inflation | The Leading Business Education Network for Doctors, Financial Advisors and Health Industry Consultants

DAILY UPDATE: Stock Indexes Pull Back

Posted on December 5, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:

The S&P 500® index (SPX) was down 24.85 points (0.5%) at 4,569.78; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) was down 41.06 points (0.1%) at 36,204.44; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 119.54 points (0.8%) at 14,185.49.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 4 basis points at 4.264%.
The BOE® Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.45 points at 13.08.

Technology and communications services shares were among the weakest performers Monday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) dropping 1.2%, its lowest level since mid-November.

By contrast, many smaller companies held up better. The small-cap-focused Russell 2000® Index (RUT) rose 1% and ended at a three-month high, extending a recent upswing. In other markets, gold futures (GC) plunged after earlier posting an intraday record above $2,152 an ounce.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Refer a Colleague: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Your referral Count: 0

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: banks, COMP, energy, GC, gold, inflation, Marcinko, markets, metals, NASDAQ, oil, real-estate, Russell 2000 Index, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, SOX, SPX, stock markets, TNX, utilities, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: IRS Ups Interest Rate Penalty with Economic Soft Landing?

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is raising the stakes for those who underpay their taxes by ratcheting up the interest penalty that will be assessed in next spring’s tax filing season. Earlier this fall, the IRS increased its interest penalty on estimated tax underpayments to 8% – a notable jump from 3% just two years ago. The IRS indicated that the interest rate penalty is determined every quarter and that for taxpayers other than corporations the assessed rate is the federal short-term rate plus three percentage points.

***

Speaking of a possible US economic “soft-landing“, the S&P 500 closed at a 2023 high on Friday, the VIX (Wall Street’s “fear gauge”) has fallen to a nearly four-year low, and December has been the third-best month for the S&P since 1928. Even crypto is on a roll as bitcoin topped $40,000 for the first time since May 2022.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Refer a Colleague: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Your referral Count: 0

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: Bitcoin, crypto, fear gauge, inflation, interest rate penalty, Internal revenue service, IRS, IRS interest rate penalty, Marcinko, S&P 500, soft landing, tax underpayments, VIX | Leave a comment »

JEROME POWELL: Speaks On “Premature” Interest Rate Cuts

Posted on December 3, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

What Is Money Factor for SMB? : On Auto Monthly Lease Payment

***

With the Fed’s aggressive rate hikes to curb inflation looking like they’ve finally come to an end thanks to encouraging data on prices falling, investors are starting to look forward to when the central bankers start slashing rates again.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

But Jerome Powell sought to pour some cold water on the rate cut hype cycle during a speech at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia yesterday, saying that it was too soon “to speculate on when policy might ease.” However, investors still think he’ll come around: Markets are putting the odds that the Fed will cut rates in March above 50% and are totally convinced it’ll happen by May, according to Bloomberg.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Breaking News, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, LifeStyle | Tagged: Bloomberg, deflation, fed, Federal Reserve, FOMC, inflation, interest rate cuts, interest rates, IRS, Jerome Powell, Powell, premature interest rate cuts | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Stock Markets Rally and IPOs

Posted on December 3, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

As we reported, the S&P 500 had its best day of the year on Friday as stocks kept their November rally rolling right into December. Pfizer, however, fell to its lowest since March 2020 after announcing that it’s pulling the plug on its experimental twice-a-day weight loss pill because it caused too many negative side effects even as pharmaceutical companies are rushing to serve the growing weight loss market.

***

And, Panera Bread filed IPO paperwork, the Financial Times reported. And it’s not the only household name that’s anticipated to hit brokerage apps next year as more companies are once again considering going public. The past two years have been an IPO stale mate as rising interest rates led to a tepid market for newcomers. Last year, Panera itself aborted a public listing it was planning via a special purpose acquisition company [SPAC] due to harsh market conditions.

CITE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/06/13/spac-v-direct-listing-v-ipo/

But, things might be different in 2024. Fast-fashion behemoth Shein also recently filed paperwork for what could be a blockbuster IPO that raises as much as $90 billion, per Bloomberg. The publication says that more companies are rumored to be thinking about joining the potential IPO bonanza. For example:

Kim Kardashian might list her $4 billion undergarment brand, Skims.
Reddit is supposedly flirting with the idea of going public. It would be the first major social media IPO in years, and it’s been in the offing since last year, when Reddit was valued at $15 billion.

However, all IPOs have not done well:

The Birkenstock and Instacart IPOs fell short of expectations according to investment data from Dealogic
Three out of four companies that IPOed this year were trading below their offer prices as of the middle of last month.
Companies debuting on the public markets raised a meager $20 billion so far this year, a slight rebound from 2022 but a ~90% decline from 2021.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Refer a Colleague: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Your referral Count: 0

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Drugs and Pharma, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: Birkenstock, Bloomberg, Dealogic, Financial Times, inflation, instacart, IPOs, Marcinko, markets, NASDAQ, Panera Bread, Pfizer, public markets, Reddit, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, Shein, Skims, SPAC, stock markets | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Sidelines Awash with Cash in Up Markets

Posted on December 2, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

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.”

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

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.

***

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.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: banks, CASH, DJIA, inflation, KBW, KRX, Marcinko, markets, money market funds, money market mutual funds, Mutual Funds, NASDAQ, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, stock markets, TNX, utilities | Leave a comment »

INFLATION: Cools Down!

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MARCINKOASSOCIATES.com

***

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

Inflation continues to cool

The Fed’s preferred inflation measure increased 3% in October, down from 3.4% in September and getting closer to the central bank’s much-ballyhooed target of 2%. A drop in gas prices—down 4.9% from the previous month—was a major factor. Increases in core prices, which strip out food and energy costs, also slowed last month. In the last six months, core inflation has grown at a 2.5% annual rate—down significantly from 5.1% last year.

The news means the Fed will likely keep interest rates unchanged at its final 2023 meeting on December 12t and 13th.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Accounting, Investing, LifeStyle, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: de-flation, fed, FOMC, gas prices, inflation, inflation cools, inflation down | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: DJIA Rockets Upward!

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Portfolio Management, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: banks, CBOE, DJIAm, energy, gold, inflation, Marcinko, markets, metals, NASDAQ, Nathan Peterson, oil, real-estate, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, Schwab, stock markets, TNX, utilities, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Hospital Ransomware Attack as Stock Markets Mixed Ahead of Inflation Reading

Posted on November 30, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

A ransomware attack has caused a health care chain, which operates 30 hospitals in six states, to move patients from some of its emergency rooms to other hospitals, while putting certain procedures on pause, the company announced.

According to a statement from Ardent Health Services, the attack happened on November 23rd. The company said as a result of the attack, it took its network offline and suspended user access to its information technology applications, including the software used to document patient care.

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500^® index was down 4.31 points (0.1%) at 4,550.58; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 13.44 points at 35,430.42; the NASDAQ Composite^® was down 23.27 points (0.2%) at 14,258.49.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 8 basis points at 4.261%.
CBOE^® Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.29 at 12.98.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Health Economics, Information Technology, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: Ardent Health, CBOE, energy, inflation, Marcinko, markets, NASDAQ, RansomWare, Russell Index 2000, S&P 500, stock markets, TNX, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Apple Credit Card, Drug Prices and the Modest Stock Markets

Posted on November 29, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

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.

***

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

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Drugs and Pharma, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Health Insurance, Healthcare Finance, Information Technology, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: Apple, banks, credit card, crefit cards, DHHS, DJIAm, drug, drug prices, Drugs, DXY, energy, gold, Goldman Sachs Group, inflation, interest rates, IRS, Marcinko, markets, metals, Mike Braun, NASDAQ, oil, pharmacies, pharmacy, real-estate, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, stock markets, TNX, utilities, Wall Street, Wall Street Journal, Warren, WSJ | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Interest Rate Cuts, CPA Holidays Spending Watch and the Markets

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

***

Read: Can AI save accounting? (the Journal of Accountancy)

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

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.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Accounting, Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Taxation, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: Accounting, AI, banks, CME Group, CPA, CPAs, DJIA, energy, Federal Reserve, FOMC, inflation, interest rates, Marcinko, markets, metals, NASDAQ, oil, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, SPSIRE, stock markets, TNX, utilities, VIX | Leave a comment »

CYBER MONDAY, et al.

Posted on November 27, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

Many wanted to discount Black Friday this year, but discounts only made it stronger. Despite analysts’ tepid outlook, the shopping holiday generated a record $9.8 billion in online sales in the US, a 7.5% increase over a year ago, according to Adobe Analytics

Here is where the major benchmarks ended the month:

The S&P 500 has had a sensational month—up nearly 8.7%. It’s one of the best Novembers on record. Since 1928, the S&P has gained more than 8% in November fewer than 10 times, per Bloomberg.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

And, don’t expect things to slow today—Adobe predicts a record $12 billion in sales on Cyber Monday, a 5.4% increase over last year and the biggest online shopping day in US history. Retailers are set to cut prices by 30% on electronics, one of the biggest sales drivers over the past week.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Accounting, Alerts Sign-Up, Alternative Investments, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, LifeStyle, Marcinko Associates, Media Mentions and PR, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: black Friday, Bloomberg, cyber monday, DJIA, inflation, Marcinko, markets, NASDAQ, retailers, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, stock markets | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Holiday Spending Economics with Mixed Stock Markets

Posted on November 25, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

Shopping data reveals that Q4 isn’t as important as one might expect. For example, the holiday quarter in 2022 accounted for 26.8% of the year’s sales, just a hair over the 25% mark if sales were evenly spread across the year, per the US Census Bureau. Of course, some types of retailers depend on the holiday quarter far more than others. Discretionary retailers (which sell the things you want, but don’t need…aka gifts) rely on Q4 for up to 40% of their yearly sales, according to McKinsey. For department stores, clothing stores, and toy stores, the holiday season really is make-or-break. GameStop, for instance, recorded 37% of its annual revenue last year in the last three months of 2022.

But for other retailers, Q4 isn’t such a big deal. People apparently read throughout the year because book stores only depend on the fourth quarter for 27.4% of sales. People also need to eat food all year long: Q4 accounted for 26.3% of sales for grocery stores.

Meanwhile, gas stations, car dealerships, and building material companies perform worse in the holiday quarter than at other times of the year.

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

The S&P 500 Index was 2.72 up points (0.1%) at 4,559.34, up 1% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average^®(DJI) was up 117.12 points (0.3%) at 35,390.15, up 1.3% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was down 15.00 points (0.1%) at 14,250.85, up 0.9% for the week.

The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 5 basis points at 4.47%.
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.34 at 12.46.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Health Economics, Healthcare Finance, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: CBOE, economics, holiday economics, holiday spending, inflation, Marcinko, markets, NASDAQ, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, stock markets | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Nvidia Up, Zhao of Binance is Out and the Stock Index Win Streak Ends

Posted on November 22, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

How to Close Binance Account - Cryptalker

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

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.

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Refer a Colleague: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Your referral Count: 0

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: AI, Amazon, banks, binance, Changpeng Zhao, DJIAm, energy, gold, inflation, KRX, Marcinko, markets, metals, microsoft, MSFT, NASDAQ, Nvidia, oil, real-estate, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, stock markets, TNX, utilities, Zhao | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Microsoft and Strong Technology Stock Market Gains

Posted on November 21, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

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)

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Refer a Colleague: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Your Referral Count: 0

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Alternative Investments, Drugs and Pharma, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Health Economics, Healthcare Finance, Interviews, Investing, Recommended Books, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: AI, altman, banks, Bayer, Bill Gates, DJIAm, energy, Gates, gold, inflation, Marcinko, markets, metals, microsoft, MSFT, NASDAQ, oil, openAI, real-estate, referral, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, SOX, stock markets, TNX, utilities | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Inflation Down but Old Navy and the Gap are Up as Altman Goes to Microsoft

Posted on November 20, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

News last week that inflation eased more than expected in October solidified the view that the Federal Reserve is done with its most aggressive rate-hike campaign in four decades. And that could be a boon for the stock market and your 401(k).

Over the last 10 rate hike cycles dating to 1974, the S&P 500 index rose an average 14.3% in the 12 months following the Fed’s final rate increase, according to an analysis by Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group.

***

Stocks climbed to reach their third positive week in a row for the first time since summer, boosted by data showing inflation is on its way down. And, the Gap soared as the retailer reported strong sales last quarter at both Old Navy and its namesake stores.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alternative Investments, Experts Invited, Information Technology, Investing, Marcinko Associates, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: 401(k), altman, Carson Group, Federal Reserve, FOMC, Gap, inflation, Marcinko, markets, microsoft, NASDAQ, old navy, Ryan Detrick, S&P 500 | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: The U.S. Stock Markets

Posted on November 18, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

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.

***

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: banks, crude oil, DJIAm, energy, Gap, gold, inflation, Marcinko, markets, metals, NASDAQ, oil, real-estate, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, stock markets, TNX, utilities, WTI | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Mixed U.S. Stock Markets

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: ARKK, banks, Cathie Wood, crude, energy, gold, inflation, Marcinko, markets, metals, NASDAQ, oil, real-estate, Roku, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, stock markets, TNX, utilities, VIX, Walmart | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Government Shutdown Averted as US Markets Extend their Gains

Posted on November 16, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

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 Johnson pitched 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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: banks, DJIAm, energy, gold, inflation, KBW, KRX, Marcinko, markets, metals, NASDAQ, oil, real-estate, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, stock markets, TNX, utilities, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: US Economic Prognostications as Stock Markets Surge

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

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.

Deutsche Bank believes the U.S. economy closely resembles the turbulent times of the 1970s, an outlook prompted by the war in Israel, oil shocks, and rampant inflation.
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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: banks, DJIAm, energy, gold, inflation, Israel, Marcinko, markets, markets rise, metals, NASDAQ, oil, oil shocks, real-estate, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, stock markets, TNX, UBS, UBS CHief Investment Officer, UBS CIO, US economic leaders, utilities | Leave a comment »

ECONOMY: CPI Prices Steady Pending Government Shut-Down?

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

DEFINITION: In the USA shutdowns occur when funding legislation required to finance the Federal Government is not enacted before the next fiscal year begins. In a shutdown, the federal government curtails agency activities and services, ceases non-essential operations, furloughs non-essential workers, and retains only essential employees in departments that protect human life or property. Shutdowns can also disrupt state, territory and local levels of government.

Fortunately, prices held steady for consumers and are growing at a slower pace, the U.S. government just reported Tuesday morning, as overall prices in October were the same as what consumers paid in September.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says prices in October were unchanged as gasoline prices declined and shelter costs continued to rise. The Consumer Price Index rose 3.2% compared to a year ago, the latest sign that inflation is slowing down as interest rates rise and the job market gives up some of its recent strength.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

***

And, the stock markets rocked upward as Presidents Biden and Xi meet in San Francisco and Congress counts down toward a possible government shutdown. As stocks were a mixed bag yesterday as investors kept their eyes trained on Washington for the latest inflation good news data and to see whether lawmakers can hammer out a budget deal to keep the government from shutting down on Friday.

Yet, Boeing stock took off following reports that China may soon end its freeze on the 737 Max, as well as the announcement of several deals for new aircraft, including Emirates’s $52 billion order for 95 planes.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Breaking News, Experts Invited, Funding Basics, Investing | Tagged: Biden, BLS, Boeing, Bureau Labor Statistics, China, Consumer Price Index, CPI, Emirates, government shut down, inflation, Investing, shut down, stocks, stocks mixed, Xi | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: McLaren Health Care and Mr Cooper Bank Experience Security Breach as Stocks are Mixed Ahead of Inflation Data

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

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.

***

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.

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Information Technology, Investing | Tagged: banks, COMP, DJIAm, DJU, energy, gold, health data breach, inflation, markets, McLaren Health Care, McLaren website, mortgage lender, mortgage lender breach, Mr Cooper, Mr Cooper website, NASDAQ, oil, Russell Index 2000, S&P 500, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: World Kindness Day 2023

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

World Kindness Day, an international holiday that was formed in 1998, to promote kindness throughout the world and is observed annually on November 13th as part of the World Kindness Movement. It is observed in many countries including the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia and the U.A.E. World Kindness Day presents us with the opportunity to reflect upon one of the most important and unifying human principles. On a day devoted to the positive potential of both large and small acts of kindness, try to promote and diffuse this crucial quality that brings people of every kind together.

***

And, stocks markets are on a roll with almost too many trophies to hand out. The NASDAQ had its best day since May on Friday, while the S&P 500 has gained for nine of the last 10 sessions, rising 7.2% in that period. Falling bond yields have investors thinking the market is poised for a rally to close out 2023.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Ethics, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Investing, LifeStyle, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: Daivd Marcinko, inflation, Kindness Day, markets, NASDAQ, S&P 500, world, World Kindness Day | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Moody’s Down but Stocks Blast Off!

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.

***

SPONSOR: MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

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.

***

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: banks, DJIAm, energy, gold, inflation, Marcinko, markets, Moody's, NASDAQ, oil, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, SOX, us credit, US Debt, Veterans Day, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Powell Speaks and Stock Markets Tumble

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

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.

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Advisors Only", "Ask-an-Advisor", Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing | Tagged: banks, crude oil, DJIAm, DXY, energy, FOMC, gold, inflation, interest rates, IRS, Jerome Powell, markets, NASDAQ, oil, Russell Index 2000, S&P 500, Veterans Day, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: T-Market Crash, Amazon Healthcare Launches as the Markets Take a Breather

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

***

Big banks are sitting on $650 billion of unrealized losses, Moody’s has estimated.
It’s a sign even Wall Street’s best-known names are feeling the heat from the Treasury-market rout.
Crashing bond prices sank Silicon Valley Bank earlier this year, and there may be more chaos to come.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

Yet, the billionaire Larry Fink says investors should be 100% in equities right now if they can handle it? Can you?

***

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.

RxPass: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2023/01/27/amazon-launches-rxpass-generic-drug-subscription-program/

Clinic: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/12/01/amazon-healthcare-act-ii/

***

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.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, LifeStyle | Tagged: Amazon, Amazon Healthcare, banks, crude oil, DJIA, DXY, energy, gold, inflation, Larry Fink, markets, Moody's, NASDAQ, oil, One Medical, Russell Index 2000, S&P 500, Silicon Valley Bank, treasury market, US dollar index, WTI | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: A New NIH Director and a Home Loan Bank System Update as the Stock Markets Ascend Again

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

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.

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

***

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.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Doctors Only", Alternative Investments, Career Development, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing | Tagged: banks, crude oil, DJIAm, energy, Energy stocks, Fderal Housing Finance Agency, Federal Home Loan Bank, gold, home loans, inflation, markets, Monica Bertagnolli, NASDAQ, National Institute Health, NIH, oil, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, TNX, WTI | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: A.I. Financial Audits, Microsoft & Amazon and the Mixed Markets

Posted on November 7, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

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.”

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

***

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.

***

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%

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Accounting, Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Information Technology, Investing, Research & Development | Tagged: AI, AI audits, Amazon, banking, banks, DJIAm, energy, gold, inflation, KPMG, markets, microsoft, Microsoft Office, MSFT, NASDAQ, oil, Russell 2000 Index, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, S&P 500 Health Care Index, SP500-35 | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: The US Economy Slows as FTX’s Solana and the Markets Rise

Posted on November 6, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

***

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.

***

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.

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing | Tagged: banks, DJIAm, economy, energy, FOMC, FTX, gold, goldilocks economy, inflation, IRS, Labor Department, markets, NASDAQ, oil, Patamount, Russell Index 2000, S&P 500, Sam Bankman-Fried, sOLANA | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: HIPPA Web-Tracker Lawsuit and Bank Deposits Delayed as Markets Jump Again!

Posted on November 4, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

“FALL BACK WEEKEND”

By Staff Reporters

***

***

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.

***

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.

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Information Technology, Investing | Tagged: AHA, American Hospital Association, Bank America, banks, BoA, Chase, cookie script, DJIA, energy, gold, GS, HHS, HIPAA, inflation, KRX, markets, NASDAQ, oil, Russell 2000, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, Texas Hospital Association, web trackers, Wells Fargo | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Merck Up, KP and Junk Fees Down, Interest Rates Unchanged as Stock Markets Jump Again

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

***

http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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.

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

***

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.

***

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.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Alternative Investments, CMP Program, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Marcinko Associates, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: banks, Biden, CMP, david marcinko, DJIAm, DMHC, DXY, energy, Federal Reserve, fiduciary, gold, inflation, interest rates, IRS, junk fees, Kaiser Permanente, Lagevrio, Marcinko, Marcinko Associates, markets, Mary Watanabe, Merck, NASDAQ, oil, Pfizer, Russell Index 2000, S&P 500, US Dollar | Leave a comment »

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

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

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/

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

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.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Accounting, Alternative Investments, Career Development, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, LifeStyle, Marcinko Associates, Risk Management | Tagged: Anywhere, Bank Japan, banks, Berkshire Hathaway, BOJ, DJIAm, DXY, energy, gold, inflation, Keller Williams, Marcinko, Marcinko Associates, markets, millionairres, NAR, NASDAQ, National Association Realtors, oil, RE/MAX, real estate, real estate agents, real estate commissions, Realtors, realtors liable, realtorsguilty, rich american families, Russell Index 2000, S&P 500, WSJ | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Stocks Rebound and then Blast Off!

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing | Tagged: banks, crude oil, DJIAm, energy, gold, inflation, markets, NASDAQ, oil, Russell Index 2000, S&P 500, transportation | Leave a comment »

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

Posted on October 30, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

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)

***

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.

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Drugs and Pharma, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing | Tagged: Amazon, Amazon stock, bank, banks, biden hubs, biotech, biotech hubs, capital one bank, CNBC, DJIAm, energy, gold, inflation, markets, NASDAQ, oil, Russell Index 2000, S&P 500 | Leave a comment »

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

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.

***

***

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/

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

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.

***

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.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing | Tagged: banks, core prices, DJIAm, energy, gold, inflation, inflation slows, markets, NASDAQ, oil, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, Scripps, VIX | Leave a comment »

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

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

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.

***

***

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.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

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.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing | Tagged: Albert Bourla, banks, Bureau of Economic Analysis, crude oil, DJIAm, energy, GDP, GDP inflator, gold, Gross Domestic Product, inflation, KRX, markets, NASDAQ, nominal GDP, oil, Pfizer, regional banks, Reuters, Russell Index 2000, S&P 500, WTI | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Physical Therapy Month, UAW Strike and the Markets

Posted on October 26, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

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.

***

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).

***

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.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alerts Sign-Up, Alternative Investments, Breaking News, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, LifeStyle | Tagged: auto workers, auto wtrike, banks, DJIAm, energy, gold, inflation, markets, NASDAQ, october, oil, physical therapists, physical therapy, PT, RPt, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, SOX, strike, UAW, UAW strike, unions | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Meta Sued as Markets Rise!

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

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.

***

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.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing | Tagged: banks, DJIAm, energy, Facebook, gold, inflation, markets, Meta, meta sued, NASDAQ, oil, Russell Index 2000, S&P 500, stock markets, utility stocks, UTY, WTI | Leave a comment »

10 YEAR T-BONDS: Hit Five Percent [5-%]

Posted on October 24, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

And … Bill Gross Speaks

By Staff Reporters

***

***

The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond shot above 5% in early trading yesterday—hitting its highest since 2007 and rattling investors—before retreating a bit so everyone could chill out. While a high return on long-term government debt sounds like something only a Wall Street wonk would fret about, it can raise borrowing costs for everyone from homebuyers to small businesses.

Treasury yields have been rising steadily for almost two years as investors kept anticipating (correctly) that Jerome Powell would raise interest rates to combat persistent inflation.
Bond yields are used as the measure against which lots of other interest rates are set, so recent sky-high yields have contributed to the current eye-popping mortgage rates, which have made homeownership 52% more expensive than renting, and they’re part of the reason why the number of Americans struggling to make car payments is at its highest since at least 1994.
CITE: https://www.treasurydirect.gov/

Yields crossed the symbolically significant 5% mark yesterday because investors rushed to sell off 10-year bonds, making them cheaper, per supply and demand—that boosted the bond yields, since yields move in the opposite direction from price.So, why did Wall Street press “sell” on Treasurys?

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

It’s usually a sign of confidence in the economy, but some analysts are concerned that this time, investors are shedding government debt because they perceive the US as being a spendthrift as the deficit grows. However, the traditional psychology may also be at play: The influential billionaire investor Bill Ackman is believed to have single-handedly stopped yesterday’s bond market sell-off by saying he’d ended his bet on 30-year Treasury bond prices falling because he thinks there is “too much risk in the world” and the economy isn’t as strong as it seems. The 10-year bonds dropped back to 4.85% yesterday afternoon.

BILL GROSS: https://fortune.com/recommends/investing/the-inverted-yield-curve-recession/?utm_source=search&utm_medium=suggested_search&utm_campaign=search_link_clicks

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing | Tagged: Bill Gross, Bond King, bonds, Federal Reserve, FOMC, government bonds, inflation, interest rates, IRS, Jerome Powell, T bonds, ten year treasury bonds | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: US Budget Deficit and Treasury Yields Rise as Chevron Buys Hess

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

The 2023 federal budget deficit surged by 23% to $1.7 trillion, leaving the US in its deepest yearly fiscal hole outside of the Covid era, according to the Treasury Department, which released the data on Friday.

But a closer look reveals the financial picture is even worse than the headline #s suggest.

The Treasury recorded the Biden administration’s ~$300 billion student loan forgiveness program as a cost last year, but it was struck down by the Supreme Court and never took effect, resulting in the Treasury considering it a savings this year.
That means the year over year increase effectively doubled from $1 trillion in 2022 to $2 trillion in 2023.

***

The benchmark 10-year Treasury bond yield rose above 5% and to its highest since 2007 on Monday, as a roaring U.S. economy led investors to expect interest rates to stay high for an extended period. The combination of those higher yields and risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East soured sentiment at the start of a week full of mega-cap earnings and key data, and pushed global shares down to seven-month lows.

***

Chevron said it would buy Hess in an all-stock deal worth $53 billion, the second major oil tie-up this month following Exxon Mobil’s deal to buy Pioneer Natural Resources. The U.S. energy company said buying Hess would upgrade and diversify its portfolio, marking Chevron’s entrance into an Exxon-led partnership overseeing a generational oil find in Guyana, while picking up additional U.S. shale assets largely in North Dakota. Chevron also highlighted the attraction of Hess’s assets in the Gulf of Mexico and its natural-gas business in Southeast Asia.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Investing | Tagged: budget, budget deficit, CBOE, Chevron, crude oil, DJIA, DOW, Exxon, federal budget, federal budget deficit, gasoline, Hess, inflation, NSDAQ, oil, PNS, Russell 2000, S&P 500, treasury bonds, treasury yoelds, US Budget Deficit, VIX | Leave a comment »

ECONOMY: Still Strong

Posted on October 20, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

***

In the last 20 months, the US Federal Reserve has jacked up interest rates to a 22-year high to tame soaring inflation. And inflation has come down to about half of its June 2022 peak. But the economy is still strong.

The Fed’s rate-hiking jamboree was expected to slow hiring, spending, and broader economic growth as unfortunate side effects of popping the inflation balloon. However, a series of recent reports shows that the US economy is still roaring in the ’20s:

Jobs: Employers smashed expectations by adding 336,000 jobs in September, and the unemployment rate remains at a low level of 3.8%.
Spending: Retail sales also blew past estimates in September, a sign that American consumers remain the undisputed shopping world champs. This probably helped: Americans’ household wealth surged 37% from 2019 to 2022, according to Fed data released on Wednesday. That’s more than double the second-highest increase on record.
Economy: After the strong retail sales numbers came out this week, Morgan Stanley raised its Q3 economic growth outlook to 4.9% from 4.5%. Context: One year ago this week, Bloomberg economists predicted a 100% chance of a recession…within a year.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ME-P TODAY

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Marcinko Associates | Tagged: Daivd Marcinko, economy, fed, Federal Reserve, inflation, Marcinko Associates, strong economy | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Soaring Bond Yields and the U.S. Markets

Posted on October 20, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

Bond yields, which impact borrowing costs for all kinds of loan products, moved higher this week as investors fretted over higher-for-longer interest rates. After notching a 16-year-record earlier this month, the yield on the 10-year Treasury bond continued to surge on Thursday, rising to 4.958%.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was down 36.60 points (0.9%) at 4,278.00; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was down 250.91 points (0.8%) at 33,414.17; the NASDAQ Composite was down 128.13 points (1.0%) at 13,186.18.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was up about 9 basis points at 4.988%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 2.09 at 21.31.

Powell’s speech and Treasury yields at least partly overshadowed earnings reports from a few major companies, including Netflix (NFLX), whose shares soared 16% after the company reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results.

Otherwise, most areas of the market eroded, with consumer discretionary and real estate among the weakest-performing sectors. Energy shares held up somewhat better as crude oil futures rose for the fifth day in the past six and ended near a three-week high above $89 a barrel.

Gold futures jumped 1% and closed near a three-month high.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Investing | Tagged: bond yields, bonds, CBOE, DJIA, DOW, energy, gold, inflation, Netflix, NFLX, NSDAQ, oil, Powell, real estate, Russell 2000, S&P 500, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Neuberger Berman’s ShareHolder Proposal, Yellen Suggests Higher IRs Persist, LinkedIn Lays-Off as the Markets Rise

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Neuberger Berman is submitting a shareholder proposal to Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., advocating for an end to the dual-class voting structure at the company ahead of a spinoff of its studio business.

The investment manager owns 0.02% of the company’s class A shares and 4.4% of the non-voting class B shares, according to a statement and Bloomberg calculations. Neuberger Berman, which has been a shareholder since 2016, submitted a proposal after having sent a letter to Lions Gate’s board last month.

Neuberger Berman said “one share, one vote” is a foundational principle of corporate governance and that dual-class structures are inconsistent with market practice with a 7% adoption among S&P 500 companies. It also said the structure may impair value and increase risk as it complicates capital structure and gives certain shareholder outsized influence.

***

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said higher interest rates may persist, while insisting the US economy is “in a good place.” The interest on US debt, which stands at 98% of economic output, “remains manageable,” Yellen said on Monday in an interview with Sky News. “Higher interest rates may persist although that’s not clear,” she said. “Our fiscal situation is by no means unsolvable. We have to be attentive to it.”

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

***

LinkedIn said Monday it is laying off hundreds of employees amounting to about 3% of the social media company’s workforce. The Microsoft-owned career network is cutting about 668 roles across its engineering, product, talent and finance teams. “Talent changes are a difficult, but necessary and regular part of managing our business,” the company said in a statement.

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was up 45.85 points (1.1%) at 4,373.63; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 314.25 points (0.9%) at 33,984.54; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was up 160.75 points (1.2%) at 13,567.98.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 8 basis points at 4.71%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 2.06 at 17.26.

All 11 S&P 500 sectors posted gains in Monday’s broad-based upswing, led by the S&P Retail Select Industry Index (SPSIRE), which surged 2.7%.

Regional banks and transportation shares were also among the strongest performers. Energy stocks held firm even as WTI crude oil futures slipped over 1%.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, iMBA, Inc., Investing | Tagged: CBOE, DJIA, DOW, Gate Entertainment, inflation, Janet Yellen, linkedin, microsoft, MSN, Neuberger Berman, NSDAQ, Russell 2000, S&P 500, Sky News, SPSIRE, Treasury Secretary, US Debt, VIX, WTImcrude oil | Leave a comment »

EARNINGS SEASON: Consumer Spending

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Markets: Stocks notched their fourth winning day in a row yesterday as investors digested the news that the Fed was split about future rate hikes at its last meeting while waiting for this morning’s report on how much consumer prices rose last month.
Ozempic continues eating into investors’ appetites for other industries. Its maker, Novo Nordisk, rose on the news that the diabetes drug may help treat kidney failure, but dialysis providers DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care plunged.

***

Earnings season is back: PepsiCo, Delta, Dominos, and big banks headline the start of earnings season, one that will have investors looking at how slowing inflation has affected the ability of companies to pad their profit margins. Pepsi’s report will be closely watched as its snack division, Frito-Lay, could be tested by the increasing popularity of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy. Major banks like JPMorgan are expected to post strong results.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

US consumer spending: Has remained surprisingly strong despite rising interest rates, and a senior spending spree could explain it. According to the Department of Labor, Americans aged 65 and older accounted for 22% of consumer spending last year, the highest percentage since records began in 1972. It also helps that 17.7% of the US population is 65 and older, the highest on record dating to 1920. Better health, longer lifespans, and changes in attitude toward saving for a rainy day after the pandemic have boomers feeling OK about their finances.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Drugs and Pharma, Events-Planner, Funding Basics, Investing | Tagged: consumer spending, CPI, DaVita, Department Labor, DOL, earnings season, Fresenius, inflation, Novo Nordisk, Ozempic | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Birkenstock IPO, Bond Yields and the Markets

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

After months of speculation, Birkenstock made its first move to go public in September, sending its prospectus document to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In the filing, Birkenstock stated it would sell close to 32.26 million shares priced between $44 and $49 per ordinary share to raise about $1.58 billion for the company and its private equity owner L Catterton, which is backed by the French luxury fashion house LVMH. At the low end, the valuation would hover around $8.3 billion, and at the high end about $9.2 billion, according to the numbers revealed in the filing. The prospectus also stated that LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault’s family holding company Financière Agache is interested in buying up to $325 million in shares. Alexandre Arnault, Bernard’ son, will join Birkenstock’s board of directors after the offering. While no date has been confirmed for when the company will officially go public, Birkenstock’s debut on the stock exchange could come as soon as Wednesday, Oct. 11th, 2023.

***

A sustained rise in long-term Treasury yields could be bringing the Federal Reserve’s historic rate hiking cycle to an anticlimactic end. Top central bank officials have signaled in recent days that they could be done raising short-term interest rates if long-term rates remain near their recent highs and inflation continues to cool.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was up 22.58 points (0.5%) at 4,358.24; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was up 134.65 points (0.4%) at 33,739.30; the NASDAQ Composite was up 78.60 points (0.6%) at 13,562.84.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was down about 13 basis points at 4.653%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.66 at 17.04.

Shares of retailers, regional banks, and technology companies were among the market’s strongest performers Tuesday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) up more than 1% to a three-week high.

Small-caps also strengthened, with the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) up about 1.5%, outpacing their large-cap counterparts. WTI crude oil futures fell for the first day in three, while the U.S. dollar index (DXY) eroded for the fifth day in a row to touch its lowest level in more than a week.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Funding Basics, Investing | Tagged: bond yields, CBOE, crude oil, DJIA, DOW, inflation, ipo. Birkenstock, NSDAQ, Russell 2000, S&P 500, SOX, Treasury yields, VIX, WTI | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Columbus / Indigenous Peoples’ Day – Postage Stamps – BlackRock’s ESG Loss – Grantham Predicts

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Be alert and ready for the S&P 500 to crash by 50%, house prices to slide, and a recession to strike, Jeremy Grantham says.

***

***

It has been a difficult couple of years for BlackRock, the world’s biggest money manager. The firm is still enormously profitable, though it has recently taken some big hits because of its promotion of ESG investments.

BlackRock ESG: https://www.blackrock.com/us/financial-professionals/investment-strategies/sustainable

More: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2023/07/18/esg-investing-reversal-of-fortune/

***

Under a new proposal from the Post Office, the cost of a First Class stamp would rise to $.68 from $.66. The price was increased from $.63 to $.66 in July. Last January, the price rose from $.60 to $.63. If the new plan is accepted, First Class mail prices will rise 13% over the period.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, iMBA, Inc., Investing, Taxation | Tagged: BlackRock, CBOE, Columbus Day, DJIA, DOW, ESG, Grantham, Indiginous People's Day, inflation, Jeremy Grantham, NSDAQ, Russell 2000, S&P 500, stamp, stamp prices, US stamp prices, USPS, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: CDC No Longer Issues/Prints Vaccination Cards and EIA Oil Prices

Posted on October 8, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer print or issue COVID-19 vaccination cards, the agency said in guidance updated this week. The agency also said it does not maintain vaccination records. According to the CDC, your state health department immunization information system can provide you a digital or paper copy of your full vaccination record, including your COVID-19 vaccinations, but cannot issue you a new vaccination card.

***

The more than 6 million-barrel weekly rise in U.S. gasoline supplies reported by the Energy Information Administration wasn’t just a surprise, but the strongest sign yet that prices for oil and its products have reached the breaking point for consumers.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Alternative Investments, Breaking News, Ethics, Health Insurance, Investing, Risk Management | Tagged: CBOE, CDC, Covid cards, Covid records, Covid Vaccination Record, crude oil price, DJIA, DOW, Energy Information Administration, gasoline prices, inflation, NSDAQ, oil price, Russell 2000, S&P 500, Vaccination cards, Vaccination records, VIX | 1 Comment »

DAILY UPDATE: The Markets, US Budget and Carmot Therapeutics Mulling IPO?

Posted on October 2, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

The stock markets ended Q3 last week with a whimper despite new data showing that the Fed’s favorite CPI inflation measure cooled in August. September was the worst month of the year for the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ. But Blue Apron soared on the news that it’s being bought by Wonder Group, a food delivery startup helmed by a former Walmart exec.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

***

America’s debt today stands at $33 trillion, a figure some politicians, finance mavens and everyday citizens find astonishingly high.

***

Carmot Therapeutics, which is developing drugs for diabetes and weight-loss, is reportedly mulling an IPO or possible sale to a large pharmaceutical company at a valuation of at least $1B. The biotech company has two injectable GLP-1 drug candidates in Phase 2 development for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, according to the company’s website.

Carmot enlisted JP Morgan and Bank of America as underwriters on an IPO, which could come as early as this year if market conditions are favorable. The company has also received “takeover interest” from large drug makers at a valuation of over $1B, according to a Bloomberg report. Carmot had a post-money valuation of $1.25B following a $150M funding round in May, Bloomberg added.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, Experts Invited, Funding Basics, iMBA, Inc., Investing, Taxation | Tagged: Bank America, Bloomberg, blue apron, budget, budget deficit, Carmot, Carmot Therapeutics, CBOE, CPI, DJIA, DOW, GLP-1, inflation, IPO, JP Morgan, NSDAQ, Russell 2000, S&P 500, US budget, VIX, Walmart, wonder group | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Inflation CPI, Rain, the Shutdown and Torn “Threads”

Posted on October 1, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

CPI: Here’s a breakdown of how different aisles and departments rose over the past 12 months:

Cereals and bakery: increase 6%
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs: unchanged
Remaining products (ranging from dairy to beverages): increase 0.3% to 4.8%
Food in general is up 4.3%
Food away from home: increase 6.8%
Used cars and trucks fell 1.2% year-over-year, but new cars and trucks rose 0.3%. Those may not seem like much, but a new car still costs an average of more than $48,000 — as of May 2023 only three models were available in the U.S. market for $20,000 or less.
Transportation similarly rose 10.3% over the same period but shelter, which rose 7.3%, “was the largest factor in the monthly increase in the index for all items less food and energy,” according to the August CPI.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

***

Not to put a damper on your Sunday morning (the relentless rain is already doing that to the North East USA), but the government still appears headed for a shutdown. Among the immediate impacts: Many federal employees will be furloughed, the IRS will stop picking up your calls, you won’t be able to get married in DC courts, and most national parks—and their social media handles—will go dark.

And even more rain as New York City was hit with its heaviest rain in decades, which flooded roads and subway stations and delayed air travel. Both the mayor and New York’s governor declared states of emergency as images of the waterlogged city filled social media.

***

It appears that Mark Zuckerberg’s new “Threads” social media platform is struggling with a massive decline. The social media platform called “Threads” was launched by Facebook (now called Meta). The platform is essentially a clone of Elon Musk’s Twitter, which is now called X. Threads struggling to maintain momentum and gain new users.

Among major social platforms, Threads is reportedly only ahead of Tumblr in the race for user acquisition. Forecasts by Insider Intelligence predict a U.S. user base of 23.7 million for Threads in 2023. The company reportedly anticipated 56.1 million U.S. users. In comparison, X has roughly 528.3 million monthly users.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Accounting, Alerts Sign-Up, iMBA, Inc., Information Technology, Investing, LifeStyle, Research & Development, Taxation | Tagged: beverages, CBOE, cereals, Consumer Price Index, CPI, DJIA, DOW, Facebook, flooding, food, Government Shutdown, houses, inflation, IRS, meats, Meta, musk, NSDAQ, poultry, rain, Russell 2000, S&P 500, Threads, transportation, tumblr, twitter, used cars, VIX, weather, x, Zuckerberg | 1 Comment »

DAILY UPDATE: FOMC Rate Pauses the Markets

Posted on September 21, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

***

***

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.

***

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.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Financial Planning, iMBA, Inc., Investing | Tagged: banks, CBOE, DJIA, DOW, DXY, Fed Rate Pause, FOMC, inflation, interest rates, IR, NSDAQ, Russell 2000, S&P 500, SOX, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Medicare B & D and the DOWN Markets

Posted on September 16, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

Medicare Part B and D are likely increasing in 2024

Due to a new Alzheimer’s treatment coming to the market (Leqembi, from pharmaceutical companies Eisai and Biogen), Medicare beneficiaries are expected to pick up the cost. Therefore, Medicare Part B prices are expected to increase in 2024. The costs are projected to go up from the current $164.90 to $174.80, a nearly $10 increase per month.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

While you may not see a huge difference in the amount you’re paying for Medicare Part D, it still could be slightly lower. The average total monthly Part D premium is projected to decrease from $56.49 in 2023 to $55.50 in 2024, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). That’s nearly $10 each month.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

MORE Citations:

Medicare.gov. (2022). Medicare & You 2023.
Medicare.gov. (2022). When does Medicare coverage start?
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2019, Aug 9). Data Note: Prescription Drugs and Older Adults.
Medicare.gov. (2022). How to get prescription drug coverage.

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was down 54.78 points (1.2%) at 4,450.32, down 0.2% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 288.87 points (0.8%) at 34,618.24, up 0.1% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was down 217.72 points (1.6%) at 13,708.33, down 0.4% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 4 basis points at 4.332%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.97 at 13.79.

Technology shares were among the market’s weakest performers Friday after Reuters reported Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) had told its major suppliers to delay delivery of high-end chipmaking equipment because of concerns over demand.

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) sank more than 3% to a four-week low. Most market sectors were under pressure, including energy, despite crude oil futures extending a climb above $90 a barrel.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Drugs and Pharma, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, Healthcare Finance, Investing | Tagged: Alzheimer's disease, Biogen, CBOE, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS, DJIA, DOW, Eisai, fed, FOMC, inflation, Leqembi, medicare, Medicare B, Medicare D, NASDAQ, oil, Russell 2000, S&P 500, SOX, TSMC, VIX | Leave a comment »

« Previous Page — Next Page »

Subscribe MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST?

Member Statistics

ME-P Information & Content Channels

Ann Miller RN MHA [Managing Editor]

CERTIFIED MEDICAL PLANNER® program

Most Recent ME-Ps

PodiatryPrep.org

ME-P Free Advertising Consultation

Medical & Surgical e-Consent Forms

iMBA Inc., OFFICES

ME-P Publishing

SEEKING INDUSTRY INFO PARTNERS?

Reader Comments, Quips, Opinions, News & Updates

Start-Up Advice for Businesses, DRs and Entrepreneurs

Up-Trending ME-Ps

Capitalism and Free Enterprise Advocacy

OIG Fraud Warnings

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Be alert and ready for the S&P 500 to crash by 50%, house prices to slide, and a recession to strike, Jeremy Grantham says.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Calendar

Advertising Info:

Book Offerings:

Dictionary Offerings:

Dr. David Marcinko [Publication List]

Education Online:

Health Dictionary Series Wiki Project

Lower Extremity Medicine & Surgery

Pending NIHCM Grant Applications:

Practice Lists:

Professor Marcinko

Related Blogs: