BOARD CERTIFICATION EXAM STUDY GUIDES Lower Extremity Trauma
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Posted on September 28, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Consulting firm McKinsey & Co has agreed to pay $230 million to resolve lawsuits by hundreds of U.S. local governments and school districts alleging it fueled an epidemic of opioid addiction through its work for bankrupt OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and other drug companies.
The S&P 500 Index was up about 1 point (0.02%) at 4,274.51; the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 69 points (0.20%) to 33,550.27; the NASDAQ gained 29 points (0.22%) to 13,092.85.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was up 7 basis points at 4.613%.
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) fell half a point to 18.42.
Energy stocks were among the best performers Wednesday, with the S&P 500 Energy Sector rising 2.5%. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), which has been rising since July as investors digested the likelihood of “higher-for-longer” interest rates, remained at its highest level so far this year.
Posted on September 27, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Instacart shares recently fell below its $30 IPO price.
After FTX crashed, the world of crypto seemed to belong to the largest exchange, Binance. Less than a year later, Binance is the one in distress. Under threat of enforcement actions by U.S. agencies, Binance’s empire is quaking. Over the past three months, more than a dozen senior executives have left, and the exchange has laid off at least 1,500 employees this year to cut costs and prepare for a decline in business. And while Binance still looms large in crypto, its dominance is dwindling.
Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 63.91 points (1.5%) at 4,273.53; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 388.00 points (1.1%) at 33,618.88; the NASDAQ Composite was down 207.71 points (1.6%) at 13,063.61.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 1 basis point at 4.548%.
CBOEs Volatility Index (VIX) was up 1.98 at 18.89.
Utilities were the weakest sector Tuesday. The Philadelphia Utility Index (UTY) dropped almost 3% to near a 12-month low. Utility stocks, traditionally favored by some investors because of their relatively high dividend yields, have fallen out of favor as bond yields surged this year. Consumer discretionary shares were also down sharply, perhaps reflecting concern that a slowing economy will prompt consumers to cut back on big-ticket purchases.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) extended a nearly three-month rally and touched a 10-month high. Volatility based on the VIX hit a four-month high.
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Finally, Moody’s, the only major credit rating agency that still gives the US government a triple-A rating, warned that a federal government shutdown would negatively impact the country’s credit.
Posted on September 26, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Bed Bath & Beyond, Christmas Tree Shops, and Tuesday Morning are unable to find a way to continue and moved into Chapter 7 bankruptcy. When that happens, liquidation sales are held, followed by any assets the company owns being sold off to pay off creditors. Bed Bath & Beyond, for example, saw its name, website, and its brand get purchased by the former Overstock.com, which promptly changed its name. So, while all of its stores closed and it’s no longer the same company, Bed Bath & Beyond’s name still exists. That’s, so far, not the case for Tuesday Morning or Christmas Tree Shops, which have liquidated their merchandise, but have not auction off their names and intellectual property.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 17 points (0.4%) at 4,337.44; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 43 points (0.13%) at 34,006.88; the NASDAQ was up 60 points (0.45%) at 13,271.32.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was up 10 basis points at 4.54%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) edged down to 17.11.
Energy was the best-performing sector Monday, despite the slight pullback in oil prices.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), which has been rising since July as investors digested the likelihood of “higher-for-longer” interest rates, pushed to its highest level so far this year.
Stocks last week capping off the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ’s worst week since March as investors wait to see whether lawmakers will manage to keep the government from shutting down. Klaviyo, Instacart, and Arm—the three recent IPOs that all briefly soared on their debut also were down.
Posted on September 24, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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An NFT is a digital asset that can come in the form of art, music, in-game items, videos, and more. They are bought and sold online, frequently with cryptocurrency, and they are generally encoded with the same underlying software as many cryptos. They’ve been around since 2014.
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NFTs, the digital collectibles, are pretty much worthless now. Using data from NFT Scan, the crypto platform dappGambl found that 95% of the 73,257 Non Fungible Token collections (e.g., Bored Ape Yacht Club) it analyzed are worth 0 ether.
In other words, if NFTs were physical objects, it’d be time to put them on the same garage shelf with Beanie Babies. The report estimates that 23 million people are now the owners of worthless digital files. The crash is mainly for one S/D reason: There just isn’t enough demand to keep up with supply.
Pharmacy giant Rite Aid is negotiating terms of a bankruptcy plan that could see a significant number of its more than 2,100 drugstores permanently close, according to a report.
People familiar with the company’s talks with creditors told the Wall Street Journal that Rite Aid has proposed to close as many as 500 stores in bankruptcy, and either sell or let creditors take over its remaining operations. One group of bondholders wants to liquidate a larger number of stores, and there is an ongoing discussion on the number of stores to be closed, the Journal reported.
Given the conversations remain ongoing, no decisions have been made at this time, Rite Aid said in a statement to Reuters.
Posted on September 23, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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There were about 1.65 million accountants and auditors in the U.S. in 2022, up 1.3% from the previous year but down 2.6% from 2020 and down 15.9% from 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ current population survey. More than 300,000 accountants quit their jobs between 2019 and 2021, data show. And fewer people are pursuing degrees in accounting and entering the field, leading to more open positions and for longer periods. The shortage is expected to worsen as more accountants retire without a robust pipeline of replacements.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 9.94 points (0.2%) at 4,320.06, down 2.9% for the week and the lowest since mid-June; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 106.58 points (0.3%) at 33,963.84, down 1.9% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 12.18 points (0.1%) at 13,211.81, down 3.6% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 4 basis points at 4.436%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.34 at 17.20.
The past week was particularly rough for smaller companies and other parts of the market considered to have exposure to recession risks. The small-cap Russell 2000 Index (RUT) sank 3.4% this week and ended Friday at its lowest point since June 1. The Dow Jones Transportation Index (DJT) also reflected recession concerns, dropping over 2% for the week. The energy sector was down for the week despite crude oil futures holding near 10-month highs of more than $90 a barrel.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) strengthened for the 10th consecutive week and on Friday touched its highest level since early March, reflecting expectations interest rates will remain at historical highs.
Posted on September 22, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Cisco Systems has struck a $28 billion deal to buy analytics and security-software company Splunk as the networking-equipment giant looks to tap further into the rise of artificial intelligence. Cisco said Thursday it has agreed to pay $157 a share in cash for Splunk, a 31% premium to Wednesday’s closing price of $119.59 for the San Francisco company.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 72.20 points (1.6%) at 4,330.00; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 370.46 points (1.1%) at 34,070.42; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 245.14 points (1.8%) at 13,223.98.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 14 basis points at 4.49%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 2.40 at 17.54.
Recession or interest rate concerns weighed particularly heavily on sectors viewed as having greater exposure to those factors. Shares of real estate, consumer discretionary, and financial companies were among the market’s poorest-performing sectors Thursday, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) sinking to an 11-week low.
The outlook for higher-for-longer interest rates helped lift the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) to a 6½-month high, though it faded later.
Posted on September 21, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The Federal Reserve announced it was leaving its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a 22-year high on Wednesday but signaled it could hike rates again in its fight to bring down inflation. After a two-day meeting the Fed announced its federal funds rate would remain in a range of 5.25 to 5.5% – the same level as the central bank announced in July, when it last raised rates.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 41.75 points (0.9%) at 4,402.20; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 76.85 points (0.2%) at 34,440.88; the NASDAQ Composite was down 209.06 points (1.5%) at 13,469.13.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 3 basis points at 4.393%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 1.03 at 15.14, after touching a two-week high.
Communication services and technology were among the weakest sectors Wednesday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) falling to its lowest level since late May.
Regional banks were also lower, and energy stocks slipped after crude oil futures pulled back from a recent rally. Real estate and consumer staples posted modest gains. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) strengthened back toward a six-month high.
Posted on September 20, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
Three nurse practitioners who earned doctorates of nursing practice are suing the state of California, saying that they have earned the right to tout themselves using the term “doctor.” The nurse practitioners claim a California statute that only allows California-licensed allopathic, podiatric and osteopathic physicians to use the terms “doctor” and “Dr.” is unconstitutional. The restriction has been on the books since at least 1937 to avoid patient confusion over the level of education their health professionals have achieved.
The S&P 500 Index was down 9.58 points (0.2%) at 4,443.95; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 106.57 points (0.3%) at 34,517.73; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 32.05 points (0.2%) at 13,678.19.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 5 basis points at 4.369%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.11 at 14.11.
Transportation and small-cap companies were among the market’s weakest areas Tuesday. Both the Dow Jones Transportation Average (DJT) and Russell 2000 Index (RUT) ended at their lowest levels since late June. Technology companies were also lower, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) down more than 1%.
Posted on September 19, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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$5.6 billion. That’s the estimated economic impact should the United Auto Workers strike against Detroit’s Big Three automakers last 10 days, according to the Anderson Economic Group. (Bloomberg)
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was up 3.21 points (0.1%) at 4,453.53; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 6.06 points at 34,624.30; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was up 1.90 points at 13,710.24.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 1 basis point at 4.311%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.25 at 14.04.
Energy shares were once again one of the market’s strongest performers thanks to an extended rally in crude oil futures, which rose to a 10-month high of more than $92 a barrel Monday.
Regional banks and consumer discretionary stocks were among the weakest sectors. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed near a 16-year high posted in August before pulling back later in the session.
Posted on September 16, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
Medicare Part B and D are likely increasing in 2024
Due to a new Alzheimer’s treatment coming to the market (Leqembi, from pharmaceutical companies Eisai and Biogen), Medicare beneficiaries are expected to pick up the cost. Therefore, Medicare Part B prices are expected to increase in 2024. The costs are projected to go up from the current $164.90 to $174.80, a nearly $10 increase per month.
While you may not see a huge difference in the amount you’re paying for Medicare Part D, it still could be slightly lower. The average total monthly Part D premium is projected to decrease from $56.49 in 2023 to $55.50 in 2024, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). That’s nearly $10 each month.
The S&P 500 Index was down 54.78 points (1.2%) at 4,450.32, down 0.2% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 288.87 points (0.8%) at 34,618.24, up 0.1% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was down 217.72 points (1.6%) at 13,708.33, down 0.4% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 4 basis points at 4.332%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.97 at 13.79.
Technology shares were among the market’s weakest performers Friday after Reuters reported Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) had told its major suppliers to delay delivery of high-end chipmaking equipment because of concerns over demand.
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) sank more than 3% to a four-week low. Most market sectors were under pressure, including energy, despite crude oil futures extending a climb above $90 a barrel.
Posted on September 14, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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September is Healthy Aging Month. Some health systems like Mount Sinai in New York are already preparing to treat the aging US population via its Align program, which aims to reduce geriatric emergency room visits.
Posted on September 12, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized and approved updated COVID boosters on Monday amid rising cases and hospitalizations across the country. The boosters made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, were formulated to target variants that are currently circulating, which are related to XBB – an offshoot of the omicron variant.
The US economy is in a “rolling recession” and a full-blown downturn looms, Liz Ann Sonders says.
Weakness in consumer goods and manufacturing is being offset by strength in services, she noted.
Charles Schwab’s chief investment strategist doesn’t expect a bunch of interest—rate cuts in 2024.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 29.97 points (0.7%) at 4,487.46; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 87.13 points (0.3%) at 34,663.72; the NASDAQ Composite was up 156.37 points (1.1%) at 13,917.89.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 3 basis points at 4.29%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.03 at 13.81.
The consumer discretionary sector, which includes stocks like Tesla and Amazon (AMZN), gained nearly 3% and ended at an eight-week high. Health care and utilities were also higher. Energy shares dropped as crude oil futures eased, but oil prices remained near 10-month highs.
Posted on September 11, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
The Securities and Exchange Commissionapproved a funding proposal for the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT), a database designed to allow regulators to monitor all activity and trades in the US equity market.
Up until now, regulators “lacked a consolidated view of the material information” of National Market System securities “to trace orders from originations, modifications, cancellations, routings, and executions,” according to SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who supported the proposal.
With the new proposal, though, brokers will largely be footing the bill. So, while the plan was approved by three of the five commissioners, it’ll face an uphill battle to win approval from broker and asset manager-adjacent trade groups.
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According to a report by Bloomberg, Wells Fargo & Co. has received federal approval for a $1 billion settlement in a shareholder lawsuit concerning unauthorized customer accounts. However, U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon greenlit the settlement after a hearing in New York, bringing the bank’s total payouts for the scandal to nearly $5 billion. The lawsuit, filed in 2020, accused former CEO Tim Sloan and other executives of misleading investors and the public about the bank’s regulatory interactions following a 2016 scandal.
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Instacart is aiming to go public at a valuation between $8.6 billion and $9.3 billion, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters.
The initial figures reflect a striking departure from what Instacart was worth in the past.
The company’s stock is expected to trade on the NASDAQ under the ticker “CART,” and Goldman Sachs is leading the offering.
Instacart is expected to officially disclose its expected IPO valuation range today.
Mental Health: “Facilities are] just not staffed or oriented toward taking care of people with complex needs.”—Paul Getzel, director of advocacy group National Alliance on Mental Illness’s Seattle chapter, on a new report that 25% of Seattle-area residents on average are denied admission to mental health facilities (the Seattle Times)
Covid: Older adults with long Covid might experience “special challenges.” (the New York Times)
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Markets: Unfortunately, all three major indexes were down for the week as investors nervously side-eyed Jerome Powell. Kroger ticked up after the grocery chain revealed that it had agreed to pay $1.2 billion to settle claims over opioid sales but also struck a deal to sell 400 stores for $1.9 billion to help secure approval for its merger with Albertsons.
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Crypto:The CEO of collapsed crypto exchange “Thodex”, Faruk Fatih Ozer, was sentenced to 11,196 years in prison by a Turkish court for a potpourri of offenses, including aggravated fraud and money laundering. Thodex went belly-up in 2021, costing its investors an estimated $2.6 billion. If you’re thinking “That’s surely the longest jail sentence ever handed down for fraud,” think again: In 1989, Thai pyramid-schemer Chamoy Thipyaso was slapped with a 141,078-year sentence, or roughly 12.6 Ozers (though she was released after only a few years).
Posted on September 9, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The IRS just announced that it is launching an effort to aggressively pursue 1,600 millionaires and 75 large business partnerships that owe hundreds of millions of dollars in past due taxes. IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel said that with a boost in federal funding and the help of artificial intelligence tools, the agency has new means of targeting wealthy people who have “cut corners” on their taxes.
“If you pay your taxes on time it should be particularly frustrating when you see that wealthy filers are not,” Werfel told reporters in a call previewing the announcement. He said 1,600 millionaires who owe at least $250,000 each in back taxes and 75 large business partnerships that have assets of roughly $10 billion on average are targeted for the new “compliance efforts.”
Werfel said a massive hiring effort and AI research tools developed by IRS employees and contractors are playing a big role in identifying wealthy tax dodgers. The agency is making an effort to showcase positive results from its burst of new funding under President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration as Republicans in Congress look to claw back some of that money.
“New tools are helping us see patterns and trends that we could not see before, and as a result, we have higher confidence on where to look and find where large partnerships are shielding income,” he said.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 6 points (0.1%) at 4,457.49, down 1.3% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 76 points (0.2%) at 34,576.59, down 0.8% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was up 13 points (0.1%) at 13,761.53, down 1.9% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) remained unchanged at 4.26%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.56 at 13.84.
Energy shares were among the market’s strongest performers this week on expectations the recent rally in crude oil prices to 10-month highs will boost profits. The Philadelphia Oil Service index (OSX) has gained 5% so far this month and ended Friday at its highest level since April 2019. Utilities and regional banks were also firm.
Retail and transportation sectors were among the weakest performers, and small-cap stocks also took pressure, with the Russell 2000 (RUT) down 3.7% for the week.
Kroger and Albertsons plan to sell stores that are in the Pacific Northwest, the Mountain states and in California, Texas, Illinois, and the East Coast, Reuters reported. A deal could be announced as early as this week.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was down 14.34 points (0.3%) at 4,451.14; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 57.54 points (0.2%) at 34,500.73; the NASDAQ Composite was down 123.64 points (0.9%) at 13,748.83.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 4 basis points at 4.252%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.05 at 14.40.
Technology shares were among the market’s weakest performers Thursday, as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) fell nearly 2%. Regional banks and small-cap stocks were also under pressure, with the Russell 2000 (RUT) dropping near a two-week low. Utilities were among the few sectors to post gains.
The U.S. dollar index (DXY) climbed for the fifth consecutive day and touched a six-month high amid ideas interest rates will remain elevated for a prolonged period.
Posted on September 7, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Between Friday and Tuesday morning, Charles Schwab moved more than 7,000 advisors, nearly 4 million accounts held by clients, and $1.3 trillion in assets from TD Ameritrade to Schwab’s platform. It’s a milestone in Schwab’s acquisition and integration of TD Ameritrade, and comes amid an eventful year for Schwab (ticker: SCHW). The company’s stock plummeted in March amid concerns about deposit outflows. Shares have pared some of those losses but are down about 27% this year. Last month, the Westlake, Texas-based company disclosed fresh details on cost-cutting moves, including layoffs and office closures.
The weekend’s TD Ameritrade integration was years in the making. Schwab unveiled its deal to buy its longtime rival for $26 billion in November 2019, after both companies had cut commissions to zero. The acquisition, which closed in 2020, boosted Schwab’s online brokerage business and gave it a dominant position in the RIA custody sector. Registered investment advisors rely on custodians to hold client assets and to provide investment, technology, and other services.
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Now, here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 31.35 points (0.7%) at 4,465.48; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 198.78 points (0.6%) at 34,443.19; the NASDAQ Composite was down 148.48 points (1.1%) at 13,872.47.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 3 basis points at 4.296%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.44 at 14.45.
Financial and technology shares were among the weakest performers Wednesday, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) dropping more than 2%. The retail and transportation sectors were also under pressure. Energy stocks were one of the few gainers, lifted by WTI crude futures gaining for the sixth straight day after Saudi Arabia said it would extend a voluntary oil production cut.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) strengthened for the fourth day in a row, rising to its highest point since mid-March.
Posted on September 6, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Chip design firm Arm just submitted an updated filing for its upcoming blockbuster initial public [IPO] offering on the New York Stock Exchange, setting a price range between $47 and $51.
Only 9.4% of Arm’s shares will be freely traded on the NYSE.
Arm was previously dually listed in London and New York, before SoftBank acquired it for $32 billion in 2016.
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Bill Gates’s Acquired 1,703,000 Shares of BUD BEER Amid Slump As Brand Aims To Win Back Customers With NFL Sunday Ticket Campaign.
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was down 18.94 points (0.4%) at 4,496.83; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 195.74 points (0.6%) at 34,641.97; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 10.86 points (0.1%) at 14,020.95.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 10 basis points at 4.272%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.18 at 14.00.
Trucking firms and other transportation companies were among the market’s weakest performers Monday, with the Dow Jones Transportation Average (DJT) dropping more than 2% to a two-month low. Financial shares were also under pressure, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) down more than 2%. Energy companies were among the few gainers, lifted by oil’s brief rise above $88 per barrel.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) rose to its highest level in nearly six months, thanks in part to weak economic data reports from Europe and China.
Posted on September 5, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Early lab tests suggest new Covid-19 variant BA.2.86 may be less contagious and less immune-evasive than feared.
Yet, First lady Dr. Jill Biden just tested positive for COVID-19, her communications director confirmed Monday. “This evening, the First lady tested positive for COVID-19. She is currently experiencing only mild symptoms,” Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for the First lady, said in a statement Sunday night.
Dr. Biden is expected to remain at her home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, the rep’s statement noted. MORE: New COVID variant BA.2.86 is now in 5 states. Here’s what to know Following Dr. Biden’s positive test, President Joe Biden took a COVID test on Monday evening and tested negative, his press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
Meanwhile, “what we’re experiencing is a rolling recession,” said Jamie Cox, managing partner at Harris Financial Group. “Recession activity actually goes from sector to sector, but it doesn’t translate into this big broad-based decline.” However, if investors see a significant decline in the housing and labor markets, that could change the narrative, Cox noted.
Posted on September 3, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Hiring unexpectedly picked up in August as employers added 187,000 jobs despite high interest rates and inflation but totals for the prior two months were revised down sharply. The unemployment rate, which is calculated from a separate survey of households, rose from 3.5% to 3.8%, the Labor Department said Friday. That’s because of a surge of Americans into the labor force, which includes people working and looking for jobs. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had estimated that 168,000 jobs were added.
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Stock spotlight:Dell had its best day since going public (for a second time) in 2018 after far surpassing expectations for Q2. Analysts called it an early winner in the AI boom.
Posted on September 1, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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UBS, the Swiss lender posted the highest quarterly profit ever for a bank in Q2—$29 billion—thanks to its controversial rescue of rival Credit Suisse in March. That acquisition is looking like “one of the biggest steals in financial history,” per the Financial Times, considering the skimpy $3.6 billion price UBS paid for Credit Suisse. While UBS execs have a challenging road ahead integrating Credit Suisse’s businesses into its own, investors seem to think it can pull it off: UBS shares jumped to their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, making it the second-largest bank in Europe behind HSBC.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was down 7.21 points (0.2%) at 4,507.66, down 1.8% for the month; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 168.33 points (0.5%) at 34,721.91, down 2.4% for the month; the NASDAQ Composite was up 15.66 points (0.1%) at 14,034.97, down 2.2% for the month.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 2 basis points at 4.098%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.31 at 13.57.
As was the case for much of the late-August rally, technology shares helped lead gains, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) up nearly 1% and ending at a four-week high. Retail and consumer discretionary were also among the strongest-performing sectors.
Transportation and utilities lagged. In other markets, WTI crude oil futures extended a week-long rally and ended at a three-week high above $83 a barrel.
Posted on August 30, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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President Joe Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law last year, allows the Medicare health program for Americans aged 65 and over to negotiate prices for some of its most costly drugs.
Medicines on the list include Merck & Co’s diabetes drug Januvia, Eliquis rival Xarelto from Johnson & Johnson, and AbbVie’s leukemia treatment Imbruvica. Other drugs on the list include Amgen’s rheumatoid arthritis drug Enbrel, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly’s diabetes drug Jardiance, J&J’s arthritis and Crohn’s disease medicine Stelara and insulin from Novo Nordisk.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was up 64.32 points (1.5%) at 4,497.63; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 292.69 points (0.9%) at 34,852.67; the NASDAQ Composite was up 238.63 points (1.7%) at 13,943.76.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 10 basis points at 4.112%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.62 at 14.46.
Technology, Communications Services and Retail shares were among the market’s strongest performers Tuesday. Energy stocks also climbed behind continued strength in crude oil futures, which closed at a two-week high.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) fell along with expectations that interest rates will remain elevated.
Posted on August 27, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
Jerome Powell: Speaking at the Jackson Hole Symposium, an annual meeting of central bankers from around the globe at a former Wild West outpost, the FOMC chair said inflation “remains too high” and “we are prepared to raise rates further if appropriate” and to keep them high. So, why didn’t the stock market nose-dive like it did after last year’s similarly hawkish Powell speech? It helps that inflation has come down considerably since then (which Powell acknowledged) and that he nodded to the dangers of the Fed doing too much as well as too little.
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Rite Aid is preparing to file for bankruptcy in the face of costly lawsuits over its sales of opioids, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Wegovy, the weight-loss drug, also helps prevent heart failure, its maker, Novo Nordisk, said after a clinical trial.
Wells Fargoagreed to pay $35 million to settle the SEC’s claims that it overcharged fees on nearly 11,000 investment advisory accounts—claims it neither admits nor denies.
Posted on August 27, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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According to the Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), more than one in four dollars of wealth in the U.S. is held by a small fraction of households with a net worth of over $30 million.
ITEP suggested a nationwide tax of 2% on wealth over $30 million could have raised nearly $415 billion if it were in effect, and a similar tax applying only to wealth in excess of $1 billion could have raised $62 billion. This would only affect 1 in 400 households — or 0.25% of the population
The ME-P constantly publishes new and unique content for the medical business management, health economics, HIT and financial planning, advisory and services community, and is always interested in accepting submissions from guest authors.
Because this blog is intended specifically for all medical professionals, business consultants and financial advisors, guest post content should pertain directly to the issues and challenges faced by all constituents and/or provide advanced education on a technical topic pertinent to practitioners.
Accordingly, we typically accepts guest posts from fellow physicians, financial planning [CFP, CMP, RIA, etc] and/or medical management practitioners, or consultants [JD, CPA, MBA, PhD, DBA, etc] or vendors who work directly with doctors/nurses on a full-time basis and have the requisite specialized knowledge and expertise for medical professional [non-clinical] needs and concerns.
Posted on August 23, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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An ETF centered around the bullish stock picks of CNBC’s Jim Cramer is shutting down.The Long Cramer Tracker ETF was launched in February and attracted just $1.3 million in assets.
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Charles Schwab intends to cut jobs and downsize its corporate office space, looking to save upwards of $500 million annually. Investors are underwhelmed, sending Schwab shares down about 3% yesterday.
British antitrust officials said they were reviewing a revised offer by Microsoft to win approval of its $69 billion merger with Activision Blizzard, an effort to clear the biggest remaining regulatory hurdle to the major video games deal. To address the concerns of British regulators that the deal would stunt the development of a new area of gaming technology, Microsoft said it would transfer the cloud streaming licensing rights for all current and new Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft Entertainment, a rival game publisher.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) fell 12 points (0.28%) to 4,387.55; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) fell 175 points (0.51%) to 34,288.83; the NASDAQ Composite rose 8 points (0.06%) to 13,505.87.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) edged down to 4.332%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) fell 0.1 points to 17.04.
Posted on August 22, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
“RESERVATION WAGE”
By Staff Reporters
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According to the latest New York Federal Reserve employment survey released Monday, the average “reservation wage,” or the minimum acceptable salary offer to switch jobs, rose to $78,645 during the second quarter of 2023. That’s an increase of about 8% from just a year ago and is the highest level ever in a data series that goes back to the beginning of 2014. Over the past three years, which entails the Covid-19 pandemic era, the level has risen more than 22%.
The number is significant in that wages increasingly have been recognized as a driving force in inflation. While goods prices have abated since pushing overall inflation to its highest level in more than 40 years in mid-2022, other factors continue to keep it well above the Fed’s targeted rate of 2%. The New York Fed data is consistent with an Atlanta Fed tracker, which shows wages overall rising at a 6% annual rate but job switchers seeing 7% gains.
Employers have been trying to keep pace with the wage demands, pushing the average full-time offer up to $69,475, a 14% surge in the past year. The actual expected annual salary rose to $67,416, a gain of more than $7,000 from a year ago and also a new high. Though there was a gap between the wage workers wanted and what was offered, satisfaction with compensation and upward mobility increased across the board.
The S&P 500® Index was up 30.06 points (0.7%) at 4,399.77; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 36.97 points (0.1%) at 34,463.69; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was up 206.81 points (1.6%) at 13,497.59.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) touched a fresh 16-year high at about 4.35%, finishing up about 9 basis points at 4.344%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.21 at 17.09.
Posted on August 20, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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According to Charles Schwab, we’re heading into a bit of a data vacuum as the end of August approaches. While final August University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment and July Existing Home Sales and New Home Sales line up on next week’s calendar, the burst of numbers fades a bit and no really essential data like Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) prices and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are due out until the week of August 28.
The absence of notable data next week could give the market a breather from the recent host of numbers suggesting the economy continues to grow faster than many economists had expected despite 17 months of Fed rate hikes.
Chances are growing that we could face another rate increase in November, the futures market suggests, and investors are dialing back the probability of rate cuts next year. The solid data was one factor helping push Treasury yields to 15-year highs late this week.
Posted on August 19, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Things are looking up for Home Depot. After a gloomy first quarter during which sales fell 4.2%, the retailer performed better than expected in Q2. It reported revenue of $42.92 billion for the quarter, higher than the $42.23 billion it projected earlier in the year. Its earnings per share came in at $4.65, better than the expected $4.45.
But the company is maintaining its guidance for the full year and anticipates a 2%–5% drop in sales for the fiscal year. In its earnings call, CEO Ted Decker struck a cautious note, stating that the home improvement market has entered a period of “moderation” after the pandemic-era DIY boom. Consumers appear to be deferring big-ticket discretionary purchases, such as patio furniture and appliances, Billy Bastek, executive vice president of merchandising, said. Sales of $1,000 or more are down 5.5% YoY. The movement away from large purchases continues a trend that began in Q4 2022.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500® Index edged down a little less than a point to 4,369.71 and was down about 2.1% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) rose 26 points (0.08%) to 34,500.66 and was down about 2.2% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite dropped 26 points (0.2%) to 13,290.78 and was down about 2.6% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) pulled back three basis points to 4.250%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) fell 3.9% to 17.19.
Energy was the top-performing S&P market sector Friday, as crude oil futures rose more than 1%. Communications services—home to such market heavyweights as Google-parent Alphabet (GOOG) and Facebook-parent Meta Platforms (META)—was the weakest performer, followed by consumer discretionary—home to Amazon (AMZN) and Tesla (TSLA). These sectors tend to do best when the economy has a clear runway for growth and interest rates are lower.
Posted on August 18, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Mortgage rates have climbed to their highest levels in 21 years, according to data released by Freddie Mac on Thursday. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.09% over the week ending on Thursday, marking a significant increase from 6.96% the week prior, the data showed.
The Federal Reserve has put forward an aggressive string of interest rate hikes as it tries to slash inflation by slowing the economy and choking off demand. That means borrowers face higher costs for everything from car loans to credit card debt to mortgages.
When the Fed imposed its first rate hike of the current series in March 2022, the average 30-year fixed mortgage stood at just 4.45%, Mortgage News Daily data shows.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 33.97 points (0.8%) at 4,370.36; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 290.91 points (0.8%) at 34,474.83; the NASDAQ Composite was down 157.70 points (1.2%) at 13,316.93.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 3 basis points at 4.286%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 1.22 at 18.00.
Consumer discretionary and retail were among the weakest sectors Thursday. Technology shares were also under pressure, even after Cisco Systems (CSCO) reported better-than-expected quarterly results.
Energy stocks held up somewhat better as crude oil futures rose about 1% after the Energy Department reported an unexpectedly large decline in U.S. supplies.
Posted on August 17, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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U.S. stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Consumer Goods, Technology and Oil&Gas sectors led shares lower.
At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.52%, while the S&P 500 index lost 0.76%, and the NASDAQ Composite index lost 1.15%.
The best performers of the session on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were The Travelers Companies Inc (NYSE:TRV), which rose 1.19% or 1.94 points to trade at 165.42 at the close. Meanwhile, Home Depot Inc (NYSE:HD) added 0.28% or 0.92 points to end at 333.06 and Merck&Company Inc (NYSE:MRK) was up 0.06% or 0.07 points to 108.73 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), which fell 3.57% or 1.24 points to trade at 33.53 at the close. Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:WBA) declined 1.43% or 0.41 points to end at 28.19 and Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT) was down 1.03% or 2.86 points to 274.51.
The S&P 500 Index was down 33.53 points (0.8%) at 4,404.33; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 180.65 points (0.5%) at 34,765.74; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 156.42 points (1.2%) at 13,474.63.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 5 basis points at 4.27%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.28 at 16.74.
Chipmakers remained weak, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) down nearly 2% to a 10-week low. Energy companies also slipped as crude oil futures extended a week-long slide by dropping under $80 a barrel to a three-week closing low. Utilities were among the few sectors posting gains.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) hit a six-week high on expectations U.S. rates will remain elevated.
Posted on August 16, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The S&P 500 dropped to a five-week low as weaker-than-expected Chinese data and stronger-than-expected U.S. retail sales fueled concerns about growth and inflation.
Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 51.86 points (1.2%) at 4,437.86; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 361.24 points (1.0%) at 34,946.39; the NASDAQ Composite was down 157.28 points (1.1%) at 13,631.05.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 3 basis points at 4.217%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 1.60 at 16.42.
Financials were among the weakest market sectors, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) dropping over 3% to a four-week low.
Energy shares were also under pressure after crude oil futures fell to a two-week closing low.
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Stock spotlight: Tesla stock needs a recharge after falling more than 20% from its July peak. Investors are peeved with Tesla’s extended price cuts in China and its plan to release lower-range Model X and Model S vehicles that are $10,000 cheaper than the standard versions.
Posted on August 15, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The Russian ruble traded at nearly 101 to the U.S. dollar on Monday for the first time it has fallen below the symbolic threshold since March last year.
The Russian ruble was near the 100 per USD level, holding at its lowest in 17 months despite the Central Bank of Russia’s announcement of an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday to support the currency amid its freefall. Economists expect the CBR to hike its rate by 150bps to 10%, extending the start of July’s tightening cycle. The ruble is 27% down against the dollar year-to-date amid a slowing economy, unbalanced currency flows, and capital flight from exiting foreign companies. The development of new supply chains since the start of Western sanctions boosted imports to Russia and maintained steady selling pressure on the ruble, with the latest trade surplus sinking by 75% from the prior year and 53% from levels before the war. In the meantime, the outlook on exports deteriorated as demand from key partners in China and India declined. The developments drove the CBR to halt forex purchases under the government’s budget rule to halt forex volatility.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 25.67 points (0.6%) at 4,489.72; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 26.23 points (0.1%) at 35,307.63; the NASDAQ Composite was up 143.48 points (1.1%) at 13,788.33.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 3 basis points at 4.193%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.04 at 14.80.
Chipmakers drove gains for the tech-heavy NASDAQ, as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) jumped 2.9% to erase its entire Friday drop.
Financial shares were among the weakest performers, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) down 1.8%. Oilfield services shares were also weak behind a drop of nearly 1% in crude oil futures.
Posted on August 13, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Markets: The NASDAQ is fading and closing lower for the second straight week for the first time all year.
Semiconductor stocks dragged the index down, but investors were also a bit fidgety over an inflation report that showed producer prices grew faster than expected last month.
Posted on August 12, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Starting next month, UnitedHealthcare will move forward with plans to drop prior authorization requirements for a range of procedures, including dozens of radiology services and genetic tests, among others. Prior authorization has often criticized by patients and doctors as an administrative burden that impedes necessary medical care. Insurers meanwhile say prior authorization provides important guardrails against improper health care utilization, helping to keep down costs.
The S&P 500 Index was down 4.78 points (0.1%) at 4,464.05 and down 0.3% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 105.25 points (0.3%) at 35,281.40, up 0.6% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was down 93.14 points (0.7%) at 13,644.85, down 1.9% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 8 basis points at 4.162%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.98 at 14.87.
Within the tech sector, chipmakers were particularly weak. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) sank 2.3% to a seven-week low. Energy shares gained amid strength in crude oil futures, which have rallied 11% over the past month to near nine-month highs.
Small-caps ended modestly higher, with the Russell 2000 (RUT) up about 0.1% but still down nearly 1.6% for the week and down 3.9% for the month.
Posted on August 11, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Several US financial firms, including multiple Wells Fargo companies, will pay a combined $549 million in fines after admitting they couldn’t produce discussions about company business from smartphone messaging apps used by their employees, “including those at senior levels.” Both the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) fined banks for being unable to produce discussions going back to at least 2019. The regulators say employees used their personal devices to discuss official company business via apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, or Signal and that those “off-channel communications” weren’t “maintained or preserved.”
Not keeping records of those conversations violates the 1934 Securities Exchange Act’s record keeping rules, as well as similar rules from the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, according to the SEC. The CFTC maintains its own record keeping requirements, which it says were violated.
The S&P 500 was up 1.12 points at 4,468.83; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 52.79 points (0.2%) at 35,176.15; the NASDAQ Composite was up 15.97 points (0.1%) at 13,737.99.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 10 basis points at 4.109%.
CBOEs Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.07 at 15.89.
Communication services and transportation shares were among the strongest performers Thursday. Energy stocks slipped as crude oil futures tumbled more than 1.5%. Small-caps were also under pressure, with the Russell 2000 (RUT) falling slightly.
Posted on August 10, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drug Company has been on a partnering spree lately, and its latest collaborator is Scripta Insights, a digital health company that helps health plans and members find prescription savings.
Scripta plans to incorporate Cost Plus Drugs’s discounted pricing into its Med Mapper, which “maps every drug on the market to every possible way to save,” according to Scripta.
Palantir stock fell 11% to $15.25 yesterday, its biggest drop since November 2022. With that decline, shares are now below their 50-day moving average, at $16.16, for the first time May. It’s broken its uptrend line, which sat around $17, and its first level of support, near $16. Worse still, the stock has fallen for six straight days and is 22% during its losing streak, the worst six-day stretch since May 2022.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 31.67 points (0.7%) at 4,467.71; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 191.13 points (0.5%) at 35,123.36; the NASDAQ Composite was down 162.31 points (1.2%) at 13,722.02.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 2 basis points at 4.004%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was little changed at 15.99.
Financial shares joined tech stocks in the laggard column Wednesday. The KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) was down about 1%, while the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) dropped about 1.4%. Energy stocks continued to outperform as crude oil futures gained nearly 2% and touched a nine-month high near $85 a barrel.
Oil’s recent rally reflects production cuts by top global producers and concern over supply disruptions stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war.
Posted on August 9, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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(UPI) — A drain on deposits, along with the decline in asset value in a high-interest rate environment, led to a downgrade in ratings for a handful of U.S. banks, Moody’s said. Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the credit rating for smaller lenders such as Pinnacle Financial and put major banks such as Northern Trust under review.
In a report published late Monday, Moody’s said banks may be facing a liquidity and capital crisis “as the wind-down of unconventional monetary policy drains system-wide deposits and higher interest rates depress the value of fixed-rate assets.” Second quarter results for many banks, meanwhile, revealed a struggle to generate profit at a time when Moody’s expects a “mild” recession to emerge in the U.S. economy by early 2024. The investment service added that there was a particular risk coming from the commercial real estate portfolios for some of the banks under review.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 19.06 points (0.4%) at 4,499.38; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 158.64 points (0.5%) at 35,314.49; the NASDAQ Composite was down 110.07 points (0.8%) at 13,884.32.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 5 basis points at 4.028%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.27 at 16.04.
Financial and technology shares were among the weakest sectors Tuesday, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) dropping about 1.5%. Energy stocks were strong as crude oil futures climbed more than 1%.
Volatility based on the VIX spiked to its highest level since late May before receding late in the session. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) strengthened on expectations domestic interest rates will remain higher than those in other countries.
Posted on August 8, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Zachary Kirkhorn resigned last week as Tesla’s chief financial officer after 13 years with the electric car giant, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC filing show Kirkhorn, who also held the playful title of “Master of Coin,” stepped down on August 4th as Tesla’s CFO. Kirkhorn has served in different finance positions since 2010 and was appointed to CFO in 2019, according to Tesla’s website.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 40.41 points (0.9%) at 4,518.44; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 407.51 points (1.2%) at 35,473.13; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was up 85.16 points (0.6%) at 13,994.40.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 3 basis points at 4.093%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 1.29 at 15.81.
Financials and Communication Services were among the best-performing S&P market sectors, while energy shares pulled back as crude oil futures fell nearly 1%. Small-cap stocks were also lower, with the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) easing slightly.
Markets: Here’s hoping this week will be better than the last one for the stock market, when the S&P 500 and NASDAQ logged their worst week since March. But, yields on the 10-year Treasury note have jumped to nearly their highest level in 10+ years. This indicates that investors are betting that elevated interest rates will stick around for a while (bad for anyone looking to buy a house, but a good sign for healthy economic growth).
Inflation data: The monthly consumer price index report—a broad measure of inflation—has been retreating dramatically this year. Thursday’s reading is expected to show prices continued their cool down in July.
Berkshire Hathaway had a solid Q2. Its operating earnings jumped 6.6% thanks to a better performance from Geico, an insurer it owns. Berkshire’s cash pile has ballooned to $147 billion.
Posted on August 6, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Markets: Stocks embraced the idea that what goes up must come down last week as all three major indexes ticked up in the morning only to fall in the afternoon and finish the week in the red. The back-and-forth reflected a mixed jobs report, which showed jobs being added more slowly but unemployment staying low and wages staying high.
Stock spotlight: Amazon had its best day this year after the market digested its blockbuster quarterly results. The company added over $100 billion to its value, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
Posted on August 5, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Hiring roughly held steady in July as employers added 187,000 jobs despite high interest rates and inflation. The unemployment rate, which is calculated from a separate survey of households, dipped from 3.6% to 3.5%, the Labor Department said Friday. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had estimated that 200,000 jobs were added last month.
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The geopolitics: Major oil producer Saudi Arabia said yesterday it would extend its output cuts into September and could even deepen those cuts after that, according to state media. By curbing supply, Saudi Arabia hopes to prop up the price of oil—which gives it critical revenue to spend on futuristic cities. But the cuts are angering the White House because they could lead to an uptick in US inflation.
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Apple’s sales are slumping. The iPhone-maker reported its third straight quarter of revenue declines as fewer people join the blue-text mafia. But while Apple is struggling to sell iPhones, it’s doing a great job monetizing its existing customers. The services unit—home to the App Store, Apple TV+, Apple Music, and more—hit a record $21 billion in sales. Amazon was the other Big Tech company to report earnings yesterday: Its glowing financials knocked Wall Street’s socks off.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended for the day and week:
The S&P 500 Index ended 24 points lower (0.53%) at 4,478.03 and was down 2.27% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 150 points lower (0.43%) at 35,065.62 and was down 1.11% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite ended 50 points lower (0.36%) at 13,909.24 and was down nearly 3% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) pulled back 12 points to 4.055%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) rose 1 point to 17.33.
The ME-P constantly publishes new and unique content for the medical business management, health economics, HIT and financial planning, advisory and services community, and is always interested in accepting submissions from guest authors.
Because this blog is intended specifically for all medical professionals, business consultants and financial advisors, guest post content should pertain directly to the issues and challenges faced by all constituents and/or provide advanced education on a technical topic pertinent to practitioners.
Accordingly, we typically accepts guest posts from fellow physicians, financial planning [CFP, CMP, RIA, etc] and/or medical management practitioners, or consultants [JD, CPA, MBA, PhD, DBA, etc] or vendors who work directly with doctors/nurses on a full-time basis and have the requisite specialized knowledge and expertise for medical professional [non-clinical] needs and concerns.
MCLEAN, Virginia (Reuters) – U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday voiced more objections to Fitch Ratings’ downgrade of the main U.S. credit rating, calling it “entirely unwarranted” because it ignored improvements in governance metrics during the Biden administration and the country’s economic strength.
The S&P 500 Index was down 63.34 points (1.4%) at 4,513.39; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) fell 348.16 points (1.0%) to 35,282.52; the NASDAQ Composite dropped 310.47 points (2.2%) at 13,973.45.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose about 3 basis points to 4.073%.
CBOE’ss Volatility Index (VIX) was up 2.2 at 16.13.
Consumer discretionary and energy shares were also weaker, with the latter pressured by a more-than 2% drop in crude oil futures.
The U.S. dollar index (DXY) strengthened for a fifth straight day and touched a four-week high, as investors shed riskier assets in favor of what are considered safe havens. Volatility based on the VIX hit its highest level since late May.
Posted on August 2, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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CVS Health is eliminating about 5,000 jobs in an effort to reduce costs as it turns its focus to healthcare services, the company said Tuesday. The cuts represent less than 2% of the company’s total workforce, which comprised of roughly 300,000 employees at the end of 2022. The layoffs will affect “non-customer facing positions,” the company said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY.
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AT&T Inc.’s human resources chief, Angela Santone, will leave the company at the end of September, just as the telecommunications giant is eliminating thousands of jobs as part of a newly expanded $8 billion cost-reduction program. Chief Executive Officer John Stankey informed employees last week in an email that Santone was leaving. She is one of only three female top executives at AT&T.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 12.23 points (0.3%) at 4,576.73; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 71.15 points (0.2%) at 35,630.68; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 62.11 points (0.4%) at 14,283.91.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was up about 8 basis points at 4.037%.
Cboe’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.29 at 13.92.
Financials were among the weakest sectors Tuesday, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) falling more than 1%.
Energy shares were also under pressure as crude oil futures pulled back from a recent rally.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) strengthened for a fourth consecutive day, rising to its highest level in about three weeks.
Posted on August 1, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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This week executives from Pfizer, Moderna, AmerisourceBergen, Cigna, and other health companies are set to update investors on their latest financials and product offerings.
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Markets: Stocks ended the day in the green closing out a July where all three major indexes ticked up—the NASDAQ most of all. It was the S&P 500’s fifth-straight month of gains, giving the index its best streak since 2021.
Palantir became the latest company to get a big AI boost after one analyst dubbed it the “Messi of A.I.” because the software company is poised to become a major player.
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The Biden administration just announced it is forming a new Office of Long COVID Research and Practice to study the condition and help those who have been diagnosed with it. The office, which will be under the Department of Health and Human Services, “is charged with on-going coordination of the whole-of-government response to the longer-term effects of COVID-19,” according to a news release.
Posted on July 31, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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TESLA: A $10,000 investment in the EV maker’s shares placed in late July of 2015 would have, after two stock splits, grown to a monster pile of almost $2.25 million eight years later.
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The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations is rising this summer in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hospitalizations of people with the virus are up 10%, per CDC data — the sharpest increase since December 2022. More than 7,100 patients with COVID were hospitalized in the week of July 15th, up from 6,444 the prior week.
COVID-related emergency room visits are also on the rise, comprising 0.73% of visits as of July 21st, compared to 0.49% a month prior. “After roughly six, seven months of steady declines, things are starting to tick back up again,”Dr. Brendan Jackson, the CDC’s COVID-19 incident manager in Atlanta, Georgia, told NPR this week.
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Meanwhile, a Chinese-linked company was found running an unlicensed California bio-laboratory that contained at least 20 potentially infectious diseases, including corona virus, HIV, hepatitis, and herpes. The warehouse was discovered by local and federal agents in Fresno County. The illegal and unlicensed laboratory was full of lab mice, medical waste, and hazardous materials.
Federal agents interviewed a man named Xiuquin Yao who was running a company at the warehouse called “Prestige BioTech.” Yao served as president of the company.
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