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Zhang Financial Podcast
Episodes
188 episodes
Mixed Economic Data, Markets Rise | Market Outlook : 06/01/26
Economic indicators were mixed last week, with PCE coming in better than expected while initial jobless claims and personal income fared worse than anticipated. Still, the S&P 500 rose 1.44% as growth outperformed value. Additionally, inter...
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Markets Rise on Hopes for Iran War End | Market Outlook : 05/26/26
Anticipation for a potential end to the war in Iran caused inflation expectations to drop, and the Atlanta Fed raised it Q2 GDP forecast from +4% to +4.3%. Interest rate hikes, rather than cuts, are expected by the end of the year; however, no ...
Tone Shifts on Interest Rates as Inflation Heats Up | Market Outlook : 05/18/26
A few weeks ago, markets were anticipating an 80% chance of no interest rate changes for the rest of 2026. That has since dropped to 49%, paired with a 39% probability of one rate hike due to higher-than-expected inflation. US markets remained ...
Jobs and Earnings Impress, Markets Rise | Market Outlook : 05/11/26
Non-farm payrolls landed at 115,000, exceeding the predicted 73,000. 89% of S&P 500 companies have reported Q1 earnings, and 84% of those have beaten expectations. Moreover, the average outperformance is 18.2%; this caused the index to rise...
GDP Exceeds Expectations, Stocks Finish Strong April | Market Outlook : 05/04/26
Q1 GDP grew at 2%, beating expectations of 1.3%. The Atlanta Federal Reserve is expecting a strong Q2 as well, projecting 3.5% growth. Interest rates remained unchanged, with markets pricing in a 77% probability of no rate movement through the ...
Stocks Bounce Back as Iran Fears Wane | Market Outlook : 04/20/26
Slower-than-expected PPI data and a robust start to the earnings season, where 88% of companies have beaten estimates, pushed the S&P 500 up 4.55% last week. Markets are pricing in a 51% probability of no rate changes this year, and the Atl...
Stocks Rise, Inflation Viewed as Temporary | Market Outlook : 04/13/26
In this week's Zhang Financial market outlook, Rob details last week's release of economic data, with all eyes on inflation. The 10-year inflation expectation sits at 2.36%, showing markets are viewing the Iran War's impact on energy prices, an...
Market Stops 4-Week Losing Streak | Market Outlook : 04/06/26
In this week's Zhang Financial market outlook, Rob recaps a week of better-than-expected economic data, from new jobless claims to unemployment rate. The Federal Reserve currently projects Q1 GDP growth at 1.6%, and a rate cut at its April meet...
Economic Data Stabilizes as Rate Expectations Shift | Market Outlook : 03/30/26
In this week's Zhang Financial market outlook, Rob highlights shifting rate expectations and continued market pressure amid the ongoing conflict in Iran. Inflation expectations declined while Q1 GDP expectations were revised to 2.0%. The Fed is...
Economic Data Mixed as Middle East War Continues | Market Outlook : 03/16/26
In this week's Zhang Financial market outlook, Rob outlines a week of mixed economic data. Initial jobless claims came in slightly better than expected, but Q4 GDP was revised down from 1.4% to 0.7%. Markets fell, largely driven by the ongoing ...
Markets Fall Amid War Escalation | Market Outlook : 03/09/26
In this week's Zhang Financial market outlook, Rob covers the prior week's economic and geopolitical news. Inflation expectations climbed as oil prices rose in response to the US and Israel attacking Iran. The conflict also dampened markets : t...
International Outperformance Continues | Market Outlook : 03/03/26
In this week's Zhang Financial market outlook, Rob recaps a week of tame stock market activity, with the S&P rising 0.4%. The Magnificent 7 continue to underperform the broader market, and international equities have persisted in topping th...
Markets Rebound Amid Rocky Announcements | Market Outlook : 02/23/26
In this week's Zhang Financial market Outlook, Rob recaps a week of economic announcements that started off strong but struggled near the end of the week. Q4 GDP growth was released at 1.4%, well below the Atlanta Federal Reserve estimate of 4....
Markets Broaden as Sentiment Ticks Up | Market Outlook : 02/09/26
In this week's Zhang Financial Market Outlook, Rob covers a week of mostly positive economic news, aside from labor markets. Initial jobless claims came in worse than expected. Despite that, consumer sentiment beat expectations and the ISM Manu...
Stocks Flat But Precious Metals Dive | Market Outlook : 02/02/26
In this week's Zhang Financial Market Outlook, Rob reviews the past week of economic data, which was dominated by the US Federal Reserve. The Fed kept interest rates steady, which was largely expected, but their Q4 GDP estimate was revised down...
Inflation Data Positive as Market Broadens | Market Outlook : 01/20/26
In this week's Zhang Financial Market Outlook, Rob covers the inflation data and initial jobless claims that beat expectations, as well as the Atlanta Federal Reserve upping their Q4 GDP estimate from 5.1% to 5.3%. While the S&P 500 finishe...
Bad News is Good News | Market Outlook : 01/12/26
In this week's Zhang Financial Market Outlook, Rob recaps a week that contained mixed economic data, but the market reacted favorably. Any information coming in below expectations fueled predictions that the Federal Reserve will cut rates multi...
Markets Finish Positive in 2025 | Market Outlook : 01/05/26
In this week's Zhang Financial Market Outlook, Rob covers a week of light economic data amid the holidays. The S&P 500 finished 2025 up 17.9%, while developed International markets finished the year up 31.9%. Looking ahead, there is an 18% ...
Q3 GDP Tops 4% | Market Outlook : 12/29/25
In the latest Zhang Financial Market Outlook, Rob recaps the Q3 GDP release : the US economy grew +4.3%, beating a consensus estimate of 3.3%. Markets reacted positively, with the S&P climbing 1.4% last week, now up 19.2% YTD. Though strong...
Mixed Economic Data, Q3 GDP Release Ahead | Market Outlook : 12/22/25
In this week's Zhang Financial Market Outlook, Rob details a week containing economic data from recent months as Government data begins to flow again. The unemployment rate rose, but inflation came in much better than expected. Q3 GDP will be r...
Fed Delivers Third Rate Cut | Market Outlook : 12/15/25
In this week's Zhang Financial Market Outlook, Rob outlines a week that, while not containing much economic news, saw an expected interest rate cut of 0.25% by the Federal Reserve. However, the decision to cut rates was not unanimous, with vari...
Fed Third Rate Cut Expected | Market Outlook : 12/08/25
In this week's Zhang Financial Market Outlook, Rob covers a week that showed positive signs, both in economic data and in market performance. Initial jobless claims as well as consumer sentiment came in better than expected, and markets are pri...
Markets Surge Amid Encouraging Data | Market Outlook : 12/01/25
In this week's Zhang Financial Market Outlook, Rob reviews a week of mostly positive data, with initial jobless claims coming in much better than expected as well as an 87% probability of a third rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Markets reacted...
Markets Fall Despite Earnings and Fed Commentary | Market Outlook : 11/24/25
In this week's Zhang Financial Market Outlook, Rob covers the previous week's economic activity as well as how markets reacted. Odds of an interest rate cut in December climbed from 42% to 76% after commentary by a Federal Reserve official. Nvi...
Government Reopens, Data to Resume | Market Outlook : 11/17/25
In this week's Zhang Financial Market Outlook, Rob shares the latest from around the economy as the US Federal Government shutdown has officially ended. Q3 GDP forecasts remain strong at +4.0%, but the odds of another rate cut by the Federal Re...