Global Research Unlocked

Please join Ralf Preusser in discussion with Mark Capleton, Evelyn Herrmann, Stephen Juneau and Meghan Swiber. We will discuss the upcoming inflation prints in the Euro Area and the US. In light of the recent run up in commodity prices, inflation is back in the driving seat for central bank reaction functions and as a result rate curves. We will discuss where we see opportunities in rates and inflation markets.
 
"Bank of America" and “BofA Securities” are the marketing names for the global banking businesses and global markets businesses (which includes BofA Global Research) of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Securities, trading, research, strategic advisory, and other investment banking and markets activities are performed globally by affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc. a registered broker-dealer and Member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. ©2026 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

Consumer strength, lower-income spend improving
Much of the consumer survey data suggests that consumers feel squeezed and are increasingly frustrated by inflation, but BAC credit and debit card spending data tells a different, more positive story. And importantly, it's not just higher income consumers who are spending. Recent data has shown improving growth from lower income consumers, even when excluding gasoline. Aditya Bhave, Head of US Economics for BofA Global Research, and Chris Nardone, Hardline and Broadline Retail analyst for BofA Global Research discuss whether other data is telling the same, encouraging consumer story and whether retailers generally agree with this more positive depiction of the US consumer. They also address what's ahead-especially as tariff refunds will be less helpful for companies next year and the consumer faces a winter with high gasoline prices and record diesel/heating oil.
 
Bank of America" and “BofA Securities” are the marketing names for the global banking businesses and global markets businesses (which includes BofA Global Research) of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Securities, trading, research, strategic advisory, and other investment banking and markets activities are performed globally by affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc. a registered broker-dealer and Member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. ©2026 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

In this episode of Must Read Research on Global Research Unlocked, Head of Global Research Candace Browning examines economies moving in different directions as inflation, policy, and investment trends continue to reshape the global landscape. We explore why the Federal Reserve may be at the start of a new tightening cycle, rising optimism toward Brazil despite election uncertainty, and how Australia's artificial intelligence investment boom could create inflationary pressures before delivering productivity gains. We also look at the accelerating commercialization of autonomous vehicles as driverless transportation moves from pilot programs toward broader deployment.
 
"Bank of America" and “BofA Securities” are the marketing names for the global banking businesses and global markets businesses (which includes BofA Global Research) of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Securities, trading, research, strategic advisory, and other investment banking and markets activities are performed globally by affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc. a registered broker-dealer and Member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. ©2026 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

Please join Ralf Preusser in conversation with Agne Stengeryte, Meghan Swiber, and Tomonobu Yamashita. We will review the Fed, the BoE and the BoJ and discuss implications for global rate and FX markets. The Fed delivered a hawkish hike and joined the global tightening cycle. The repercussions of this decisions have already had strong effects across yield curves and currencies. We discuss the FOMC decision in the context of the other central banks on the docket this week.
 
"Bank of America" and “BofA Securities” are the marketing names for the global banking businesses and global markets businesses (which includes BofA Global Research) of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Securities, trading, research, strategic advisory, and other investment banking and markets activities are performed globally by affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc. a registered broker-dealer and Member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. ©2026 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

Income investing has evolved beyond traditional bond coupons and stock dividends, with investors increasingly turning to derivatives-based strategies across a wide risk spectrum. As structured products and derivatives-linked ETFs continue to gain traction, income is increasingly being viewed as an investment outcome rather than simply an investing style.
In this episode of Signals & Noise, Abhinandan Deb, Head of Global Cross-Asset Quantitative Investment Strategy at BofA Securities, joins Nitin Saksena, Head of US Equity Derivatives Research, to discuss the rapid growth of derivatives income strategies. They explore the forces driving investor demand, why option-based income remains attractive despite higher bond yields, and how these strategies may complement traditional income sources in diversified portfolios.
 
 
"Bank of America" and “BofA Securities” are the marketing names for the global banking businesses and global markets businesses (which includes BofA Global Research) of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Securities, trading, research, strategic advisory, and other investment banking and markets activities are performed globally by affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc. a registered broker-dealer and Member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. ©2026 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

In this episode of Must Read Research on Global Research Unlocked, Candace Browning explores why compute is becoming one of the most valuable currencies in the global economy. We discuss Walmart’s rapidly growing advertising business and how proprietary data is helping reshape the media landscape, the accelerating path toward quantum computing commercialization, and the emergence of graphics processing unit rental futures that could transform computing power into a tradable asset class. We also recap key takeaways from conference season, where executives highlighted strong demand trends across lodging, media, communications infrastructure, and artificial intelligence-related industries.
 
"Bank of America" and “BofA Securities” are the marketing names for the global banking businesses and global markets businesses (which includes BofA Global Research) of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Securities, trading, research, strategic advisory, and other investment banking and markets activities are performed globally by affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc. a registered broker-dealer and Member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. ©2026 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

Emerging markets face a challenging mix of persistent inflation, potential Fed hikes, U.S. political uncertainty and geopolitical risks. Yet in this episode of Signals & Noise, David Hauner, Head of Global Emerging Markets Fixed Income Strategy at BofA Securities, explains why he remains constructive on EM carry despite a more difficult backdrop. Drawing from BofA's "Buy Back EM" outlook, Hauner outlines four key themes shaping emerging markets: Treasury market developments, a more hawkish Fed, U.S. midterm elections, and evolving EM monetary policy. He discusses why higher-yielding currencies in markets such as Brazil, Colombia, Turkey and frontier economies continue to look attractive, while remaining more cautious on EM rates and sovereign credit spreads. The episode also explores the outlook for the Chinese renminbi, risks from oil price volatility and the Iran situation, Brazil's upcoming election, and why investors should distinguish between opportunities in EM carry and risks in broader EM fixed income markets.
 
"Bank of America" and “BofA Securities” are the marketing names for the global banking businesses and global markets businesses (which includes BofA Global Research) of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Securities, trading, research, strategic advisory, and other investment banking and markets activities are performed globally by affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc. a registered broker-dealer and Member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. ©2026 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

Artificial intelligence has created huge opportunities for investors, but also significant volatility. In this episode of Signals & Noise, Michael Youngworth, Head of Global Convertible & Preferred Strategy at BofA Securities, explains why convertible bonds may offer a compelling way to participate in the AI theme without taking on the full volatility of common stocks. Youngworth breaks down how convertibles work, why they have become a key source of financing for AI infrastructure, data centers and hyperscalers, and how roughly one-third of the convertible market is now linked to the AI trade. He also discusses the asset class's unique combination of equity participation, downside support and embedded volatility exposure, as well as why recent market weakness has created a more attractive entry point. For investors who believe in the long-term AI buildout but are concerned about valuations, timing and drawdowns, convertibles may offer a different way to stay invested while potentially smoothing the ride.
 
"Bank of America" and “BofA Securities” are the marketing names for the global banking businesses and global markets businesses (which includes BofA Global Research) of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Securities, trading, research, strategic advisory, and other investment banking and markets activities are performed globally by affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc. a registered broker-dealer and Member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. ©2026 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

Join Bank of America's Economics and Rates Strategy teams for a discussion of the latest CPI data, the implications for Federal Reserve policy, and U.S. Treasury buyback developments. Featuring insights from Aditya Bhave, Mark Cabana, Stephen Juneau, Meghan Swiber, and Ralph Axel, this timely conversation explores the key market and macroeconomic takeaways from the latest inflation report.
Recorded on September 11, 2026.
 
You may also enjoy listening to the Merrill Perspectives podcast, featuring conversations on the big stories, news and trends affecting your everyday financial life.
 
"Bank of America" and “BofA Securities” are the marketing names for the global banking businesses and global markets businesses (which includes BofA Global Research) of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Securities, trading, research, strategic advisory, and other investment banking and markets activities are performed globally by affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc. a registered broker-dealer and Member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. ©2026 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.
 

Please join Sphia Salim in conversation with Shruti Mishra, Meghan Swiber and Alex Cohen post-payrolls report. We will discuss how relevant it is for the Sep Fed decision relative to CPI next week, and implications for US rates & the USD in a context where long-dated US yields continue to make new highs, driving global yields with them.
 
"Bank of America" and “BofA Securities” are the marketing names for the global banking businesses and global markets businesses (which includes BofA Global Research) of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Securities, trading, research, strategic advisory, and other investment banking and markets activities are performed globally by affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc. a registered broker-dealer and Member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. ©2026 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.
 

Alts rebound as the value rotation takes hold
Inflows into alternative assets have been consistently strong. The products became available to retail and other investors who have steadily increased exposure but allocations remain fairly low. In contrast, the stocks of the alternative asset managers have faced substantial ups and downs, especially in the last few years. Alternative manager shares had outperformed the S&P for a decade through 2024. Strong growth and conversions to C-Corps after President Trump was first elected propelled them, as institutional investors were able to buy into what had been partnership structures. But concerns around private credit, a more competitive private equity landscape and the fact that the stocks weren't as underowned as they once were began to weigh. More recently, many of these shares have stabilized and begun to rally. Craig discusses why that's happened and what's ahead from here, especially as these stocks are generally still well off 2024 highs, the market is increasingly interested in value stocks and many of the fundamental drivers are intact.
 
"Bank of America" and “BofA Securities” are the marketing names for the global banking businesses and global markets businesses (which includes BofA Global Research) of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Securities, trading, research, strategic advisory, and other investment banking and markets activities are performed globally by affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc. a registered broker-dealer and Member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. ©2026 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

In this episode of Must Read Research on Global Research Unlocked, Candace Browning explores whether today’s elevated conviction in risk assets is supported by the underlying data. We discuss record-bullish investor positioning, introduce a new AI tracker designed to monitor the key drivers of technology sentiment, and examine how competition, pricing, and infrastructure demand are reshaping the AI landscape. We also explore what’s driving gold’s rally, from central bank purchases to shifting currency dynamics, and highlight fresh evidence from the Bank of America Institute suggesting the long-standing divide between higher- and lower-income consumers may finally be beginning to narrow.
 
"Bank of America" and “BofA Securities” are the marketing names for the global banking businesses and global markets businesses (which includes BofA Global Research) of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Securities, trading, research, strategic advisory, and other investment banking and markets activities are performed globally by affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc. a registered broker-dealer and Member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. ©2026 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.