COMMENTARY August has typically brought some seasonal weakness and increased volatility in the equity markets, which has been especially true over the last several years and turned out to be true this year too. Within the first several days of the month the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) reached an intraday high of more than 65, a near historic level that has only been surpassed twice; briefly during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and twice during the global financial crisis during 2008-2009. Thankfully, as quickly as volatility jumped and the corresponding equity market selloff arrived, markets found their footing and began to rebound with investors once again looking for cues from the Fed, corporate earnings and incoming economic data.

Audio Commentary by Tim Seymour

Audio Commentary by Tim Seymour

Chicago, September 27, 2024—Amplify ETFs announces September income distributions for its income ETFs.

After months of anticipation, the Federal Reserve has cut its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points (0.50%). The move follows months of speculation and is likely to be followed by additional rate cuts in the coming months. Now that the guessing game of “Will the Fed Cut and by How Much” has ended — at least for now — investors are left wondering what it means for their portfolios and how to navigate the new environment. With that in mind, here are three insights to help investors in the months ahead:

Exploring diverse investment opportunities regardless of election outcomes. The November election is in its final stretch, and recently, we discussed the trends that have historically shaped markets leading up to the election. Many investors are already asking what the implications of a victory of either administration could mean for their portfolios since the administrations have varying policy proposals.

Discover record high projections for online holiday shopping, with potential implications for investor portfolios. As we edge closer to the holiday season, the retail landscape is once again poised for its annual transformation, with e-commerce, digital purchases, and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) taking center stage in the ongoing narrative of shopping evolution.

Audio Commentary by Tim Seymour

ETF Watch spotlights trending and innovative ideas across the Amplify ETFs product line.

COMMENTARY Equity markets rolled over without hesitation as the calendar turned to September, historically one of the weakest months for equities. While not as extreme as the early August selloff, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) pushed into the mid-20s and the S&P 500 slid more than 6% in the first 5 trading sessions as equities searched for a bottom and speculation of an emergency rate cut even began to swirl. Ultimately, it was economic data – nonfarm payrolls and CPI – that gave investors’ confidence that a 50 BPs (basis points)1 rate cut by the Fed was coming and that an economic soft landing may still be a possibility. Equities rallied into the Fed rate cut and never looked back, turning September into a green month for the first time since 2019.