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DAILY UPDATE: Healthcare Monopolies, Ark Invest and the Stock Markets Mega Rally

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

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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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More people are interested in determining their “heart age” using new tests and tech tools, but some skeptics say it’s not a healthy data point to focus on. (the Wall Street Journal)

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The Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest just made some significant trades. The most prominent among them were the increased stakes in Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:PLTR) and the reduced holdings in Coinbase Global Inc (NASDAQ: COIN).

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index rose 61.47 points (1.2%) to 5,308.15; the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 349.89 points (0.9%) to 39,908.00; the NASDAQ Composite rallied 231.21 points (1.4%) to 16,742.39.
The 10-year Treasury note yield fell almost 10 basis points to 4.348%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) dropped 0.97 to 12.45.

Chipmaker shares led the way higher Wednesday, lifting the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) almost 3% to a 10-week high. Interest-rate-sensitive sectors like real estate and utilities were also strong. The small-cap Russell 2000^® Index (RUT) advanced 1.1% to a seven-week high. The U.S. Dollar Index ($DXY) slumped to its weakest level in five weeks, reflecting expectations for lower interest rates that may reduce the appeal of U.S. fixed income assets.

Among companies, Cisco Systems (CSC) surged 1.5% ahead of its quarterly results expected after Wednesday’s close. Dow member Walmart (WMT) is expected to release results Thursday morning as the unofficial retail earnings season accelerates.

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And … The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it has established a new task force to take on healthcare monopolies and collusion. The task force, made up of prosecutors, economists, healthcare industry experts and others, will guide the division’s enforcement strategy and policy approach in healthcare, including by facilitating policy advocacy, investigations and, where warranted, civil and criminal enforcement in healthcare markets.

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DAILY UPDATE: FQHCs Down and Healthcare Bankruptcies Up as the Markets Extend Gains

Posted on May 7, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

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Low-income communities often struggle to access healthcare services, but a new analysis of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs)—which provide quality care to patients regardless of ability to pay—has helped nail down one reason. When it comes to screening for certain cancers, these nonprofit community health centers have fallen far behind the national average, according to a study led by cancer center researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson and the University of New Mexico.

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Healthcare bankruptcies surged in 2023, and it turns out many of the companies that went under had one thing in common: private equity (PE) ownership. At least 21% of the 80 healthcare companies that filed for bankruptcy last year were PE-owned, according to a report from the nonprofit Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP).

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Warren Buffett on contemplated his own mortality at Berkshire’s meeting. Succession was the topic du jour at the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting in Omaha last week. After his longtime business partner Charlie Munger died last year at 99, CEO Warren Buffett—who turns 94 in August—revealed his heir apparent, Greg Abel, will have the final say on investment decisions in his absence. Buffett ended his Q&A portion with the quip, “I not only hope you come next year. I hope I come next year.” Adding to the ominous vibes, Buffett said AI is a genie that “scares the hell out of me.”

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index climbed 52.95 points (1.0%) to 5,180.74; the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 176.59 points (0.5%) to 38,852.27; the NASDAQ Composite advanced 192.92 points (1.2%) to 16,349.25.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell about 1 basis point to 4.491%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) was little changed at 13.48.

Semiconductors were among the strongest performers Monday behind Micron Technology (MU), whose shares rallied 4.7% after Robert W. Baird upgraded the chipmaker to “outperform” from “neutral.” Micron Technology was the top gainer in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX), which advanced 2.2% to near a four-week high.

Small-cap stocks also got out of the gate strong this week. The Russell 2000^® Index (RUT) gained 1.2% to end at a four-week high but is still up just 1.7% for the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 8.6%.

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DAILY UPDATE: The CHIPS and Science Act & the FOMC as Stocks Edge Higher

Posted on April 30, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

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It’ll be a big week for hot takes on the US economy, after the Federal Reserve meeting Tuesday and Wednesday and the April jobs report dropping Friday. Because inflation has been sticking around, the FOMC is expected to hold interest rates steady at this meeting and for the foreseeable future. On the jobs front, economists are projecting another strong month for employment growth.

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In 2022, with bipartisan support, Congress passed the CHIPS and Science Act, an ambitious plan to juice domestic manufacturing of a product vital to national security: semiconductors. Two years later, the government has doled out more than half of the CHIPS Act’s $39 billion in incentives. According to the Financial Times …

Chip companies and their suppliers have announced US investments of $327 billion over the next 10 years, per the Semiconductor Industry Association.
Construction of manufacturing facilities for computing and electronics devices has jumped 15x, government data shows.
By 2030, the US will likely produce around 20% of the world’s most advanced chips, according to USCommerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Right now, it’s making 0%.

The proposed factories are massive and could transform regional economies. Micron, which received $6.1 billion in federal grants last week, plans to invest $100 billion in a manufacturing campus near Syracuse.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500^® index (SPX) rose 16.21 points (0.3%) to 5,116.17, its highest close in over two weeks; the Dow Jones Industrial Average^® ($DJI) gained 146.43 points (0.4%) to 38,386.09, the NASDAQ Composite^® ($COMP) advanced 55.18 points (0.4%) to 15,983.08.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell more than 5 basis points to 4.616%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) declined 0.36 to 14.67.

Communication services shares were among the market’s weakest performers Monday, reversing last Friday’s upswing as Alphabet (GOOGL) dropped more than 3% and Meta Platforms (META) lost 2.4%. Banks and retailers were also soft. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) climbed for the sixth-straight day and ended near a three-week high even though its biggest member, Nvidia (NVDA), ended little changed.

In other markets, the U.S. Dollar Index ($DXY) faded from early gains but is still up about 1% in April, driven by expectations domestic rates will remain high. “The U.S. dollar’s strength continues to reflect the relative strength of the economy and the wide interest rate differentials between the United States and other major developed markets,” Schwab Center for Financial Research analysts said in a report.

Despite last week’s strength, the S&P 500 index and the NASAQ Composite are still down 2.6% and 2.4%, respectively, for April and on track to break five-month winning streaks.

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Humana expects to exit Medicare Advantage (MA) markets in 2025, company executives told investors. The company reported its first quarter earnings April 24th. Humana posted $741 million in net income in the first quarter of 2024, beating investor expectations, but pulled its 2025 earnings guidance.

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DAILY UPDATE: Nike Lay-Offs & Retirement “Rule of 55” as Stock Markets Zoom Upward

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

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Stat: 740. That’s how many employees Nike will lay off at its Oregon HQ before the end of June. In February, Nike CEO John Donahoe informed employees of the company’s plan to reduce 2% of its workforce, which would mean around 1,600 employees in total. (USA Today)

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Let’s say you leave your job at any time during or after the calendar year you turn 55 (or age 50 if you’re a public safety employee with a government defined-benefit plan). Under a little-known separation-of-service provision, often referred to as the “rule of 55,” you may be able take distributions (though some plans may allow only one lump-sum withdrawal) from your 401(k), 403(b), or other qualified retirement plan free of the usual 10% early-withdrawal penalties. However, be aware that you’ll still owe ordinary income taxes on the amount distributed. This exception applies only to the plan (including any consolidated accounts) that you were contributing to when you separated from service. It does not extend to IRAs.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index rose 59.95 points (1.2%) to 5,070.55; the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 263.71 points (0.7%) to 38,503.69; the NASDAQ Composite^® ($COMP) surged 245.33 points (1.6%) to 15,696.64.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) decreased about 2 basis points to 4.602%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) fell 1.25 to 15.69.

Similar to Monday, chipmakers were among the market’s strongest areas, carrying the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) to a 2.2% advance. Retailers and communication services shares were also strong. The Dow Jones Utility Index ($DJU) gained for the fifth straight day and ended at its highest level in over three months. The Russell 2000^® Index (RUT) surged nearly 2%.

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DAILY UPDATE: The CPI, Korion Health and the Stock Markets Rebound

Posted on April 23, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

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Happy Shakespeare Day

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The March Consumer Price Index, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics released last week, revealed that core inflation hit 3.8% Year over Year in March, rising for the first time in 12 months. That’s moving in the wrong direction for the Fed, whose goal is to bring inflation down to 2%.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index rose 43.37 points (0.9%) to 5,010.60; the Dow Jones Industrial Average^® ($DJI) gained 253.58 points (0.7%) to 38,239.98; the NASDAQ Composite advanced 169.30 points (1.1%) to 15,451.31.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little changed at 4.617%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) fell 1.41 to 16.39.

Chipmaker strength lifted the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) up 1.7% Monday, partially reclaiming last week’s 9.2% tumble. Banking shares were also among the strongest sectors, while the Russell 2000^® Index (RUT) advanced 1%. WTI crude futures earlier dropped to just a few cents above $82 per barrel, the lowest intraday price since late March.

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“Telemedicine has a lot of potential to bridge barriers and make it convenient for people to access healthcare. But it’s limited by lack of tools. Your doctor can’t reach through the computer screen.”—Akshaya Anand, co-founder of Korion Health, on the startup’s efforts to create an electronic stethoscope for clinicians to record heart and lung movement (Maryland Today)

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DAILY UPDATE: BoA “De-Banks”, Hospitals Merge and Walmart Health Grows as the NASDAQ Dives

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

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A group of 15 financial officers representing 13 states issued a warning to Bank of America over its alleged practices of “politicized de-banking” targeting conservatives. In a letter to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, the officials said the bank’s practices threaten its own financial health and reputation with customers while simultaneously harming the U.S. economy and Americans’ civil liberties. They pointed to examples of Bank of America shuttering the accounts belonging to Christian groups and leaders and joining a net-zero climate alliance in addition to its poor viewpoint diversity rating.

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Texas and Missouri will soon have about two dozen Walmart health centers, the retail giant announced this month, adding to its 50-site roster. The company plans to open eight clinics in the Houston metro area, 10 sites in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and four facilities in Kansas City by the end of 2024, Modern Healthcare reported.

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Hospitals reported the strongest quarter of mergers and acquisitions since 2020, according to consulting firm Kaufman Hall. Four of the 20 announced transactions in the first quarter of 2024 were “megamergers” and brought in $12 billion in revenue in that time period, per the firm’s analysis. The era of consolidation is here.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index fell 43.89 points (0.9%) to 4,967.23, down 3% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 211.02 points (0.6%) to 37,986.40, little changed for the week; the NASDAQ Composite lost 319.49 points (2.1%) to 15,282.01, down 5.5% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) dropped more than 2 basis points to 4.623%, still up about 10 basis points for the week.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) rose 0.71 to 18.71.

Nvidia (NVDA) plunged 10% to lead the chip sector lower, sending the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) down 4.1% to a two-and-a-half-month low. Communication Services shares were also among the weakest sectors, fueled by Netflix weakness. There were several pockets of strength, however. Banking shares posted firm gains Friday behind stronger-than-expected quarterly results from some regional lenders. Utilities also advanced.

The S&P 500 has fallen 5.5% from a record close March 28, more than halfway to the 10% threshold that’s traditionally viewed as a correction. The NASDAQ Composite is down 7.1% from a record close on April 11th.

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DAILY UPDATE: Stark Laws & 23andMe as Wall Street Pulls Back

Posted on April 19, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

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If the practice makes a reasonable effort to collect from a patient who is experiencing financial hardship (e.g., job loss due to COVID-19), providers may be able to offer a discount (e.g., settle for 70% of the amount owed) without violating Stark Law, says Reed Tinsley, CPA, healthcare consultant in Houston, Texas. “But remember that just because even if someone doesn’t have a job, they could still have money,” he adds. “There are a lot of people out there with big savings accounts.”

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Source: Lisa A. Eramo, MA, Keith A. Reynolds, Physicians Practice [4/3/24]

23andMe cofounder and CEO Anne Wojcicki wants to take the once-hot DNA company private. 23andMe said a Special Committee would evaluate the proposal in light of other options. The company’s valuation has tumbled since its stock market debut in 2021. The struggling DNA company once valued in the billions — was essentially worthless as of Wednesday.
But,shares soared Thursday less than three years after it began selling shares. Wojcicki told board members she is proposing to acquire the company in a potential go-private transaction, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index fell 11.09 points (0.2%) to 5,011.12; the Dow Jones Industrial Average^® ($DJI) rose 22.07 points (0.1%) to 37,775.38; the NASDAQ Composite lost 81.88 points (0.5%) to 15,601.50.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) gained almost 5 basis points to 4.633%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) dropped 0.22 to 17.99.

Weakness in chip maker shares pushed the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) down 1.7% to a two-month low. Biotechnology and consumer discretionary shares were also among the weakest sectors. Energy companies eroded as WTI Crude Oil (/CL) futures dropped for a third straight trading day and closed at a three-week low.

The S&P 500 is on track for its third consecutive weekly decline, its weakest stretch since September, while the NASDAQ Composite appears headed for a fourth straight weekly slide.

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DAILY UPDATE: PBM Pricing Structure and UnitedHealth Cyber Fury as Stock Markets Tumble

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Source: Jakob Emerson, Becker’s Hospital Review

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.

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DAILY UPDATE: Mike Burry MD, Private Equity in Health Systems, Drug Shortages, United Health Stock Sale and the Change Healthcare Hack as the Stock Markets Re-Collapse!

Posted on April 13, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST – TODAY’S NEWSLETTER BRIEFING

***

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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Medical colleague and our financial planning for physicians textbook contributor Michael Burry MD predicted a second inflation surge, and price growth re-accelerated in March,. 2024.
The “Big Short” investor first warned of inflation in April 2020, over two years before it peaked.
Burry expected a recession, rate cuts, and stimulus spending to reignite inflation.

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A growing number of drugs are in short supply around the U.S., according to pharmacists.

In the first three months of the year, there were 323 active medication shortages, surpassing the previous high of 320 shortages in 2014, according to a survey by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and Utah Drug Information Service. It also amounts to the most shortages since the trade group started keeping track in 2001. “All drug classes are vulnerable to shortages. Some of the most worrying shortages involve generic sterile injectable medications, including cancer chemotherapy drugs and emergency medications stored in hospital crash carts and procedural areas,” ASHP said in a statement.

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Scheduling an appointment with a primary care doctor who belongs to a large health system might cause an increase in health care spending, according to a recent study. Such physicians tend to make more referrals to specialists, and emergency room visits and hospitalizations sometimes increase, according to the research out of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

In short, physicians who work for health care systems like hospitals are more likely to recommend that patients use other services within those systems, compared with independent physicians. For the study — which was published in JAMA Health Forum, a journal of the American Medical Association — researchers analyzed the experiences of more than 4 million patients in Massachusetts.

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UnitedHealth Chairman Stephen Hemsley and other executives sold $102 million in company stock months before a federal antitrust probe became public, Bloomberg reported.

***

Small physician practices are still struggling in the wake of February’s Change Healthcare cyberattack, according to an American Medical Association (AMA) survey released Wednesday.

More than half of ~1,400 respondents (55%) reported that they’ve had to use personal funds to cover their practice’s expenses due to the cyberattack’s effects on cash flow. Practices across the country have been unable to fill prescriptions or process insurance claims as Change Healthcare systems went offline, Healthcare Brew previously reported. About two-thirds of respondents said they’ve experienced restrictions to core functions, such as suspending claim payments (36%), not being able to submit claims (32%), and not being able to obtain electronic remittance advice (39%), according to the survey.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index fell 75.65 points (1.5%) to 5,123.41, down 1.6% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Averagelost 475.84 points (1.2%) to 37,983.24, down 2.4% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite^® ($COMP) dropped 267.10 points (1.6%) to 16,175.09, down 0.5% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell more than 5 basis points to 4.52%, still up about 12 basis points for the week.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) rose 2.38 to 17.30.

Semiconductor shares were also among the weakest performers Friday as chip makers reversed Thursday’s sharp gains. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) dropped more than 3% and ended with its third straight weekly decline. Energy companies were also under pressure after crude oil prices retreated from the morning rally. Oil futures are still up 20% this year. The small-cap Russell 2000^® Index (RUT) lost 1.9% and posted a 2.9% drop for the week.

In other markets, the U.S. dollar index (DXY) strengthened to a five-month high and gained 1.7% this week, reflecting beliefs the hotter-than-expected inflation readings earlier this week will keep interest rates elevated. Volatility based on the VIX jumped to its highest level since late October.

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DAILY UPDATE: Costco Gold, CPI, US Stamps and the Mexican Peso as Technology Stocks Rise and Private Equity Takes on Medicine

Posted on April 12, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST – TODAY’S NEWSLETTER BRIEFING

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Costco started selling gold bars to its members last August, and Wells Fargo analysts believe that the product is now bringing in between $100 million and $200 million a month. The retailer doesn’t reveal the price of the 1-ounce bullion to nonmembers online, but it’s estimated to be ~2% above the spot price gold trades at, per CNBC—and that price has soared since Costco got into the gold game. The price of gold has gone up 13% this year and reached record highs as investors pile in amid inflation worries.

The big numbers from the Consumer Price Index data released on Thursday

In March, inflation rose 3.5% from the year before, up from 3.2% in February.
The “core” CPI reading, which excludes volatile food and fuel prices, came in even higher, rising 3.8% on an annual basis. That’s the same as in February, but this time it’s serious.
Half of the increases came from rising gas prices and housing.

After seeing inflation fall by 3% over the course of 2023, Fed officials believed that higher inflation readings in January and February 2024 represented a hiccup in an otherwise downward trajectory. However, with the March reading also coming in hotter than anticipated, analysts say this is more than a fluke. That means hopes for a June interest rate cut are dashed. Even the US Postal Service plans to raise the price of “forever” stamps to $0.73 in July. Get yours now. And the Mexican peso is on an absolute tear, leaving the US dollar behind.

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Here’s where the major stock benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500^® index (SPX) advanced 38.42 points (0.7%) to 5,199.06; the Dow Jones Industrial Average^® ($DJI) lost 2.43 points to 38,459.08; the NASDAQ Composite gained 271.84 points (1.7%) to 16,442.20.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose nearly 2 basis points to 4.578%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) fell 0.89 to 14.91.

Chip maker strength lifted the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) more than 2% and extended the benchmark’s year-to-date gain to more than 17%. Communications services and transportation shares were also among the strongest sectors. Financial shares were mixed ahead of expected quarterly results Friday from some major banks including JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Citigroup (C), and Wells Fargo (WFC).

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Big businesses such as hospital systems, insurers, and PE firms are gobbling up medical clinics.
Some doctors and industry experts fear corporate owners could prioritize profits ahead of patients.
The federal government is dialing up scrutiny of PE firms and other corporate owners in healthcare.

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QUESTION: Are Independent doctors almost a thing of the past?

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DAILY UPDATE: The “Lipstick Index” and Stock Market Crash

Posted on April 5, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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Ulta and other major beauty companies that thrived during the past few years of economic instability provided good fodder for the “lipstick index”—a duct-tape economic measure that assumes people still buy small indulgences (like lipstick) during tough times, keeping the beauty industry recession-proof.

However…it’s not. Ulta’s full-year sales growth target is just 4% to 5%, which falls below Wall Street’s estimates, and Estée Lauder announced in February it was laying off 3% to 5% of its workforce after some difficult months.

And, other consumer goods powerhouses are bracing for a slowdown, too. The parent company of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger said this week that it’s preparing for a 6% to 7% revenue drop this year.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS: “Lipstick Index” and “Cosmetic” Others?

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MORE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2023/09/23/economic-indicators-lipstick-index-and-cosmetic-others/

***

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index dropped 64.28 points (1.2%) to 5,147.21; the Dow Jones Industrial Average^® ($DJI) tumbled 530.16 points (1.4%) to 38,596.98; the NASDAQ Composite^® ($COMP) sank 228.38 points (1.4%) to 16,049.08.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell more than 5 basis points to 4.303.%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) surged 2.07 to 16.39.

Semiconductors were among Thursday’s weakest performers as a drop of more than 8% in Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) helped send the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) down 3% to a two-week low. Retail shares were also soft. WTI Crude Oil futures rose for the sixth consecutive day and topped $87 per barrel, marking a gain of 4.3% so far this week. Volatility based on the VIX ended at its highest level since early November. Brent Crude Oil (/BZ) futures, the global benchmark, topped $90 for the first time since October.

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DAILY UPDATE: The Ides of March as Stock Markets Slide

Posted on March 15, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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Stocks fell yesterday after another round of hotter-than-expected inflation data chilled investors. But it was a tremendous Thursday for sporting goods store Dick’s, as it soared 15% after posting its largest sales quarter in history in Q4, thanks in part to consumers buying more expensive items.

Here’s where the major stock benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index fell 14.83 points (0.3%) to 5,150.48; the Dow Jones Industrial Average^® ($DJI) declined 137.66 points (0.4%) to 38,905.66; the NASDAQ Composite shed 49.24 points (0.3%) to 16,128.53.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose about 10 basis points to 4.292%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) rose 0.65 to 14.40.

Technology shares remained under pressure, as a pullback in Nvidia (NVDA) and other chip makers sent the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) down almost 2% to its lowest close of the month. Nvidia fell 3.2% Thursday and has dropped nearly 10% from a record intraday high of $974 last Friday. Banks and small-cap stocks were also among the market’s weakest performers.

“Tech shares appear to be going through a corrective phase following last Friday’s key reversal day in Nvidia. The question remains whether a potential correction in tech will spill over into the broader market or whether money will rotate into other areas of the market.”

In other markets, WTI crude oil futures (/CL) extended this week’s rally with a gain of 1.7% and ended slightly above $81 per barrel, its highest level since early November. Oil’s strength has been driven by an unexpected drop in U.S. inventories and concerns over supply disruptions after Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries in Russia.

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DAILY UPDATE: Inflation Upticks as Big Pharma Blocks Medicare Price Negotiations and Stocks Soar with Nvidia and Oracle!

Posted on March 13, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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Big pharma sues over California drug price law

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Pharmaceutical companies have filed a slew of suits around the country to get federal judges to invalidate a government program aimed at lowering drug costs for seniors by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices, as is the norm in many other countries, according to the Washington Post. The companies argue it’s unconstitutional and would inhibit their ability to develop new treatments.

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The Federal Reserve is looking for steady, reliable signs that inflation is simmering down before it cuts interest rates this year. So far, 2024 has not delivered. Data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday showed prices rose 3.2 percent over last year, slightly outpacing forecasts of 3.1 percent. Prices also rose 0.4 percent in February over the previous month — in line with expectations, but still hotter than economists would like to discern.

Stocks swung up on Tuesday as investors shrugged off a middling inflation report and looked ahead to next week’s Fed meeting. Meanwhile, Oracle went sky-high, posting its best day since 2021 after demand for AI prompted a huge increase in sales for its cloud computing business.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500^® index (SPX) gained 57.33 points (1.1%) to 5,175.27; the Dow Jones Industrial Average^® ($DJI) added 235.83 points (0.6%) to 39,005.49; the NASDAQ Composite^® (COMP) climbed 246.36 points (1.5%) to 16,265.64.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose about 5 basis points to 4.155%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) fell 1.38 to 13.84.

Chip makers’ bounce-back helped boost the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) more than 2%, as it recovered part of a 5% drop the previous two trading days. Industry leader Nvidia (NVDA) jumped over 7%. Consumer discretionary and communications services shares were also among the strongest areas. Regional banks and real estate were among the weakest sectors as the CPI data spurred an upturn in Treasury yields.

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DAILY UPDATE: Boeing Down as Stocks End Mixed

Posted on March 12, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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Stocks were mixed yesterday as investors looked ahead to what today’s government inflation data will bring. Boeing took a dive and the stock is down 24% this year.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500^® index (SPX) fell 5.75 points (0.1%) to 5,117.94; the Dow Jones Industrial Average^® ($DJI) gained 46.97 points (0.1%) to 38,769.66; the NASDAQ Composite^® (COMP) declined 65.84 points (0.4%) to 16,019.27.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up almost 1 basis point to 4.096%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) rose 0.45 to 15.19.

Chip maker weakness sent the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) down 1.36% Monday following a 3.5% drop Friday, when the benchmark initially set a record intra-day high above 5,217. The index is still up 17% this year.

Other sectors outside of tech extended recent strength, including the Dow Jones Utility Index ($DJU), which gained for the fourth straight day and ended at its highest level since February 1. The S&P Energy Index ($SP500#10) reached its highest level since late October, while the S&P 500 Materials Index ($SP500#15) advanced over 1% to its highest post in nearly two years.

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DAILY UPDATE: UnitedHealth Group and Fidelity Investments Suffer Ransomware Attacks as Stock Markets Crash

Posted on March 6, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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According to Fidelity, in documents filed with the Maine attorney general’s office, miscreants “likely acquired” information about 28,268 people’s life insurance policies after infiltrating Infosys.

***

Criminals have probably stolen nearly 30,000 Fidelity Investments Life Insurance customers’ personal and financial information — including bank account and routing numbers, credit card numbers and security or access codes — after breaking into Infosys’ IT systems.

***

Healthcare providers across the United States are struggling to get paid following the week-long ransomware outage at a key tech unit of UnitedHealth Group, with some smaller medical providers saying they are already running low on cash.

And, the nation’s health-care system continues to reel from a cyberattack that has crippled payments for tens of thousands of organizations as Daniel Gilbert writes in The Post.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500^® index (SPX) dropped 52.30 points (1.0%) to 5,078.65; the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 404.64 points (1.0%) to 38,585.19; the NASDAQ Composite fell 267.92 points (1.7%) to 15,939.59.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell about 8 basis points to 4.137%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) rose 0.97 to 14.46.

With chip makers under pressure, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) fell 2.1%, reversing part of a recent surge to a record high. Consumer discretionary and real estate shares also ranked among the weakest performers Tuesday. Banks were one of the few industries to buck the broader weakness, perhaps supported by further declines in Treasury yields. The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) almost fell to a four-week low near 4.11%. The KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) jumped 4.3%.

In other markets, bitcoin plunged almost 10% after climbing earlier Tuesday to a record above $69,000. The cryptocurrency had rallied as much as 36% over the last week of February.

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DAILY UPDATE: Target of IRS Audits Up While Stock Markets are Down

Posted on March 5, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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Stat: 125,000+. That’s how many high-income people the IRS is targeting for not filing their taxes. The IRS started sending letters last week to folks with over $400,000 in income who haven’t filed between 2017 and 2022 (Journal of Accountancy)

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index fell 6.13 points (0.1%) to 5,130.95; the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 97.55 points (0.3%) to 38,989.83; the NASDAQ Composite declined 67.43 points (0.4%) to 16,207.51.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose about 4 basis points to 4.219%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) increased 0.38 to 13.49.

Ongoing strength in chip makers propelled a 1.1% advance in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX), which posted a record high for the third-straight trading day. Banks were also among the strongest performers. Small-cap shares eased, with the Russell 2000^® Index (RUT) ending with a marginal loss after rising earlier to a two-year high.

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DAILY UPDATE: Rare Disease Day Visibility, Rite Aid Down as Markets Rise Up

Posted on March 2, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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Welcome back to the Gregorian calendar. Along with being a leap day, yesterday was Rare Disease Day—bringing visibility to the 7,000 conditions that each affect fewer than 200,000 people in the US. Combined, around 10% of US residents have one, per the National Institute of Health.

***

Rite Aid is planning to close 77 stores in 2024 as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
That makes 431 stores that the drugstore chain has decided to close since October.
Rite Aid has been shrinking its store count for years, losing ground to rivals Walgreens and CVS.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index added 40.81 points (0.8%) to 5,137.08, up 0.95% for the week and its seventh weekly gain in the past eight; the Dow Jones Industrial Average^® (DJI) gained 90.99 points (0.2%) to 39,087.38, down 0.1% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite rose 183.02 points (1.1%) to 16,274.94, up 1.7% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield fell about 7 basis points to 4.182%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) dropped 0.29 to 13.11.

Chipmaker strength drove a 4.3% advance in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX), which ended at a record high. The NASDAQ-100^®(NDX), which includes the NASDAQ’s largest non-financial companies, also ended at a record high. Small-cap shares finished the week strong. The Russell 2000^® Index (RUT) rose 1.1% to settle at a 23-month high and notched a 3% gain for the week.

Banks were among the weakest performers as concerns over regional lenders flared up, underscored by another nosedive in shares of troubled New York Community Bancorp (NYCB).

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DAILY UPDATE: Inflation and “Bumble” Down as Stock Markets Rise and UHC Hackers ID’d

Posted on March 1, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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The Bumble dating app said this week that it plans to lay off 30% of its staff (about 350 employees) after a Q4 earnings report highlighted that profits are ghosting the company and Gen Z considers dating apps a turnoff. Bumble CEO Lidiane Jones, who took over in November when founder Whitney Wolfe Herd stepped down, said the cuts would save the company around $55 million. The company plans to invest in relaunching the app next quarter with new safety and AI features to entice all those looking for love.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index rose 26.51 points (0.5%) to 5,096.27, up 5.2% for the month; the Dow Jones Industrial Average^® (DJI) added 47.37 points (0.1%) to 38,996.39, up 2.2% for the month; the NASDAQ Composite gained 144.18 points (0.9%) to 16,091.92, up 6.1% for the month.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell about 3 basis points to 4.244%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) dropped 0.44 to 13.40.

Chipmaker shares were among the strongest performers Thursday, helping lift the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) 2.7% to a record high close. Banks and food and beverage industries were also firm. Small-cap stocks also extended a recent upswing. The Russell 2000^® Index (RUT) erased much of an initial surge to a 22-month high but still finished with a 0.7% advance, gaining 5.5% for the month.

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Hackers that allegedly caused the UnitedHealth Group cyberattack reportedly posted on the dark web that they stole personal data and the records of “millions” of patients.

In a now-deleted post, the Blackcat ransomware group – also known as ALPHV or Noberus – said it stole several terabytes of data from UnitedHealth, which includes medical insurance and health data, Reuters reported, citing screenshots of the post.

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DAILY UPDATE: Nvidia, and Pharmacy Cyber Security Attack as Stock Markets Roar Back!

Posted on February 23, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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Big tech companies are continuing to pour cash into artificial intelligence at a breakneck pace. And based Bion the earnings update Wednesday from Nvidia, much of it is going to that chip maker. “This last year, we’ve seen generative AI really becoming a whole new application space, a whole new way of doing computing,” Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s co-founder and chief executive, said Wednesday. “A whole new industry is being formed, and that’s driving our growth.”

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Pharmacies across the country are reporting delays to prescription orders due to a cyberattack against one of the nation’s largest health-care technology companies. Change Healthcare, a company handling orders and patient payments throughout the U.S., first noticed the “cyber security issue” affecting its networks Wednesday morning on the East Coast.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index rose 105.23 points (2.1%) to 5,087.03; the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 456.87 points (1.2%) to 39,069.11; the NASDAQ Composite rallied 460.75 points (3%) to 16,041.62.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little changed at 4.323%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) fell 0.84 to 14.50.

Nvidia sparked a 5% rally in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) and a 3% gain in the NASDQ-100^® (NDX), both of which ended at all-time highs. Consumer discretionary shares were also among the strongest sectors Thursday. The small-cap Russell 2000^® Index (RUT) rose 1% and halted a three-day slide.

According to Joe Mazzola, director of trading and education at Schwab, Nvidia had a “profound effect” at both the sector and index level, partly reflecting its market value, which is nearing $2 trillion. Nvidia is now the third largest company behind Microsoft (MSFT) and Apple (AAPL).

***

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DAILY UPDATE: Markets Mixed as Technology Stocks Remains Under Pressure

Posted on February 22, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500^® index (SPX) rose 6.29 points (0.1%) to 4,981.80; the Dow Jones Industrial Average^® (DJI) added 48.44 points (0.1%) to 38,612.24; the NASDAQ Composite dropped 49.91 points (0.3%) to 15,580.87.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose more than 4 basis points to 4.319%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) fell 0.05 to 15.37.

Chipmakers continue to be among the softest performers this week, which sent the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) lower for the fourth-straight day. Small caps also remained under pressure as the Russell 2000^® Index (RUT) declined 0.5%, its third-straight daily decline. Energy shares were among upside leaders with an assist from a jump of more than 1.3% in WTI crude oil (/CL)futures.

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DAILY UPDATE: Nvidia Stock Down as Markets Extend Losses

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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Stocks fell to start the week as investors awaited Nvidia’s big earnings report today. Recent earnings for tech companies in the so-called Magnificent Seven have been a mixed bag, but as a group, they have never been stronger. Meanwhile, Intuitive Machines’s stock zoomed as its pilot less spacecraft remained on track to touch down on the lunar surface Thursday.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500^® index (SPX) fell 30.06 points (0.6%) to 4,975.51; the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 64.19 points (0.2%) to 38,563.80; the NASDAQ Composite declined 144.87 points (0.9%) to 15,630.78.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell about 2 basis points to 4.275%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) rose 0.71 to 15.42.

Nvidia shares fell 4.4%, weakness that helped drag down shares of other chip makers and contributed to a drop of 1.6% in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX), which ended near a two-week low. Energy shares also took pressure as WTI crude oil futures (/CL) sank 1.6%. Small caps were also soft, as the Russell 2000^® Index (RUT) dropped 1.4%.

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DAILY UPDATE: MACRA Update, Crypto Restitution as the Markets Fade

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

HAPPY MARDI GRAS

By Staff Reporters

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In welcome news for physicians, a bipartisan group of senators will get to work on Medicare payment reform. The lawmakers plan to propose changes to the physician fee schedule and updates to the 2015 MACRA law.

***

Stat: $3+ billion. That’s how much restitution New York State Attorney General Letitia James is now seeking from Digital Currency Group, Genesis Global Capital, and Gemini, the crypto exchange run by the Winklevoss twins, for allegedly defrauding more than 230,000 investors, after initially suing in October (CNBC).

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index fell 4.77 points (0.1%) to 5,021.84; the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 125.69 points (0.3%) to 38,797.38; the NASDAQ Composite lost 48.12 points (0.3%) to 15,942.55.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) dropped more than 1 basis point to 4.173%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) rose 1.00 to 13.93.

Despite the mixed performance of large-cap stock indexes, several other market sectors got off to a strong start this week. Banking and retail were among the strongest performers, and the small-cap Russell 2000^® Index (RUT) surged 1.8% to end at its highest level since late December.

Tech shares erased early gains, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) fading to a 0.2% loss after earlier rising to a record intra-day high.

Peterson noted shares of many semiconductor companies are well into technically overbought territory, which often can lead to sharp pullbacks, though the timing of such a move is difficult to pinpoint. He cited unusually elevated Relative Strength Index (RSI) readings, at 90-plus, for two AI darlings: Arm Holdings (ARM) and Super Micro Computer (SMCI).

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DAILY UPDATE: S&P 500 Stocks Extend Rise!

Posted on February 10, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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The S&P 500 index closed above 5,000 for the first time ever, as investors reflected on robust company earnings and data showing inflation rose even less than was previously thought in December. One stock that wasn’t going places: Expedia, which fell after reporting earnings that took a hit from low airfares.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index rose 28.70 points (0.6%) to 5,026.61, up 1.4% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 54.64 points (0.1%) to 38,671.69, up 0.04% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite^® (COMP) surged 196.95 points (1.3%) to 15,990.66, up 2.3% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose less than 1 basis point to 4.175%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) rose 0.14 to 12.93.

Technology sector strength was highlighted by chip makers, as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) gained 2%. Regional banks also ended the week on a firm note after slumping in recent days, and small-cap stocks also firmed. The small-cap Russell 2000^® Index (RUT) jumped 1.5% Friday and ended the week with a gain of 2.4%, ending just below its high for the year.

In other markets, WTI crude oil (/CL) futures gained for the fifth straight day, completing a 7.2% gain for the week amid growing concern the Middle East conflict may disrupt supplies.

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DAILY UPDATE: Uber Profits with Extended Stock Market Gains

Posted on February 9, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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Stat: $1.43 billion. That’s Uber’s first full-year profit since 2018. And, it’s the first time the rides hare giant has shown a profit from its operations. The company has had $30 billion in operating losses since 2016. (the Wall Street Journal)

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Stocks ticked up, putting the S&P 500 over the 5,000-point milestone for the first time, as more strong company earnings poured in. And, Arm soared 48% after it surprised investors with record computer chip sales.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index added 2.85 points (0.1%) to 4,997.91, after briefly rising to 5,000.40, breaching the 5,000 level for the first time; the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 48.97 points (0.1%) to 38,726.33; the NASDAQ Composite climbed 37.07 points (0.2%) to 15,793.71.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose more than 5 basis points to 4.154%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) fell 0.04 to 12.79.

Semiconductor shares were among the strongest performers Thursday behind Arm Holdings (ARM), which soared 48% after the chip maker reported a better-than-expected quarter profit. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) gained 1.6%. Energy shares were also firm as WTI crude oil (/CL) futures surged 3.6% to a high for the month above $76 per barrel, reflecting growing concern the Middle East conflict may disrupt supplies.

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DAILY UPDATE: Evergrande and the FanDuel-Flutter as Stocks End Mixed Awaiting the FOMC

Posted on January 31, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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Embattled China Evergrande ordered to liquidate by Hong Kong court

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China Evergrande, which owes $300 billion, ordered to liquidate. Yesterday, a Hong Kong court ordered the debt-burdened real estate firm to wind up its business—though it’s not clear if mainland Chinese authorities will enforce it. As one of the largest developers to struggle with debt, the company, which defaulted in 2021, has become a symbol of the real estate bust in China, which has so many homes sitting vacant that an ex-official admitted even its population of 1.4 billion could not fill them. Now, investors around the world will be watching the liquidation process to see how foreign investors fare as a test of how China’s system treats international businesses.

FanDuel parent Flutter lists on New York Stock Exchange. Rob Gronkowski visited the NYSE trading floor yesterday to celebrate the kickoff of the company selling shares in New York, which—for now—is a secondary listing to the European company’s primary London Stock Exchange listing. The move steps up its competition with DraftKings. And with US sports betting booming thanks to legal changes, the FanDuel parent wants to go all in and is proposing making the NYSE its primary trading venue, which would be a blow to the London exchange.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500^® index (SPX) fell 2.96 points (0.1%) to 4,924.97; the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 133.86 points (0.4%) to 38,467.31; the NASDAQ Composite^® (COMP) lost 118.15 points (0.8%) to 15,509.90.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) tumbled about 3 basis points to 4.059%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) dropped 0.29 to 13.31.

Chipmaker shares were among the market’s weakest performers, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) sinking 1.6%. The small-cap Russell 2000^® Index (RUT) lost 0.8%, giving back part of Monday’s 1.7% gain. Energy and financial companies were among the strongest sectors.

***

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DAILY UPDATE: Drug Makers Rise, Reddit to IPO and Stock Markets Surge

Posted on January 20, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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Top 1000 Pharma Companies in 2020 - Pharma Excipients

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Drugmakers kicked off 2024 by raising the list prices for Ozempic, Mounjaro and dozens of other widely used medicines. Companies including Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, and Eli Lilly, which sells Mounjaro, raised list prices on 775 brand-name drugs during the first half of January 2024, according to an analysis for The Wall Street Journal by 46brooklyn Research, a nonprofit drug-pricing analytics group.

The drugmakers raised prices of their medicines by a median 4.5%, though the prices of some drugs rose by around 10% or higher, according to the research group. The median increase is higher than the rate of inflation, which ticked up to 3.4% in December.

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Reddit’s IPO is reportedly due in March. According to Reuters, the social media platform’s long-awaited initial public offering will launch by the end of March after it makes its public filing in late February. It’ll be the first big social media IPO since 2019, when Pinterest went public. All eyes will fall on Reddit’s own users, who are known to fuel meme stock rallies—namely AMC and GameStop—and could help prop up the company’s debut on the stock market. Valued at about $10 billion as of 2021, Reddit reportedly will sell 10% of its shares as it competes with TikTok and Facebook for attention and ad dollars.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index rose 58.87 points (1.2%) to 4,839.81, up 1.2% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 395.19 points (1.1%) to 37,863.80, up 0.7% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite^® (COMP) increased 255.32 points (1.7%) to a two-year high of 15,310.97, up 2.3% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell about 1 basis point to 4.132%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) fell 0.83 to 13.30.

Strength in Nvidia and other chipmakers like Advance Micro Devices (AMD), which surged 6%, lifted the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) 4% to a record high close. Regional banks were also among the market’s strongest performers, as the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) added nearly 2%. Food and beverage companies and utilities were among the weakest performers.

***

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DAILY UPDATE: Low Unemployment Claims, Medicare [Part C] Declines and Stock Market Rebound Gains

Posted on January 19, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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Statistic 187,000: That’s how many first time unemployment claims were filed last week, a surprise decline and the lowest since September 2022. The resilient labor market is continuing to chug along as companies continue to hold on to the workers they have.

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Managed-care companies are reporting that seniors on Medicare Advantage Part C plans used far more medical services than expected in the final months of 2023. The announcements have sparked two separate selloffs over the past week: The first came January 12th, when UnitedHealth Group announced its fourth-quarter earnings. The second came Thursday, after Humana laid out preliminary fourth-quarter results, and said the high utilization trends would have a material impact on its 2024 performance “if current trends continue.”

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In response, three largest sponsors of Medicare Advantage plans, UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, and Humana, have seen their shares fall 3.2%, 7.5%, and 14.3% so far this year, respectively, as of midday Thursday. The S&P 500 is down 0.6% over the same period, while Cigna Group—which is reportedly near a deal to sell its relatively small Medicare Advantage business—is up 1%.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index rose 41.73 points (0.9%) to 4,780.94; the Dow Jones Industrial Average^® (DJI) gained 201.94 points (0.5%) to 37,468.61; the NASDAQ Composite increased 200.03 points (1.4%) to 15,055.65.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose nearly 4 basis points to 4.142%.
The CBOE Volatility Index^® (VIX) fell 0.66 to 14.13.

Gains in Taiwan Semiconductor and its industry counterparts sent the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) up 3.4% to a three-week high. In a further illustration of tech sector strength, the Nasdaq-100^® (NXD), which includes the NASDAQ’s largest non-financial companies, rose 1.5% to a record closing high. Banking and utility shares were among the market’s weakest performers.

***

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DAILY UPDATE: Three Arrows Capital is Down as Stock Markets Rebound

Posted on December 22, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Almost $1 billion in assets belonging to the founders of cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital have been frozen by a British Virgin Islands court, according to the firm’s liquidator. The court issued an order preventing co-founders Su Zhu and Kyle Davies, as well as Davies’ wife Kelly Chen, from transferring or selling assets worth up to $1.14 billion, the liquidator Teneo said in an emailed statement, adding that it estimates creditors are owed roughly $3.3 billion.

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500^® index (SPX) was up 48.40 points (1.0%) at 4,746.75; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 322.35 points (0.9%) at 37,404.35; the NASDAQ Composite^®(COMP) was up 185.92 points (1.3%) at 14,963.87.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 1 basis point at 3.89%.
The CBOE^®Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.02 at 13.65, after earlier rising to 14.49.

Among market sectors, Micron Technology’s gain helped send the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) up 2.8%. Retail and transportation shares were also among the strongest performers.

The Russell 2000^® Index (RUT), which is largely small cap focused, rose 1.7% and is on track for a sixth consecutive weekly gain.

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DAILY UPDATE: Norton Healthcare Hacked – Pharma Chains Give Health Data to Police and the Stock Markets Climb

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Kentucky-based healthcare provider Norton Healthcare has confirmed that it has suffered a significant ransomware attack that may have put the data of millions of its patients at risk. In a filing to the Maine Attorney General on December 8th, the healthcare giant said that 2.5 million individuals had been affected by the breach.

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Meanwhile, the nation’s largest pharmacy chains have handed over Americans’ prescription records to police and government investigators without a warrant, a congressional investigation found, raising concerns about threats to medical privacy. Though some of the chains require their lawyers to review law enforcement requests, three of the largest — CVS Health, Kroger and Rite Aid, with a combined 60,000 locations nationwide — said they allow pharmacy staff members to hand over customers’ medical records in the store.

The policy was revealed in a letter sent to Xavier Becerra, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.).

HIPAA anyone?

***

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index was up 21.26 points (0.5%) at 4,643.70; the Dow Jones Industrial Average®(DJI) was up 173.01 points (0.5%) at 36,577.94; the NASDAQ Composite® (COMP) was up 100.91 points (0.7%) at 14,533.40.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 3 basis points at 4.206%.
The CBOE® Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.56 at 12.07.

Technology shares were among Tuesday’s strongest performers despite a 12% drop in Oracle (ORCL), which plunged after reporting lighter-than-expected quarterly revenue late Monday. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) posted its highest close since January 2022.

Financial shares were also firm. Energy shares were under pressure because WTI Crude Oil futures (/CL) extended a slump below $70 per barrel and settled at its lowest price since late June.

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

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DAILY UPDATE: Health Care, FOMC and the Tepid Markets

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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In healthcare, legislators could vote next week on a major health reform package that includes a ban on spread pricing in Medicaid and a push toward site-neutral payments.

In more news from the Hill, a bipartisan bill was introduced that seeks to cancel a 3.4% Medicare pay cut to docs, which has drawn plenty of ire from the industry.

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The final FOMC meeting of the year will take place this week, and like most work meetings in mid-December, not a whole lot is going to happen. Chair Jerome Powell is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged as inflation continues its descent to a 2% target. But 2024 planning is in full swing, and investors are desperate to learn when the Federal Reserve thinks it will need to cut rates next year.

***

Here is where the major stock index benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 index was up 18.07 points (0.4%) at 4,622.44; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) was up 157.06 points (0.4%) at 36,404.93; the NASDAQ Composite was up 28.51 points (0.2%) at 14,432.49.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little-changed at 4.239%.
The CBOE® Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.28 at 12.63.

In addition to retailers, semiconductor company shares also posted outsized gains Monday, boosted in part by a jump of nearly 10% in Broadcom (AVGO). The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) gained more than 3% and ended near a two-year high. Transportation companies were also strong.

In other markets, Natural Gas futures (/NG) plunged more than 6% to a six-month low, reflecting warmer-than-normal U.S. temperatures and excess supplies.

Finally, the so-called Magnificent Seven stocks of Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon.com, Nvidia, Tesla and Meta Platforms each fell at least 0.8%. Meta led the declines, dropping 2.2%. But only one out of 11 S&P 500 sectors fell. Even the information technology sub-index ticked higher, reflecting gains outside of the largest companies in the sector.

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DAILY UPDATE: Deflation Pending as Stock Markets Gain

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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After grappling with high inflation for more than two years, American consumers are now seeing an economic trend that many might only dimly remember: falling prices — but only on certain types of products.

Deflation is impacting so-called durable goods, or products that are meant to last more than three years, Wall Street Journal reporter David Harrison told CBS News. As Harrison noted in his reporting, durable goods have dropped on a year-over-year basis for five straight months and dropped 2.6% in October from their September 2022 peak.

These items are products such as used cars, furniture and appliances, which saw big run-ups in prices during the pandemic. Used cars in particular were a pain point for U.S. households, with pre-owned cars seeing their prices jump more than fifty percent in the first two years of the pandemic.

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was up 36.25 points (0.8%) at 4,585.59; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 62.95 points (0.2%) at 36,117.38; the NASDAQ Composite was up 193.28 points (1.4%) at 14,339.99.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 2 basis points at 4.144%.
The CBOE® Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.09 at 13.06.

Tech sector strength was highlighted by the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX), which gained nearly 3%. Financial shares were also among the strongest performers, as the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) rose 2% and ended at a four-month high. In other markets, WTI crude oil futures (/CL) posted the market’s first gain in six days after earlier dropping to its lowest level since late June.

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DAILY UPDATE: Stock Indexes Pull Back

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

By Staff Reporters

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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:

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

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

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

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DAILY UPDATE: Microsoft and Strong Technology Stock Market Gains

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

By Staff Reporters

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Stocks started the short trading week by ticking upward yesterday. Microsoft climbed to its highest in a year after appearing to be the winner in OpenAI’s Sam Altman drama.

Read: Recommendations on books, classes, and music from Bill Gates. (GatesNotes)

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Here is where the major US stock market benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was up 33.36 points (0.7%) at 4,547.38; the Dow Jones^® Industrial Average (DJI) was up 203.76 points (0.6%) at 35,151.04; the NASDAQ Composite® was up 159.05 points (1.1%) at 14,284.53.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 2 basis points at 4.42%.
CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) was down 0.39 at 13.41.

Strength in technology was illustrated by the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX), which jumped almost 2% and neared a four-month high. Communications services shares were also strong, as were energy companies, helped by a second-straight day of sharp gains in crude oil futures.

The small-cap focused Russell 2000 Index (RUT) rose 0.5% to a two-month high, following last week’s 5.4% rally that outpaced its large-cap counterparts.

And, Bayer’s stock had its worst day ever, dropping the company’s value by ~$8 billion, after a US jury ordered it to pay $1.56 billion over claims its Roundup weedkiller caused cancer and the company had to stop the trial for its top drug candidate because it wasn’t working.

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

Posted on November 11, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

Today is Veterans Day, when Americans honor all who have served our country in the armed forces. It’s celebrated on November 11th each year because on that morning in 1918 (at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month), the Allied nations and Germany signed an armistice that ended the fighting in World War I.

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Moody’s credit rating agency downgraded its outlook on the US government from ‘stable’ to ‘negative’, citing the risks to the nation’s fiscal strength and the political polarization in Congress. The agency has maintained the US’s current top-grade AAA rating, but has raised the possibility that it may be cut in the future. While the move does not automatically mean it will downgrade America’s creditworthiness, it increases the chances. Even the prospect of a US downgrade could hurt Americans’ investment portfolios, make it even more expensive for them to borrow money, and make it more costly for the government to pay off its debts.

These effects would likely be even more painful if Moody’s does eventually downgrade the US debt. The nation’s diminished fiscal strength, undone by extreme partisanship in Washington, was a key driver of the action, according to a statement from Moody’s.

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YET: Here is where the major benchmarks ended on Friday:

The S&P 500 Index was up 67.89 points (1.6%) at 4,415.24, up 1.3% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 391.16 points (1.2%) at 34,283.10, up 0.7% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was up 276.66 points (2.1%) at 13,798.11, up 2.4% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was down about 1 basis point at 4.622%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.11 at 14.20.

Nearly every market sector gained Friday, with semiconductors and other tech shares leading the pack. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) jumped more than 4% to its highest level in more than two months. Consumer discretionary and energy companies were also strong, the latter thanks to a nearly-2% gain in crude oil futures.

But small-caps continued to lag their bigger counterparts, with the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) rising 1.1% Friday, though it was still down 3.1% for the week.

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

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

By Staff Reporters

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October is Physical Therapy Month, a time to celebrate the contributions that physical therapists, their aides, and assistants make to the industry. There are more than 300 million annual physical therapy visits in the US, and the profession is estimated to be worth $46 billion, according to the American Physical Therapy Association. Make sure to take some time to appreciate any physical therapists in your life.

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The United Auto Workers union said it reached a tentative labor contract with Ford that, if ratified, would mark the biggest gains for unionized auto workers in decades. The deal includes a 25% pay bump over the four years of the contract, cost-of-living adjustments that had been previously suspended, and a quicker timeline for new workers to reach the highest wage ($40 an hour for assembly workers by the end of the contract).

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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was down 60.91 points (1.4%) at 4,186.77; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was down 105.45 points (0.3%) at 33,035.93; the NASDAQ Composite was down 318.65 points (2.4%) at 12,821.22.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was up about 11 basis points at 4.946%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 1.30 at 20.27.

Communication services and technology were among the market’s weakest sectors Wednesday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) dropping more than 4%. Small-cap stocks also remained under pressure, with the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) falling more than 1% to near a 13-month low.

Small-caps are often seen as being more sensitive to the domestic economic cycle because they tend to conduct most of their business in the United States. Utilities and consumer staples were among the few areas of strength.

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DAILY UPDATE: Retirement Catch-Up Contributions Delayed as Markets Go Down

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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The IRS recently announced some welcome news for higher-income workers with 401-k[s] and similar retirement plans. The agency delayed implementing a new rule that would have required catch-up contributions made by people earning over $145,000 to be directed into an after-tax Roth account.

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***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was down 0.43 point at 4,373.20; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 13.11 points at 33,997.65; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 34.24 points (0.3%) at 13,533.75.
The 10-year Treasury note yield was up about 13 basis points at 4.84%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.68 at 17.89.

Technology shares were among the market’s weakest performers Tuesday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) dropping more than 1%. Banks and retailers did better.

The KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) rose 2% to end near a four-week high. Small-cap stocks were also higher, with the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) gaining more than 1%.

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DAILY UPDATE: Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase are Up while the Markets are Down

Posted on October 14, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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Citigroup chief Jane Fraser has unveiled a plan to eliminate five layers of management in what is poised to become the bank’s largest restructuring in two decades, according to a presentation unveiled Friday. Since major reorganization changes were announced last month, Citigroup has scrapped its two core operating units — which had focused on institutional and consumer clients — and reorganized into five key business units including trading, banking, services, wealth management, and US consumer offerings. The stock price was up 3%.

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JPMorgan Chase’s third-quarter profit soared 35% from last year, fueled by a rapid rise in interest rates, but the bank’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, issued a sobering statement about the current state of world affairs and economic instability.

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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was down 21.83 points (0.5%) at 4,327.78, up 0.4% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was up 39.15 points (0.1%) at 33,670.29, up 0.8% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 166.98 points (1.2%) at 13,407.23, down 0.2% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 9 basis points at 4.623%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 2.63 at 19.32.

Technology shares were among the market’s weakest sectors Friday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) tumbling more than 2%. Regional banks and transportation were also lower.

The small-cap focused Russell 2000 Index (RUT) extended a recent slide and was down 1.5% for the week. Energy shares led sector gainers as WTI crude oil futures soared more than 5%, capping a gain of nearly 6% for the week, after reports the U.S. had tightened sanctions against Russian crude exports.

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DAILY UPDATE: Birkenstock IPO, Bond Yields and the Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

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

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

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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

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

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

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

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DAILY UPDATE: FOMC Rate Pauses the Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

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The Federal Reserve announced it was leaving its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a 22-year high on Wednesday but signaled it could hike rates again in its fight to bring down inflation. After a two-day meeting the Fed announced its federal funds rate would remain in a range of 5.25 to 5.5% – the same level as the central bank announced in July, when it last raised rates.

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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was down 41.75 points (0.9%) at 4,402.20; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 76.85 points (0.2%) at 34,440.88; the NASDAQ Composite was down 209.06 points (1.5%) at 13,469.13.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 3 basis points at 4.393%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 1.03 at 15.14, after touching a two-week high.

Communication services and technology were among the weakest sectors Wednesday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) falling to its lowest level since late May.

Regional banks were also lower, and energy stocks slipped after crude oil futures pulled back from a recent rally. Real estate and consumer staples posted modest gains. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) strengthened back toward a six-month high.

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DAILY UPDATE: Medicare B & D and the DOWN Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

Medicare Part B and D are likely increasing in 2024

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

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

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MORE Citations:

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

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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

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

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

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

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

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

By Staff Reporters

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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.

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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.

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DAILY UPDATE: UBS and the Markets

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

By Staff Reporters

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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.

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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.

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DAILY UPDATE: U.S. Markets Broadly Down with Best & Worst Performers

Posted on August 17, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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U.S. stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Consumer Goods, Technology and Oil&Gas sectors led shares lower.

At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.52%, while the S&P 500 index lost 0.76%, and the NASDAQ Composite index lost 1.15%.

The best performers of the session on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were The Travelers Companies Inc (NYSE:TRV), which rose 1.19% or 1.94 points to trade at 165.42 at the close. Meanwhile, Home Depot Inc (NYSE:HD) added 0.28% or 0.92 points to end at 333.06 and Merck&Company Inc (NYSE:MRK) was up 0.06% or 0.07 points to 108.73 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), which fell 3.57% or 1.24 points to trade at 33.53 at the close. Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:WBA) declined 1.43% or 0.41 points to end at 28.19 and Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT) was down 1.03% or 2.86 points to 274.51.

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***

Here is a recap where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was down 33.53 points (0.8%) at 4,404.33; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 180.65 points (0.5%) at 34,765.74; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 156.42 points (1.2%) at 13,474.63.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 5 basis points at 4.27%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.28 at 16.74.

Chipmakers remained weak, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) down nearly 2% to a 10-week low. Energy companies also slipped as crude oil futures extended a week-long slide by dropping under $80 a barrel to a three-week closing low. Utilities were among the few sectors posting gains.

The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) hit a six-week high on expectations U.S. rates will remain elevated.

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DAILY UPDATE: Ruble Down While U.S. Markets Up

Posted on August 15, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

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The Russian ruble traded at nearly 101 to the U.S. dollar on Monday for the first time it has fallen below the symbolic threshold since March last year.

The Russian ruble was near the 100 per USD level, holding at its lowest in 17 months despite the Central Bank of Russia’s announcement of an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday to support the currency amid its freefall. Economists expect the CBR to hike its rate by 150bps to 10%, extending the start of July’s tightening cycle. The ruble is 27% down against the dollar year-to-date amid a slowing economy, unbalanced currency flows, and capital flight from exiting foreign companies. The development of new supply chains since the start of Western sanctions boosted imports to Russia and maintained steady selling pressure on the ruble, with the latest trade surplus sinking by 75% from the prior year and 53% from levels before the war. In the meantime, the outlook on exports deteriorated as demand from key partners in China and India declined. The developments drove the CBR to halt forex purchases under the government’s budget rule to halt forex volatility.

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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was up 25.67 points (0.6%) at 4,489.72; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 26.23 points (0.1%) at 35,307.63; the NASDAQ Composite was up 143.48 points (1.1%) at 13,788.33.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 3 basis points at 4.193%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.04 at 14.80.

Chipmakers drove gains for the tech-heavy NASDAQ, as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) jumped 2.9% to erase its entire Friday drop.

Financial shares were among the weakest performers, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) down 1.8%. Oilfield services shares were also weak behind a drop of nearly 1% in crude oil futures.

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DAILY UPDATE: Mark Cuban’s “Cost Plus Drugs” Company, Palintir and the Markets

Posted on August 10, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

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.

Mark Cuban Launches Generic Drug Company

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.

MARK CUBAN’s: “Cost Plus Drugs”. com

***

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.

***

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.

***

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

***

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Experts Invited, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Healthcare Finance, Information Technology, Managed Care | Tagged: CBOE, cost plus drug company, DJIA, DOW, drug costs, drug prices, Mark Cuban, Med Mapper, NASDAQ, oil, Palantir, PBM, PBMs, S&P 500, Scripta, SOX, TNX, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: S&P, Tesla, Netflix and NASDAQ all Fall as Dow Rises

Posted on July 21, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

***

The S&P 500 and NASDAQ fell on Thursday, weighed down by drops in Tesla and Netflix following their quarterly results, but the Dow advanced for a ninth straight day thanks to gains in Johnson & Johnson following a strong annual forecast.

Here is where the major market benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was down 30.85 points (0.7%) at 4,534.87; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 163.97 points (0.5%) at 35,225.18; the NASDAQ Composite was down 294.71 points (2.1%) at 14,063.31.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 11 basis points at 3.846%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.22 at 13.98.

Consumer Discretionary stocks, which are considered to have greater exposure to recession than other companies, were among the weakest performers Thursday. Technology stocks also struggled, with the NASDAQ posting its lowest close since July 12th and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) tumbling over 3%.

Health care and utilities, generally considered more recession-proof, were the strongest performers.

***

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

***

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***

Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Investing | Tagged: CBOE, DJIA, DOW, health care, NASDAQ, Netflix, S&P 500, SOX, Tesla, TNX, Treasury yields, utilities, VIX | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Inflation Down – Wall Street Up on PPI

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

Producer Price Index

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended on Thursday

The S&P 500 Index was up 37.88 points (0.9%) at 4,510.04; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 47.71 points (0.1%) at 34,395.14; the NASDAQ Composite was up 219.61 points (1.6%) at 14,138.57.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 10 basis points at 3.763%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.04 at 13.58.

Technology shares were among the strongest performers Thursday, with the NASDAQ-100 Index (NDX) and Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) both climbing roughly 2% to 18-month highs. Communication Services and regional banks were also strong.

Oilfield services stocks gained on an extended rally in crude oil futures, which pushed above $77 a barrel near a three-month high. The U.S. dollar sank to its weakest point against the euro since February 2022 on expectations U.S. interest rates may have peaked.

***

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

***

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Experts Invited, Funding Basics, Investing | Tagged: CBOE, DJIA, DOW, inflation, inflation down, markets up, NASDAQ, oil, regional banks, S&P 500, SOX, VIX, Volatility Index, Wall Street, wall street up | 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

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

***

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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: Covid-19 Fraud Update as Markets Rise

Posted on June 28, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Over $200 billion from the U.S. government’s COVID-19 relief programs were likely stolen, a federal watchdog said on Tuesday, adding that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) had weakened its controls in a rush to disburse the funds.

At least 17% of all funds related to the government’s coronavirus Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) schemes were disbursed to potentially fraudulent actors, according to a report released Tuesday by the SBA’s office of inspector general. Over the course of the pandemic, the SBA disbursed about $1.2 trillion of EIDL and PPP funds.

The SBA disputed the more than $200 billion figure put forward by the watchdog and said the inspector general’s approach had significantly overestimated fraud.

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended, yesterday

The S&P 500 Index was up 49.59 points (1.2%) at 4,378.41; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 212.03 points (0.6%) at 33,926.74; the NASDAQ Composite was up 219.89 points (1.7%) at 13,555.67.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 5 basis points at 3.766%.
Cboe’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.50 at 13.75.

Technology stocks led sector gainers, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) rising nearly 4%. Consumer Discretionary and Retail shares were also higher. Energy shares lagged as crude oil futures dropped more than 2%.

***

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

***

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alerts Sign-Up, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Investing | Tagged: CBOE, covid, covid fraud, DJIA, DOW, EIDL, gold, NASDAQ, oil, PPP, PPP funds, real estate, S&P 500, SBA, SOX, Treasury yields, Volatility Index | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Markets Fall on Jerome Powell’s Testimony

Posted on June 22, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

By Staff Reporters

***

***

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

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

***

So, here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500 Index was down 23.02 points (0.5%) at 4,365.69; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 102.35 (0.3%) at 33,951.52; the NASDAQ Composite was down 165.10 (1.2%) at 13,502.20.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little changed at 3.727%.
Cboe’s Volatility Index (VIX) was was down 0.68 at 13.19.

Technology shares were among the weakest performers Wednesday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) dropping nearly 2% to near a two-week low. Regional banks were also lower.

Energy stocks led sector gainers as crude oil futures jumped nearly 2% to a two-week high on hopes for stronger demand from China. Volatility based on the VIX sank to its lowest level since January 2020.

***

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

***

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Accounting, Breaking News, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Investing, Op-Editorials | Tagged: CBOE, CBOE Volatility Index, central bank, DJIA, DOW, energy, fed, Federal Reserve, FOMC, Jerome Powell, NASDAQ, SOX, Treasury Yield, VIX | Leave a comment »

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