Sarah Hansen

New York

Markets Reporter at Morningstar

Senior Writer at Money

Senior writer @money. Formerly @forbes. Trained by @northwesternu and @nyu_journalism.

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Articles

Why the Fed’s Independence Matters to Markets, the Economy, and Your Wallet

2 days ago | morningstar.com | Sarah Hansen

President Donald Trump has amped up his public criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. A politicized central bank opens the door to higher inflation, higher interest rates, and a loss of confidence in the American financial system. Powell has been adamant that the Fed will maintain its independence and that he won’t step down before the end of his term in 2026. The Federal Reserve’s independence is under fire again, and alarm bells are ringing louder this time around.
BlackRock’s Brownback: We’re Still in a ‘Golden Age’ of Bond Investing

1 week ago | morningstar.com | Sarah Hansen

Bond yields remain attractive, calling for income, not price appreciation from big bets on changes in interest rates, Brownback says. Brownback prefers bonds with intermediate maturities, which offer attractive yields with reduced volatility, and corporate debt over Treasuries. European yields have also risen amid volatility in the US fixed-income market; Brownback considers German bonds to be attractive.
Volatility Reigns as Stocks Fall Sharply After Tariff Pause Rally

1 week ago | morningstar.com | Sarah Hansen |Tom Lauricella

Financial markets continued to post wide swings on Thursday, with stocks falling back sharply in a partial reversal of Wednesday’s massive rally. The Morningstar US Market Index closed 3.5% lower, as did the S&P 500 benchmark index. The tech-heavy Nasdaq closed 4.3% lower. Thursday’s losses follow a dramatic rally on Wednesday, sparked by President Donald Trump’s turnabout on trade policy.
For Q1 Earnings Season, It’s the Uncertain Outlook That Matters

2 weeks ago | morningstar.com | Sarah Hansen

Rapidly fluctuating US trade policy is clouding the outlook for company earnings in 2025. Strategists say US firms may offer weaker earnings guidance for the rest of the year, or they may withdraw their guidance altogether. If tariffs are implemented as announced, they could weigh on companies’ bottom lines and drive up costs for consumers.
Market Volatility: What to Watch in Q2 After Big Swings in Q1

2 weeks ago | morningstar.com | Sarah Hansen |Ivanna Hampton

Ivanna Hampton: Welcome to Investing Insights. I’m your host, Ivanna Hampton. We’re kicking off a new series to help investors navigate market volatility. Morningstar strategists and authors will deliver timely insights, trends, and tips. These episodes will pop into your podcast feed at least once a month. Let’s begin with my conversation with Morningstar Inc. senior markets reporter Sarah Hansen. Sarah investigated several market trends from the first quarter of 2025.
13 Charts on Q1’s Dramatic Rotation in Stocks

3 weeks ago | morningstar.com | Sarah Hansen

Tariffs upended the rosy outlook for stocks, sending the market down more than 4% in the first quarter—its worst start to a year since 2022. Technology stocks posted their worst first quarter since 2020, while value stocks and defensive sectors like healthcare rose. Non-US stock markets far outperformed US stocks, led by rallies in Chinese and European stocks. Bonds were a safe haven, as prices rose despite the Federal Reserve holding off on cutting interest rates.
Is the Stock Market Whistling Past the Graveyard?

4 weeks ago | morningstar.com | Sarah Hansen

After weeks of declines in the stock market, especially the once-hot tech sector, stocks have bounced. Commentators say investors are finding reasons to be optimistic. This positive spin was applied to the Federal Reserve’s most recent policy meeting, where officials said they still expect two interest rate cuts this year. At the same time, Fed Chair Jerome Powell repeatedly emphasized the high uncertainty in the outlook, thanks to President Donald Trump’s trade wars.
Can Healthcare Stocks Keep Outperforming the Market?

1 month ago | morningstar.com | Sarah Hansen |Karen Andersen

Sarah Hansen: Welcome to Investing Insights. I’m your host, Sarah Hansen, and I’m filling in for Ivanna Hampton today. As many investors might know, we’re in the middle of a pretty dramatic rotation in the stock market. The Big Tech companies that drove the market higher for the better part of two years are struggling, and other sectors are pulling ahead.
Fed Faces Triple Threat of Inflation, Slowing Growth, and Uncertain Trump Policies. How Will It Respond?

1 month ago | morningstar.com | Sarah Hansen

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold interest rates steady at its March meeting. A combination of slowing economic growth, sticky inflation and uncertain policy outcomes from the Trump administration (especially concerning tariffs) could force central bankers to make tough decisions in the months ahead. If tariffs prove to be short-lived one-time price shocks, the Fed could look past them and continue cutting interest rates this year.
US Stock Market Dips Into Correction Territory

1 month ago | morningstar.com | Sarah Hansen

Stocks continued their slide on Monday, sending the Morningstar US Market Index into correction territory in midday trading. Over the past few weeks, mounting anxiety surrounding tariffs, slowing economic growth, and the unwinding of the mega-cap growth trade have sent stocks sharply lower. In Wall Street lingo, a correction happens when stocks fall more than 10% from their recent high. Losses above 20% constitute a bear market. The US Market Index hit its latest intraday high on Feb. 19.