Private equity markets, lacking transparent pricing, may be nearing a downturn despite their lack of observable bubbles. The influx of capital over recent decades has led to inflated valuations, with private equity assets soaring to $3.5 trillion by 2023. 

Rising interest rates threaten the industry, which thrived in low-rate environments, potentially leading to poor returns and capital shortages. Pension funds, heavily invested in private equity, face significant risks, impacting both retirees and taxpayers. 

The sector's rapid expansion could have long-term negative economic effects as it adjusts to new financial conditions. The deflation of the private equity market, although gradual, could still result in significant economic challenges.

Finsum: With a possible cut on the horizon there is still a possibility of sustainability. 

Crude oil futures climbed on Thursday, buoyed by easing inflation data. The consumer price index dropped 0.1% in June, reducing the annual rate to 3%, which raised hopes for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in September. 

Lower interest rates typically boost economic growth, potentially increasing oil demand. Meanwhile, mixed signals on global oil demand emerged, with the International Energy Agency forecasting slower growth compared to OPEC's more optimistic outlook. 

West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude both saw price increases, while natural gas prices fell. Overall, the oil future looks fairly positive with potential increased demand. 

Finsum: It is potentially shaping up to be a strong fall for energy prices if we see a rate hike.

Bond investors should closely monitor their allocation and management strategies, given the current favorable real Treasury bond yields above 2% and even higher yields on investment-grade bonds. 

Bonds are now competitive with other asset classes, a situation not seen in decades due to historically low central bank policy rates. Despite this, many investors continue to neglect their bond allocations, possibly due to poor returns over the past decade. Passive bond index funds and ETFs, like the Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund and iShares Core U.S. 

Aggregate Bond ETF, have gained popularity but may not align with all investors' objectives. Active bond management, which can better match investment goals and risk tolerance, often outperforms passive strategies even after fees. Investors should consider a more active approach to bond investing to optimize their portfolio performance and risk management.

Finsum: A rate cut seems more likely given the economic outlook and investors should plan accordingly

Direct indexing allows investors to access the individual stocks in their portfolio, providing opportunities for tax-loss harvesting. Unlike index funds, direct indexing offers the performance and diversification benefits of an index but with the ability to customize holdings. 

This strategy enables investors to manage exposure to specific companies or sectors and capitalize on market dips for tax-loss opportunities. While index funds offer simplicity and tax efficiency, direct indexing takes these benefits a step further by allowing more personalized portfolio adjustments. 

However, setting up a direct indexing account can be costly and involves higher fees due to its active management. Despite this, the customization and tax benefits can be worthwhile for certain investors, especially those in higher tax brackets or with concentrated stock positions.

Finsum: With fees and minimums getting lower and lower, direct indexing is becoming an option for a wider audience.

Vanguard’s low-cost ETFs are immensely popular, with options like Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF leading the pack. However, there are other notablev ETFs that can enhance your portfolio if you venture beyond these well-known choices:

VBR, a Gold-rated ETF, focuses on small-cap value stocks and charges an exceptionally low 0.07% expense ratio. This ETF has consistently outperformed its category peers, despite small-cap value funds being out of favor for many years.

BNDX, a Silver-rated ETF, offers exposure to the global bond market, complementing a U.S.-heavy bond allocation. It invests in a diverse portfolio of foreign investment-grade bonds, hedging against currency risk, with an equally low expense ratio of 0.07%.

Finally, VT provides exposure to nearly 10,000 stocks worldwide, including U.S., foreign, and emerging markets, making it one of the broadest stock ETFs available. With its diverse mix, it can serve as a comprehensive, standalone stock investment for long-term portfolios.

Finsum: The last one to consider might be a momentum fund as interest rates drop and growth picks up.