On this episode of Cocktail Investing (above), Tematica’s resident investment and global macro mixologists, Chris Versace and Lenore Hawkins, discuss the latest economic and stock market happenings as we get ready to close the books on both March and 1Q 2016.

While the quarter was an overall positive one for stocks, March is shaping up to be rather different than January and February as the growing disconnect between hope and the soft data is giving way to reality and the hard data.

We recap the winning sectors, but also ask the question why are financials falling when gold is rising when the Fed is supposed to raise interest rates two more times this year?

With 1Q 2017 earnings season just a few weeks away, if recent results from Nike, Target, FedEx and LuLuLemon are any indications, it’s looking like volatility is will be making its return.

Tematica’s mixologists also share what they’re looking for with the all important start of the new month, and add some sobering perspective around the prospects for consumer spending in the coming months.

It’s not likely to be as vibrant as the herd currently expects, and that’s yet another headwind to jumpstarting the economy as brick & mortar retailers struggle and auto companies ratchet up the incentives to lure on the fence consumers.

How does LuLuLemon’s quarterly results confirm our concern about mall REITs? What's the prediction on Under Armour shares?

How are Darden, Chipotle, Panera Bread and now Starbucks embracing our Food with Integrity investing theme?

What’s the new mobile payment opportunity that Chris stumbled up?