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

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 »

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 »

DAILY UPDATE: Cisco-2-Splunk and the Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Cisco Systems has struck a $28 billion deal to buy analytics and security-software company Splunk as the networking-equipment giant looks to tap further into the rise of artificial intelligence. Cisco said Thursday it has agreed to pay $157 a share in cash for Splunk, a 31% premium to Wednesday’s closing price of $119.59 for the San Francisco company.

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was down 72.20 points (1.6%) at 4,330.00; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 370.46 points (1.1%) at 34,070.42; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 245.14 points (1.8%) at 13,223.98.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 14 basis points at 4.49%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 2.40 at 17.54.

Recession or interest rate concerns weighed particularly heavily on sectors viewed as having greater exposure to those factors. Shares of real estate, consumer discretionary, and financial companies were among the market’s poorest-performing sectors Thursday, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) sinking to an 11-week low.

The outlook for higher-for-longer interest rates helped lift the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) to a 6½-month high, though it faded later.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Investing | Tagged: CBOE, Cisco, DJIA, DOW, markets, NSDAQ, Russell 2000, S&P 500, Splunk, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Heat, Mental Health, Covid, Markets and Crypto-Currency

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Heat: A 2016 study found that the average hospitalization due to a heat-related illness cost $5,359 between 2001 and 2010. (Healthcare Brew)

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

Mental Health: “Facilities are] just not staffed or oriented toward taking care of people with complex needs.”—Paul Getzel, director of advocacy group National Alliance on Mental Illness’s Seattle chapter, on a new report that 25% of Seattle-area residents on average are denied admission to mental health facilities (the Seattle Times)

Covid: Older adults with long Covid might experience “special challenges.” (the New York Times)

***

Markets: Unfortunately, all three major indexes were down for the week as investors nervously side-eyed Jerome Powell. Kroger ticked up after the grocery chain revealed that it had agreed to pay $1.2 billion to settle claims over opioid sales but also struck a deal to sell 400 stores for $1.9 billion to help secure approval for its merger with Albertsons.

***

Crypto: The CEO of collapsed crypto exchange “Thodex”, Faruk Fatih Ozer, was sentenced to 11,196 years in prison by a Turkish court for a potpourri of offenses, including aggravated fraud and money laundering. Thodex went belly-up in 2021, costing its investors an estimated $2.6 billion. If you’re thinking “That’s surely the longest jail sentence ever handed down for fraud,” think again: In 1989, Thai pyramid-schemer Chamoy Thipyaso was slapped with a 141,078-year sentence, or roughly 12.6 Ozers (though she was released after only a few years).

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Advisors Only", Alerts Sign-Up, Alternative Investments, Ethics, Experts Invited, Information Technology, Investing, mental health | Tagged: Albertsons, Covid-19, crypto, crypto currency, Faruk Faith Ozer, Healthcare Brew, heat, heat wave, hot, lomg covid, markets, mental health, national Alliance Mental Health, ozers, stock indexes, Thodex, warm | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: C&S Wholesale Grocers, and the Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Kroger and Albertsons supermarkets are in talks to sell more than 400 stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers for nearly $2 billion as part of their proposed $25 billion merger, according to a report from Reuters. The divestiture, which was first reported to be in the works on Tuesday by Bloomberg, is part of a move to mollify antitrust regulators at the Federal Trade Commission.

Kroger and Albertsons plan to sell stores that are in the Pacific Northwest, the Mountain states and in California, Texas, Illinois, and the East Coast, Reuters reported. A deal could be announced as early as this week.

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500^® Index (SPX) was down 14.34 points (0.3%) at 4,451.14; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 57.54 points (0.2%) at 34,500.73; the NASDAQ Composite was down 123.64 points (0.9%) at 13,748.83.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 4 basis points at 4.252%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.05 at 14.40.

Technology shares were among the market’s weakest performers Thursday, as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) fell nearly 2%. Regional banks and small-cap stocks were also under pressure, with the Russell 2000 (RUT) dropping near a two-week low. Utilities were among the few sectors to post gains.

The U.S. dollar index (DXY) climbed for the fifth consecutive day and touched a six-month high amid ideas interest rates will remain elevated for a prolonged period.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Alternative Investments, Experts Invited, Investing | Tagged: Albertsons, Bloomberg, C&S Wholesale Grocers, CBOE, DJIA, DOW, DXY, FTC, Kroger, markets, NASDAQ, Russell 2000, S&P 500, SOX, supermarkets, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: August Red, Cannabis Green, Covid-19 and the Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Despite a recent rally, stocks couldn’t climb out of the deep hole they dug themselves earlier in the month, and all three major indexes finished August in the red.

Cannabis companies were the clear winner following news that the Department of Health and Human Services recommended that green pot should be reclassified as a lower-risk substance.

***

And, Anthony Fauci MD has said that there is “not going to be the tsunami of cases that we’ve seen” during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, following the emergence of two new variants of the virus. Speaking to the BBC, the former chief medical advisor to the president, who was regularly the face of the government’s response to the pandemic, played down the seriousness of the new strains, stressing that the vast majority of the population had enough immunity to prevent infections requiring medical intervention.

***

Markets: The Dow wrapped up its best week since July as investors celebrated another rock-solid jobs report. The economy added 187,000 jobs in August, and the unemployment rate rose to 3.8% from 3.5%—signs that the labor market is cooling, but not so fast that it’s likely to spark a recession.

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was up 8.11 points (0.2%) at 4,515.77; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 115.80 points (0.3%) at 34,837.71, up 1.4% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 3.15 points at 14,031.81, up 3.2% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 7 basis points at 4.177%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.49 at 13.08.

Financial companies were among the strongest performers Friday, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) gaining about 2.5% to a three-week high.

Energy shares were also strong as WTI crude oil futures extended gains after the Energy Information Administration earlier this week reported a larger-than-expected drop in U.S. inventories. Crude futures surged nearly 3% to ended near $86 a barrel, the highest since mid-November. Consumer staples and consumer discretionary were among the weakest performers.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, iMBA, Inc., Investing | Tagged: Anthony Fauci, cannabis, CBOE, covid, Covid-19, crude futures, crude oil, DJIA, DOW, EIA, Fauci MD, KRX, markets, pandemic, regional banks, S&P 500, stock markets, TNX, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: UBS and the Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

UBS, the Swiss lender posted the highest quarterly profit ever for a bank in Q2—$29 billion—thanks to its controversial rescue of rival Credit Suisse in March. That acquisition is looking like “one of the biggest steals in financial history,” per the Financial Times, considering the skimpy $3.6 billion price UBS paid for Credit Suisse. While UBS execs have a challenging road ahead integrating Credit Suisse’s businesses into its own, investors seem to think it can pull it off: UBS shares jumped to their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, making it the second-largest bank in Europe behind HSBC.

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500^® Index (SPX) was down 7.21 points (0.2%) at 4,507.66, down 1.8% for the month; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 168.33 points (0.5%) at 34,721.91, down 2.4% for the month; the NASDAQ Composite was up 15.66 points (0.1%) at 14,034.97, down 2.2% for the month.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 2 basis points at 4.098%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.31 at 13.57.

As was the case for much of the late-August rally, technology shares helped lead gains, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) up nearly 1% and ending at a four-week high. Retail and consumer discretionary were also among the strongest-performing sectors.

Transportation and utilities lagged. In other markets, WTI crude oil futures extended a week-long rally and ended at a three-week high above $83 a barrel.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Accounting, Alerts Sign-Up, Experts Invited, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: CBOE, Credit Suisse, david marcinko, DJIA, DOW, gas, Marcinko, markets, NASDAQ, oil, S&P 500, SOX, stock markets, UBS, VIX, WTI | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Visionary CFOs and the Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Most CFOs think we’ll avoid a recession this year—and that confidence is shared by other members of the C-suite. That’s according to PwC’s August Pulse Survey, which found that only 8% of CFOs predict a recession within the next six months.

The survey polled more than 600 C-suite executives from a variety of public and private companies. Among all respondents just 17% strongly agreed there’d be a recession in the next 6 months—a sharp decline from October 2022, when 35% did. Economists, policymakers, and executives “see…the possibility of a soft landing,”

Wes Bricker, PwC US vice chair and trust co-leader, said during a media call. “It’s encouraging to see optimism from so many business leaders who participated in our survey.”

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

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500^® Index (SPX) rose 29 points (0.67%) to 4,405.71; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) rose 248 points (0.73%) to 34,346.90; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) rose 127 points (0.94%) to 13,590.65.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was about 2 basis points lower at 4.226%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) fell 1.5 points to 15.68.

Friday’s gains left the S&P 500 Index up less than 1% for the week, while the NASDAQ was 2.2% higher, thanks in part to a solid week for tech as investors positioned for the quarterly earnings report from Nvidia (NVDA), widely seen as a bellwether of the artificial intelligence industry. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was still about 0.44% lower, hurt in part by a stumble by Boeing (BA) Thursday.

Energy was the best-performing sector Friday, as crude oil futures rose about 1.2% after a week in the doldrums.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: iMBA, Inc. | Tagged: BA, CBOE, DJIA, DOW, economists, markets, NASDAQ, NVDA, PwC, recession predictions, S&P 500, stock markets, Visionary CFOs, VIX, Wes Bricker | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Recession and the Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

There are certain types of stocks, bonds and mutual funds that perform better when the market is in decline. Seasoned investors tend to survive bear markets by focusing on the stocks of companies that make products necessary for daily life. Companies that often thrive in a recessionary environment are defensive stocks that provide products and services people simply cannot live without. Stocks included in this list are considered to be defensive by Wall Street analysts.

These type of stocks have performed -5.35% over the past year. By comparison, the S&P 500 is 7.13% over the same period. These types of stocks include: 30.00% of Consumer Cyclical stocks, 30.00% of Consumer Non-Cyclical stocks, 20.00% of Healthcare stocks, 10.00% of Technology stocks and 10.00% of Energy stocks.

Bear markets and recessions also tend to present themselves when market prices have been rising for a time; and investors are feeling irrationally exuberant. But, some markets have seen downturns in 2022 and 2023.

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

Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:

The S&P 500^® Index fell 60 points (1.35%) to 4,376.31; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) fell 374 points (1.08%) to 34,099.42; the NASDAQ Composite fell 257 points (1.87%) to 13,463.97.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose 4 basis points to 4.236%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) rose roughly 1 point to 17.08.

Consumer discretionary was the weakest sector Thursday, as heavyweight constituents Amazon (AMZN) and Tesla (TSLA) both slid around 2.5%, with communication services and tech right behind. No sector was higher for the day.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Health Economics, Healthcare Finance, Investing | Tagged: AMZN, bear markets, bonds, CBOE, DJIA, DOW, healthcare stocks, markets, Mutual Funds, NASDAQ, recession, S*P 500, stock markets, stocks, technology stocks, TSLA, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: The Markets, Retail Earnings and US Steel

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

By Staff Reporters

.Markets: The market’s rally during the first half of the year has fizzled out this summer despite a greater share of companies beating earnings projections than usual, the WSJ reports. For example, UPS, Apple, and PayPal all topped Wall Street expectations…only to watch shares fall after their reports. Investors suggest it’s a “snap back to reality” moment after market euphoria in H1.

Retailers take the earnings stage. Walmart, Home Depot, and Target will give us a peek into consumer spending, which drives two-thirds of the US economy. Americans filling up their shopping carts (despite interest rates rising to a 22-year high) is one of the main reasons those recession predictions haven’t materialized yet.
US Steel, a symbol of American industrial might in the early 20th century, is considering selling itself.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Funding Basics, Investing | Tagged: Apple, DJIA, Home Depot, markets, PAYPAL, stock markets, Target, UPS, US Steel, Walmart, WSJ | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: NASDAQ Down this Week and Year

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Markets: The NASDAQ is fading and closing lower for the second straight week for the first time all year.
Semiconductor stocks dragged the index down, but investors were also a bit fidgety over an inflation report that showed producer prices grew faster than expected last month.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Alternative Investments, Information Technology, Investing | Tagged: inflation, Investing, markets, NASDAQ, semiconductors | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: The Markets, Inflation and Geico

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

http://www.MARCINKOAssociates.com

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Markets: Here’s hoping this week will be better than the last one for the stock market, when the S&P 500 and NASDAQ logged their worst week since March. But, yields on the 10-year Treasury note have jumped to nearly their highest level in 10+ years. This indicates that investors are betting that elevated interest rates will stick around for a while (bad for anyone looking to buy a house, but a good sign for healthy economic growth).

Inflation data: The monthly consumer price index report—a broad measure of inflation—has been retreating dramatically this year. Thursday’s reading is expected to show prices continued their cool down in July.

Berkshire Hathaway had a solid Q2. Its operating earnings jumped 6.6% thanks to a better performance from Geico, an insurer it owns. Berkshire’s cash pile has ballooned to $147 billion.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Experts Invited, Investing, LifeStyle | Tagged: Berkshire Hathaway, GEICO, inflation, markets, NASDAQ, S*P 500 | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Tupperware and the Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Markets: Stocks entered the weekend on a high note yesterday, with rising tech stocks and falling inflation leading the way.
Stock spotlight: Tupperware kept climbing yesterday, after gaining more than 300% over the past month. Perhaps it has become the latest meme stock even though it warned in April that it was on the verge of bankruptcy.

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended for the day and week:

The S&P 500 Index was up 45 points (1%) at 4,582.23 and gained about 0.9% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 177 points (0.5%) at 35,459.29 and added 0.7% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was up 267 points (1.9%) at 14,316.66 and gained nearly 1.5% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell about 5 points to 3.960%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) dropped 1.1 points to 13.29.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Funding Basics, Investing | Tagged: CBOE, DJIA, DOW, markets, NASDAQ, S&P 500, TNX, tupperware, VIX | Leave a comment »

MARKETS & ECONOMY …. Oh My?

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

By Staff Reporters

MICRO-CERTIFICATION SPONSOR: https://tinyurl.com/5n7jxxzb

****

****

Markets: The Dow is on a run for the ages, extending its winning streak to 12 days. But, Spotify revealing widening losses due to its failed podcasting investments and projected lower revenues. And its stock plunge came despite adding a record number of new subscribers.
Economy: All eyes are on the FOMC today: With another rate hike pretty much a lock, investors will seek Jerome Powell’s comments to see whether the Fed is considering any more increases.

****

Alphabet, which declared a “code red” for Google Search late last year as rivals like ChatGPT and Microsoft’s AI-equipped Bing came on the scene, is chugging right along. Google’s search advertising sales grew to a better-than-expected $42.6 billion. And, most people haven’t made ChatGPT their default search engine.
Microsoft beat expectations on its top- and bottom lines and told investors that it had spent, and would continue spending, gobs of money to build out AI infrastructure.

****

Snap. The social media platform just rolled out an AI chatbot, My AI, and boasted that 150+ million users have sent over 10 billion messages to it. But, still fighting against the likes of TikTok for ad spending in a sluggish market, Snap’s sales dropped for the second straight quarter, causing shares to plummet 19% after-hours.

Conference calls: Meta reports earnings today, and Amazon and Apple report next week.

****

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

****

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Breaking News, CMP Program, Investing, Sponsors | Tagged: AI, Alphabet, Bing, ChatGPT, CMP, economy, fed, FOMC, google, Jerome Powell, markets, MSFT, My AI, Snap, SnapChat | Leave a comment »

Is the ARK Sinking?

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

By Staff Reporters

***

Markets: Stocks are rolling following a week that showed our inflation emergency seems to be ending, and big banks are still raking in big profits. The Fed’s so-called “soft landing” scenario—getting inflation down without tipping the economy into a recession—is a distinct possibility, as long as corporate finances don’t end up being shockingly bad this earnings season.
Global economy: While the US economy is chugging along, the same can’t be said for China. Growth in the world’s No. 2 economy hardly budged between the first and second quarters, while youth unemployment hit a record last month. Expect President Xi Jinping to make moves to juice China’s stagnating GDP.

***

***

Curiously, Cathie Wood’s flagship exchange-traded fund has rallied more than 50% this year. Investors are using that as an opportunity to get out.

They have pulled a net $717 million from the ARK Innovation ETF over the past 12 months, according to FactSet. That exodus marks a notable shift for a fund that had consistently drawn investor cash since its 2014 inception. Once the largest actively managed ETF with nearly $30 billion in assets under management, the fund has shrunk to roughly $9 billion, mostly due to investment losses.

Known by its ticker symbol ARKK, Wood’s fund became an investor darling shortly after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic with hugely successful bets on unprofitable and “disruptive” technology companies. It took in huge amounts of investor money, culminating with a $6.5 billion inflow in the first quarter of 2021, when its share price peaked.

Then, the Federal Reserve’s fastest interest-rate hiking campaign in decades crushed the valuations of unprofitable growth companies, which often attract investors when interest rates are low and returns on safer investments such as CDs are minimal. Shares of ARKK plunged 67% in 2022, but its investors largely held on or bought the dip.

Now, analysts say they expect some of those investors are getting out for good?

MORE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2023/07/12/from-active-to-passive-investing/

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Breaking News, Experts Invited, Information Technology, Investing | Tagged: ARK, Ark Innovation, ARK sinking, ARKK, Cathie Wood, China, ETF, FactSet, GDP, Global Economy, markets, soft landing, Wood, Wood's ARK, Xi JinPing | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Summer Trauma Season but Not for the Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

We hope everyone is staying safe out there, especially because in healthcare, summertime is known as “trauma season.” Accidents nearly double for children, and adult injuries increase by almost 25%, with the main culprits being sports and recreational activities. So remember to put on a helmet, knee and elbow pads; etc.

***

Stocks surged on Wednesday after a cooler-than-expected June consumer price index report eased some worries that the Federal Reserve may tip the economy into a recession as it fights to bring down sticky inflation.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite jumped 0.74% and 1.15%, respectively, to hit their highest closing levels since April 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 86.01 points, or 0.25%.

Fundstrat’s Tom Lee told CNBC’s “Closing Bell: Overtime” on Wednesday that today’s CPI print, future expectations for easing and recent stock activity paint a market that is “behaving more like a soft landing” scenario that many deemed unreachable at the start of 2023.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Risk-Management-Liability-Insurance-and-Asset-Protection-Strategies-for/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781498725989

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Doctors Only", Breaking News, Financial Planning, Investing, LifeStyle | Tagged: accidents, CBOE, CNBC, CPI, DJIA, DOW, KRX, markets, NASDAQ, oil, S&P 500, stock markets, summer, summer trauma, summer trauma season, Tom Lee, trauma season, VIX, volatility exchange, WTI | Leave a comment »

CAVA: Rises Post-IPO

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

By Staff Reporters

***

Markets: Investors shook off last week’s post-holiday blues with all three major indexes snapping three-day losing streaks yesterday, embracing a new outlook as they wait for more economic data and a new earnings season to start this week.
CAVA rose as analysts got their first chance to comment on the lunch spot since its IPO and were largely bullish on the bowl-maker—it’s already nearly doubled since its market debut last month.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Join Today

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alternative Investments, Breaking News, Financial Planning, iMBA, Inc., Investing | Tagged: bullish CAVA, CAVA, CAVA IPO, CAVA rises, IPO, markets | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Minority/BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, Inflation and the Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

July marks Minority/BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month

A time when healthcare leaders and policymakers acknowledge the disparities that exist in behavioral health access and outcomes, as well as examine ways to address them. Tell us how your company, hospital, or practice is working to eliminate barriers and ensure equitable access to mental health services.

***

U.S. inflation cooled in May to an annual 4%, its lowest annual rate in more than two years, but core inflation rose by 0.4% month-on-month and 5.3% year-on-year.

And the markets are eagerly awaiting key inflation prints from the U.S. later this week, with the core annual consumer price index (CPI) — which excludes volatile food and energy prices — remaining persistently high to date, despite the headline figure gradually edging closer to the Federal Reserve‘s 2% target.

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500^® Index (SPX) was up 10.58 points (0.2%) at 4,409.53; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 209.52 points (0.6%) at 33,944.40; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was up 24.77 points (0.2%) at 13,685.48.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 4 basis points at 4.008%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) rose 0.21 to 15.04.

Chip stocks were among the strongest sectors Monday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX), jumping about 2%.

Retail and industrial stocks were also strong, while the small-cap focused Russell 2000 index (RUT) gained 1.5%. Utilities and Communication Services ranked among the weakest performers. Volatility perked up, with the VIX touching a five-week high.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Risk-Management-Liability-Insurance-and-Asset-Protection-Strategies-for/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781498725989

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", "Doctors Only", Alerts Sign-Up, Ethics, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, Healthcare Finance, Investing, mental health | Tagged: BIPOC, CBOE, Consumer Price Index, CPI, DJIA, DOW, FOMC, inflation, markets, mental health, minority/BIPOC, Russell 2000, S&P 500, SOX, VIX, volatility | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Apple and the Markets Zoom!

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

When markets closed Friday, Apple’s market capitalization was over $3 trillion, making it the most valuable company — ever. It’s a massive milestone for the tech giant, which warned investors in May that its current quarter revenue was expected to decline. But Friday’s stock price increasing by just over 2 percent to close at $193.97 per share suggests that investors are still confident in the company, a bright spot in an industry that has otherwise been rocked by layoffs over the past year.

Curiously, Goldman Sachs is considering exiting its partnership with Apple, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The iPhone-maker and Goldman Sachs started rolling out a virtual credit card in 2019. The bank is in talks with American Express to take over its Apple credit card and other ventures with the tech giant, the report added.

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was up 53.94 points (1.2%) at 4,450.38, a gain of 16% for the first half of 2023. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 283.18 points (0.8%) at 34,407.60, up 3.8% in the first half. The NASDAQ Composite was up 196.59 points (1.5%) at 13,787.92 for a first-half gain of 32%.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 2 basis points at 3.837%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.15 at 13.39.

Oilfield services companies and others in energy led sector gainers Friday, after crude oil futures rose 1% (though oil prices are down 12% so far this year).

Technology and Consumer Discretionary stocks were also strong performers, while regional banks were among the laggards. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) eased slightly. It is down about 0.5% for the first half.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Investing | Tagged: Apple, CBOE, DJIA, dollar, DOW, DXY, gas, Goldman Sachs’s, markets, NASDAQ, oil, S&P 500, Volatility Index | Leave a comment »

AWAKE or ASLEEP: NASDAQ Stock Market?

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

By Staff Reporters

***

Markets were closed for Juneteenth yesterday, but the NASDAQ is coming into the short trading week hot: The tech-heavy index had its eighth consecutive week of gains last week, the best it’s done since March 2019.

But, Investors are divided over whether the rally driven by mega-stocks like Nvidia, Apple, and Tesla is a bubble poised to pop or the start to an AI revolution that not even Jerome Powell can dissuade.

***

***
COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Breaking News, Investing | Tagged: Apple, Jerome Powell, Juneteenth, Juneteenth holiday, markets, NASDAQ, Nvidia, Tesla | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: UnitedHealth Group Down as Markets Up after FOMC Pause

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

By Staff Reporters

UnitedHealth Group expects to spend more of its members’ premiums on medical care in the second quarter, driven by a rise in outpatient care for Americans 65 and older in Medicare plans, CFO John Rex said Tuesday at a Goldman Sachs investor conference. Speaking at a Goldman Sachs healthcare conference, Tim Noel, CEO of UnitedHealth’s Medicare and retirement business, pointed to elevated demand for outpatient procedures from Medicare patients, per Reuters.

“We’re seeing that more seniors are just more comfortable accessing services for things that they might have pushed off a bit like knees and hips,” Noel reportedly said at the conference. The elevated demand is expected to increase the company’s second-quarter costs and premiums look set to lag spending on claims. As a result, UnitedHealth said it expects its medical loss ratio for full-year 2023 to be in the upper end of its prior outlook.

But, following the news, RBC Capital analyst Ben Hendrix reiterated UnitedHealth with an Outperform and maintained its $592 price target. Mizuho analyst Ann Hynes also reiterated UnitedHealth with a Buy and a $600 price target.

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

***

THE MARKETS

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was up 3.58 points (0.1%) at 4,372.59; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 232.79 (0.7%) at 33,979.33; the NASDAQ Composite was up 53.16 (0.4%) at 13,626.48.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 4 basis points at 3.80%.
Cboe’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.74 at 13.87.

Regional banks and retail were among the weakest sectors Wednesday. The KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) tumbled from a 14-month high earlier in the day, ending down nearly 3%. Small-caps stocks also took a hit, as the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) fell 1.2%. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) rebounded sharply from a four-week low, boosted by the indications rates will stay higher for longer.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Risk-Management-Liability-Insurance-and-Asset-Protection-Strategies-for/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781498725989

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, Healthcare Finance, iMBA, Inc., Investing | Tagged: Ann Hynes, CBOE, CPI, DJIA, DOW, gas, gold, inflation, markets, NASDAQ, oil, Reuters, S&P 500, stocks, TNX, UnitedHealth Group | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: May Monthly Inflation as Markets Hit New Highs as FOMC Pause Seen

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

By Staff Reporters

FLAG DAY 2023

***

***

Measured year over year, inflation slowed to just 4 per cent in May — the lowest 12-month figure in over two years and well below April’s 4.9 per cent annual rise. The pullback was driven by tumbling gas prices and smaller increases in grocery prices and other items.

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended, today:

The S&P 500^® Index was up 30.08 points (0.7%) at 4,369.01; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 145.79 (0.4%) at 34,212.12; the NASDAQ Composite was up 111.40 (0.8%) at 13,573.32.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 6 basis points at 3.829%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.4 at 14.61.

Regional banks and oilfield services stocks led the gainers Tuesday. Crude oil futures rose 3% on expectations of stronger demand from China. Small-caps were also strong, with the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) rising more than 1% to its highest level since early March. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) fell to its lowest level in more than three weeks thanks to expectations interest rates could be near their peak.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Risk-Management-Liability-Insurance-and-Asset-Protection-Strategies-for/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781498725989

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Financial Planning, Investing, LifeStyle | Tagged: CBOE, crude oil, DJIA, DOW, DYX, Federal Reserve, flag day, FOMC, gas, gas prices, grocery prices, inflation, inflation May drop, markets, NASDAQ, Russell 2000, RUT, S&P 600, stocks, Treasury yields | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Proposed Tax Breaks and the Closing [Technology] Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives just unveiled a series of new tax breaks aimed at businesses and families while proposing to reverse some of President Joe Biden’s legislative victories, including credits to spur the sale of clean-burning electric vehicles.

Under the proposed legislation, married couples filing jointly would receive a $4,000 “deduction bonus” for two years that the committee said would potentially help up to 107 million families who take the standard deduction.

The legislation also would significantly increase the way businesses could claim depreciation deductions, raising the threshold to a permanent $2.5 million from the current $1 million that was contained in the Republicans’ broad 2017 tax cut package.

Other provisions include an expansion of tax benefits for small start-up enterprises to “S Corporations,” while eliminating some “red tape” that small businesses experience related to contract workers.

***

The Closing Friday Markets

Markets: Stocks celebrated the summer Friday by jumping up yesterday, giving the S&P 500, which recently reentered bull market territory, its fourth positive week in a row. And, Tesla enjoyed its eleventh consecutive trading day in the green, matching its longest hot streak.

The S&P 500 Index was up 4.93 points (0.11%) at 4,298.86; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 43.17 points (0.13%) at 33,876.78; the NASDAQ Composite (COMPX) was up 20.62 points (0.16%) at 13,259.14.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little changed at 3.740%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 10 points at 13.75.

The Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services sectors—home to market heavyweights such as Alphabet (GOOGL), Apple (AAPL), Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), NVIDIA (NVDA), and Tesla (TSLA)—were the strongest performers Friday. Energy was among the weaker sectors, as crude oil futures fell 1.5% to just above $70. The small-company-focused Russell 2000 (RUT) lagged, falling about 0.9%.

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Risk-Management-Liability-Insurance-and-Asset-Protection-Strategies-for/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781498725989

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Funding Basics, iMBA, Inc., Investing | Tagged: Aapl, Apple, Biden, CBOE, DJIA, DOW, gold, GOOGL, markets, MSFT, NVDA, Nvidia, oil, proposed tax breaks, proposed tax cuts, Russell 2000, S&P 500, tax breaks, tax cuts, technology markets, Tesla, Treasury yields, Volatility Index | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: UHC, Merck and the Boring Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

UnitedHealthcare’s stunning advance notification change to it’s colonoscopy coverage roils physicians and patients, alike.

LINK: https://www.uhcprovider.com/content/dam/provider/docs/public/prior-auth/Prior-Auth-Gastroenterology-FAQ.pdf?utm_campaign=hcb&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=morning_brew

***

The Biden administration is confident it will succeed in the courts against Merck & Co’s lawsuit filed on Tuesday, the White House said, defending the Medicare health insurance program’s authority to seek deals on medicine prices. “We are confident we will succeed in the courts: there is nothing in the Constitution that prevents Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

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

***

Behind negative returns for shares of UnitedHealth and Merck, as noted above, UnitedHealth’s shares were off $14.28, or 2.9%, while those of Merck have dropped $3.23, or 2.9%. A $1 move in any one of the 30 components of the Dow results in a 6.59-point swing. In summary:

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:

The S&P 500^® Index was up 10.04 points (0.2%) at 4283.84; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 10.48 at 33,573.34; the NASDAQ Composite was up about 47 points (0.36%) at 13,276.42.
The 10-year Treasury yield was little changed at 3.687%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was down 0.70 at 14.03.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Risk-Management-Liability-Insurance-and-Asset-Protection-Strategies-for/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781498725989

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Drugs and Pharma, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, Investing | Tagged: Biden, CBOE, DJIA, DOW, gold, markets, Merck, NASDAQ, oil, S&P 500, Treasury yields, UHC, United Health Care, Volatility Index | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: D-Day, AIDS, Guns, SARS CoV-2, Mpox and the Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, 6th June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. Code-named Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day, it was the largest seaborne invasion in history.

***

It has also been 42 years since the CDC first reported on AIDS in the US, describing five Los Angeles-area patients with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. Today about 1.2 million people in the US live with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, a condition that’s considered chronic but not necessarily fatal. Still, US leaders want to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.

Advocates are calling for gun violence to be considered as an “adverse childhood experience.”

There are high concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in New York City’s wastewater.

Chicago health officials still recommend exercising caution over Mpox in the year following a major outbreak.

***

With the drama of earnings season, the debt ceiling battle, and last Friday’s crucial jobs report in the rear-view mirror, Wall Street enters the week seeking new catalysts.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX) starts the week on the cusp of a new bull market. A close of 4,292 or above would represent approximately a 20% gain from the 2022 low close of 3,577 posted last October 12. A 20% gain from the bottom represents a new bull market. That said, the SPX is still down about 11% from its all-time high close of 4,796 posted January 3, 2022.

You may recall a strong rally last summer. But the 17% rally that lasted from mid-June 2022 through mid-August 2022 lifted the SPX just 17%—not enough to put it into bull market territory.

The 10-year Treasury note yield ($TNX) was down slightly to 3.68%. The U.S. Dollar Index ($DXY) is up slightly to 104.29. The Cboe Volatility Index® ($VIX) has been in positive territory all day today and was last seen up by 0.27 to 14.87. WTI Crude Oil (/CL) is up to $73.22 per barrel after Saudi Arabia said it would cut production.

Gold prices have traded in a range of $1,953.80 to $1,978.00 and were last seen trading higher by 0.17% to $1,973.00.

Natural Gas prices have traded in a range of $2.184-2.2301 so far today and were last seen trading higher by $0.077 (or + 3.55%) to $2.249/MMBtu.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Risk-Management-Liability-Insurance-and-Asset-Protection-Strategies-for/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781498725989

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Investing | Tagged: AIDS, barrel oil, CBOE, Cov-2, crude oil, D-Day, DJIA, DOW, gold, markets, Mpox, NASDAQ, natural gas, Normandy, oil, S*P 500, SARS, Treasury yields, US Dollar, Volatility Index, WTI | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Hurricane Season, IRs, Banks and the Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

***

***

National Hurricane Season Commences

The Atlantic hurricane season is the period in a year, from June 1st through November 30th, when tropical or subtropical cyclones are most likely to form in the North Atlantic Ocean. These dates, adopted by convention, encompass the period in each year when most tropical cyclogenesis occurs in the basin. Even so, subtropical or tropical cyclogenesis is possible at any time of the year, and often does occur.

Interest Rates?

New US government data shows there were more open jobs last month than expected, raising the possibility that the Federal Reserve could keep hiking Interest Rates Up.

Banks

Shares of large and mid-sized U.S. banks sharply under performed the broader markets with worries about commercial real estate loans in focus among bank investors.

Companies

The e-commerce giant Amazon has agreed to shell out the cash to settle a pair of lawsuits lodged by the Federal Trade Commission. It will cough up $5.8 million to resolve claims that it let employees and contractors access footage from Ring doorbell cameras and another $25 million because Alexa allegedly improperly retained information from children. Amazon’s also facing criticism from its staff—hundreds of corporate employees walked out yesterday to protest the company’s layoffs, return to office mandate, and contributions to climate change.

Advance Auto Parts tanked after the car parts seller cut its dividend and outlook for the year.

The Markets

Here is where the major benchmarks ended, yesterday:

The S&P 500 Index was up 41.19 points (1.0%) at 4221.02; the Dow Jones industrial average (DJIA) was up 153.30 (0.5%) at 33,061.57; the NASDQ Composite was up 165.70 (1.3%) at 13,100.98.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 3 basis points at 3.603%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 2.25 at 15.69.

Oilfield services providers and other energy companies led sector gains, as crude oil futures rallied nearly 3% and pushed back above $70 barrel despite higher-than-expected U.S. inventories reported Thursday. Semiconductor makers and other tech companies continued their recent show of strength. The U.S. Dollar Index ($DXY) fell to its lowest level in more than a week amid ideas the Fed may soon “pause” its sharp rate hikes of the past year.

***

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Risk-Management-Liability-Insurance-and-Asset-Protection-Strategies-for/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781498725989

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Investing, LifeStyle | Tagged: Advanced Auto Parts, Alexa, Amazon, Atlantic Hurricane Season, cyclogenesis, cyclones, DJIA, dollar index, DOW, gold, Hurricane season, interest rates, IRS, markets, NASDAQ, oil, real estate, S&P 500, Treasury yields, US banks, 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:

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:

Speaker's Bureau: