Market Strategist
12
years of experience
Magdalena Rocha Ocampo is a Market Strategist for the Principal Asset Management Global Insights team. She is responsible for crafting timely and impactful market and investment perspectives. Magdalena joined the firm in 2025. Prior to her current role, Magdalena served as a Strategy Research Associate at Circana, LLC., and as a Portfolio Strategist at the Macro Institute and at UBS Investment Bank. She received an undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin.
April CPI report: Fed easing is becoming increasingly unlikely in 2026
2 min
April CPI shows rising core inflation, strengthening the case for Fed patience and fewer rate cuts ahead.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
The AI boom: Bubble risk or durable cycle?
9 min
AI’s boom echoes past bubbles—but are fundamentals strong enough to support the surge?
By
Magdalena Ocampo
December CPI report: Unlikely to alter the Fed’s course
2 min
December CPI holds steady; disinflation trend intact, keeping Fed policy on expected path.
By
Seema Shah, and Magdalena Ocampo
By
Seema Shah, Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
Improving sentiment and earnings momentum support market strength
2 min
Cooling geopolitics and accelerating earnings help equities recover, reinforcing confidence in fundamentals.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
March CPI report: Energy lifts headline; core holding steady (for now)
2 min
Energy lifts March CPI to 3.3% while core holds steady, keeping Fed policy cautious
By
Magdalena Ocampo
Supply-chain fragilities are emerging in tech
2 min
Middle East tensions expose hidden semiconductor supply risks, challenging tech resilience.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
Tech’s resilience amid geopolitical tension masks growing supply‑chain fragilities
5 min
Tech resilience masks supply-chain risks that could disrupt semis and slow AI deployment.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
AI’s mixed impact on the labor market
2 min
AI’s labor market impact job disruption risks emerging opportunities and policy responses
By
Magdalena Ocampo
Market implications amid renewed geopolitical uncertainty
2 min
Middle East tensions raise energy risks, reinforcing the case for disciplined portfolio diversification.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
A market guide to deregulation
2 min
Deregulation could counter policy uncertainty as the U.S. shifts to a pro-growth path.
By
Seema Shah, Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
Equities supported by improvement in business cycle indicators
2 min
Equity rally defies weak jobs data, supported by resilient demand and cyclical green shoots.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
June jobs report: Tighter immigration policy complicating the outlook
2 min
June payrolls showed a decent payroll gain; the Fed remains on course for a late 2025 rate cut.
By
Seema Shah, Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
January CPI report: Unusually cooler than normal
2 min
January CPI cools to 2.4%, easing market fears and keeping Fed rate cuts on hold for now near term.
By
Seema Shah, Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
Understanding Europe’s lag in the AI-led equity landscape
6 min
Examining why Europe’s structural hurdles may limit its ability to close the AI gap with the U.S.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
November CPI report: Cooling inflation gives the Fed doves the upper hand
2 min
November CPI surprise boosts Fed doves, with cooling inflation raising odds of early 2025 rate cuts.
By
Seema Shah, and Magdalena Ocampo
June CPI report: Tariff impact materializing
Inflation stays soft despite tariffs, giving the Fed space to delay rate cuts for now.
By
Seema Shah, Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
September CPI report: Keeping the Fed on track for cuts
2 min
September CPI cooled to 3.0% as shelter costs eased, but energy prices drove headline gains.
By
Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
Federal Reserve: A data storm reinforces the need for additional rate cuts
2 min
Jobs cool, inflation softens—setting the stage for Fed cuts and a risk-friendly 2026.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
Risks of labor supply restraints and implications for the Fed
Tighter immigration distorts labor signals, complicating Fed policy amid mixed economic data.
By
Christian Floro, CFA, Magdalena Ocampo, and Seema Shah
October FOMC meeting: Navigating the fog
2 min
October’s rate cut shows the Fed’s caution as labor signals soften and economic data remains limited.
By
Magdalena Ocampo, and Christian Floro, CFA
2026: The case for diversification remains strong
2 min
Diversification key as easing policy, AI trends, and regional shifts shape global market outlook.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
July jobs report: Weakness in payrolls increases the likelihood of a September cut
2 min
The substantial revisions to May & June payrolls are complicating the Fed’s policy response.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
October ECB meeting: Steady rates, in a “good place”
2 min
ECB policymakers opted to keep policy rates steady and emphasized how growing economic acticity leaves them a very good place.
By
Magdalena Ocampo, and Christian Floro, CFA
December jobs report: Conflicting dynamics
2 min
Labor market cools as job growth slows and revisions turn negative—but no signs of collapse yet.
By
Seema Shah, Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
Labor market: Supply constraints potentially exacerbating demand softness
2 min
Labor market softens, but supply-side shifts may complicate the case for a Fed-driven rate cut.
By
Seema Shah, and Magdalena Ocampo
Europe’s AI challenges and opportunities
2 min
U.S. equities regain leadership as AI fuels growth; Europe’s gains hinge on broader recovery.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
June ECB meeting: In a good place to assess the risks
2 min
The ECB cut rates for the seventh consecutive time at its June meeting, and is in a good position to face the uncertainties ahead.
By
Seema Shah, Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
July CPI report: Tariffs coming in slow but steady
2 min
July CPI steady at 2.7% as core inflation rises; tariff impacts modest but likely to build ahead.
By
Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
February CPI report: Calm before the storm
2 min
February CPI met expectations, but surging oil prices shift the market’s inflation focus ahead.
By
Seema Shah, Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
Earnings remain resilient against a cloudy macro backdrop
2 min
Resilient earnings help steady markets as investors weigh a cautious Fed and uneven labor signals.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
May jobs report: Not yet coming apart at the seams
2 min
Payrolls increased by 139,000 in May, and the labor market is not yet showing signs of a significant decline.
By
Seema Shah, Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
AI rally: sustainable growth or speculative bubble?
2 min
AI drives gains, but rising risks demand selectivity as market exuberance tests fundamentals.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
Small cap equities: What could fuel a sustainable rally?
5 min
Can small caps sustain their recent rally? Key macro, policy, and rate factors to watch.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
September jobs report: Finally, some data
2 min
Strong September jobs data eases labor market fears, but policy uncertainty still looms large.
By
Seema Shah, Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
May CPI report: Still bracing for impact
2 min
Inflation stayed soft in May, but tariff-related pressures may still be looming on the horizon.
By
Seema Shah, Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
Industrials: An AI beneficiary with broader catalysts
Industrials offer AI exposure, diversification, and structural tailwinds beyond tech.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
Key catalysts for a sustained rebound in small caps
2 min
Can small caps rally last? Key macro and policy factors may be lining up in their favor.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
Investing in the AI era: growth, gains, and risks
4 min
AI investment is driving U.S. growth—but can it sustain markets or amplify future risks?
By
Magdalena Ocampo
What’s in store for financial markets in the second half of the year?
2 min
Navigating market volatility has been challenging this year; investors should focus on U.S. fundamentals.
By
Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
Weak jobs report cements September rate cut
2 min
August jobs miss expectations, boosting odds of a September Fed rate cut amid slowing labor demand.
By
Magdalena Ocampo, and Christian Floro, CFA
AI’s growing economic footprint: A new era for markets
2 min
AI capex fuels GDP and market momentum, setting the stage for broader growth into 2026.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
U.S. equities supported by a solid economy
2 min
Bad news abounds for equities, yet the S&P 500 hovers near all-time highs, supported by strong fundamentals.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
August CPI report: Not enough to change the Fed’s course
2 min
August CPI rose slightly, but labor market weakness keeps Fed on track for rate cuts.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
October and November jobs report: Noisy, not recessionary
4 min
Labor data looks weak, but distortions mask a resilient job market and cooling—not collapse.
By
Seema Shah, Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
Iran conflict triggers a major energy shock
8 min
Energy shock hits markets as Iran conflict disrupts oil and LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
By
Seema Shah, Christian Floro, CFA, and Magdalena Ocampo
Geopolitics in the age of AI
2 min
How geopolitical tensions and the AI race could reshape markets and portfolio risk in 2026.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
AI’s impact on jobs: Opportunities and challenges
8 min
AI is reshaping jobs, productivity, and growth, creating new opportunities and risks.
By
Magdalena Ocampo
January jobs report: A strong rebound after a soft 2025 labor market
2 min
January jobs data shows a firmer labor market and a broad rebound in hiring.
By
Seema Shah, and Magdalena Ocampo
Tech selloff: Reset, not rupture
4 min
Tech pullback deepens as investors weigh AI disruption, valuations, and shifting market leadership.
By
Seema Shah, and Magdalena Ocampo
Industrials: AI-linked opportunity within a diversified sector
2 min
AI scrutiny and broadening growth revive the case for Industrials as market leadership widens.
By
Magdalena Ocampo