In a recent appearance on CNBC’s Fast Money, Julie Biel, CFA, Chief Market Strategist at Kayne Anderson Rudnick, shared her concerns about the economic impact of the latest round of tariffs. According to Biel, the most pressing issue isn’t just the tariffs themselves, but the uncertainty they create—leading to what she described as a “level of paralysis” in business investment and hiring.
“We’re already seeing [this paralysis] in survey data before the tariffs were announced,” Biel said. She likened the situation to a landlord telling you to move out, then reversing the decision a week later—“you’d still be looking around for another place to live.” This lack of clarity, she explained, makes it nearly impossible for companies to plan long-term.
Biel emphasized that in this environment, investors should focus on businesses that are less dependent on trade and more resilient to policy shifts. She also pointed out that while globalization was expected to benefit everyone, the failure to reskill displaced workers has left many Americans feeling left behind.
This segment underscores the importance of quality investing and strategic positioning in volatile times.
