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There’s almost $6 trillion of cash sitting on the sidelines in money-market funds, with the potential for some portion of it to be reallocated into “carefully selected risk assets.”
This is according to Ali Dibadj, chief executive of London-based Janus Henderson Investors, which had $308.3 billion in assets under management as of September. About $187.9 billion, or 61%, of that was in equity strategies.
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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 index was up 26.83 points (0.6%) at 4,594.63, up 0.8% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) was up 294.61 points (0.8%) at 36,245.50, up 2.4% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was up 78.81 points (0.6%) at 14,305.03, up 0.4% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was down about 14 basis points at 4.213%.
The CBOE® Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.27 at 12.65.
Friday’s gains followed the market’s strongest month of the year, as the S&P 500 and NASDAQ surged 8.9% and 10.7% in November, respectively, their best monthly performances since July 2022. Among sectors, the KBW Regional Bank Index (KRX) jumped 5.3% Friday, and retail shares were also among the top gainers.
Shares of smaller companies extended a recent rally as the small-cap-focused Russell 2000® Index (RUT) gained 3.1% for the week and ended at a 2-1/2-month high.
The S&P 500 index was up 17.22 points (0.4%) at 4,567.80, up 8.9% for the month; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 520.47 points (1.5%) at 35,950.89, up 8.8% for the month; the NASDAQ Composite was down 32.27 points (0.2%) at 14,226.22, up 10.7% for the month.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 6 basis points at 4.33%.
CBOE® Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.07 at 12.91.
The Dow’s gain Thursday was driven in part by Salesforce (CRM), which soared nearly 9% after the cloud software company reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results. The technology sector was otherwise soft, with the NASDAQ-100® (NDX) down 0.7% but still up 10.7% for the month. Small-cap stocks also posted a firm November, illustrated by a monthly gain of nearly 9% in the Russell 2000® Index (RUT).
And, Nathan Peterson, director of derivatives analysis at the Schwab Center for Financial Research, said the weakness in tech shares likely reflected consolidation after firm gains earlier this month. The NASDAQ Composite may also face some technical resistance around 14,350, a level where sellers stepped in back in July.
Apple is pulling the plug on its credit card partnership with Goldman Sachs Group, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. The tech giant recently sent a proposal to the Wall Street bank to exit the contract in the next 12 to 15 months, the report said, citing people briefed on the matter.
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Senators Elizabeth Warren (Democrat) and Mike Braun (Republican) sent a letter to the US Department of Health and Human Services last week, asking it to investigate whether large insurance companies are hiking prescription drug prices at pharmacies they own
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500® index (SPX) was up 4.46 points (0.1%) at 4,554.89; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 83.51 points (0.2%) at 35,416.98; the NASDAQ Composite® (COMP) was up 40.73 points (0.3%) at 14,281.76.
The 10-year Treasury yield was down about 6 basis points at 4.33%.
The CBOE® Volatility Index (VIX) was little-changed at 12.69.
Semiconductor and transportation shares were among the weakest performers Tuesday, and regional banks were also under pressure. Small cap stocks also lagged. The Russell 2000® Index (RUT) fell about 0.4% for its lowest close in a week.
Retailers and utilities were among the firmest sectors. In other markets, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) weakened to its lowest level since mid-August, reflecting expectations that U.S. interest rates have peaked.
Wall Street is gearing up for rate cuts. Yep! Twenty months after the Federal Reserve began a historic campaign against inflation, investors now believe there is a much greater chance that the central bank will cut rates in just four months than raise them again in the foreseeable future.
Interest-rate futures indicated last week a roughly 60% chance the Fed will lower rates by a quarter-of-a-percentage point by its May 2024 policy meeting, up from 29% at the end of October, according to CME Group data. The same data has pointed to four cuts by the end of the year. And, investors, battered by the Fed’s efforts to slow the economy, have reacted by driving the S&P 500 up nearly 9% this month. That is despite the wagers reflecting different possible paths for the economy, not all of them favorable for stocks.
Of course, investors look ahead to the release this week of key US inflation data that could provide a guide for the Federal Reserve’s plans for interest rates going into the new year.
The S&P 500 Index was down 8.91 points (0.2%) at 4,550.43; theDow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) was down 56.68 points (0.2%) at 35,333.47; the NASDAQ Composite® was down 9.83 points (0.1%) at 14,241.02.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 10 basis points at 4.387%.
CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) was up 0.23 at 12.69.
Transportation shares were among the weakest performers Monday, and energy was also soft behind a drop in crude oil futures. Weakness in many retail stocks suggested some concern over consumer spending given high interest rates and slower job growth. The S&P Retail Select Index (SPSIRE) fell 0.6% but is still up 8.2% for the month. Consumer discretionary and real estate shares were among the few gainers.
Nvidia reported another quarter of record sales and gave a strong revenue outlook, pointing to red-hot demand for chips that underpin the artificial-intelligence boom. Huge investments in AI by tech giants from Microsoft to Amazon.com and by other large corporations have helped propel Nvidia’s sales to unprecedented levels in recent quarters.
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The chief executive of Binance, the largest global cryptocurrency exchange, plans to step down and plead guilty to violating criminal U.S. anti-money-laundering requirements, in a deal that may preserve the company’s ability to continue operating, according to people familiar with the matter. And, the U.S. Department of Justice has just brought criminal charges against Binance and its billionaire founder and CEO, Changpeng Zhao.
Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 9.19 points (0.2%) at 4,538.19; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) was down 62.75 points (0.2%) at 35,088.29; the NASDAQ Composite was down 84.55 points (0.6%) at 14,199.98.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 2 basis points at 4.404%.
The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) was down 0.06 at 13.35.
Financial and technology shares were among the weakest sectors Tuesday, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) dropping 2.1%. Small-cap stocks also gave back some of a recent rally, as the Russell 2000® Index(RUT) fell 1.3% after touching a two-month high Monday. Health care, materials and utilities were among the few sectors to post gains.
Stocks started the short trading week by ticking upward yesterday. Microsoft climbed to its highest in a year after appearing to be the winner in OpenAI’s Sam Altman drama.
Read: Recommendations on books, classes, and music from Bill Gates. (GatesNotes)
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Here is where the major US stock market benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 33.36 points (0.7%) at 4,547.38; the Dow Jones® Industrial Average (DJI) was up 203.76 points (0.6%) at 35,151.04; the NASDAQ Composite®was up 159.05 points (1.1%) at 14,284.53.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 2 basis points at 4.42%.
CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) was down 0.39 at 13.41.
Strength in technology was illustrated by the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX), which jumped almost 2% and neared a four-month high. Communications services shares were also strong, as were energy companies, helped by a second-straight day of sharp gains in crude oil futures.
The small-cap focused Russell 2000 Index (RUT) rose 0.5% to a two-month high, following last week’s 5.4% rally that outpaced its large-cap counterparts.
And, Bayer’s stock had its worst day ever, dropping the company’s value by ~$8 billion, after a US jury ordered it to pay $1.56 billion over claims its Roundup weedkiller caused cancer and the company had to stop the trial for its top drug candidate because it wasn’t working.
Here is where the major benchmarks ended on Friday:
The S&P 500 Index (SPX) was up 5.78 points (0.1%) at 4,514.02, up 2.2% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was up 1.81 points at 34,947.28, up 1.9% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was up 11.81 points (0.1%) at 14,125.48, up 2.4% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was down about 1 basis point at 4.439%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.54 at 13.78.
Retail shares were among Friday’s strongest sectors, helped by a nearly 30% surge by Gap (GPS) after the apparel company stronger-than-expected quarterly results. Energy companies were also higher thanks to a nearly 4% rise in WTI Crude Oil futures (/CL). Oil prices are still down 20% from a 2023 peak of more than $95 posted in late September.
In other markets, the U.S. dollar index dropped 1.8% for the week to touch its weakest level since September 1st, reflecting stepped-up expectations that interest rates have peaked.
Over the course of the last few weeks, Cathie Wood of ARKK has been offloading the firm’s holdings in Roku, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROKU). Across all of her firm’s funds, Wood has sold stock in the streaming company totaling over $56 million. The move comes after Roku released its financials for q3.
Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 5.36 points (0.1%) at 4,508.24; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 45.74 points (0.1%) at 34,945.47; the NASDAQ Composite was up 9.84 points (0.1%) at 14,113.67.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was uabout 9 basis points at 4.445%.
Cboe’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.14 at 14.32.
Walmart’s commentary weighed on the retail sector. Energy was also a laggard, as crude oil futures fell 5% to a four-month low of less than $73 a barrel, in part because record U.S. crude production has boosted supply.
Senate leaders voted Wednesday night in favor of the short-term government funding bill the House passed Tuesday night ahead of Friday’s shutdown deadline. House Speaker Mike Johnsonpitched a two-step plan that he described as a “laddered CR” — or continuing resolution — that will keep the government funded at 2023 levels. The bill extends government funding until January 19th for the Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Energy departments, as well as for military construction. The rest of the government is funded until February 2nd, 2024.
Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was up 7.18 points (0.2%) at 4,502.88; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 163.51 points (0.5%) at 34,991.21; the NASDAQ Composite was up 9.45 points (0.1%) at 14,103.84.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 10 basis points at 4.541%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.02 at 14.18.
Retail and financial shares were among Wednesday’s strongest performers. The KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) rose 1.3% to a 2½-month high. Transportation and consumer staples were also higher. Energy shares were one of the few laggards as crude oil futures sank more than 2% after the Energy Department reported a larger-than-expected increase in U.S. crude inventories.
US Economic leaders are looking to the past for some inspiration on how to deal with the present—the only issue is, no one seems to be able to agree which past era they should be studying. But, predictions diverge, for example.
Meanwhile economists at the White House say the inflationary period after World War II acts as a better guide because pent-up demand from the pandemic will eventually fade away.
UBS disagrees with both, saying the 1990s more closely resembles the economic climate world leaders are currently attempting to navigate. A note from the UBS Chief Investment Office, led by Jason Draho, questioned whether the 2020s would act as “another roaring 20s” seen a century before. During this period, technological advances led to a rapid increase in productivity, while major industries like automotive, film and chemicals took off. The data suggests today’s economy has officially entered a new regime, UBS outlined: “A regime is defined by its growth, inflation, and rate attributes. These are all at their highest levels since prior to the global financial crisis (GFC).”
Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 84.15 points (1.9%) at 4,495.70; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was up 489.83 points (1.4%) at 34,827.70; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was up 326.64 points (2.4%) at 14,094.38.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 18 basis points at 4.453%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.60 at 14.16.
The small-cap focused Russell 2000 Index (RUT), which has lagged large-cap benchmarks for most of the year, jumped more than 5% Tuesday. Small-caps are often seen as being more exposed to the economic cycle and had suffered because of concerns that high interest rates could push the economy into recession.
Other interest rate-sensitive sectors, such as real estate, materials, and utilities, also saw outsize gains.
Posted on November 14, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Michigan-based healthcare nonprofit McLaren Health Care notified more than 2 million people about a data breach exposing personal information on Thursday, according to a data breach notification report. Unauthorized access to McLaren systems began on July 28th and lasted through August 23rd before the company noticed it a week later on August 31st, according to a notice on the McLaren website.
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And, top US mortgage lender Mr Cooper has confirmed that “certain customer data” may have been exposed following a recent cyberattack. Precisely which data could have been exposed remains unconfirmed as the company continues to investigate “around the clock,” but affected customers are being promised complimentary credit monitoring services in due course.
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And so, here is where the major benchmarks ended today:
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was down 3.69 points (0.1%) at 4,411.55; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 54.77 points (0.2%) at 34,337.87; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 30.36 points (0.2%) at 13,767.74.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was up about 1 basis point at 4.636%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.59 at 14.76.
Energy shares were among the strongest performers Monday, with an assist from stronger crude oil futures, which jumped for a second straight day but remain near 3½-month lows touched last week. Health care and consumer staples were also higher. Utilities led decliners, with the Dow Jones Utility Index (DJU) falling to its lowest level in over a week.
From a technical standpoint, chart patterns “remain in the bulls’ favor,” Nathan says, with the S&P 500 closing above 4,400 and its 100-day moving average (currently just above 4,402) for the second day in a row. He pegs key near-term resistance at roughly 4,500. That’s about where the index encountered resistance in late August and early September, with 4,600 a key intermediate hurdle for the bulls.
Posted on November 11, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
Today is Veterans Day, when Americans honor all who have served our country in the armed forces. It’s celebrated on November 11th each year because on that morning in 1918 (at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month), the Allied nations and Germany signed an armistice that ended the fighting in World War I.
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Moody’s credit rating agency downgraded its outlook on the US government from ‘stable’ to ‘negative’, citing the risks to the nation’s fiscal strength and the political polarization in Congress. The agency has maintained the US’s current top-grade AAA rating, but has raised the possibility that it may be cut in the future. While the move does not automatically mean it will downgrade America’s creditworthiness, it increases the chances. Even the prospect of a US downgrade could hurt Americans’ investment portfolios, make it even more expensive for them to borrow money, and make it more costly for the government to pay off its debts.
These effects would likely be even more painful if Moody’s does eventually downgrade the US debt. The nation’s diminished fiscal strength, undone by extreme partisanship in Washington, was a key driver of the action, according to a statement from Moody’s.
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YET: Here is where the major benchmarks ended on Friday:
The S&P 500 Index was up 67.89 points (1.6%) at 4,415.24, up 1.3% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 391.16 points (1.2%) at 34,283.10, up 0.7% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was up 276.66 points (2.1%) at 13,798.11, up 2.4% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was down about 1 basis point at 4.622%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.11 at 14.20.
Nearly every market sector gained Friday, with semiconductors and other tech shares leading the pack. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) jumped more than 4% to its highest level in more than two months. Consumer discretionary and energy companies were also strong, the latter thanks to a nearly-2% gain in crude oil futures.
But small-caps continued to lag their bigger counterparts, with the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) rising 1.1% Friday, though it was still down 3.1% for the week.
Posted on November 10, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The NYSE and the NASDAQ will follow a regular schedule on Friday, the day before Veterans Day. The U.S. bond market, which may be poised for a big comeback next year if yields continue to fall, will be open Friday as usual.
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The major indexes ended a brief winning streak after comments from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell stoked concerns over interest rates. More interest-rate hikes are still a possibility to bring inflation under control, he said. In a dramatic campaign to tamp down inflation, the Federal Reserve has raised the benchmark federal funds rate to a range of 5.25% to 5.5%, a 22-year high.
Here is where the major stock market benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 35.43 points (0.8%) at 4,347.35; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 220.33 points (0.7%) at 33,891.94; the NASDAQ Composite was down 128.97 points (0.9%) at 13,521.45.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was up about 12 basis points at 4.632%.
CBOEs Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.84 at 15.28.
Nearly every market sector was under pressure Thursday, with consumer discretionary and health care among the weakest performers. Energy shares were an exception, thanks to a rebound in crude oil futures, though oil prices remain near the 3½-month lows touched earlier this week. The U.S. dollar index (DXY) strengthened for the fourth- straight day.
Yet, the billionaire Larry Fink says investors should be 100% in equities right now if they can handle it? Can you?
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Amazon.com is turning to Prime members to bolster its healthcare business, an industry where the company has sought to expand for years. The tech giant just revealed plans to offer its millions of Amazon Prime subscribers a low-cost annual membership to One Medical, the primary-care business Amazon purchased for $3.9 billion earlier this year. Amazon says Prime subscribers can now become One Medical members for $9 a month, or $99 a year. The typical cost to become a One Medical member is $199 annually.
The S&P 500 continued to an eighth positive day, building on its longest hot streak in two years, while the Dow inched downward, ending its best run since July. Warner Bros. Discovery suffered its worst day since March 2021 after reporting that although Barbie raked in $1.5 billion for the company, it still lost money last quarter.
Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 4.40 points (0.1%) at 4,382.78; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 40.33 points (0.1%) at 34,112.27; the NASDAQ Composite was up 10.56 points (0.1%) at 13,650.41.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 6 basis points at 4.511%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.36 at 14.45.
Retailers and banks were among the weakest performers Wednesday. Energy stocks also slipped in step with WTI crude oil futures, which touched a 3½-month low of under $75 a barrel on escalating concern over global demand. Real estate was one of the few sectors to rise Wednesday.
The U.S. dollar index (DXY) rose to a seven-week high earlier in the day before fading.
Posted on November 8, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli, a cancer surgeon who currently leads the National Cancer Institute, as the next director of the National Institutes of Health, overriding the objections of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the chairman of the Senate health committee.
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The U.S. regulator charged with overseeing the Federal Home Loan Bank system said in a report on Tuesday the system is overdue for an update in terms of its structure and operation. The Federal Housing Finance Agency emphasized in the report there needs to be a clearer distinction between the purpose of those banks, which is to aid liquidity needs at banks in a bid to facilitate mortgage lending, with the Federal Reserve, which should serve as a source of emergency liquidity for banks.
Here is where the major stock market benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 12.40 points (0.3%) at 4,378.38; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 56.74 points (0.2%) at 34,152.60; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was up 121.08 points (0.9%) at 13,639.86.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 9 basis points at 4.571%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.08 at 14.81.
The small-cap-focused Russell 2000 Index (RUT) fell a second day, reflecting concerns about the economy tipping over into recession.
Energy stocks fell as WTI crude oil futures tumbled more than 4% to a 3½-month low on concerns about softening demand from China.
Posted on November 7, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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We’ve all known the AI audit is coming—but a new report from KPMG proves just how popular AI has already become in the audit process. The report polled more than 200 financial reporting leaders in the US between July and August. The headline takeaway? The AI audit is already close to ubiquitous.
Sixty-five percent of respondents said they’re already using AI in their job functions, while 49% said they’ve “piloted or deployed generative AI solutions.” Meanwhile, 71% said they expect to use AI “extensively in the next three years.”
Microsoft and Amazon are reportedly in the midst of a mega deal summing up to approximately $1 billion.The deal will help Amazon acquire 550,000 Microsoft 365 E5 licenses for its corporate workers, alongside one million Microsoft 365 F5 licenses for its front line employees.Amazon employees already use traditional, on-premises Microsoft Office software, but the company is now gearing up to transition to cloud-based productivity tools.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 7.64 points (0.2%) at 4,365.98; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 34.54 points (0.1%) at 34,095.86; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was up 40.50 points (0.3%) at 13,518.78.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was up about 9 basis points at 4.649%.
CBOEs Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.02 at 14.89.
Oilfield services shares and other energy companies were among the weakest performers Monday despite crude oil futures rising after Saudi Arabia and Russia reaffirmed commitments to extra voluntary oil supply cuts until the end of the year.
The banking and real estate sectors were also under pressure. Health care stocks led gainers, as the S&P 500 Health Care Index (SP500-35) climbed to its highest level in nearly three weeks. The small-cap-focused Russell 2000 Index (RUT) dropped about 1.3%
The current hiring market is slowing as the US economy added just 150,000 jobs last month. The employment gains reported by the Labor Department yesterday fell short of expectations and were almost half of the 297,000 jobs created in September. Still, there’s no need to hit the economic panic button. Though the unemployment rate ticked up slightly, to 3.9% in October, it’s been below 4% since late 2021, the longest sub-4% stretch in over 50 years. But the hiring slowdown may be a sign that the US economy is gently showing.
Now, the six-week United Auto Workers strike against the Big Three Detroit carmakers was the primary culprit in the automotive manufacturing sector shedding 33,000 people from payroll. On the flip side, healthcare, government, and construction were the top job creators, adding 58k, 51k, and 23k positions, respectively.
And, the jobs numbers were in the sweet spot for investors. Stocks posted their biggest weekly gain this year. And that’s because investors view the reduced appetite for new hires as a sign the Fed is succeeding at cooling the economy in its fight against inflation. This jobs report makes it even more likely that the FOMC will put the parking brake on its interest rate hikes, and some traders are betting that the central bank might even lower rates next year.
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And, the victims of Sam Bankman-Fried‘s financial crimes could be set to recoup almost all of the $16 billion Solana that was lost when his crypto exchange FTX collapsed – unless the IRS steps in to seize the funds instead.
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Finally, stocks closed out their best week all year after the “Goldilocks” October jobs report could put the Fed’s interest rate hikes on ice. And, Paramount pictures posted double-digit gains for the second straight session.
Posted on November 4, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
“FALL BACK WEEKEND”
By Staff Reporters
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The biggest U.S. hospital lobbying group just sued the Biden administration over new guidance barring hospitals and other medical providers from using trackers to monitor users on their websites. The American Hospital Association (AHA), along with the Texas Hospital Association and two nonprofit Texas health systems, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in federal court in Fort Worth, Texas. The lawsuit accuses the agency of overstepping its authority when it issued the guidance in December, 2022.
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Bank of America customers have been warned of delays to deposits following an unspecified issue that is affecting “multiple financial institutions”. The company reassured customers on Friday that their accounts remained “secure” and that no action was needed. A statement appearing on customer phone applications read: “Some deposits from 11/3 may be temporarily delayed due to an issue impacting multiple financial institutions.
Wells Fargo and Chase just reported similar situations.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 40.56 points (0.9%) at 4,358.34; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was up 222.24 points (0.7%) at 34,061.32, up 5.1% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was up 184.09 points (1.4%) at 13,478.28, up 6.6% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was down about 9 basis points at 4.577%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.75 at 14.91.
Banks and other financial companies led Friday’s gainers, on hopes easing Treasury yields will relieve some pressure on lenders’ balance sheets. The KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) surged 3.3% to end at a seven-week high, while Goldman Sachs Group (GS) shares jumped 4.4% to lead Dow gainers.
Retailer shares were also strong, as were small-caps in general, as the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) posted a gain of 7.6% for the week.
Merck reported $640 million in sales for its Covid-19 drug, Lagevrio, in Q3 earnings, blowing past analyst expectations of $140.8 million. Covid drug sales have dropped for most big pharma companies this year, with Pfizer lowering its total expected 2023 earnings by about $9 billion due mostly to declining Paxlovid sales. Merck attributed the boost to increasing demand for Lagevrio in Japan.
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California’s largest health system agreed to a $200 million settlement on October 12th following an investigation that found the system has failed to provide timely behavioral health appointments for patients and has canceled more than 100,000 appointments.
Kaiser Permanente, which also runs a health plan, will “undertake a systemic overhaul” of its behavioral health services, Mary Watanabe, director of the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), the regulatory body that oversees managed care plans in California, said in a statement. The DMHC began investigating Kaiser in May 2022 after the Oakland-based health system saw a 20% increase in behavioral health patient complaints in 2021, the DMHC said in a statement.
President President Biden spoke Tuesday afternoon on what the White House has called a crackdown on “junk fees” in retirement planning. Such fees chip away at account balances over time, leading to lifetime savings that are up to 20% less than if advisors were held to the highest standards, according to a White House statement.
Under current regulations, advisors who provide advice to workers rolling their 401(k) or related plan into an individual retirement account are generally not considered a fiduciary—that is, a professional who must put clients’ interests ahead of their own. This means that an advisor could steer an investor into, say, an annuity that pays the advisor a big commission, even if it’s not the best option for the investor. In some cases, commission costs and other fees are baked into the product, as opposed to paid outright, and investors don’t realize that they are silently eating into returns over time.
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The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged Wednesday as it continues to track inflation and the health of the economy. The central bank voted unanimously to leave its primary interest rate in the range of 5.25% to 5.50%. U.S. interest rates are the highest they’ve been in 23 years. That means interest rates on loans such as mortgages have gone up sharply, and so have payments on Treasury bonds and interest-bearing accounts.
Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 44.06 points (1.1%) at 4,237.86; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was up 221.71 points (0.7%) at 33,274.58; the NASDAQ Composite was up 210.23 points (1.6%) at 13,061.47.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 11 basis points at 4.761%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 1.30 at 16.84.
In addition to technology, communication services and utilities were among the strongest sectors Wednesday. Energy shares were under pressure as crude oil futures extended this week’s slump and ended at a two-month low. The U.S. dollar index (DXY) tumbled from an earlier rally to a one-month high, potentially reflecting expectations that domestic interest rates may be near a peak.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—A federal jury just found the National Association of Realtors and large residential brokerages liable for about $1.8 billion in damages after determining they conspired to keep commissions for home sales artificially high. The verdict could lead to industry wide upheaval by changing decades-old rules that have helped lock in commission rates even as home prices have skyrocketed—which has allowed real-estate agents to collect ever-larger sums. It comes in the first of two antitrust lawsuits arguing that unlawful industry practices have left consumers unable to lower their costs even though internet-era innovations have allowed many buyers to find homes themselves online.
The Sitzer/Burnett class action lawsuit alleged that some of the nation’s largest real estate companies, including NAR, Keller Williams, Anywhere (formerly, Realogy), RE/MAX, Berkshire Hathaway’s HomeServices of America and two of its subsidiaries conspired to inflate commissions.
Over 12% of American families, or over 16 million, are millionaires, per the WSJ.
Median net worth for the 80th-90th income percentile saw net worth gains of 69% from 2019 to 2022.
The upper-middle class is growing and becoming wealthier, particularly among those aged 55-74.
It’s not just the top 1% that’s getting richer — over 16 million American families now have a net worth over $1 million. That’s over 12% of American families, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances of over 4,600 American households. This compares to just 9.8 million families who were millionaires in 2019, the WSJ found.
The analysis further noted how nearly eight million families have wealth over $2 million, compared to 4.7 million in 2019. This was particularly pronounced among families in the 55-74 age range. On the whole, median net worth — which measures household assets like houses and vehicles, minus debts like mortgages and student loans — rose an inflation-adjusted 37% between 2019 and 2022 up to around $193,000. Meanwhile, the average net worth rose to over $1 million, though this is skewed by extremely wealthy Americans.
Net worth has increased for all income percentiles even amid rising interest rates, though while the top 10% jumped from $1.84 million to $2.65 million, the bottom 20% rose from $10,780 to $16,900.
Finally, here is where the major US stock market benchmarks ended:
Economists expect the Fed to leave interest rates unchanged today, allowing previous rate increases to take greater hold of the economy and granting the central bank time to assess whether another hike will be necessary. Investors and policymakers will closely scour comments made by Fed Chair Jerome Powell for clues about the central bank’s path over the remainder of the year.
The S&P 500 Index was up 26.98 points (0.7%) at 4,193.80, down 2.2% for the month; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 123.91 points (0.4%) at 33,052.87, down 1.4% for the month; the NASDAQ Composite was up 61.76 points (0.5%) at 12,851.24, down 2.8% for the month.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was up about 3 basis points at 4.909%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 1.61 at 18.14.
Real estate and financial shares were among the strongest performers Tuesday. Semiconductor companies were also higher. Energy shares lagged as crude oil futures extended their slide, dropping to near $81 a barrel to end at a two-month low. The U.S. dollar index (DXY) strengthened to near 11-month highs in the wake of a Bank of Japan (BoJ) policy shift.
Posted on October 31, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The S&P 500 Index posted its first gain in four sessions as investors looked ahead to key earnings and economic reports.
Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 49.45 points (1.2%) at 4,166.82; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was up 511.37 points (1.6%) at 32,928.96; the NASDAQ Composite was up 146.47 points (1.2%) at 12,789.48.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was up about 4 basis points at 4.888%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 1.52 at 19.75.
Communications services and transportation shares were among the strongest performers Monday, with the latter sector boosted by better-than-expected quarterly results from two big trucking companies. Financial companies were also strong.
Energy stocks were also modestly higher despite crude oil futures falling 3% to less than $83 a barrel—a two-month low.
Posted on October 30, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Statistic: 13%. That’s how much Amazon’s revenue grew last quarter. The behemoth saw business picking up after a tough 2022 and cost-saving measures taking effect to boost the bottom line. The company also said it had its “biggest ever” Prime day sale this past quarter. (CNBC)
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In 2019, Capital One bank was hit by a cyber attack that resulted in the exposure of millions of its customers’ data. The incident led to a collective complaint against the bank by its customers. After a long legal process, Capital One agreed to pay $190 million in compensation to the 98 million affected customers.
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The Biden administration announced this week the creation of 10 biotech hubs across the US under its Tech Hubs program, with each hub eligible to apply for up to $75 million to invest in areas like research and development and job creation. The hubs are spread across the US, primarily in rural areas, and are part of a $500 million investment from the Biden administration that’s intended to boost the tech industry’s growth beyond the coasts.
Posted on October 28, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
Today, October 28th, has been the best day of the entire year for stocks since 1950, according to Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA of http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com. Black Monday (also known as Black Tuesday in some parts of the world due to timezone differences) was the global, severe and largely unexpected stock market crash on Monday, October 19th, 1987. Worldwide losses were estimated at US$1.71 trillion. The severity of the crash sparked fears of extended economic instability or even a reprise of the Great Depression.
Of course it’s a Saturday this year; today.
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One large health system with hospitals in Virginia and Ohio this year cut off in-network access to consumers enrolled in some Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare and Medicaid health insurance plans. Two doctors groups with Scripps Health in San Diego are terminating contracts with private Medicare plans over concerns about payments and routine denials.
Inflation’s summer decline slowed last month. Still, inflation has improved enough recently for Federal Reserve officials to hold interest rates steady at their meeting next week.
The personal-consumption expenditures price index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, rose 0.4% in September from the prior month, the same pace as in August, the Commerce Department said Friday. But so-called core prices, which exclude volatile food and energy categories, increased 0.3% in September from the prior month, compared with a 0.1% rise in August. Higher prices for services drove the increase.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 19.86 points (0.5%) at 4,117.37, down 2.5% for the week and down 10.6% from a July peak; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was down 366.71 points (1.1%) at 32,417.59, down 2.1% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was up 47.41 points (0.4%) at 12,643.01, down 2.6% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 1 basis point at 4.835%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.61 at 21.29.
Banking and energy were among the weakest sectors Friday, with the latter under pressure despite strength in crude oil futures. Another leg down in small-cap stocks suggested investors are growing increasingly concerned about the economy, as the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) closed at its lowest level in nearly three years and dropped 2.6% for the week.
Posted on October 27, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Pfizer, a key producer of the COVID-19 vaccine, has revised its earnings outlook for 2023, cutting its projected earnings per share and revenue estimates. Pfizer saw its 2022 revenue surpass a record $100 billion as company CEO Albert Bourla vowed that everyone will have a “perfectly normal life with just injection maybe once a year.” Bourla received a 36% pay hike and netted $33 million through the pandemic.
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The U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in nearly two years in the third quarter as higher wages from a tight labor market helped to power consumer spending, again defying dire warnings of a recession that have lingered since 2022. Gross domestic product increased at a 4.9% annualized rate last quarter, the fastest since the fourth quarter of 2021, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis said in its advance estimate of third-quarter GDP growth. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast GDP rising at a 4.3% rate.
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was down 49.54 points (1.2%) at 4,137.23; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was down 251.63 points (0.8%) at 32,784.30; the NASDAQ Composite was down 225.62 points (1.8%) at 12,595.61.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 11 basis points at 4.845%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.49 at 20.68.
Energy shares were among the weakest-performing sectors Thursday after a larger-than-expected increase in U.S. oil inventories last week sent WTI crude futures down more than 2% to a two-week low. Communication services and technology were also lower.
The market’s overall weakness belied some notable pockets of strength, including in banks and utilities, as the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) jumped more than 3%. Small-caps offered possible signs that a recent steep downdraft may be waning, with the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) dropping to a 12-month low earlier in the day before recovering to close about 0.7% higher.
Posted on October 26, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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October is Physical Therapy Month, a time to celebrate the contributions that physical therapists, their aides, and assistants make to the industry. There are more than 300 million annual physical therapy visits in the US, and the profession is estimated to be worth $46 billion, according to the American Physical Therapy Association. Make sure to take some time to appreciate any physical therapists in your life.
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The United Auto Workers union said it reached a tentative labor contract with Ford that, if ratified, would mark the biggest gains for unionized auto workers in decades. The deal includes a 25% pay bump over the four years of the contract, cost-of-living adjustments that had been previously suspended, and a quicker timeline for new workers to reach the highest wage ($40 an hour for assembly workers by the end of the contract).
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 60.91 points (1.4%) at 4,186.77; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was down 105.45 points (0.3%) at 33,035.93; the NASDAQ Composite was down 318.65 points (2.4%) at 12,821.22.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was up about 11 basis points at 4.946%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 1.30 at 20.27.
Communication services and technology were among the market’s weakest sectors Wednesday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) dropping more than 4%. Small-cap stocks also remained under pressure, with the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) falling more than 1% to near a 13-month low.
Small-caps are often seen as being more sensitive to the domestic economic cycle because they tend to conduct most of their business in the United States. Utilities and consumer staples were among the few areas of strength.
Posted on October 25, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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A bipartisan group of 33 attorneys general is suing Meta over addictive features aimed at kids and teens, according to a complaint filed Tuesday in a federal court in California. The support from so many state AGs of different political backgrounds indicates a significant legal challenge to Meta’s business.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended today:
The S&P 500 Index was up 30.64 points (0.7%) at 4,247.68; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was up 204.97 points (0.6%) at 33,141.38; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was up 121.55 points (0.9%) at 13,139.87.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was down about 2 basis points at 4.815%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 1.51 at 18.89.
Utilities were among the strongest performers Tuesday, with the Philadelphia Utility Index (UTY) rising nearly 3%. Semiconductors and communications services shares were also higher.
Energy stocks were pressured by a more than 2% drop in WTI crude oil futures, which briefly fell under $83 a barrel.
Posted on October 19, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Though high interest rates have consumers and businesses feeling the pinch, they’ve been a boon to the US’s largest banks. JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo all had stronger-than-expected third-quarter results. In total, the banks earned $22 billion in profit, more than a third higher than in Q3 2022, the Wall Street Journal reported. Their combined revenue was $81 billion, or 14% higher than last year.
Bank stocks dipped last month following the Fed’s meeting, where it held interest rates steady. But though high rates have hurt some smaller banks, they’ve helped keep the large banks’ net interest margins healthy according to CNBC. JPMorgan’s Net Interest Income (NII) was up 30% year over year, rising to $22.9 billion. Wells Fargo’s declined slightly from last quarter, but was still 8% higher than it was last year.
The US economy remains strong, but shows some signs of slowing, bank executives said during recent earnings calls. JPMorgan and Citi took note of consumer spending, with JPMorgan CFO Jeremy Barnum saying, “we are coming on off a very low base. And so there’s a hope and an expectation that we are on the path to normalization and improvement.”
The average cost for a family health insurance plan offered through an employer jumped 7% this year to $23,968 − the highest rate increase in a decade, according to the annual employer health benefits survey released yesterday by KFF, a nonprofit health policy organization. Prices are far higher than they were a year ago, when premiums increased by 1%.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 58.60 points (1.3%) at 4,314.60; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was down 332.57 points (1.0%) at 33,665.08; the NASDAQ Composite was down 219.44 points (1.6%) at 13,314.30.The 10-year Treasury note yield was up about 6 basis points at 4.906%.CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 1.42 at 19.30.
Weaker-than-expected quarterly results from some airlines and shipping companies weighed on the transport sector, with the Dow Jones Transportation Average (DJT) sinking 3.4% to end near a four-month low. Financial shares were also lower, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) dropping nearly 3%. Energy was one of the few areas of strength after WTI Crude Oil futures (CLZ3) jumped above $87 a barrel to a two-week high following a larger-than-expected drop in U.S. supplies. Gold futures rose 1.4% near a two-month high.
Posted on October 14, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Citigroup chief Jane Fraser has unveiled a plan to eliminate five layers of management in what is poised to become the bank’s largest restructuring in two decades, according to a presentation unveiled Friday. Since major reorganization changes were announced last month, Citigroup has scrapped its two core operating units — which had focused on institutional and consumer clients — and reorganized into five key business units including trading, banking, services, wealth management, and US consumer offerings. The stock price was up 3%.
JPMorgan Chase’s third-quarter profit soared 35% from last year, fueled by a rapid rise in interest rates, but the bank’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, issued a sobering statement about the current state of world affairs and economic instability.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 21.83 points (0.5%) at 4,327.78, up 0.4% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was up 39.15 points (0.1%) at 33,670.29, up 0.8% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 166.98 points (1.2%) at 13,407.23, down 0.2% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 9 basis points at 4.623%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 2.63 at 19.32.
Technology shares were among the market’s weakest sectors Friday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) tumbling more than 2%. Regional banks and transportation were also lower.
The small-cap focused Russell 2000 Index (RUT) extended a recent slide and was down 1.5% for the week. Energy shares led sector gainers as WTI crude oil futures soared more than 5%, capping a gain of nearly 6% for the week, after reports the U.S. had tightened sanctions against Russian crude exports.
Posted on October 6, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Citigroupannounced a major reorganization aimed at eliminating unnecessary management layers. It will involve layoffs, but the bank didn’t say how many.
One day after the CDC recommended that everyone above six months old get the new Covid booster,Moderna stock shot up. But it was mostly because the company showed it’s got a future beyond the virus with encouraging flu-shot trial results.
Elon Muskcalled for a regulator to ensure that AI development proceeds safely following a closed-door meeting with US lawmakers that also included Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg—which was probably an awkward run-in for Musk.
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 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 June 23, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The marine mystery that captivated the world this week had a tragic conclusion: Authorities confirmed yesterday that they found broken pieces of the OceanGate Titan submersible near the Titanic wreckage it was en route to explore, meaning its five passengers are dead.
They are OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British explorer Hamish Harding, Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his son, Suleman Dawood (who, according to his aunt, was “terrified” of the trip but ultimately went to please his dad for Father’s Day).
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday
The S&P and NASDAQ found their way back into the green after a three-day losing streak, though the market overall has been a little sleepy this week.
Yesterday’s winner goes to Overstock which jumped after the online retailer agreed to buy Bed Bath & Beyond’s IP, name and digital assets for $21.5 million. But BB&B, which went bankrupt in April, won’t be able to keep its stores open as part of the deal.
And, the 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little changed at 3.727%.
While, CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was was down 0.68 at 13.19.
Technology shares were among the weakest performers Wednesday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) dropping nearly 2% to near a two-week low.
Regional banks were also lower. Energy stocks led sector gainers as crude oil futures jumped nearly 2% to a two-week high on hopes for stronger demand from China.
Volatility based on the VIX sank to its lowest level since January 2020.
Posted on June 21, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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DEFINITION: A solstice occurs when one of the Earth’s poles (today, it’s the north) tilts toward the sun at the maximum angle. The two solstices, in December and June, mark the beginning of winter and summer and give us the longest days and nights of the year.
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Summer officially arrives: The summer solstice is on Wednesday today, marking the astronomical beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s also the longest “day” of the year above the equator. Soak in those 9 pm sunsets, because they won’t last forever … or at least until next year 2024.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 16.25 points (0.4%) at 4,409.59; the Dow Jones industrial Average was down 108.94 (0.3%) at 34,299.12; the NASDAQ Composite was down 93.25 (0.7%) at 13,689.57.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 4 basis points at 3.769%.
CBOEs Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.97 at 13.53.
Retailers and regional banks were among the weakest performers Friday, and the Russell 2000 ended with a loss of about 1%.
Energy companies were among the strongest sectors thanks to crude oil futures extending a recent rally above $70 a barrel.
Posted on June 4, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
Mobile money, mobile money transfers and mobile wallets
By Staff Reporters
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DEFINITION: A mobile payment, also referred to as mobile money, mobile money transfer and mobile wallet, is any of various payment processing services operated under financial regulations and performed from or via a mobile device, as the cardinal class of digital wallet. Instead of paying with cash, cheque, or credit cards, a consumer can use a payment app on a mobile device to pay for a wide range of services and digital or hard goods. Although the concept of using non-coin-based currency systems has a long history, it is only in the 21st century that the technology to support such systems has become widely available.
Mobile payments began adoption in Japan in the 2000s and later all over the world in different ways. The first patent exclusively defined “Mobile Payment System” was filed in 2000.
Don’t use Mobile Payment Services to Park Cash, CFPB Warns.
Venmo may not be that much better than stuffing bills under your mattress when it comes to keeping your money safe long term, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently cautioned.
The app and others, like CashApp, Apple Pay, and PayPal, aren’t banks, so the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation doesn’t provide insurance for funds stored there, the CFPB pointed out. The agency said there are billions of dollars at risk if these apps suffer an SVB-like bank failure.
Posted on June 1, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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According to ABC News, the US House of Representatives just approved a bill to raise the nation’s debt ceiling while cutting some government spending over the next two years, in a major victory for both the White House and Republican leaders as the country tip-toes closer to a historic default on its bills. The final vote was 314-117. Now, the deal moves to the Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has promised to work to pass it quickly.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was down 25.69 points (0.6%) at 4179.83; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 134.51 (0.4%) at 32,908.27; the NASDAQ Composite was down 82.14 (0.6%) at 12,935.29.
The 10-year Treasury yield was down about 5 basis points at 3.641%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was up 0.26 at 17.74.
Regional banks were among the weakest performers Wednesday, while energy stocks also slumped as crude oil futures extended a recent sell-off.
The utilities and healthcare sectors were among the few gainers.
Despite weakness in technology, the NASDAQ still ended with a gain of 5.8% for the month, while the S&P 500 was up 0.3%. The U.S. dollar index rose to a 2½-month high.
Posted on May 9, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Stocks mostly held steadyyesterday as everyone waits for April’s inflation data to drop tomorrow. Regional banks saw some movement as PacWest cut its dividend, then teetered up and down throughout the day. But Six Flags theme park operator shot straight up after reporting record revenue for the last quarter thanks to higher ticket prices.
Elon Musk warned that Twitter follower counts may drop as the platform removes inactive accounts.
Goldman Sachshas agreed to pay $215 million to settle a long-running class-action lawsuit accusing the investment bank of underpaying women. Elon Musk warned that Twitter follower counts may drop as the platform removes inactive accounts.
Intel continues to rattle the tech industry by confirming that it plans to cut its workforce to reduce costs. The companydeclined to share how many workers would be affected but said the layoffs would take place across the company.
Posted on May 8, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The S&P 500 and the Dow are coming off their worst weeks since March. And even with the Fed signaling the end of interest rate hikes, analysts don’t expect the market to perk up all of a sudden. Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley predict the S&P will end the year lower than its current level. US oil prices, meanwhile, have fallen for three consecutive weeks over economic concerns.
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We mentioned the annual “Woodstock for Capitalists” meeting last week on this ME-P. Here are the highlights.
On the regional banking crisis: W. Buffett bashed leaders at the banks that failed this spring (First Republic, SVB, etc.), saying they “should suffer” and face “punishment.” But he also blamed the “totally crazy” bank regulations that incentivize bad behavior and “very poor” messaging around the debacle from politicians and the media. Buffett thinks the government was right to intervene to protect SVB depositors, claiming, “It would have been catastrophic” otherwise.
On the status of the dollar: “We are the reserve currency. I see no option for any other currency to be the reserve currency,” Buffett said. He called the notion of bitcoin or other tokens dethroning the dollar a “joke.”
On Berkshire’s investment in Apple: The value of Berkshire’s stake in Apple has ballooned to $151 billion, amounting to nearly half the value of its entire stock portfolio. “It just happens to be a better business than any we own,” Buffett said.
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US ends Covid-19 public health emergency: Like Title 42, the US public health emergency for Covid-19 will end on this Thursday. That may limit access to testing for millions of Americans, but it won’t affect the availability of treatments and vaccines.
Posted on May 5, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Happy Cinco de Mayo. The holiday commemorates the defeat of French forces by the Mexican army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, but its popularity jumped in the 1980s when beer companies began to leverage Cinco de Mayo in marketing campaigns.
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The antitrust watchdogs at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) just tore into Facebook saying the agency has caught the social media giant violating kids’ data privacy for profit — for the third time. Now the FTC has had enough. In a new proposal to protect kids, the agency wants to ban the platform from ever monetizing youth data again. In a ferocious rebuke, the FTC said Facebook defied its direct order to protect kids’ online privacy and broke the promise the company made in a 2019 consent order when it was forced to pay a $5 billion penalty for violating a 2012 order.
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Here’s where the major indexes ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 29.53 points (0.7%) at 4061.22; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 286.50 (0.9%) at 33,127.74; the NASDAQ Composite was down 58.93 (0.5%) at 11,966.40.
The 10-year Treasury yield was down about 4 basis points at 3.364%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was up 1.74 at 20.08.
Financial stocks led the market’s declines, with the KBW Regional Banking index sinking nearly 3% to its lowest level since November 2020. Transportation stocks were also under pressure as banking sector troubles exacerbated recession concerns. Crude oil futures initially extended this week’s slump, dropping under $64 a barrel to a 17-month low before rebounding.
Posted on May 1, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
Detailing Oversight Lapses
By Staff Reporters
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The Fed says it’s time for new bank rules
Just in time for a new looming bank failure, the Federal Reserve issued a 102-page report dissecting the corpse of Silicon Valley Bank. Meanwhile, FRB [First Republic Bank] FRB was just sold to JPMorgan Chase.
And in an accompanying letter, Michael Barr, the Fed’s vice chair for supervision, called for stricter rules to be applied to more financial institutions and for more tools to be given to regulators to bring firms with poor capital planning and risk management into line.
Posted on April 24, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Moody’s research released on Friday suggests that the industry is experiencing greater instability from several bank failures and high inflation, calling “into question whether some banks’ assumed high stability of deposits and their operational nature, should be reevaluated,”
The Wall Street Journal reported. Six U.S. banks were placed on Moody’s review list in March, per Reuters. All six banks put for review failed and were downgraded with the new study, including Comerica Inc., First Republic Bank, Intrust Financial Corporation, UMB Financial Corp, Western Alliance Bancorp and Zions Bancorporation.
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Apple’s latest product launch, in partnership with Goldman Sachs, is a savings account that will yield a meaty 4.15% in annual interest just for parking your money in it. The details:
You can open the savings account via the Wallet app on your iPhone, but you’ll need an Apple Card (Apple’s credit card) to be eligible.
No minimum deposit is required, the max balance is $250,000, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured.
The Fed rate hikes that spelled doom for smaller fries like Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank were a boon to the big potatoes since they could charge more for loans. With the money they made from lending shooting up, JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo all zoomed past expectations for Q1.
JPMorgan, the biggest of the big, posted record revenues and saw its profits spike to $12.6 billion, 52% more than the same quarter last year.
Citigroup, the third largest US bank, scored $4.6 billion in profit, 7% higher than in Q1 2022.
Wells Fargo, the fourth largest, kept the hot streak going with a 32% increase in profits from the first quarter of ’22 to just under $5 billion.
The banking behemoths have made it through the chaos caused by the biggest bank failures since 2008 not just unscathed but stronger—though there’s some debate over whether they’ll be able to hang on to the many new deposits that came their way as customers fled from regional lenders.
But smaller banks are still struggling. And there were signs the three megabanks weren’t ready to declare total victory: They cautioned that credit is likely about to get more expensive and put aside a combined $2 billion in case a recession hits.
The domestic stock markets owe much of their resilience today to the strength of the biggest companies, which investors tend to favor when recessions appear likely, though financial stocks have lagged most of the year, according to Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at the Schwab Center for Financial Research. Indeed, small-cap stocks were notable laggards yesterday, with the Russell 2000 index falling more than 1%.
The markets appear convinced the Fed will raise its benchmark interest rate by another quarter of a point in May, taking it to a range of 5%–5.25%, even after the larger-than-expected de-celerations in both consumer and producer prices reported earlier this week.
The following is a round-up of yesterday’s market activity:
The S&P 500 Index was down 8.58 (0.2%) at 4137.64; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 143.22 (0.4%) at 33,886.47; the NASDAQ Composite was down 42.81 (0.4%) at 12,123.47.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 6 basis points at 3.515%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was down 0.73 at 17.07.
Among S&P 500 sectors, real estate and utilities were among the weaker performers yesterday. Notwithstanding the day’s weakness, volatility expectations as measured by the VIX dropped to its lowest level since late 2021.
WTI crude oil futures rose modestly and have surged about 24% over the past four weeks, illustrating still-present inflationary forces.
Posted on April 14, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Yesterday, the S&P notched its highest close since February with a boost from Big Tech names such as Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, and Netflix, which each gained at least 2.7% (FAANG).
This morning however, all eyes are on bank earnings as JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo report before the opening bell.
Posted on March 21, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Executives at GSK Plc (NYSE: GSK), Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA), and CSL Seqirus, owned by CSL (OTC: CSLLY), said they are developing or about to test sample human vaccines against bird flu as a precautionary measure against a future pandemic. Others, like Sanofi SA (NASDAQ: SNY), “stand ready” to begin production if needed, with existing H5N1 vaccine strains in stock. The U.N. said it had signed legally binding agreements with 14 manufacturers for 10% of their pandemic flu vaccine in a mix of donated doses and doses to be bought at affordable prices.
Shares in troubled First Republic Bank crashed more than 46% on Monday, after reports the San Francisco-based bank may need to raise more funds despite a $30bn (£24bn) rescue last week.
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U.S. stocks ended the day higher, as the financials sector bounced back amid the recent choppiness in the markets. Meanwhile, uncertainty remained regarding whether the turmoil will impact the Fed’s monetary policy decision on Wednesday. Banking stocks continued to be in focus, as UBS Group agreed to acquire Credit Suisse for a little over $3.0 billion, while the Fed and five other major central banks took action to increase the availability of liquidity for the financial system.
Treasury yields were higher, and the U.S. dollar was lower, while crude oil and gold prices gained ground.
Asia finished broadly lower, and markets in Europe rose sharply, as investors around the world contend with the latest updates surrounding global banks.
Posted on March 15, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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On Monday, Newsweek published a list of banks that had trading of shares halted. According to the NASDAQ Trader website, these banks were placed under a Volatility Trading Pause. Some of the banks that were placed under a Volatility Trading Pause included PacWest Bancorp, Western Alliance Bancorporation Common Stock, First Republic Bank Common Stock and Comerica Incorporated Common Stock. Some of these banks were placed under the halt several times, but the pauses only lasted a few minutes. For example, the NASDAQ Trader website shows that PacWest Bancorp was halted at 9:49 a.m. EST and resumed at 9:54 a.m. EST.
Billionaire Charles Schwab’s net worth has plunged about $3 billion since March 8th, 2023.
Shares of Charles Schwab Corp fell sharply amid the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.
Investors are worried as Charles Schwab Corp is sitting on a significant amount of unrealized losses on its bond assets.
Billionaire Charles Schwab’s fortune has taken a massive beating after shares of the eponymous company he founded plunged amid the banking crisis. Shares of Charles Schwab Corp, a savings and loan holding company, closed 11.6% lower at $51.91 apiece on Monday, bringing its market value lower by nearly 38% so far this year. But, by 11am Tuesday, shares of the corporation were back up 9.5 percent.
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Meanshile, mega-manager Vanguard Funds bought sizable stakes in both Silicon Valley Bank (US:SIVB) and Signature Bank (US:SBNY) in recent months, according to data compiled by Fintel.
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Finally, U.S. equities finished with gains and near the highs of the day, as investors sifted through the first look at February’s inflation picture. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose in line with estimates month-over-month, while the core rate—excluding food and energy—increased a little more than expected. On a year-over-year basis, both the headline and core rate declined, but remained elevated. In other economic news, small business optimism increased last month.
The banking sector remained in the headlines, with many banks climbing higher following sharp losses over the past few trading sessions. In other equity news, United Airlines fore-casted an adjusted Q1 loss, and Meta Platforms announced another round of layoffs that will begin tomorrow.
Treasury yields rebounded, especially at the shorter end of the curve, and the U.S. dollar was nearly unchanged, while crude oil prices tumbled, and gold traded lower.
Asian stocks fell as turmoil in the U.S. banking sector spilled over into the region, while European stocks climbed as investors digested the inflation data out of the U.S.
Posted on March 13, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Saudi Aramco made what iss probably the “highest net income ever recorded in the corporate world,” Saudi Aramco’s CEO Amin Nasser just said. The state-owned oil giant brought in an astonishing $161.1 billion in net income in 2022, up 46.5% from the previous year. Rising oil prices lifted all energy companies last year, but Aramco raked in almost triple ExxonMobil’s 2022 profits (record for any Western oil company).
So, after getting mixed signals about the economy from Friday’s jobs report, the Fed will take a fine-toothed comb to the consumer price index, which drops tomorrow.
Banks: At the end of an extremely stressful weekend, depositors of collapsed Silicon Valley Bank were told they would be made whole. Yesterday evening, the US government informed anxious SVB depositors that they’d have access to all the money they stashed with the lender today, even if the amount exceeded the $250,000 limit insured by the FDIC. In addition to backstopping depositors, the Fed is offering additional funding to some banks to limit the contagion from spreading across the banking sector.
And, according to MorningBrew, the Fed’s aggressive action shows how the implosion of Silicon Valley Bank on Friday could have quickly turned into a full-blown banking crisis when markets open this morning.
Banking is a confidence game, and if people and businesses felt their uninsured deposits were at risk, they could start pulling money from other banks in a catastrophic bank run.
The government had a hard deadline of 9:30am ET this morning to restore confidence in the banking system, and it beat it.
However, in their announcement, regulators also noted the closure of a second bank, New York-based Signature Bank, over “systemic risk.” All of Signature’s depositors will be made whole, they said.
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ALERT: HSBC Holdings PLC just said that it purchased Silicon Valley Bank UK Ltd., the U.K. arm of the collapsed Silicon Valley Bank, for 1 pound ($1.20). HSBC said the acquisition will help strengthen its franchise in the U.K. As of March 10th, SVBUK had loans of around GBP5.5 billion and deposits of around GBP6.7 billion, while tangible equity is expected to be around GBP1.4 billion. The acquisition was completed immediately.
The Bank of England said it took the decision to sell SVBUK to stabilize the business, ensure continuity of banking services, minimize disruption to the country’s technology sector and support confidence in the financial system.
Posted on February 22, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
ECONOMIC PROPHETS?
By Staff Reporters
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Trying to read the economy is difficult But, some of the biggest financial institutions in the US—including JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Citigroup—will release their earnings reports for the final quarter of 2022 this morning. And they’ll share precious insight into the risk of a recession as an uncertain 2023 kicks into gear.
According to Morning Brew and others, it is because their tentacles touch so many aspects of the economy (from consumer spending via credit cards to business health via commercial loans), that they can see into areas single-sectors where others can not.
Banks are hurting. Goldman Sachs just launched its biggest cost-cutting efforts since the 2008 financial crisis, laying off 3,200 employees (or 6.5% of its entire workforce) this week. And it’s not the only one reducing headcount: Morgan Stanley and Citi are among the other global banks that have trimmed their workforce recently as business slowed due to the Fed’s rate hikes. Overall, big banks’ profits are expected to have dropped 15% in Q4 from the year before.
But it’s not all bad. Rising rates can benefit banks—as lenders, they make more money when they can charge higher interest to borrowers. Of course, banks also need to pay out interest to their depositors, too, but the gap between their lending profits and their depositor payouts (known as the “net interest margin”) is expected to widen—at least for now.
Consumer watch: Pay attention to how much banks have set aside to cover defaults on mortgage, auto, and credit card loans. That’ll give us a peek into how American consumers are dealing with inflation.
Posted on October 18, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Goldman Sachs is planning a major overhaul that would combine its investment banking and trading businesses into one unit and its asset and wealth management branches into another.
Posted on October 15, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Major banks report third quarter results, which should give an indication of the health of the US economy and financial system. So, investors, experts and regulators, who wonder about the health of the American economy and the banking system, will finally have a first and clear diagnosis.
The monetary policy of the Federal Reserve has alarmed many economists who fear that such an aggressive rise in interest rates will cause the so-called hard landing of the economy in a recession.