At Marketing Wiz, our team actively monitors global financial markets to contextualize relevant stories for our clients and their stakeholders. This December, here are three themes that can serve as the foundation for a custom long-form article on behalf of your firm:
2026 Market Outlook: What’s In Store?
- As the year draws to a close, 2025 will likely end up better than many investors feared. Through the beginning of December, both stocks and bonds have generated competitive returns, despite elevated volatility early in the year.
- With 2026 coming into view, the economic outlook is far from clear. Between continued geopolitical and fiscal uncertainty, along with a complex labor market outlook, the new year will likely bring fresh challenges.
- Nonetheless, 2025’s performance shows that markets can still grow during periods of elevated uncertainty. Short-term volatility is often the price of admission for long-term growth.
The AI Capex Boom: How Tech Investment is Driving Growth
- Much has been said about AI’s contribution to strong market performance in 2025. Less appreciated, however, is how AI has contributed to fundamental economic growth.
- In the first half of 2025, estimates indicate that AI-related investment was responsible for up to half of all US GDP growth. Capital expenditure from leading technology firms is expected to exceed $500 billion next year.
- The true test is whether AI ultimately boosts GDP through meaningful productivity enhancements. For the time being, however, any slowdown in AI investment could have implications for continued economic expansion.
Climbing the Ladder: Yield Curve Steepens as Short-Term Rates Fall
- In an effort to support the economy, the Fed has embarked on a rate-cutting cycle, with an additional cut expected in December. But rates haven’t been falling equally across the yield curve.
- Since November of last year, yields on a 3-month Treasury bill have declined by about 70 basis points. In contrast, yields on a 10-year Treasury bond have only declined by 30 basis points over that period.
- Continued uncertainty over the Fed’s policy path has kept long-term rates elevated, despite recent cuts. With the yield curve steepening, fixed-income investors might look to extend their maturities as short-term rates fall.
Interested in building out long-form collateral relating to any of these themes? We invite you to reach out to our team today for a discussion of our custom content capabilities.
Craig Hall is founder and president of Marketing Wiz, a financial marketing firm specializing in the independent wealth management space.
