Research & News
Bi-Weekly Geopolitical Report – The Geopolitics of China’s Energy Policy (September 28, 2026)
by Bill O’Grady | PDF In our Asset Allocation Bi-Weekly from June 15, 2026, Confluence’s Chief Market Strategist Patrick Fearon-Hernandez discussed China’s unexpected decline in oil imports. That decline is one reason why the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war in Iran didn’t lead to a catastrophic rise in oil prices,… Read More »
Daily Comment (September 28, 2026)
by Patrick Fearon-Hernandez, CFA, and Thomas Wash [Posted: 9:30 AM ET] | PDF On a very slow news day, our Comment today opens with the latest on the war in Iran, where President Trump has rejected a new ceasefire proposal from Iran. We next review several other international and US developments that could affect the… Read More »
Daily Comment (September 25, 2026)
by Patrick Fearon-Hernandez, CFA, and Thomas Wash [Posted: 9:30 AM ET] | PDF Our Comment opens with our thoughts on renewed speculation regarding potential currency market intervention. We then turn to the energy sector, examining recent calls to rein in high diesel prices. Next, we briefly cover the deployment of additional US troops to Europe,… Read More »
Daily Comment (September 24, 2026)
by Patrick Fearon-Hernandez, CFA, and Thomas Wash [Posted: 9:30 AM ET] | PDF Our Comment opens with our thoughts on the risk of the economy overheating. We then turn to AI, examining the latest incident of agents going rogue online. Next, we briefly cover the Eurozone’s better-than-expected growth, a possible US ban on fuel exports,… Read More »
Daily Comment (September 23, 2026)
by Patrick Fearon-Hernandez, CFA, and Thomas Wash [Posted: 9:30 AM ET] | PDF Our Comment opens with our thoughts on the recent resurgence of AI FOMO. We then turn to geopolitics, discussing the decision by Washington and Tehran to reopen dialogue at the UN summit. Next, we briefly cover the pushback against global AI oversight,… Read More »
Daily Comment (September 22, 2026)
by Patrick Fearon-Hernandez, CFA, and Thomas Wash [Posted: 9:30 AM ET] | PDF Our Comment today opens with increased calls for the US to ban diesel fuel exports to help bring down domestic prices. We next review several other international and US developments that could affect the financial markets today, including new signs that the… Read More »
Daily Comment (September 21, 2026)
by Patrick Fearon-Hernandez, CFA, and Thomas Wash [Posted: 9:30 AM ET] | PDF Our Comment today opens with an update on the war in Iran, where Iran-backed proxies have staged a new attack on Saudi Arabia. However, speculation that President Trump could meet with the Iranian president in New York this week has raised hopes… Read More »