Many investors hold an S&P 500 index fund in their portfolios, thinking it is a low-risk way to keep pace with the market and a counterweight to other holdings like bonds and international stocks.

But most don’t realize that the index isn’t what it used to be—both in terms of what’s in it and how risky it is.

Below, some of the best analysis and insight from WSJ writers and columnists, the Dow Jones Newswires team and occasionally beyond, on investing, the wealth-management business and more.

Investors bet that a Republican sweep would allow tax-cut extensions.

From Dow Jones Newswires

Oil demand is expected to soften next year due a supply surplus driven by non-OPEC countries, according to BMI analysts. Output from non-OPEC countries excluding the U.S. is set to rise at an annual average rate of 858,000 barrels a day this year and 940,000 barrels a day the next, higher than any two-year period of growth seen since 2005, according to the research firm. "Growth is being fuelled by conventional projects with long lead and payback times that are generally insensitive to short-run shifts in the oil price," the analysts say in a note to clients. "As such, absent project delays, these barrels will come online over the next 18 months, regardless of market conditions." BMI forecasts Brent crude to fall to $82 a barrel next year, but said it is considering a downward revision to its estimates. (Giulia Petroni, [email protected])

German economists are divided on planned European Union tariffs on electric vehicles from China, according to one of the country's leading economic-research organizations. One-third of economists polled by the Ifo Institute, which also runs a monthly business-sentiment survey, said the EU's tariffs are justified, while a similar 33% said tariffs were inappropriate. Around 11% wanted lower tariffs, while 6% wanted higher ones, Ifo says. The EU said in June that it plans on imposing duties of up to 38% on Chinese imports of electric cars. "Dealing with China is challenging. Geopolitical risks, responses to China's economic and export strategy and maintaining free trade need to be balanced," said Niklas Potrafke, head of the Ifo's Center for Public Finance. (Edward Frankl, [email protected])

As the issue of regulatory approval for exchange-traded crypto funds turned from if to when, speculation mounted that a new crop of bitcoin ETFs could revitalize the slumping digital-asset market.

Peter Mallouk: Why Demand for Financial Advisors Will Only Increase

Ranked No. 3 on Barron’s 2023 list of top RIA firms, Overland Park, Kan.-based Creative Planning has grown to become one of the nation’s largest RIAs.

Big companies including AT&T, Keurig Dr Pepper and Krispy Kreme are pulling back on a type of short-term financing that gives them more time to pay their invoices.

The chief executive of the world’s leading arbiter of corporate climate targets is stepping down from the role following months of controversy over the group’s decision to consider carbon offsets as one way companies can meet their climate goals.

New-vehicle sales are stuck in middle gear as high interest rates and high prices push less affluent consumers into the secondhand market.

Companies’ productivity-tracking tools are getting more sophisticated in detecting when remote workers are pretending they’re busy.

Your Flight Is Delayed. Would More Details Make You Feel Better?

Fliers find pros and cons in getting more specifics from United Airlines on delays and cancellations.

Buy Side from WSJ: Your Credit Score Affects Your Car Insurance Rate—Here’s How to Save

The Wealth Adviser Briefing covers topics of interest to wealth managers, financial planners and other advisers. The content is curated by the Dow Jones Newswires team using articles from the Newswires, Barron's, MarketWatch and The Wall Street Journal. The briefing is delivered to subscribers by email each workday morning at 6:30 a.m. ET. You can sign up here for email delivery. 

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