The Chart Room

Kyla Scanlon, Economist, content creator and influencer discusses the market’s volatile reaction to a fake headline about paused tariffs, highlighting investor desperation for relief from trade tensions. It examines the broader economic fallout, including rising bond yields (possibly due to foreign Treasury sell-offs) and the breakdown of traditional market safeguards. The piece critiques the administration’s push for tariffs, arguing they won’t revive 1950s-style manufacturing jobs due to automation and global supply chains, while also risking U.S. economic leadership by undermining trust in the dollar and trade alliances. China’s retaliatory measures and resilience further complicate the situation. The author suggests smarter policies—like targeted trade enforcement and tech investment—instead of broad tariffs, warning that the current path could fragment global trade, weaken the U.S. position, and hurt consumers. For investors, the advice is to stay diversified, avoid panic selling, and prepare for prolonged uncertainty. Ultimately, the article frames tariffs as a misguided solution that could erode America’s long-term economic advantages.

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Andreas Kluth, a Bloomberg Opinion columnist, highlights the importance of the U.S./China relationship during this time of heightened uncertainty.  Cooperation between the two countries could lead to breakthroughs on problems like the fentanyl crisis, nuclear proliferation, and climate change. However, a lack of cooperation could exacerbate these issues.

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The recent roller-coaster ride of GameStop Corp. (GME) has provided investors with several learning opportunities.  Below are three articles we find useful in understanding this recent and noteworthy event.

A conversation with Scott Fearon and Robert Korajczyk featured in KelloggInsight:  Does GameStop Signal the End of Short Selling as We Know It?

From Marlize Van Romburgh of Crunchbase News: From The Editor’s Desk: Stopping To Smell The Tulips

From Greg Iacurci of CNBC: Why the GameStop Frenzy May Hurt Retirees Along with Hedge Funds

What will be the future of US-China relations during the Biden-Harris Administration?  Writing for the Harvard Business Review, Oliver Reynolds and Arne Pohlman examine both economies and what the next 4-years may have in store.

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Jeremy Grantham, co-founder of Boston-based asset management company GMO, LLC, offers his insight on fiscal reforms that could benefit the U.S. economy and help reshape the global marketplace.

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Writing for Knowledge@Wharton, Professor Olivia Mitchell,Wharton Professor of business economics and public policy, looks at a new proposal circulating in Washington for the taxation of 401k plans.  The idea being explored looks at using after-tax dollars for contributions, much like a Roth, rather than allowing the current structure where contributions are made with pre-tax dollars.  Is this a good idea?  Professor Mitchell explores this topic.

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As the health emergency of Covid-19 develops, Aaron Brown of Bloomberg.com looks at how this illness and its impact on the world economy could effect investment portfolios.

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Writing for the New York Times, Jeanna Smialek, Jim Tankersley and Ben Casselman look at statements made recently by former Chair of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke.  In particular, the article looks at Bernanke’s opinions of the current interest rate environment and the actions of the Federal Reserve.

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2020 is just around the corner and American voters will head to the polls to elect the next President.  Does the performance of the U.S. economy factor into a voter’s decision making process?  Writing for the New York Times, Ben Casselman and Jim Tankersley explore this topic.

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Will nations collaborate to stave off climate change and create a sustainable economy?  That is the topic of discussion at the 2019 Climate Change Summit held recently at UN headquarters in New York.  It is also a topic lately examined by Dr. Julie Gorte, Senior Vice President of Sustainable Investing at Pax World Funds.

Read the Article: The Business Case for Sustainability

Read the Article: The Transition to a Sustainable Economy