Slope of Hope Blog Posts

Slope initially began as a blog, so this is where most of the website’s content resides. Here we have tens of thousands of posts dating back over a decade. These are listed in reverse chronological order. Click on any category icon below to see posts tagged with that particular subject, or click on a word in the category cloud on the right side of the screen for more specific choices.

Signals in the Noise

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How AI Is Reshaping What Markets Consider “Tradeable” Information

Financial content is no longer delivered directly to investors without a filter. Today, large language models (LLMs) and natural language processing tools are increasingly responsible for parsing headlines, earnings calls, and market commentary before it ever reaches a decision-maker.

BloombergGPT, Bloomberg’s proprietary LLM, is already being used to process SEC filings, extract sentiment from central bank statements, and identify unusual phrasing in corporate disclosures. ChatGPT has also entered the finance ecosystem, providing on-demand analysis for retail traders, analysts, and researchers looking to speed up their workflows.

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Will Dollar Stay King in Next Rate Cycle?

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Will the dollar keep its dominance during 2025? See which FX signals currency traders should watch while interest rate cycles shift internationally.

For decades, the U.S. dollar has successfully held its position as the world’s most dominant currency, supported by economic scale, the trust in American institutions, and high liquidity. However, this dominance is no longer being taken for granted as 2025 progresses. Changes are gaining traction in global trade, like realigning policies of central banks, increased use of alternative currencies, and shifting global macro conditions. As the Federal Reserve indicates a potential shift and during ever-evolving interest rate conditions, traders are left to wonder: Will the dollar remain the most dominant, or are we witnessing early signs of a changing currency hierarchy?

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Housing Starts Stalled -Cold Snap & Hot Rates

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Unusually cold weather and frigid temperatures from snowstorms slowed the construction of single-family housing units in January. Would-be homebuyers and households holding out to upgrade in the coming months could face even higher costs as tariffs for material imports and hostile mortgage rates put a housing rebound further on ice. 

January Freeze Brings Halt to New Housing Starts

Adjusted data show that new housing starts were 8.4% lower in January 2025 compared to December’s revised 2024 figures and approximately 13% down from January 2024. New housing starts for the first month of the year dropped to 993,000 versus 1.08 million the month before. January rates for buildings of five or more units were 355,000. 

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Utility ETFs: A Steady Source of Power and Return In 2025

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To minimize the impact of a hard landing, central banks in major economies continued to deliver jumbo-sized interest rate cuts near the tail-end of the year. Following several months of stalling progress, with interest rates remaining historically high, policymakers managed to jump to action and begin shifting gears on their fiscal monetary decisions. 

The slower-than-anticipated reaction had seen investors seeking shelter with defensive, more cyclical, and recession-proof options that would provide them with near-term security. Attempting to navigate conditions has proven harder than expected, and reliance on traditional instruments has delivered below-average returns. 

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Five IPOs To Watch In 2025

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Amid elections, geopolitical tension, high interest rates, and wider economic uncertainty, a robust U.S. stock market has seen Initial Public Offering (IPOS) activity skyrocket this year. Proceeds raised through IPOs on U.S. exchanges during the first three quarters of the year exceeded 2023’s full-year performance. 

Across 121 deals, IPO proceeds have raised $27.3 billion, including 17 deals that raised more than $500 million, 12 deals raising more than $100 million, and one deal raising over $5 billion, the largest of the year. 

Globally, a total of 551 new listing deals raised a combined total of $52.2 billion during the first half of the year. Capital funding deals have been declining, with the first six months of the year registering a 12% decline in new IPO capital. In total, year-over-year proceeds have fallen by 16% in 2024. 

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