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Posted on April 19, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Stat: $30,000–$50,000. That’s the estimated cost to address one case of measles, making the growing outbreak quite pricey for the US public health system, a CDC official said Tuesday. (NBC)
Quote: “These are still children with illnesses, and they want to be in their home city, where their family can visit them.”—Cynthia Rogers, a pediatric psychiatrist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, on resistance against pediatric mental health hospitals being built in some communities (KFF)
Posted on April 11, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants
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The S&P 500 (GSPC) dropped almost 3.5%, while the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (IXIC) tumbled 4.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell about 1,000 points, or 2.5%. The 10-year Treasury yield (^TNX), in high focus amid bond market whiplash, ended the day flat around 4.39%.
The major averages sank to session lows after the White House confirmed updated tariff figures released on Thursday brings the total increased levies on Chinese goods to 145%, not 125% as previously stated.
Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.
Posted on April 9, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Stat: 11%. That’s the share of US residents who said they couldn’t afford medical care or medication over a three-month period, according to a new Gallup survey. (the New York Times)
An epic stock-market bounce turned into a historic fizzle, extending the bruising selloff sparked by President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff measures to a fourth straight session.
SPX-1.57% saw an intra-day gain of 4.05% evaporate to end with a loss of 1.6%, marking its biggest blown percentage gain since Oct. 14th, 2008, during the darkest days of the 2007-09 financial crisis. And it’s the first time the S&P 500 was up more than 4% at its intra-day high but finished with a loss of more than 1%, based on data going back to 1978, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
DJIA-0.84% rallied 1,461 points, or 3.85%, at its intra-day peak, but ended the day down more than 400 points, its biggest erased percentage gain since April 2020.The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite.
Posted on April 8, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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e Department of Veterans Affairs announced plans last week to accelerate the rollout of its embattled electronic health records system. Lawmakers, meanwhile, continue to call for oversight despite concerns over the future of the modernization program. The VA added nine new medical facilities in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Alaska to the deployment schedule, along with four sites in Michigan that will launch in 2026 after the program expansion has largely been on hold since April 2023, when the agency acknowledged glitches in the system had contributed to at least four veterans’ deaths and “catastrophic harm” to others.
After a roller coaster day, the Dow closed lower by 349 points, or 0.91%. The broader S&P 500 fell 0.23%. The NASDAQ Composite was 0.1% higher after fluctuating between gains and losses. Wall Street’s fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, on Monday closed at the highest level since the Covid pandemic as investors fretted over the market’s next move. The VIX surpassed an intraday level of 50 points midday Monday, a rare level associated with extreme volatility.
Posted on April 2, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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The CEO of a Texashealth insurance company was fired after admitting before a DOGE panel of state lawmakers that he hired private investigators to spy on customers and obtain sensitive details about their lives. Mark Sanders was dismissed from his duties as chief executive of Austin-based Superior HealthPlan after he testified before the Texas House Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee in a hearing on Medicaid procurement last week.
US stocks closed mixed on Tuesday as investors cautiously counted down to President Trump’s highly anticipated “Liberation Day” rollout of sweeping new reciprocal tariffs. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose about 0.4%, extending the gains the benchmark index secured on Monday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell just below the flatline. The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) rebounded to close up around 0.9%.
Posted on April 1, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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US stocks rebounded Monday to cap a volatile month and quarter as trade-war worries mount in the run-up to President Trump’s tariff bonanza later in the week.
The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) closed down about 0.1%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) recuperated losses of as much as 1.7% to close up nearly 0.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) erased early morning losses to gain 1%, or about 400 points.
Markets wrapped up March on a woeful note after a rough month and quarter beset by Trump’s fast-evolving tariff policy. Last week was the fifth in six weeks that the NASDQ Composite and S&P 500 ended the week in the red. The benchmark index is down over 4.5% to start the year while the NASDAQ has lost over 10%, finishing with their worst quarters since 2022.
Some of the biggest-name megacaps have led the decline. NVIDIA (NVDA) fell Monday as it has neared a 20% loss so far this year, while TESLA (TSLA) has lost more than 35%.
Posted on March 27, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants
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Over the next decade, advances in artificial intelligence will mean that humans will no longer be needed “for most things” in the world, says Bill Gates. That’s what the Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist told comedian Jimmy Fallon during an interview on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” in February. At the moment, expertise remains “rare,” Gates explained, pointing to human specialists we still rely on in many fields, including “a great doctor” or “a great teacher.”
US stocks closed sharply loser Wednesday as President Trump prepared to unveil new tariffs on US auto imports. The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) was down more than 1.1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell about 0.4%. The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) led the losses, sliding over 2%. Tech leaders Nvidia (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA) both closed down more than 5%.
It’s a shocking fall for 23andMe that once boasted a $6 billion valuation in 2021—despite never making a profit. As of Friday, it was worth $50 million, and on Monday, shares for the consumer genetic testing pioneer fell 50% to 88 cents, Reuters reported.
Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.
Posted on March 24, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Futures attached to the benchmark S&P 500 (ES=F) rose 0.6%, with NASDAQ 100 (NQ=F) futures up 0.7%. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) advanced around 0.4%.
Posted on March 22, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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The S&P 500 edged up 0.1%. The index finished with a 0.5% gain for the week. It’s still down 4.8% so far this month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average eked out a 0.1% gain, while the NASDAQ composite rose 0.5%.
It appears Medicare coverage for tele-health is here to stay—at least for the next six months. When the House of Representatives and Senate passed a budget on March 11t and 14th, respectively, they not only avoided a government shutdown, but also extended a resolution for Medicare to cover non-behavioral health tele-health appointments until September 30th.
Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.
Posted on March 21, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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U.S. stock indexes edged lower Thursday following another reminder that big, unsettling policy changes are underway because of President Donald Trump, along with more signals suggesting the U.S. economy remains solid for now.
The S&P 500 slipped 0.2% after flipping between modest gains and losses through the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped by 11 points, or less than 0.1 %, and the NASDAQ composite fell 0.3%.
Posted on March 15, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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At least eight agencies are investigating a recent fire at a Bayer executive’s New Jersey home as a possible arson, authorities said. The fire happened around 7:30 a.m. March 4th “at an occupied residence on East Lane in Madison,” the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office told CNN yesterday.
US stocks bounced back sharply on Friday to cap a volatile week on Wall Street as the risk of a government shutdown eased while investors stayed on watch for the next move in an escalating trade war. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) climbed more than 2.1% after the benchmark index sank on Thursday to close in correction territory. The NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) jumped over 2.6% as tech stocks soared. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) moved up more than 600 points, or 1.6%.
Yesterday March 14th was Pi Day! (Yes, the mathematical constant, although we fully support celebrating with actual pie.) Put simply, Pi—aka π—is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It also sneaks its way into medicine. For one, it’s part of Poiseuille’s Law, an equation that helps explain how fluid flows through tubes, including arteries and IV lines. So, whether you’re crunching numbers or crunching on a slice, Pi is definitely worth celebrating
And, today is the Ides of March!
Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.
Posted on March 13, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Stock markets mostly rose Wednesday on both sides of the Atlantic as investors shrugged off Washington’s latest tariffs to focus on cooling US inflation and a Ukraine ceasefire plan.
Markets have worried that the tariffs could spark a surge in US inflation and drive a stake into the chances that the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates further. But government data released Wednesday showed US consumer inflation had slowed slightly to 2.8 percent in February — the first full month of Trump’s White House return.
That was slightly better than analysts expected. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, dipped to an annual rate of 3.1 percent. “The inflation data are a bright spot in the Federal Reserve’s battle against rising prices. They reinforce the expectation of three rate cuts later in 2025,” said Jochen Stanzl, chief market analyst at CMC Markets.
“Sentiment on Wall Street is so negative that these positive inflation figures could spark a broader recovery in stock prices,” he added.
Wall Street’s main stock indices mostly closed higher with the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite rising 1.2 percent. But the Dow dipped into the red, losing 0.2 percent.
Posted on March 7, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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US stocks tanked to session lows on Thursday after more tariff whiplash from the Trump administration.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell 1%, or over 400 points, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) dropped nearly 2%. The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) plummeted more than 2.6%. The Nasdaq is now more than 10% off its December record high and officially entered into correction territory.
Trade-war uncertainty has persisted as investors weighed how far President Donald Trump would be willing to negotiate on tariffs. On Thursday, Trump said he would pause tariffs on some Mexican goods, and the White House later said the delay also includes goods from Canada.
Posted on March 6, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Endometriosis Awareness Week, which brings attention to the chronic disease that affects about 10% of reproductive-age patients with uteruses worldwide. There’s still no known cure, due in part to research being underfunded—in 2022, the NIH allocated just $16 million, or $2 per patient, to endometriosis research, according to a 2024 study.
After sliding earlier in the session, the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) led the gains, rising more than 1.4%. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) and the S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose roughly 1.1%.
Stocks lifted higher after the White House delayed by one month auto tariffs that could significantly impact US automakers Ford (F), GM (GM), and Stellantis (STLA). Shares of all three automakers were at least 5% higher.
Posted on March 5, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Despite high flu cases, vaccine this season looks overall like a good match. Early season laboratory testing by the CDC suggested this year’s flu vaccine was 100% match for the strain influenza A (H1N1), which accounts for 48% of cases this year, and a 100% match for influenza B, which accounts for just under 3% of cases so far. For targeting influenza A (H3N1), which makes up 49% of cases so far, the CDC said the vaccine is a 51% match.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell about 1.5%, or over 650 points, as losses escalated into the close, while the benchmark S&P 500 dropped around 1.2%, hitting its lowest level in four months. The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC), which traded in the green at one point of the trading day, closed down about 0.4% but was able to avoid entering correction territory.
Posted on March 4, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Independent pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are at odds over a proposed rule change from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) over the Medicare Part D program. Pharmacies vs. PBMs
US stocks plummeted on Monday afternoon, as selling accelerated in the last hour of trading after President Trump indicated there was “no room left” for tariff negotiations with Canada and Mexico, with levies against both countries set to go into effect tomorrow.
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) fell 1.7% while the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) dropped 2.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell more than 600 points, or almost 1.5%, as the major US indexes came off a volatile week and a losing February.
Tech led the sell-off with shares of Nvidia (NVDA) tanking more than 8%. All of the “Magnificent 7” stocks declined.
Posted on March 1, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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US stocks gained ground Friday following a key inflation reading that largely met expectations and as fresh tariff threats added to uncertainty over Big Tech prospects. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) gained 1.6%%, while the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) was up about 1.5% after suffering a Nvidia-led (NVDA) sell-off on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) climbed 1.3%. All three major averages reversed earlier losses, sending February off with a relief rally.
Markets wrapped the month February with sharp weekly and monthly losses after suffering the buffets of tariff moves. The NASDAQ shed close to 5% in February, while the S&P 500 and Dow suffered drops of around 2%.
Posted on February 28, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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A new bill could change Medicare coverage requirements for Americans across the country. With Medicare was set to run out of funding for telehealth coverage by the end of March, Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California has introduced the Telehealth Coverage Act to continue the services.
Stocks plummeted on Thursday as tech sold off following Nvidia’s (NVDA) latest earnings report while investors took stock of the economy amid President Trump’s latest tariff pledges.
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) fell more than 1.6%, while the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) dropped 2.8%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) dropped 0.4%.
Investors dug into Nvidia’s quarterly earnings beat, which signaled plenty of scope for growth as it eased worries about DeepSeek and faltering AI demand. The results initially met a muted response as its profit outlook raised doubts on Wall Street. Nvidia’s stock erased early morning gains to dropped more than 8%.
Posted on February 27, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Health experts have expressed conflict of interest concerns after the FDA‘s drug chief quit for a top job in Big Pharma. Pfizer announced this week that Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, former director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), will join the company as its chief medical officer.
The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) finished the volatile trading day down around 1.3%, dragged down by shares of Magnificent Seven players like Nvidia (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA). The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) dropped roughly 0.4%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) reversed earlier session declines to end the day in the green, up about 0.4%.
Some of the biggest market moves also came from the cryptocurrency space, where the price of bitcoin (BTC-USD) tumbled below $90,000 for the first time since November. Bitcoin touched a low closer to $86,000 in the early morning hours, its lowest level since early November. Prices stabilized to just around $88,000 at the market close.
Posted on February 26, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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In great news for investors, a new study found that major healthcare companies have paid out $2.6 trillion to shareholders over the past 20 years in the form of dividends and share buybacks, and those payments are increasing. Bad news for patients: Some of that money could’ve been spent on, well, healthcare. The study, published Februrary 10th in JAMA, found that publicly traded S&P 500 healthcare companies paid shareholders a total of $170.2 billion in 2022, up 315% from payouts of just $54 billion in 2001.
The S&P 500 fell 0.5%. The NASDAQ 100 slid 1.2%. A gauge of the “Magnificent Seven” mega-caps sank 2.2%. Nvidia Corp.’s shares slid 2.8% on the eve of the company’s results, while Tesla slumped 8.4% to fall below $1 trillion in market value. The DJIA was up.
Posted on February 25, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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A grand jury is investigating criminal misconduct at a Silicon Valley fintech firm where customer funds went missing, and has questioned an executive who raised alarms before the company collapsed, people familiar with the matter said. Synapse connected financial technology firms with banks, helping startups that marketed flashy savings apps find a place to park their digital customers’ funds. The middleman managed billions of dollars at its peak, before its sudden collapse in April left thousands of people unable to access their money.
The US Department of Justice is reportedly investigating the insurance giant UnitedHealthcare for its Medicare billing practices. The federal government is examining whether UnitedHealthcare is using patient diagnoses to illegally increase the lump sum monthly payments received through the Medicare Advantage program, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
US stocks sold off into the close on Monday as investors weighed the prospects of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and also shifted focus to this week’s Nvidia (NVDA) earnings.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was little changed on the heels of its worst week since October. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) fell 0.5%, while the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) fell 1.2%.
Posted on February 22, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Stat: 700,000. That’s how many “unnecessary and expensive” injections pain management company Pain MD gave patients over eight years, according to court documents in a healthcare fraud case that led to four employees pleading guilty or being convicted. (KFF Health News)
Quote: “A small measles outbreak could be the start of a public health catastrophe that is completely preventable.”—Alok Patel, a pediatrician at Stanford Children’s Health, on why he worries about the current US measles outbreak (ABC News)
U.S. stocks plummeted on Friday on poor economic news. Consumer confidence weakened to the lowest level since November 2023, even as long-run inflation expectations rose to the highest since 1995. The services purchasing managers’ index fell into contractionary territory and January home sales contracted by more than expected.
The Dow Jones Industrial Index plunged by 724 points, or 1.6%, as of 3:30 p.m., the S&P 500 slid 1.6% and the NASDAQ Composite index fell about 2.1%. Adding to the negative sentiment: UnitedHealth fell almost 7% on news of a Justice Department investigation.
Posted on February 21, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell roughly 450 points, or around 1%. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) dropped 0.5%, pulling back after its second record close in a row on Wednesday, while the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) also lost about 0.5%.
Worries grew about coming headwinds for corporate America after Walmart beat on quarterly profit but issued cautious 2026 fiscal year guidance. Shares of the retail giant tumbled more than 6%. Walmart’s decline combined with more roughly 4% drops in Goldman Sachs (GS) and JPMorgan (JPM) weighed on the Dow.
Posted on February 19, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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US stocks were mixed on Tuesday to begin a holiday-shortened week of trading, with potential policy moves by the Federal Reserve and President Donald Trump in focus.
The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose nearly 0.2%, with most of the games coming in the final 10 minutes of trading, to hit a fresh record close of 6,129.58. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) and NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) finished barely in the green.
Stocks on Wall Street were largely cautious after Monday’s closure for Presidents Day as investors debate the future path of interest rates. Fed officials over the long weekend signaled a firm belief that rates should stay at current levels to combat rising inflation.
Treasury yields stepped higher as investors sought more clues to the chances of rate cuts this year, given recent data failed to give a clear steer. The benchmark 10-year yield (^TNX) rose to trade around 4.54%.
Posted on February 14, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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US stocks moved higher on Thursday after President Donald Trump said he plans to introduce reciprocal tariffs as soon as April, while investors digested another report that suggested inflation is once again heating up.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) added more than 0.6%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) put on 0.7% after closing lower on Wednesday. The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) rose more than 1% as Nvidia (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA) gained.
Posted on February 13, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Consumer prices overall increased 3% from a year earlier, up from 2.9% the previous month, according to the Labor Department’s consumer price index, a measure of goods and service costs across the U.S. That’s the most since June and above the 2.9% expected by economists surveyed by Bloomberg.
Most U.S. stocks fell Wednesday after a report showed inflation is unexpectedly worsening for Americans.
The S&P 500 dropped 0.3%, though it had been on track for a much worse loss of 1.1% at the start of trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 225 points, or 0.5%, while the NASDAQ composite edged higher by less than 0.1%
Posted on February 8, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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The U.S. added 143,000 jobs in January, fewer than economists expected, but the unemployment rate inched down to 4% from 4.1%, beating forecasts. Forecasters surveyed by Dow Jones had anticipated 169,000 payroll gains in January, after a surprisingly large 256,000 jump in December.
Last month, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Vanguard would pay more than $100 million to settle charges for misleading statements related to capital gains distributions and tax consequences for retail investors who held Vanguard Investor Target Retirement Funds in taxable accounts.
Major U.S. equities indexes moved lower to close out the trading week as the January jobs report showed slower-than-expected hiring but a down tick in the unemployment rate. Despite the slump in job additions, the overall resilience in the labor market could encourage the Federal Reserve to hold off on additional interest-rate cuts. The S&P 500 and the Dow ended Friday’s session with daily losses of roughly 1.0%. The tech-heavy NASDAQ fell 1.4%.
Most notable this month is the appointment of Tim Noel as the new CEO of UnitedHealthcare after former CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in New York City in December.
Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.
Posted on February 7, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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US stocks were mixed on Thursday in anticipation of Amazon’s (AMZN) quarterly results, as investors assessed the earnings season so far and eyed President Donald Trump’s fast-moving policy overhaul.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell 0.3%. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose more than 0.3%, and the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) popped 0.5% on the heels of two winning days in a row for the major gauges.
The tariff jitters that shook stocks earlier in the week may have eased, but markets are tracking incoming earnings for any company warnings. At the same time, tech- and chip-related results are being scrutinized for signals about the strength of AI demand.
Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.
Posted on February 6, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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One year after forming an alliance with pharmacy schools, Walgreens says it has taken steps to get more people interested in the profession and improve working conditions at the chain.
Walgreens announced the Deans Advisory Council last February, framing it as a collaboration with pharmacy schools to boost the number of students enrolling and address some of the broader issues in the industry, like burnout and declining reimbursements from pharmacy benefit managers.
US stocks recovered from losses on Wednesday to close higher on the day. Earnings from Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) and AMD (AMD) fell short, but Big Tech got a boost from a jump in Nvidia (NVDA) shares.
The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) rose 0.2%, while the benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) added 0.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) led the gains, rising 0.7%, or more than 300 points.
Posted on February 5, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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‘There are people with high I.Q.s who have fooled themselves on that one,’ Bill Gates the billionaire Microsoft co-founder told The New York Times. Gates’ comments come as Bitcoin has hit record highs in recent weeks, and the cryptocurrency industry as a whole has hailed the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House as a positive moment.
The President has said he will introduce policies supportive of digital currencies, and both him and his wife Melania launched their own meme coins last month. Cryptocurrency prices took a hit on Monday from the prospect of a trade war between the US and its trading partners, with some well-known digital assets seeing values fall more than 10 percent, AP News reported. However the notoriously volatile investment recovered later on Monday, with Bitcoin rebounding back above $100,000. Gates, who has a net worth of around $165 billion, has previously shared his skepticism around Bitcoin, and its volatility in particular.
US stocks closed higher on Tuesday, led by Big Tech, as investors assessed China’s instant retaliation to US President Donald Trump’s additional tariffs and the potential risks of a trade war.
Traders also took in fresh jobs data, with job openings declining more than expected in December. Investors are continuing to watch any signs of cooling in the labor market as the Federal Reserve debates future interest rate cuts in the face of sticky inflation.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) gained around 0.3%, while the benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose roughly 0.7%. The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) jumped nearly 1.4% to recoup some of Monday’s losses.
Beijing reacted swiftly on Tuesday to Trump’s additional 10% levies on Chinese imports going into effect at midnight. China slapped tariffs of 15% on US coal and liquified natural gas, starting Feb. 10, alongside 10% duties on imports of crude oil, farm equipment, and some autos.
Posted on February 4, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Just moments after he was appointed by President Donald Trump to be the new acting director of the Consumer Financial Protections Bureau, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent moved to halt the agency’s work investigating financial abuses and regulating deceptive banking practices impacting American consumers, according to a memo sent to employees and obtained by Scripps News.
This year is expected to be busy with healthcare mergers and acquisitions (M&A).Consulting company PwC reported that annual healthcare deals shot up 70% through November 15th compared to pre-Covid trends, and projected the trend will continue into 2025.
US stocks fell on Monday in reaction to the Trump administration’s scheduled tariff rollout against Canada and China, though the major averages pared heavier losses after President Donald Trump said the US would delay duties on Mexican imports by a month.
The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) closed down 1.2%, recouping a chunk of its earlier losses. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 (^GSPC) fell roughly 0.7%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell 0.3%.
Posted on February 1, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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US stocks lost ground on Friday after the White House said tariffs against Mexico, Canada, and China will take effect on Saturday, reigniting fears of a coming trade war with the nation’s closest trading partners. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president would impose 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 10% tariff on goods from China.
All three major gauges fell into the red Friday. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) lost 0.5% at the closing bell, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) shed 0.8%. The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) gave up 0.3%, reversing earlier gains.
The dramatic tariff news pushed aside more optimistic updates from earlier in the day, which had buoyed stocks. Solid earnings from Apple (AAPL) and an inflation reading that matched expectations lifted market sentiment for much of the day.
Finally, the S&P and the Nasdaq posted losses for the week of 1% and 1.6%, respectively. The Dow, meanwhile, recorded a weekly gain of 0.3%.
Posted on January 31, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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US stocks gained steam on Thursday afternoon as investors digested megacap tech earnings and waited for Apple (AAPL) results for more clues on prospects for Big Tech. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) gained 0.5%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose nearly 0.4%. The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) was up nearly 0.3%.
And, after the Federal Reserve stood pat on interest rates as expected, investors have turned to parsing earnings reports — and in particular, the first wave of results from the “Magnificent Seven” companies that have driven broader stock market gains.
Posted on January 30, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Over half the US population was affected by the Change Healthcare cyberattack last February, according to a statement from its parent company UnitedHealth Group. While United had told the federal government in October that 100 million people were hit by the attacks, an updated estimate on Monday put that number at 190 million.
The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) was down about 0.5%, retracing some of a bounce-back rally on Tuesday. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) was also down nearly 0.5%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) lost 0.3%. In its statement on Wednesday, the Federal Reserve notably removed language from its December statement indicating that it was making progress towards its goal of 2% inflation, stating simply: “Inflation remains somewhat elevated.” Fed Chair Jerome Powell pushed back on that notion, referring to the change as “language cleanup” rather than intending to send a signal. Markets bounced off their lows of the day on Powell’s comments.
Posted on January 29, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Bellwether Nvidia (NVDA) finished the day up nearly 9% after it shaved off a record $589 billion from its market cap on Monday.
Aided by Nvidia’s gains, the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) surged over 2%, coming off a closing loss of more than 3%. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose around 0.9%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) gained roughly 0.3%.
Posted on January 28, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Federal health agencies are canceled—well, their meetings are at least. In the days following his inauguration, President Donald Trump’s administration asked officials within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—which has a $1.7 trillion budget and includes the FDA, the CDC, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—to stop all external communication, according to an internal memo. This means no new health advisories, social media posts, or website posts.
“As the new administration considers its plan for managing the federal policy and public communications processes, it is important that the president’s appointees and designees have the opportunity to review and approve any regulations, guidance documents, and other public documents and communications (including social media),” the memo read. The pause began on Jan. 21st, and according to the memo, will remain in effect until Feb. 1st
The FTC’s second interim staff report on consolidated pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) found that the three largest of these middlemen—CVS Health’s Caremark Rx, Cigna Group’s Express Scripts, and UnitedHealth Group’s OptumRx—”marked up two specialty generic cancer drugs by thousands of percent and then paid their affiliated pharmacies hundreds of millions of dollars of dispensing revenue in excess of estimated acquisition costs for each drug annually.”
The NASDAQ tanked on Monday as a Chinese startup rattled faith in US leadership and profitability in AI, taking a hammer to Nvidia (NVDA), wiping out a record $589 billion in market value. The NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) sank more than 3%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) dropped nearly 1.5%. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI), which is less dependent tech stocks gained more than 0.6% as investors flocked to defensive sectors. Shares of Apple (AAPL) and software giant Salesforce (CRM) also bucked the tech rout.
Posted on January 27, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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The S&P 500 (^GSPC) just capped its best first four trading days under a new president since Ronald Reagan’s first week in 1985. And, the week ahead will bring investors a deluge of news that will put that rally to the test.
Earnings from more than 100 members of the S&P 500 — highlighted by results from tech heavyweights Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), and Tesla (TSLA) — are set for release, with Wednesday serving as the week’s busiest. Starbucks (SBUX), Exxon (XOM), and Chevron (CVX) are also set to report.
On this coming ednesday afternoon, the Federal Reserve will also announce its latest monetary policy decision, with the central bank expected to keep interest rates unchanged and investors focused on what Fed Chairman Jay Powell has to say about the balance of 2025.
Last week, the S&P 500, NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC), and Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) each rallied during a holiday-shortened four day trading week. Over the last five days, the S&P 500 and Dow have gained more than 2.8%; the tech index is leading gains over that period, rising more than 3.1%.
The FTC’s second interim staff report on consolidated pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) found that the three largest of these middlemen—CVS Health’s Caremark Rx, Cigna Group’s Express Scripts, and UnitedHealth Group’s OptumRx—”marked up two specialty generic cancer drugs by thousands of percent and then paid their affiliated pharmacies hundreds of millions of dollars of dispensing revenue in excess of estimated acquisition costs for each drug annually.”
People have been concerned about the future of Medicare for years. Now that Donald Trump has begun his second term in office, the question becomes: What will happen next?
According to the JAMA Network and ABC News, here are some predictions for what may come:
There will be greater price transparency: During his first term, Trump worked to make prices more transparent to both individuals and health care organizations. This may very well continue.
More emphasis on Medicare Advantage plans: Under Project 2025, it’s possible that Medicare Advantage plans will become the “default option for Medicare coverage.” This could lead to a privatization of the program.
Medicare’s future remains to be seen. For now, the best thing current and future retirees can do is keep an eye on their coverage options and costs.
Posted on January 18, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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WASHINGTON — The US Supreme Court on Friday delivered a blow to TikTok by upholding a law that could potentially lead to the video-sharing social media platform being banned in the United States. The justices in an unsigned opinion with no dissents rejected a free speech challenge filed by the company, meaning the law is set to go into effect on Sunday as planned. The bipartisan law requires China-based TikTok owner ByteDance to divest itself of the company by Sunday, the day before President-elect Donald Trump is to take office. If no sale takes place, the platform used by millions of Americans will in theory be banned.
Legendary short seller Nate Andersonannounced this week that he is shutting down his firm, Hindenburg Research, due to extreme job stress. With only 11 employees, Anderson took gargantuan swings at companies—and their billionaire leaders. Hindenburg published deeply researched reports about companies it believed were overvalued and rife with corruption. It got its big break when it shorted electric truck-maker Nikola in 2020, calling the company an “intricate fraud.” Regulators took note, and it led to three fraud convictions for Nikola founder Trevor Milton.
US stocks jumped on Friday amid a tech stock revival as investors assessed a week of key data and earnings reports alongside potential policy shifts under a Trump administration.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) gained 0.8% while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose 1%, coming off a losing day for the major gauges. The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) put on 1.5% as Nvidia (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA) shares nudged back into the green.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against Walgreens (WBA), one of the nation’s largest pharmacy chains, alleging widespread prescription drug practice violations. According to the DOJ, Walgreens improperly dispensed millions of prescriptions from August 2012 to the present day that either lacked “legitimate medical purpose” or were otherwise invalid.
Posted on January 17, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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The FTC’s second interim staff report on consolidated pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) found that the three largest of these middlemen—CVS Health’s Caremark Rx, Cigna Group’s Express Scripts, and UnitedHealth Group’s OptumRx—”marked up two specialty generic cancer drugs by thousands of percent and then paid their affiliated pharmacies hundreds of millions of dollars of dispensing revenue in excess of estimated acquisition costs for each drug annually.”
The S&P 500 fell 0.2%. The NASDAQ 100 lost 0.7%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.2%. A gauge of the “Magnificent Seven” megacaps slipped 1.9%. The Russell 2000 added 0.2%. The KBW Bank Index declined 0.2%.
The yield on 10-year Treasuries declined four basis points to 4.61%. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose 0.1%.
Posted on December 18, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Stat: 97%. That’s how many healthcare leaders think A.I. will become important in healthcare over the next five years.
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Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are once again under pressure from federal leaders. A group of Democratic and Republican congresspeople proposed legislation that would attempt to prevent pharmacies from also owning PBMs. The three largest PBMs—CVS Health’s Caremark, Cigna’s Express Scripts, and UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Rx—currently operate pharmacies and administer more than 80% of the prescriptions in the US, and officials have linked this practice to drug price increases.
US stocks fell across the board on Tuesday, with the Dow logging its biggest losing streak in 46 years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) finished the session down roughly 0.6%, registering its ninth straight day of losses. The last 9-day losing streak for the Dow was Feb. 1978. Prior to that, the index suffered an 11-day losing streak in 1974 and another in 1971.
The other major indexes dropped in tandem on Tuesday, with the benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) falling around 0.4% and the NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) losing about 0.3% after the tech-heavy index closed at a record high on Monday.
Posted on October 18, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Chip stocks recovered lost ground today thanks to a strong earnings report from TSMC (more on that below). Nvidia led the group higher, rising 0.89% to yet another new all-time high.
Blackstone rose 6.30% to a new record high after the world’s largest alternative asset manager reported an excellent quarter.
Expedia popped 4.75% after a report by the Financial Times revealed that Uber had explored an acquisition of the travel site. Expedia shareholders cheered the news, while Uber shares sank 2.45%.
Stocks Down
Robinhood fell 2.27% after announcing its new Legend trading platform geared specifically toward advanced traders.
Lucid Group plummeted 17.99% on the news that the EV automaker is offering over 262 million shares of its common stock in an attempt to raise funds.
CSX dropped 6.71% after missing both top- and bottom-line estimates last quarter thanks in no small part to hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Health insurance stocks took a beating today due to a not-great earnings report from ElevanceHealth (more on that below, too). Centene Corp. fell 9.09%, while Molina Healthcare tumbled 12.55%.
The S&P 500® index (SPX) slipped 1.00point (–0.02%) to 5,841.47; the $DJI added 161.35 points (0.37%) to 43,239.05; and the NASDAQ Composite®($COMP) rose 6.53 points (0.04%) to 18,373.61.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) climbed eight basis points to 4.1%.
The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) sank to 18.97 by late Thursday, a two-week low.
The average amount owed on “upside down” auto loans, in which the balance is more than the car is worth, hit a record high of $6,458 in the third quarter, according to Edmunds, a site that helps consumers research and buy cars
Posted on July 23, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Here’s where the major stock market benchmarks ended:
The Cboe Volatility Index® (VIX) fell sharply to 14.91.
The S&P 500® index (SPX) rose 59.41 points (1.1%) to 5,564.41; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) climbed 127.91 points (0.3%) to 40,415.44; the NASDAQ Composite®($COMP)jumped 280.63 points (1.6%) to 18,007.57.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) added two basis points to 4.26%.
Crowdstrike withered another 13.46% as the fallout from what’s being hailed as the largest IT outage in history continues to punish the stock.
Trump Media & Technology Group dipped 0.83% during the trading session after President Biden’s announcement that he’s dropping out of the presidential race.
Verizon sank 6.04% after whiffing on its earnings report, missing on revenue thanks to customers holding on to their old phones for longer.
Ryanair crumbled 15.41% following an earnings report that revealed the company’s earnings after taxes sank an eye-watering 46% last quarter.
Starbucks dropped 3.43% on a report by the Wall Street Journal late last week that activist investor Elliott Investment Management has taken a stake in the coffee chain.
The US House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Accountability is holding a hearing tomorrow, bringing in PBMs from around the US to testify on “their role in rising healthcare costs.” The hearing comes soon after an FTC report found PBMs to have an “outsized influence” on drug pricing.
The February cyberattack on a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary may have exposed the health data of one in three Americans, but the nation’s largest health insurance company by market cap and revenue returned to profitability in the second quarter, beating Wall Street expectations and reporting net income of $4.2 billion.
Posted on July 16, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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Though the accountant shortage is still a concern, a shortage of AI and tech skills might be a more pressing issue right now. That’s according to a pulse survey by consulting firm RGP and YouGov, which polled 213 US financial professionals at the director level and above this June.
Read: What do you do when you hit your insurance deductible? Some people throw parties. (the New York Times)
The S&P 500® index (SPX) rose 15.87 points (0.28%) to 5,631.22; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) climbed 210.82 points (0.53%) to 40,211.72, a new record-high close; the NASDAQ Composite® ($COMP) added 74.12 points (0.4%) to 18,472.57.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) gained four basis points to just below 4.23%.
The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) increased to 13.14, its highest close since June 24.
What’s up
Bitcoin-related stocks rose alongside the crypto rally today, with Coinbase up 11.39% and Microstrategy climbing 15.36%.
Gun manufacturersalways rise after a major shooting incident, and the assassination attempt on Donald Trump certainly meets that criteria. Sturm, Ruger & Company jumped 5.44%, and Smith & Wesson rose 11.38%.
AutoNation popped 2.01% on the news that it’s cutting $1.50 off of its EPS for the latest quarter due to the CDK cyberattack. Apparently getting ahead of the bad news is actually good news?
What’s down
Macy’s sank 11.76% after the department store’s board voted to end acquisition negotiations with activist investors Arkhouse and Brigade.
Burberry fell 16.08% after a poor quarterly report, a profit warning, and the ousting of its CEO.
AES plummeted 10.01% thanks to a storm cutting power to thousands of the utility company’s customers throughout Ohio.
SolarEdge Technologies dropped 15.36% after the company announced it will lay off 400 employees to improve profitability. Shares of solar competitors slumped in sympathy: First Solar fell 8.50%, Sunrun sank 8.95%, and Sunnova Energy fell 9.96%.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) frequently sets its sights on healthcare, which has previously included efforts to crack down on data privacy and ban noncompetes in contracts. Lately, the agency has turned its attention to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—the groups that negotiate drug prices between insurers and pharmaceutical manufacturers—to shed light on how they impact the healthcare industry.
Posted on July 11, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants
“Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily“
A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.
A day before the June CPI report, major indexes extended their rally amid growing demand for semiconductors and rate cut hopes.
The S&P 500 rose above 5,600 for the first time ever, only a few short days after breaking above 5,500, with the index hitting a new record for the last seven straight trading sessions. The NASDAQ also enjoyed a solid day as well thanks to strong performances by tech stocks, while even the Dow got in on the action and ended the session in the green.
Bond yields stayed almost right where they’ve been all week as investors hold their breath ahead of tomorrow’s key CPI reading.
Gold rose as investors hope for a strong CPI report to point the Fed toward more rate cuts, while oil rose as well thanks to a stronger-than-expected outlook on global demand from OPEC.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in June it would recalculate 2024 Medicare Advantage (MA) star ratings for all plans after two court rulings called into question the agency’s method for determining this year’s ratings. The decision is estimated to cost the federal agency roughly $1 billion in additional bonus payments for insurers, according to healthcare analytics firm Cotiviti. The move comes after several large insurers laid off employees in late 2023 after their star ratings decreased.
HIPAA: Some groups are disputing a proposed federal rule that would require hospitals to report cybersecurity incidents, saying they want it to also include insurers and third-party vendors. (Healthcare Dive)
Taiwan Semiconductor rose 3.54% after it reported that its June revenue fell 10% month over month, but its sales rose roughly 33% year over year.
Advanced Micro Devices popped 3.87% on the news it is acquiring Silo AI, the largest private artificial intelligence lab in Europe, for $665 million.
Carvana drove 4.21% higher after Needham analysts upgraded the stock from “hold” to “buy” due in part to new features at checkout highlighting EVs. Competitor CarMax jumped 6.42% in sympathy.
Aehr Test Systems rocketed 24.01% after the semiconductor testing equipment maker raised earnings guidance thanks to strong AI demand.
Smart Global Holdings rose 26.27% thanks to earnings that beat Wall Street expectations in the third quarter and a strong outlook for the rest of the year.
What’s down
LegalZoom plummeted 25.35% to a new all-time low after the company cut its outlook and its CEO stepped down.
HubSpot sank 12.24% on a report that Alphabet is no longer interested in acquiring the company.
Deckers Outdoor fell 4.86% after M Science analysts published a note cautioning that sales for key brands UGG and HOKA fell in June.
Ziff Davis fell 10.32% after the digital media company tried to get ahead of the bad news and pre-announced that second-quarter earnings will fall below analyst expectations.
Fast-casual restaurant stocks continued to sink today as investors grow more concerned about lower consumer spending and higher valuations. CAVA Group fell 5.47%, Sweetgreen dropped 1.72%, and Dutch Bros fell 4.34%.
In a scathing report, the Federal Trade Commission accused [PBMs] pharmacy benefit managers—the companies that act as go-betweens for drug makers and consumers—of jacking up drug prices
Posted on July 6, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants
“Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily“
A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.
As home hospital programs continue to grow—employment in the home health industry is projected to increase by nearly 30% by 2029—so does the concern that home healthcare professionals are increasingly vulnerable to assault and harassment.
The S&P 500 index® (SPX)rose 30.17 points (0.54%) to 5,567.19; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) rose 67.87 points (0.17%) to 39,375.87; the NASDAQ Composite® ($COMP) climbed 164.46 points (0.9%) to 18,352.76.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) dropped nearly seven basis points to just below 4.28%.
The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) increased slightly to 12.45.
What’s up
Meta Platforms rose 5.88% a day after CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted a video of himself wearing a tux, holding an American flag and a beer, and wakeboarding. Shareholders apparently approve of such an absolute stud running the company.
Koss Corp. rose another 25.68% as the latest meme stock continues to rally for no reason at all.
Macy’s popped 9.48% after bidders looking to acquire the beleaguered retailer raised their offer from $6.6 billion to $6.9 billion.
Southwest sank 5.67% on the first full trading day after the company adopted a “poison pill” to fend off activist investor Elliott Management.
Budget airline companies took a blow after a Raymond James analyst downgraded the industry due to a “clear as mud” outlook for the third quarter. Frontier Group fell 6.79%, while Spirit Airlines dropped 8.70%.
Crypto-related stocks tumbled after bitcoin fell below $54,000 at one point today, though they recovered alongside the cryptocurrency later in the trading session. Coinbase Global fell 0.56%, Robinhood Markets dropped 0.98%, and MicroStrategy fell 1.56%.
Posted on April 18, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants
“Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily“
A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.
Pharmacy Benefits Managers often need more transparency regarding their pricing structures and the rebates they negotiate with drug manufacturers. Some argue that PBMs might receive hidden fees or undisclosed profits from drug manufacturers in exchange for favorable positioning on their formularies (lists of covered medications). This can be seen as a form of kickback, which is illegal.
Lawmakers Express Fury Toward UnitedHealth in Change Attack Hearing on the fallout surrounding the unprecedented cyberattack on Change Healthcare in late February. Individuals representing the American Hospital Association, private cybersecurity groups and providers testified before members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on April 16th to discuss the healthcare industry’s response to the attack and how the federal government should act.
In March, the cyber criminal organization received $22 million in bitcoins, though UnitedHealth Group has not addressed whether the company paid the ransom. On April 15th, ransomware group RansomHub posted files on its dark web leak site comprising of personal and protected health information on patients whose data was taken in the hack. The files also include contracts and agreements between Change and its clients, marking the first time hackers have posted data from the attack.
Stocks started the day strong yesterday but ended up slumping before the market closed as investors pulled back on tech stocks, including Nvidia. United Airlines took off after releasing a strong forecast for the year despite saying it took a $200 million hit because of Boeing’s troubles.
Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 index lost 29.20 points (0.6%) to 5,022.21; the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 45.66 points (0.1%) to 37,753.31; the NASDAQ Composite dropped 181.88 points (1.2%) to 15,683.37.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) decreased more than 7 basis points to 4.585%.
The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) fell 0.20 to 18.20.
ASML’s slump helped send the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) down 3.3% to its lowest level since late February. Transportation shares were also under pressure after trucking company J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) dropped 8.1% in the wake of disappointing quarterly numbers. Energy shares slipped as WTI Crude Oil (/CL) futures fell 3% to a three-week low.
Posted on March 28, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Independent pharmacies have struggled in recent years to stay open—and new financial constraints may mean a record number of pharmacy closures in 2024. And, nearly a third of independent pharmacies are at risk of going out of business due in part to a new rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that results in lower prescription reimbursements, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), a trade group that represents more than 19,400 US pharmacies.
“This is an emergency,” NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey said in a statement. “If Congress fails to act again, thousands of local pharmacies could be closed within months and millions of patients could be stranded without a pharmacy.” The CMS rule, which went into effect on January 1st, requires payers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to apply what’s called direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees at the time a patient picks up a prescription.
The S&P 500 index added 44.91 points (0.9%) to 5,248.49; the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 477.75 points (1.2%) to 39,760.08; the NASDAQ Composite added 83.82 points (0.5%) to 16,399.52.
The 10-year Treasury note yield fell four basis points to just under 4.2%.
The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) dropped 0.48 to 12.76.
In addition to utility stocks, real estate, industrials, and materials were the strongest sectors. Information technology and communications were the weakest but found late-day strength to finish higher.
Posted on August 10, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drug Company has been on a partnering spree lately, and its latest collaborator is Scripta Insights, a digital health company that helps health plans and members find prescription savings.
Scripta plans to incorporate Cost Plus Drugs’s discounted pricing into its Med Mapper, which “maps every drug on the market to every possible way to save,” according to Scripta.
Palantir stock fell 11% to $15.25 yesterday, its biggest drop since November 2022. With that decline, shares are now below their 50-day moving average, at $16.16, for the first time May. It’s broken its uptrend line, which sat around $17, and its first level of support, near $16. Worse still, the stock has fallen for six straight days and is 22% during its losing streak, the worst six-day stretch since May 2022.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 31.67 points (0.7%) at 4,467.71; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 191.13 points (0.5%) at 35,123.36; the NASDAQ Composite was down 162.31 points (1.2%) at 13,722.02.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 2 basis points at 4.004%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was little changed at 15.99.
Financial shares joined tech stocks in the laggard column Wednesday. The KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) was down about 1%, while the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) dropped about 1.4%. Energy stocks continued to outperform as crude oil futures gained nearly 2% and touched a nine-month high near $85 a barrel.
Oil’s recent rally reflects production cuts by top global producers and concern over supply disruptions stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war.