DAILY UPDATE: Realtors Liable for $1.8-B as US Millionaires and Stock Markets Rise Anew

By Staff Reporters

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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.

Real Estate for Physicians: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2023/01/19/real-estate-for-physician-investors/

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.

Commercial Real Estate for Physicians: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/05/03/on-doctors-investing-in-commercial-real-estate/

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  • 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.

Physician Finances: https://marcinkoassociates.com/financial-planning/

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.

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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.

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DAILY UPDATE: Stocks Rebound and then Blast Off!

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.

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DAILY UPDATE: Amazon Up, Capital One Bank Down as BioTech Hubs Are In

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.

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DAILY UPDATE: Medicare Part C Dropped, Inflation Slows as the Markets Crash Again

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.

PODCAST: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2023/10/24/podcast-medicare-advantage-part-c-fraud/

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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.

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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.

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DAILY UPDATE: Pfizer Revises amid US Economic Growth as the Stock Markets Plummet

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.

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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

  • 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.

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DAILY UPDATE: Meta Sued as Markets Rise!

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.

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DAILY UPDATE: The Markets and Economy

By Staff Reporters

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  • Markets: Stocks held steady despite a jump in bond yields (which typically sends equities lower). Gas station, oil prices continued their upward march.
  • Economy: Jobs Report at 8:30am ET today, as the government will drop the employment situation for July. It is expected to show a softening—but still healthy—labor market. Economists will be especially dialed in to wage growth for insights on the future trajectory of inflation. Workers getting big raises could put upward pressure on prices.

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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:

  • The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was down 11.50 points (0.3%) at 4,501.89; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 66.63 points (0.2%) at 35,215.89; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 13.73 points (0.1%) at 13,959.72.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 11 basis points at 4.185%.
  • CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.11 at 15.98.

Energy was among the strongest sectors Thursday as crude oil futures surged nearly 3%. Consumer Discretionary shares and regional bank stocks recovered some of their losses from the day before.

Utilities were among the weakest sectors, with the Philadelphia Utility Index (UTY) dropping near a four-week low.

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DAILY UPDATE: Big Bank Earnings and the Markets

By Staff Reporters

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The biggest U.S. banks presented a picture of a resilient economy on Friday, with consumers and businesses continuing to spend and borrow even after a lightning-fast rise in interest rates.

JPMorgan Chase’s profit soared 67% in the second quarter from a year earlier and Wells Fargo’s jumped 57%, lifted by the income they earned lending out money at higher rates. Citigroup’s net interest income was a bright spot, though profit fell 36%. All three banks beat analysts’ expectations for profit and revenue.

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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 Index was down 4.62 points (0.1%) at 4,505.42, up 2.4% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 113.89 points (0.3%) at 34,509.03, up 2.3% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was down 24.87 points (0.2%) at 14,113.70, up 3.3% for the week.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 7 basis points at 3.828%.
  • CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.29 at 13.32.

Energy shares were among the weakest performers Friday after crude oil futures retreated nearly 2% from 2½-month highs posted Thursday. Regional banks were also lower despite stronger-than-expected quarterly results from their larger peers.

Health care and Consumer Staples were among the strongest performers. The U.S. dollar gained slightly but remained near a 17-month low against the euro.

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DAILY UPDATE: RIP OceanGate Titan as Stocks Rise a Bit

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.

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DAILY UPDATE: Markets Fall on Jerome Powell’s Testimony

By Staff Reporters

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Wall Street’s major averages yesterday, on Wednesday, ended lower for a third straight session, weighed down by losses in growth stocks. And, sentiment was dampened by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s largely hawkish reiteration that more rate hikes were likely.

Powell in his published opening remarks to his two-day testimony to Congress said that nearly all policymakers expect that interest rates would have to be raised further by the end of the year. The Fed chief then, in responses to questions from lawmakers, said that it may “make sense” for the central bank to raise rates at a “more moderate pace” going forward.

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So, here is where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 Index was down 23.02 points (0.5%) at 4,365.69; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 102.35 (0.3%) at 33,951.52; the NASDAQ Composite was down 165.10 (1.2%) at 13,502.20.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little changed at 3.727%.
  • 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.

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CPI REPORT: May Round-Up 2023

By Staff Reporters

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DEFINITION: A consumer price index (CPI) is a price index, the price of a weighted average market basket of consumer goods and services purchased by households. Changes in measured CPI track changes in prices over time.

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4 Key Points from the Report

1. Energy is doing a lot of the work. Cheaper energy played a major role in pulling inflation down to 4% last month from 4.9% in April, per Axios. Gas prices plunged almost 20% from last year, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent fuel costs to the moon, while broader energy prices fell nearly 12%.

2. “Revenge spending” is down. Once COVID pandemic lock downs lifted, Americans splurged on vacations, leisure, and recreation (new pickle ball paddles!) in what economists dubbed “revenge spending.” Now that everyone has taken their week long trip to Italy, there are signs that revenge spending is waning: Airfare prices dropped 13% annually in May and, according to the US Travel Association, hotel demand is below 2019 levels. Bad for your Instagram, but good for inflation.

3. Food prices are up. The cost of food ticked up 0.2% in May from April after staying flat in the previous two months, showing how inflation has persisted on grocery store shelves. But not all aisles are created equal—the price of eggs dropped nearly 14% from April (the biggest one-month drop since 1951), while fruit and veggie prices rose 1.3%.

4. More than anything else, rent is propping up inflation. Shelter costs are the largest category in the CPI report, and they’re still on the upward march, climbing 8.7% from a year earlier. The good news: Economists say this government data doesn’t reflect on-the-ground information, such as reports of softening rent by Zillow and Apartment List. Shelter costs in the CPI are expected to decline during the second half of the year.

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NUCLEAR FUSION: New Energy Source?

By Staff Reporters

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Researchers have reportedly made a breakthrough in the quest to unlock a “near-limitless, safe, clean” source of energy: they have got more energy out of a nuclear fusion reaction than they put in. Nuclear fusion involves smashing together light elements such as hydrogen to form heavier elements, releasing a huge burst of energy in the process.

Unlike nuclear fission, the energy reaction we currently use, fusion does not create radioactive waste, and the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that it produces three to four times more energy.

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Scientists had a nuclear breakthrough

The Department of Energy is expected to announce today that scientists at California’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory successfully produced a nuclear fusion reaction with a net energy gain (meaning it produced more energy than it used).

Scientists and governments have been trying to make that happen for decades because nuclear fusion, as opposed to the nuclear fission that current nuclear plants use, has the potential to create energy to power the world without producing carbon or radioactive waste. Still, it will be a long time before nuclear fusion becomes commercially viable as a source for energy.

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UPDATE: The Markets and Energy

By Staff Reporters

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Markets: The NASDAQ stayed flat at its lowest level this year. Spotify shares sank to a record low. Facebook is having a rough go, but it’s not the only one. Netflix stock plunged nearly 70% this year after hitting a ceiling on subscriber growth. At one point, it was worth more than Disney; now, it’s not even half as valuable. Even Google is googling “ways to make more money.” Its parent company, Alphabet, reported a slowdown in growth last quarter because, like Facebook, YouTube’s also being been dinged by TikTok and Apple’s privacy changes: The video platform’s revenue came in more than $500 million below expectations.

Energy: Russia’s halted oil shipments to Poland and Bulgaria yesterday.

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