News•Mar 5, 2026
The Small-Cap Rotation Is Real
Small‑cap indices have surged, with the S&P 600 up about 9% YTD and the S&P 400 gaining over 8%, while the S&P 500 remains flat. The rally is tied to the Federal Reserve’s easing cycle, which has lowered rates to 3.5‑3.75% and eased inflation pressures. Energy and materials lead sector gains, and value stocks finally outpace growth for the first time in years. International markets, especially Europe and emerging economies, are also posting strong returns, reshaping the global asset‑allocation landscape.
By The Lead‑Lag Report – Blog
Podcast•Mar 1, 2026•0 min
The AI Trade Is Global: Derek Yan on Dollar Weakness, EM Tech, and Hidden Concentration Risk
In this episode, host Melanie Schaefer and CraneShares senior investment strategist Derek Yan discuss how the concentration of U.S. mega‑cap stocks is driving investors to seek diversification in emerging markets (EM), especially as the dollar shows signs of weakening. Yan...
By The Lead‑Lag Report – Blog
News•Feb 26, 2026
$ATACX: What Rising Volatility Means for Tactical Funds Vs. Static Portfolios
Volatility has re‑emerged as a defining feature of the current market cycle, eroding the traditional equity‑bond diversification that underpins static 60/40 portfolios. As stock‑bond correlations rise during macro stress, fixed‑allocation strategies face heightened drawdown risk. Tactical funds such as the...
By The Lead‑Lag Report – Blog
News•Feb 25, 2026
Solar’s Two-Speed Rally: Utility-Scale Strength Masks Residential Fragility
Solar’s Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) has surged over 23% year‑to‑date through Feb 24, 2026, far outpacing the S&P 500’s modest 0.8% gain. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects a record 86 GW of utility‑scale capacity additions in 2026, with solar comprising 51% of...
By The Lead‑Lag Report – Blog
News•Feb 23, 2026
The Case for Regulatory Tailwinds Over Traditional Fiscal Stimulus — FMKT as a Structural Play
Policymakers are pivoting from traditional fiscal stimulus toward deregulation as the chief engine of U.S. growth, arguing it frees capacity without reigniting inflation. A landmark Supreme Court decision overturning Chevron and a 2025 executive order mandating agencies to cut existing...
By The Lead‑Lag Report – Blog
News•Feb 22, 2026
Commodities, Rates, and the Repricing of Scarcity
In this episode of Lead‑Lag Live, Will Rhind, founder and CEO of GraniteShares, explains why platinum is experiencing a resurgence due to a structural supply deficit and the waning of peak‑ESG assumptions, while gold continues to hit new highs but...
By The Lead‑Lag Report – Blog
Podcast•Feb 21, 2026•0 min
Hype Vs. Deployment: Derek Yan on Humanoid Robotics, KOID ETF, and the Global AI Arms Race
In this episode, Derek Yan, Senior Investment Strategist at KraneShares, explains why humanoid robotics is moving from hype to real-world deployment, highlighting current enterprise pilots in factories and logistics that address chronic labor shortages. He stresses that investors should focus...
By The Lead‑Lag Report – Blog
News•Feb 20, 2026
YYY: The Income Illusion or the Ultimate Credit Barometer?
The episode dissects YYY, an ETF that offers exposure to a rules‑based basket of high‑income closed‑end funds (CEFs) via a fund‑of‑funds structure. It highlights the layered risks of credit exposure, embedded leverage, and premium/discount dynamics, noting that performance is highly...
By The Lead‑Lag Report – Blog
News•Feb 17, 2026
The Housing Inflection Point
The episode examines the current U.S. housing market inflection point, highlighting softened builder confidence, persistently tight resale inventory, and the potential impact of a credible rate‑cut cycle on margins and incentives. It discusses policy initiatives aimed at streamlining permitting and...
By The Lead‑Lag Report – Blog
News•Feb 15, 2026
Engineered Income: The Hidden Mechanics Behind DNP’s Monthly Payout
The episode dissects DNP Select Income Fund Inc., a closed‑end fund that targets utilities and promises a steady monthly payout via a managed distribution plan that can draw from income, gains, or return of capital. It explains how the fund’s...
By The Lead‑Lag Report – Blog
News•Feb 9, 2026
Income Investing Beyond Dividends: Incorporating Options Into Your 2026 Yield Plan
The episode explores how income investing has shifted from relying solely on dividends to incorporating options strategies like covered calls and cash‑secured puts to generate cash flow, especially from non‑dividend‑paying growth stocks. It explains the mechanics of these strategies, their...
By The Lead‑Lag Report – Blog