Christina A. Karas, Vice President / Investments - Stifel

10/23/2026

Stifel's Chief Investment Officer, Michael O'Keeffe, recently explored how artificial intelligence is advancing through competition and innovation, as well as the opportunities and risks created by its rapid adoption. In this week's , our CIO Office shifts focus to the capital that is financing AI's growth. Stifel's Chief Investment Officer, Michael O'Keeffe, examines how companies are funding data center and computing infrastructure, who is providing that capital, and why understanding financing structures is just as important as understanding AI's long-term potential when evaluating investment opportunities.

Read the full report here: https://livesocial.seismic.com/aNFnm8

10/21/2026

This note looks at how several nonfinancial sectors could fare if Democrats win the midterm elections. As explained in the previous note, which covered financial services, a gridlock is expected. In such a situation, the Trump administration's regulatory agenda might be slowed down but not stopped. Democrats would lack the ability to reverse most of the Trump legislative agenda that has been implemented over the past two years.

Gridlock does not mean that no legislation will pass, but Democrats will be limited to pressure points (i.e. "must-pass" legislation) in order to enact some of their agenda. This note discusses what might be possible.

The view of the state of the election has not changed. Democrats are favored overwhelmingly to win the House. The race for the Senate majority is more of a coin flip. It is thought that Republicans have a better chance to remain in power there than do the prediction markets.

Read more here: https://livesocial.seismic.com/aM-kk4

10/21/2026

Finally, a price drop worth raising a glass to. California w**eries are selling surplus premium w**e to retailers that put it under their own labels. One buyer says w**e that would normally cost $45-$85 can sell for around $9.99. Bad news for the vineyard; considerably better news for the dinner party.

For more information on this and to read the full piece, click here: https://livesocial.seismic.com/ak5myE

10/20/2026

This month, Stifel's Chief Investment Officer, Michael O'Keefe looks beyond the midterm elections to artificial intelligence's continuing influence on the economy and markets. Our CIO Office revisits capabilities, adoption, and investment spending, along with the questions surrounding financing, power, productivity, and profits.

Read the full report here: https://stifel.info/ISB102026

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10/15/2026

Third-quarter earnings season is underway, and expectations are high. Companies in the S&P 500 are projected to deliver nearly 30% earnings growth, with analysts raising estimates during the quarter rather than lowering them. In this week's |Lines, Stifel's Chief Investment Officer, Michael O'Keeffe explores what's driving the stronger earnings outlook, why growth remains concentrated in certain sectors, what company reports may reveal about consumers and artificial intelligence investment, and why some believe forward guidance may matter as much as the results themselves.

https://stifel.info/SL101526

10/14/2026

Checked the weather? Streamed a football game on a flight? Sent a text from a remote area? There's a good chance a satellite played a role. When people think about the space economy, they often picture astronauts, moon missions, and sci-fi-worthy technology. The reality is much more Earth-focused. Satellites already help power communications, navigation, weather forecasting, agriculture, transportation, and national security.

For more information on this and to read the full piece, click here: https://livesocial.seismic.com/aHc4rE

10/13/2026

Political tailwinds have benefited the financial services sector during the first two years of President Trump's term. We doubt that a Democratic win in the midterm elections would create a headwind for the industry, but, it might not enjoy as strong of a following breeze as it has to this point. In this note, it is discussed how the political environment could change for financials. Some headline risk is expected, especially for the Global Systemically Important Banks (GSIBs). However, few changes in policy are expected, although it is acknowledged there is an increased risk for the credit card industry.

Also updated are thoughts on the state of the midterms. The base case remains: The House is likely to flip, while the Republicans still maintain a slim advantage to retain the Senate (an admittedly nonconsensus view). In the Senate, Democrats lead the polls in enough races to win, but several of the leads are within the margin of error. It has been questioned whether they will hold up.

Read more here: https://livesocial.seismic.com/aYk0KJ

10/09/2026

The third quarter brought continued economic growth and gains in U.S. equities, even as renewed conflict in the Middle East pushed energy prices higher and persistent inflation prompted the Federal Reserve to raise rates. In this edition of Quarterly Market Perspectives, we examine how these developments are shaping our year-end outlook and what they could mean for investor positioning.

Read the full piece here: https://livesocial.seismic.com/addOTE

10/08/2026

Space is no longer just the domain of governments and astronauts. Falling launch costs, private-sector innovation, and growing strategic investment are expanding the range of commercial opportunities beyond Earth. In this week's , Stifel's Chief Investment Officer, Michael O'Keefe, explores how competition is accelerating the development of the space economy, the industries already benefiting from space-based technologies, and why investors should pay attention to a theme that could shape economic growth for decades.

https://stifel.info/SL100826

10/07/2026

When the Art Gallery of Ontario acquired Portrait of a Lady Holding an Orange Blossom, curator Adam Levine couldn't resist a good mystery. Six years of archival digging, conservation work, crowdsourcing, and even a podcast later, the museum finally identified both the subject and the artist. Apparently, art history is just a very slow episode of CSI.

For more information on this and to read the full piece, click here: https://livesocial.seismic.com/aMN_f8