In economic and military terms, Europe, as a whole, has had a pretty tough go of it since the Financial Crisis of 2008. While still a major player in global affairs, the data suggests it might not carry the same weight it did previously. From essentially being equal partners with the U.S., in many ways, it now seems to have taken a lessor role.

• How did this happen?
• Was it economic?
• Demographic?
• A differing opinion on what were once 'shared values' with the United States?
• A decline in overall military strength?
• Or some combination?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the recent struggles Europe has had in maintaining its historical importance in global affairs.

Since the Federal Reserve has a dual mandate of price stability and full employment, investors tend to focus on the inflation and jobs reports. Just how many jobs is the economy creating? What does that mean for future monetary policy and economic growth? How will that impact my investment portfolio? However, recently, the jobs data has not been quite as robust as it had been coming out of the worst of the pandemic. But why?

• Has the economy cooled considerably?
• Is Artificial Intelligence to blame?
• Is corporate America hard-hearted?
• Or is something else to blame?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the recent cooling in the labor markets and what it could mean for future economy growth.

The U.S. military recently arrested Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro on a slew of drug-related issues.

• However, was Washington's goal really Maduro?
• Or was it access to Venezuela's massive oil reserves?
• Also, what message does this recent action send to other international leaders?
• And, finally, what is the ultimate definition of success for the United States in this instance?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the recent abduction of Nicholas Maduro, and what it might mean for geopolitics.

This week, a major American automaker announced a significant write-down on its investments in electric vehicles (EVs).

• Does this mean the company overinvested or simply invested too early?
• Are American consumers fundamentally resistant to EVs?
• Or have various governments pushed EVs faster than the sector, market and infrastructure can truly support?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the current turmoil in the domestic EV sector and make some predictions about what the future may hold.

It seems an increasing number of Americans are finding it harder to see "the light at the end of their financial tunnel."

• Everything costs more, and the necessities of life have increased in number.
• It seems the cost of living is rising faster than the cost of living it up.
• Everything from housing to childcare to the electric bill is taking a bigger chunk out of the household budget.

This begs the question: is it time to redefine what poverty means in the United States?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the recent struggles many Americans are having. Is there any hope for improvement? Or do we need to redefine what success looks like?

Few would debate the potential that AI has to upset the labor markets. However, people seem to have different ideas about which jobs AI will eliminate first, and which jobs are safe for now.

• So, which are truly at risk — and which aren't?
• Further, what can workers do to protect themselves from AI-related job cuts?

In this episode of Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the impact AI will have on the labor markets.

Recent polls suggest younger Americans are less inclined to believe in the so-called American Dream and the benefits of capitalism. But why?

• Especially when so many non-Americans still do?
• Could it be social media has skewed what the American Dream really is?
• Or is there truly a generational difference in the appeal of economic systems like socialism, communism and capitalism?
• Finally, what is the likelihood greater governmental involvement in the economy will produce the results some politicians have been promising?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris walk a proverbial tightrope while discussing what the recent election results really mean.

A lot of folks seem to believe that the recent tariffs will drive a lot of manufacturing jobs back to the United States. However, the decline of the traditional "blue-collar workforce" in the United States has been decades in the making.

• Will the imposition of a new tax be the magic bullet to reverse this trend?
• Does the U.S. even want many of these manufacturing jobs back?
• Further, why do politicians put such an emphasis on factory jobs when it comes to job creation?
• Are all jobs good jobs?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the future of manufacturing and manufacturing employment in the United States. Is the future bright, dark or still a little cloudy?

It is no secret technology stocks have been a driving force in domestic stocks. However, their continued rally has led to the overall sector becoming a huge chunk of the market, and therefore the market's return.

• How has the happened?
• Is the concentration to tech stocks truly indicative of the overall diversification of the US economy?
• Has this sort of lack of diversification ever happened previously?
• What might this mean for the future of the domestic stock market?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss how so-called tech stocks have become the dominant force behind the US markets. It has been a wild, and mostly fun, ride. But will it continue?

With the government currently shutdown, investors are struggling to determine the true health of the U.S. economy. Key among the concerns is the strength of the U.S. consumer. As the old saying goes: "how goes the U.S. consumer is how goes the U.S. economy."

• So, have tariffs impacted the price of goods or consumer behavior?
• What is the U.S. consumer buying?
• If the focus on 'need to have' goods and services or 'nice to have'?
• How are companies getting tired consumers to their stores and websites?
• Finally, what impact will AI have on consumer spending in the future?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the current consumer market, and attempt to answer any questions about the strength of the U.S. consumer.