have been on a bit of a rollercoaster over the past two months. If your nature is to tune out the noise and check in occasionally, you might have missed it. After a 9 percent sell-off earlier in the year, markets quickly rebounded and have recently traded at all-time highs.

As we enter the second month of the conflict in the Middle East, what impacts are we seeing on the markets and economy? In this month's episode of the Market Observatory, Sam and I look beyond the headlines and focus on the fundamentals. From corporate earnings to rising inflation to recent jobs data, a balance of headwinds and tailwinds has started to emerge for investors.

In this week's Market Observatory, Sam and I break down the challenging landscape the Fed must navigate in the weeks and months ahead, including surging oil prices, inflation worries, and weakness on the jobs front. What will it all mean for interest rates? Listen in to our latest episode for more: