Scott Krauthamer, CFA, CAIA

Many investors are looking for emerging signs of a return to normalcy from the coronavirus crisis. While there are many indicators to choose from, we've assembled a group of signals, with the help of big data, that may point the way.

Investors have parked record piles of cash on the sidelines amid concerns about valuations and volatility. But short-term safety comes at a price. By defining long-term goals, investors can put idle cash to work despite uncertainty about the path to recovery.

During the coronavirus downturn and rebound, US growth stocks outpaced value stocks by a record margin. Now growth stocks seem expensive, but that depends on how you look at it.

The digital age gave professional investors near-instantaneous access to a vast trove of data, but organizational silos have sometimes prevented subsequent insights from spreading widely. That's changing, however, as new digital platforms make it easier for money managers to share real-time information with colleagues across asset classes and strategies.

Recent market gyrations have many people asking: Is it time to pivot from a growth equities allocation to a value equities allocation? But that's the wrong question. Instead of asking which style is likely to outperform, investors should be asking why they're performing differently.

What drove down US stocks this week? The answer may be the US bond market and what the shape of the yield curve is-or isn't-telling us about the state of the economy.

Democrats took the House of Representatives. Republicans held the Senate. What should investors expect from the US midterm election outcome? In the way of policy, not much. But the new political landscape may be good for markets.

Will Democrats retake the House of Representatives in the US midterm elections this fall? Will it matter for your investment portfolio if they do? Probably not so much, although a Democratic sweep of both houses could be more disruptive.

US companies, lured by historically low interest rates, have taken on massive amounts of debt in recent years. As rates begin to rise, investors should beware of companies that might be vulnerable to increasing financing costs.

The active/passive debate has been raging for years, and both approaches have merit. But there's more to the story than meets the eye. Investors who commit too much to passive—and not enough to active—could face mounting risks.

Passive equity strategies have seen massive inflows over the last decade, in part owing to active management's struggles. But a closer look at the story within the story suggests that leaving active out of the equation could be leaving money on the table.

Global equity markets are still hurting from last week's sell-off. Yet the renewed volatility could mark a return to reality after an unusually long period of steady gains and may even foster a healthier investing environment over time.

Stock markets around the world have rallied this year, and investors are asking whether equities are expensive. Comparing valuations to growth potential helps shed light on the risks and opportunities in equities.