On Thursday, Sept. 24, Brian Szytel recaps a down Dow day with the S&P and Nasdaq flat as markets rebounded late on optimism about U.S.-Iran talks potentially easing the Strait of Hormuz situation; WTI still rose about 3% to roughly $95. He highlights the bigger story as higher interest rates, with the 10-year yield up another 10 bps to about 5.21% and up 120 bps year-to-date, arguing media may be overstating it and noting long rates also reflect growth expectations, strong earnings, and economic activity, while higher rates also boost interest income to savers and the economy. Economic data included better-than-expected initial jobless claims (197k) and stronger new home sales (684k). He also addresses international dividend stocks, noting foreign withholding taxes can be offset via foreign tax credits, but prefers U.S. dividend growers due to steadier dividend policies and less sector concentration than Europe/Asia. 00:00 Market Close Recap 00:38 Oil Surge And Rate Shock 01:31 Why Long Rates Rise 03:01 Higher Rates Upsides 04:10 Economic Data Check 04:54 International Dividend Stocks 05:50 US Versus Overseas Dividends 07:43 Wrap Up And Sign Off Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Brian Szytel reports a broad market decline driven by a bond selloff, with yields rising across the curve in a bearish flattener; the 10-year finished near 5.11%, while the 2s/10s spread remained about 21 bps. He attributes the rate move to stronger flash PMI data in services (58.7 vs. 55.7) and manufacturing (57 vs. 53.5), alongside hotter input inflation tied to fuel and transportation. Energy markets showed angst amid Iran-related developments and discussion of a possible U.S. diesel export ban, with WTI up about 2.7% to nearly $93. He then addresses comparisons between the 1990s internet boom and today’s AI boom, arguing that even profitable, durable companies like Cisco and Microsoft suffered massive drawdowns due to valuation, cautioning that today’s highly valued AI names may have too much optimism priced in. 00:00 Market Selloff Recap 00:51 Yield Curve and Recession Talk 02:02 Flash PMI Surprise 03:02 Inflation and Energy Risks 04:09 Dotcom vs AI Debate 05:49 Valuation Lessons Cisco 06:16 AI IPO Pricing Caution 07:16 Closing Thoughts and Thanks Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Brian Szytel recaps a mixed market day: the S&P 500 finished flat, the Dow fell 185 points, and the Nasdaq rose about 0.5% as long-end yields eased slightly and the 10-year held near 4.95%. He notes financial conditions have loosened a bit since the Fed’s recent hike, with stocks higher, tight credit spreads, and long yields down, while markets still price more restrictive Fed policy even as WTI slipped below $90. He observes a previously strong negative correlation between AI/semiconductors and software stocks is becoming more nuanced, creating potential opportunities. Addressing a listener question, he explains how the long-running yen carry trade was amplified by U.S. rate hikes and Japan’s zero rates, but is now unwinding as Japan raises rates, reducing arbitrage, prompting deleveraging and some risk-asset pressure, though orderly so far. 00:00 Market Snapshot 00:27 Rates and Fed Conditions 01:11 Oil Move and Inflation Signals 02:05 AI Semis vs Software Rotation 03:45 Outlook for More Hikes 04:32 Carry Trade Explained 05:52 BOJ Shift and Deleveraging 07:23 Wrap Up and Calendar Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Today's Post - https://bahnsen.co/4y9YwqV David Bahnsen delivers a quick Monday Dividend Cafe update from Chicago after travel disruptions, covering a strong market day led by communication services and technology while energy fell on a nearly 5% drop in oil; he notes the S&P 500 is near an all-time high even as market breadth has deteriorated sharply. He discusses rising margin debt and how its use has shifted toward non-purpose lending, highlights record ETF inflows into technology as a contrarian signal, and reviews news including media access litigation, progress on the Paramount/Warner Brothers deal, Apollo buying a 16% stake in the New York Yankees, and a newly announced AI task force. Economic data included flat industrial production, stronger retail sales, weak homebuilder sentiment, and declining housing starts, while Fed commentary shifted toward expecting a possible October hike and noting Chairman Warsh’s skepticism about a knowable neutral rate and strict data dependency; the Bank of Japan also raised rates. 00:00 Welcome and Travel Update 01:17 Market Rally and Sector Moves 02:13 Market Breadth Warning 03:29 Margin Debt and Leverage 05:15 Tech ETF Inflow Surge 05:39 Headlines and Deal News 06:27 Policy and Global Trade 07:30 Economic Data Roundup 08:04 Housing Slump Signals 09:16 Fed Outlook and Warsh Takeaways 11:18 Oil and Midstream Positioning 11:55 Wrap Up and Disclosures Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Today's Post - https://bahnsen.co/4j4mxuI David Bahnsen discusses the Fed’s quarter-point rate hike, arguing it was largely “performative” because markets had already tightened financial conditions and the Fed is now following rather than leading. He notes the fed funds futures market implies an 87% chance of another hike this year and reviews the political speculation around Chairman Kevin Warsh and President Trump, including Trump’s post calling for 1% rates while diverting attention to trade deficits. Bahnsen highlights the unanimous 12–0 vote, the Fed’s focus on price stability amid supply-shock pressures, and the neutral mechanics of paying 3.9% on reserves. He reviews muted bond-market moves, elevated mortgage rates near 7%, and cautions against overreading immediate stock-market reactions, emphasizing earnings, AI, oil, and valuations as bigger drivers than the fed funds rate. 00:00 Welcome and Fed Week 00:44 Why the Fed Matters 02:08 Performative Rate Hike 05:11 Politics and Independence 10:54 Midterms and Next Hike 11:52 Unanimous Vote Rationale 14:34 Bond Market Reaction 17:02 Stocks and Volatility 19:05 Practical Takeaways 21:28 Closing Thoughts Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Brian Szytel reports a pre-close market rebound from Newport Beach on Thursday, September 17, with the Dow up over 300 points, the S&P up over 1%, the Nasdaq up about 1.5%, and the 10-year yield falling to 4.95% as the curve flattens; oil prices eased and recent sector rotation briefly reversed as tech regained bids and equal-weight indexes underperformed cap-weighted. On the economic calendar, the Philly Fed Manufacturing Index beat expectations and initial jobless claims fell to 196,000 versus 208,000, while housing starts and pending sales missed slightly. He addresses fears about AI by noting historical patterns of technology skepticism and euphoria, citing the 1990s productivity paradox and subsequent productivity surge. He also answers a question on $100+ oil alongside Fed hikes, saying it has not always signaled recession and that current expected rate increases are modest unless policy overdoes it. 00:00 Market Rebound Snapshot 00:26 Rates Oil And Rotation 00:57 Economic Data Check 01:47 AI Fear And History 03:06 Oil Fed And Recession 03:57 Wrap Up And Next Read Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Brian Szytel recaps a volatile Fed day in which the FOMC unanimously raised rates 25 basis points, moving the range from 3.50–3.75 to 3.75–4.00, a move largely priced in. He notes dot plots implying one more hike before year-end (around 4.00–4.25), with market reaction reflecting short-term yields up slightly, long-term yields down slightly, and the 10-year unchanged near 5.01. Markets sold off (Dow ~-740, S&P ~-0.6%, Nasdaq ~-0.1%) but improved off the lows, with internals not signaling a major risk-off flush. Economic data included stronger-than-expected August retail sales (1.2% vs 0.8%) and weaker NAHB homebuilder sentiment. He also answers a viewer question, distinguishing price spikes in items like oil from broad inflation driven by money supply, referencing CPI/PCE and headline vs core measures. 00:00 Welcome to Dividend Cafe 00:17 Fed Rate Decision 01:03 Yield Curve Reaction 01:28 Why Markets Lead 02:10 Economic Data Check 02:29 Market Close Snapshot 03:30 Inflation Question Explained 04:44 Wrap Up and Thanks 04:52 Disclosures and Disclaimers Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Brian Szytel reviews a down market day driven by oil staying above $100 (Brent 108, WTI 105), ongoing Middle East tensions, and the 10-year Treasury closing near 5%, noting equities are only a few percent off highs. Using an S&P 500 forward earnings estimate of about $406/share next year, he argues a 5% pullback implies ~17.5x forward earnings and a 10% drawdown ~16.6x—normal moves that would still look reasonable given expected double-digit earnings growth and a more tech-heavy index. He contrasts today’s resilience with 2023’s 5% yield episode when markets fell and credit spreads widened, saying spreads remain orderly. Ahead of the FOMC, markets price a 25 bp hike; he doubts bigger moves. He addresses weak 20-year auction headlines and explains that despite large AI-driven corporate issuance (hyperscalers spending $300–$400B; ~$2.4T total corporate issuance), pensions and insurers still strongly demand long-dated Treasuries. 00:00 Market Backdrop Today 00:44 Earnings And Valuation Math 02:27 Why Markets Stay Resilient 04:23 Fed Day And Bond Auction 05:08 AI Debt Versus Treasuries 07:16 Data Check And Wrap Up Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Today's Post - https://bahnsen.co/4dB7zsq David Bahnsen hosts the Monday Dividend Cafe from the Newport Beach studio, recaps the show’s weekly content cadence, and reviews a relatively calm market day after a volatile weekend. Nasdaq and S&P finished down about 0.5% with semiconductors down 5.6%, tied to a weekend letter from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei urging major AI labs to slow development and seek regulation, with support from Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Google’s AI leadership. Bahnsen notes heightened volatility, a brief 10-year yield move above 5%, and sector performance led by communication services while technology lagged. He says credit spreads remain benign but will be key to watch. He covers August CPI (0.4% headline, 0.3% core), elevated PPI (5.4% y/y), tanker shipping up ~300% amid Red Sea/Strait of Hormuz disruptions, cooling housing markets, the Fed meeting with an 86% implied hike probability, and WTI crude above $100 after a Saudi pipeline shutdown. 00:00 Welcome Back Monday 01:08 Program Cadence Explained 03:24 Market Selloff Recap 04:30 Anthropic AI Warning 07:28 Volatility and Credit Signals 09:05 Policy and AI Regulation 09:45 Inflation CPI and PPI 10:55 Shipping and Housing Cooling 12:04 Fed Meeting Rate Decision 13:18 Oil Surge and Wrap Up Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Today's Post - https://bahnsen.co/4ioMZyT On September 11, 2026, David Bahnsen marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with reflections as an investor, an American, and a person, focusing mainly on market lessons. He notes the S&P 500 was already down about 30% from its 2000 high before 9/11 amid falling earnings and a valuation re-rating, then reviews how markets closed for four days and fell sharply upon reopening, with about $1.5 trillion in market value lost that week. Bahnsen argues 9/11’s enduring investor lesson is not generic “markets recover,” but that markets adapt because human innovation and resilience reassert themselves, with U.S. equities up about 1,100% since. He also recalls post-9/11 national unity as diminished today, shares his personal experience as a newlywed facing career uncertainty, and recommends the 9/11 Museum while emphasizing remembrance. 00:00 9/11 Anniversary Intro 02:10 Why 9/11 Matters Investors 03:26 Markets Before the Attacks 05:26 Trading Halt and Reopen 09:28 Recovery Was Not Different 11:39 Human Nature Drives Markets 15:21 National Unity Then Now 17:41 Personal Life Lessons 20:58 Never Forget Closing Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com