The Fed is raising rates again, midterm elections are approaching, and investors have plenty of headlines competing for their attention. In the Q4 edition of The Market Pulse, the Vertrix Investment Team looks beyond the noise to examine what history tells us about rate-hiking cycles, election-year volatility, and what could be ahead for markets in 2027

Markets reached new highs in the first half of 2026, but beneath the surface, major shifts are underway. From changing leadership in the AI trade to a historic wave of potential IPOs and a new era at the Federal Reserve, this quarter’s Market Pulse explores the forces that could shape the second half of the year.

Markets don’t always move in step with the headlines. This quarter’s update looks at recent volatility, rapid recoveries, and why disciplined investors should stay focused on long-term perspective instead of short-term noise.