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Posted on September 3, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By A.I.
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Bonds: Treasury yields rose yesterday as investors dug into a Federal appeals court ruling last Friday stating that most of President Trump’s tariffs are illegal. The 30-year yield closed in on the key 5% level. Stocks: Equities tumbled across the board as technology stocks sold off and pulled the rest of the market down with them. Commodities: Gold hit a new record high as traders hedged against tariff uncertainty and braced themselves for an extremely important US jobs report on Friday that could make or break the case for the Fed to start cutting rates.
Posted on April 16, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants
“Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily“
A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.
Stocks started the day strong but the rally eventually fizzled out as reports of trade talks between the US and EU making “little progress” left all three major indexes in the red.
The dreaded death cross has arrived: The S&P 500’s 50-day moving average is now below the 200-day moving average for the first time since 2022, a bearish technical indicator that has investors worried.
10-year Treasury yields fell to a one-week low, letting traders breathe a small sigh of relief after tariffs upended the status quo last week.
Posted on February 26, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants
“Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily“
A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.
In great news for investors, a new study found that major healthcare companies have paid out $2.6 trillion to shareholders over the past 20 years in the form of dividends and share buybacks, and those payments are increasing. Bad news for patients: Some of that money could’ve been spent on, well, healthcare. The study, published Februrary 10th in JAMA, found that publicly traded S&P 500 healthcare companies paid shareholders a total of $170.2 billion in 2022, up 315% from payouts of just $54 billion in 2001.
The S&P 500 fell 0.5%. The NASDAQ 100 slid 1.2%. A gauge of the “Magnificent Seven” mega-caps sank 2.2%. Nvidia Corp.’s shares slid 2.8% on the eve of the company’s results, while Tesla slumped 8.4% to fall below $1 trillion in market value. The DJIA was up.
Posted on February 19, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants
“Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily“
A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.
US stocks were mixed on Tuesday to begin a holiday-shortened week of trading, with potential policy moves by the Federal Reserve and President Donald Trump in focus.
The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose nearly 0.2%, with most of the games coming in the final 10 minutes of trading, to hit a fresh record close of 6,129.58. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) and NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) finished barely in the green.
Stocks on Wall Street were largely cautious after Monday’s closure for Presidents Day as investors debate the future path of interest rates. Fed officials over the long weekend signaled a firm belief that rates should stay at current levels to combat rising inflation.
Treasury yields stepped higher as investors sought more clues to the chances of rate cuts this year, given recent data failed to give a clear steer. The benchmark 10-year yield (^TNX) rose to trade around 4.54%.
Posted on December 27, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants
“Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily“
A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.
Absent Congressional action, beginning January 1sy, 2025, the statutory limitations that were in place for Medicare telehealth services prior to the COVID-19 PHE will retake effect for most telehealth services.
This means most telehealth visits will not be covered by Medicare in 2025, unless Congress acts by the end of December 2024.
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(Reuters) -The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed fractionally higher on Thursday, stretching its winning streak to five sessions despite light trading volumes and rising U.S. Treasury yields weighing on some of the dominant technology megacaps.
While the NASDAQ Composite and the S&P 500 were broadly unchanged, the indexes both finished slightly in negative territory. This snapped the NASDAQ’s four-session run of higher closes, and ended the S&P 500’s own run at three sessions.
On a day of few catalysts, investors responded to yields on U.S. government bonds inching higher, including the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note hitting its highest since early May at 4.64% earlier in the session. And, a strong auction of seven-year notes early in the afternoon though helped yields come off slightly, with the 10-year note at 4.58% in late-afternoon trade.
Higher yields are traditionally seen as negative for growth stocks, as it raises the cost of their borrowing to fund expansion. With markets increasingly dominated by the megacap technology stocks known as the Magnificent Seven, crimping their performance – especially in lieu of other market catalysts – will put downward pressure on benchmark indexes.
The S&P 500 slipped 2.45 points, or 0.04%, to 6,037.59 points, while the NASDAQ Composite lost 10.77 points, or 0.05%, to 20,020.36. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 28.77 points, or 0.07%, to 43,325.80.
Six of the megacaps fell, with Tesla leading decliners with a 1.8% fall. The outlier was Apple, rising 0.3% and continuing to edge closer to becoming the first company in the world to hit a market value of $4 trillion.
Posted on December 20, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants
“Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily“
A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.
Gallup’s annual Health and Healthcare poll released on December 6th found that the US adult rating of healthcare quality is the lowest it’s been since 2001, with 54% of respondents saying they believe the healthcare system has “major problems” and 16% saying it’s in a “state of crisis.” In 2001, 53% viewed healthcare positively.
US stocks closed little changed as a rebound from the previous day’s sell-off flopped with a hawkish outlook from the Federal Reserve on its path for interest rates looming over markets.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) ended a 10-day losing streak, its longest in 50 years, as it closed just above the flat line on Thursday. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 (^GSPC) and tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) both fell about 0.1%.
The 10-year Treasury yield (^TNX) continued its trek higher on Thursday, rising roughly seven basis points to hit 4.57% for its highest levels since May.
Posted on December 2, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
BREAKING NEWS: President Joe Biden just pardoned his son,Hunter Biden, sparing the younger Biden a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions and reversing his past promises not to use the extraordinary powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family members.
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The short trading session didn’t stop the S&P 500 from hitting another new record today, and the S&P 500 and the Dow each wrapped up their best month of 2024 on a high note.
Meanwhile, November was the worst month for gold in over a year. Safe-haven investors sold the commodity while the US dollar soared following the election.
10-year Treasuryyields dropped to their lowest level in a month today as bond buyers bought in bulk.
Finally, bitcoin had one heck of a month. The crypto rose yet again today, and has climbed nearly 40% in November—though it has yet to break above $100,000.
Posted on November 27, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The S&P 500 and NASDAQ stayed in the green all day, with the S&P 500 hitting yet another new all-time high, while the Dow clawed its way out of negative territory to reach a new high as well.
The minutes from the last Federal Reserve meeting revealed that central bankers feel rate cuts are still warranted, though they’ll need to be gradual. Treasuryyields rose on the news.
Bitcoin continues to fall further away from the promised land of $100,000 as traders begin logging off ahead of the holiday—though bulls believe this is just a pullback to gather momentum ahead of the final push.
Stocks surged and stayed higher all yesterday day on news of Donald Trump’s presidential victory. The Dow rocketed over 1,350 points as soon as markets opened, and all three indexes ended the day at record highs.
Treasuryyields have paralleled Trump’s chances of taking the White House for the last few weeks, and his election sent them soaring to over 4.46% at one point today.
Oil and gold both fell as the dollar rose after Trump’s win. The greenback popped on the promise of Trump’s protectionist tariff policies and the lower likelihood of the Fed cutting interest rates as fast as previously expected.
Bitcoin surged as traders celebrated the beginning of the new, friendlier regulatory environment that Trump promised during his campaign.
Posted on November 4, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants
“Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily“
A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.
Nvidia is replacing Intel on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, a shakeup to the blue-chip index that replaces a flagging semiconductor company with the primary vendor of GPUs for AI.
Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Stop Medicare Cuts & Boost Physician Pay in 2025
Physicians and other healthcare practitioners may get a pay boost in 2025 through a bipartisan bill recently introduced in Congress. The proposed bill seeks to block planned Medicare pay cuts next year and would provide the first inflationary update to physician pay in years. The Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act would counteract the 2.8% cut to the conversion factor proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the draft CY-2025 Physician Fee Schedule. A stop-gap pay fix is usually enacted by Congress at the end of the year.
Source: Emma Beavins, Fierce Healthcare [10/30/24].
Investors waited for the Magnificent 7 stock reports to begin rolling last evening. The NASDAQ rose to a new high on optimism while the Dow Jones fell, and the S&P 500 split the difference.
Alphabet announced earnings after the bell yesterday, Microsoft and MetaPlatforms reveal their latest quarters today, Amazon and Apple on Thursday afternoon.
The 10-year Treasury yield hit a 4-month high this afternoon before paring back a bit as traders struggle to find a signal in all the market noise.
Oil rebounded a bit from yesterday’s terrible day, though it still ended the trading session lower.
Posted on August 28, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants
“Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily“
A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.
The National Football League is expected to vote to allow private equity ownership of franchises, marking a significant change to its ultra-exclusive ownership club. The vote, all but guaranteed to pass, is a historic softening by the NFL, which will be the last of the major sports leagues in North America to permit private equity ownership. The NBA, MLB and NHL currently allow PE to own up to 30% of a team, while the NFL’s expected cap is 10%.
And, the stock of PDD Holdings, parent company of the fast-growing Temu shopping app, sank more than 30% on Monday, losing more than $50 billion in market value, after the e-commerce giant posted disappointing revenue results and executives warned of rapid competition and non-business challenges that may dampen growth and profits going forward.
Costco (+1.84%) hit an all-time high and topped $900/share for the first time. Don’t be surprised if it becomes the latest retailer to announce a stock split after Chipotle, Walmart, and Williams-Sonoma, according to Barron’s.
Hain Celestial Group, the better-for-you food company that makes those veggie straw snacks in your office pantry, popped 18.59% after beating profit expectations for the latest quarter.
What’s down
Hims & Hers, the direct-to-consumer provider of generics, fell 7.51% after Eli Lilly announced a cheaper version of its weight loss drug Zepbound.
Paramount Global dropped 7.15% after billionaire Edgar Bronfman Jr. decided he wouldn’t pursue an acquisition of the legacy media company. That leaves Skydance Media poised for an $8 billion takeover.
Cannabis stocks including Curaleaf Holdings (-13.52%), Canopy Growth (-9.56%), and Green Thumb Industries (-10.76%) went up in smoke when the DEA said it would hold its hearing over changing the classification of cannabis on Dec. 2—after the election.
Cava got bowled over 6.10% after its CEO and other insiders revealed stock sales.
The S&P 500® index (SPX) rose 8.96 points (0.16%) to 5,625.80; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) rose 9.98 (0.02%) to 41,250.50; the NASDAQ Composite®($COMP) added 29.05 points (0.16%) to 17,754.82.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) increased nearly two basis points to 3.83%.
The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) slipped to 15.42.
About half of S&P 500 sectors finished in the green today. Financials have been on a roll lately amid rate cut hopes and continued their solid performance Tuesday, while energy did a 180 Tuesday as crude oil lost ground.
Treasury yields remained in their recent trading range, with the gap narrowing further between the 2-year and 10-year Treasury note yields to roughly seven basis points. The inversion, in which two-year yields hold a premium to 10-year yields, reached 100 basis points a year ago as the Fed rapidly raised rates. The 10-year yield got some traction today from a solid Consumer Confidence report.
Applehas announced “it’s glowtime” for a Sept. 9th event during which the company is expected to debut the iPhone 16.
And,Uberwas fined 290 million euros ($347 million) by Dutch regulators for transferring driver data from the EU to the US. It’s one of the biggest fines ever issued under the EU’s data privacy law.
Icahn Enterprises L.P.’s stock tumbled 11.5% Monday to close at a roughly 21-year low, after billionaire Carl Icahn’s publicly traded investing arm filed to sell up to $400 million of its depositary units in an “at-the-market offering.” The news comes after Icahn and his company agreed last week to pay $2 million in civil penalties for failing to make required disclosures relating to personal margin loans worth billions of dollars. The stock closed at $14.07, its lowest level since it closed at $14.04 on Nov. 25, 2003.
Papa John’s (NASDAQ:PZZA) rose 4% and then surged amid some takeover speculation concerning Restaurants Brands (QSR), the parent of Burger King and Tim Hortons.
Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.
Posted on July 26, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a collection of 30 “blue-chip” U.S. stocks. Blue chip = big, established, and influential companies like Microsoft, JPMorgan, Disney, and McDonald’s. The Dow recently updated its roster, swapping ExxonMobil, Pfizer, and Raytheon for Salesforce, biotech Amgen, and manufacturing heavyweight Honeywell.
The Dow is weighted by share price, so higher-priced stocks have more influence on the index’s total value. Price-weighting also means that if the price of any stock in the Dow changes by $1, it has the same impact on the index, even though a $1 increase to a stock worth $20 is more significant (relatively) than a $1 change to a stock worth, say, $40.
During stock splits—when a company increases its number of outstanding shares and chops prices by the same factor—a company’s influence in the Dow can fall even if their market value doesn’t change. The Dow has some mechanisms to account for stock splits, but they can still lead to a shakeup in the index (like what happened last summer).
At 124 years old, the Dow has had plenty of time to cement its reputation as a leading indicator of the stock market. But with only 30 stocks representing a smattering of U.S. corporate titans, it’s not exactly representative.
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At one point the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 585 points before it sold off later yesterday afternoon, though it wrapped the trading session with a small win. The S&P 500 fought its way into positive territory but struggled to stay there, eventually sinking into negative territory at the end of the day.
As for the NASDAQ, the tech selloff continued to punish the index for most of yesterday afternoon. Treasury yields fell a bit on positive GDP news, though the big PCE [personal consumption expenditures] announcement is the one investors have been waiting for.
Oil popped on a stronger than expected GDP reading, with traders banking on future economic growth and stronger oil demand.
Bitcoin sank a bit yesterday ahead of a major conference that could set the tone for the entire digital asset industry for years to come.
Posted on July 19, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants
“Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily“
A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.
The S&P 500 and NASDAQ both continued to sink under the weight of a tech selloff today, with semiconductors leading the way down. But even the Dow and Russell 2000, which have been the clear winners of the recent rally, took a beating today as investors assessed what a market rotation really means for them. 10-year Treasury yields bounced from recent lows as investors try to read between the lines of a full week of Fedspeak. Gold and oil both sold off a bit more today, though both remain near recent highs.
Warner Bros Discovery soared 2.40% on a report from the Financial Times that the company is preparing to break itself up.
Chuy’s Holdings skyrocketed 47.76% after Darden Restaurants announced it is acquiring the company for $605 million. Shares of Darden Restaurants fell 3.03% on the news.
D.R. Horton rose 10.01%, though it initially sank after a mixed earnings report, but turned things around by announcing a $4 billion buyback program.
Cintas popped 5.44% thanks to a strong earnings report, as businesses continue to spend on uniforms no matter what the economic environment may be.
What’s down
Domino’s Pizza sank 13.42% after it missed earnings expectations last quarter and warned it will open fewer stores for the rest of 2024.
Beyond Meat tanked 10.32% on a report from the Wall Street Journal that management is in talks to restructure the company’s debt.
Eli Lilly slid another 6.24% as its selloff continues thanks to news that rival Roche Holdings is on its way to developing a weight-loss pill.
Nokia dropped 7.05% after posting its worst quarterly sales since 2015. Seems like nobody is buying phones with the shape and durability of a brick any more.
The S&P 500 index fell 43.68 points (–0.78%) to 5,544.59; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) lost 533.06 points (–1.29%) to 40,665.02; the NASDAQ Composite gave up 125.70 points (–0.7%) to 17,871.22.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose about four basis points to 4.18%.
The CBOE Volatility Index climbed sharply to 15.9, its highest close since late April.
Posted on May 30, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants
“Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily“
A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.
After several years of modest or declining growth, the average pay for doctors jumped 5.9% in 2023, rebounding from a decline of 2.4% in 2022. Most medical specialties experienced positive growth in 2023, with the top 10 seeing annual growth rates exceeding 7%, according to the 2024 Physician Compensation Report from professional medical network Doximity.
However, inflationary pressures continue to impact physicians’ real income. According to the American Medical Association, when adjusted for inflation, Medicare physician payment has dropped 26% since 2001. Doximity’s compensation data draw from nearly 150,000 survey responses over five years, including responses from more than 33,000 U.S. physicians in 2023 alone.
The S&P 500 has risen 23 of the last 30 weeks, according to Deutsche Bank, and rose slightly today as well. Meanwhile, the NASDAQ closed at a record high yesterday after tech companies across the board rose, while the Dow dropped over 200 points.
Gold prices slipped 5% last week after falling four days in a row, but the key commodity kicked off this week with a win. With key PCE data coming out on Friday that could send the market soaring or tanking, investors are hedging their bets with the shiny yellow metal.
The S&P 500® index (SPX) fell 39.09 points (0.7%) to 5,266.95; the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 411.32 points (1.1%) to 38,441.54; the NASDAQ Composite® ($COMP) shed 99.30 points (0.6%) to 16,920.58.
The 10-year Treasury note yield climbed more than 7 basis points to 4.614%.
The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) rose 1.38 to 14.30.
Consumer confidence rose for the first time in four months
Americans are unexpectedly feeling better about the economy this month: Per the Conference Board’s monthly index, US consumer sentiment rose from 97.5 in April to 102 in May, smashing economists’ estimates. Meanwhile, the expectations index, which measures the short-term outlook for income and other labor market conditions, increased the most since July. However, the report showed that Americans remain worried about inflation and interest rates. Despite their mixed feelings about the economy, Americans continue to spend vigorously on travel. The TSA set a record for most travelers screened in a single day last Friday.
AST SpaceMobile shares shot to the moon by 69.23% on the news it has reached a deal with Verizon to build a satellite network for unmodified smartphones.
Marathon Oil shares are up 8.47% as shareholders voice their approval of the company’s acquisition by ConocoPhillips, whose shares are down 3.11% today.
STOCKS DOWN:
American Airlines shares fell 13.54% after the company cut its guidance for the second quarter. Southwest Airlines fell 3.83%, and Delta Air Lines fell 0.74%.
Posted on May 3, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Job growth slowed and unemployment ticked higher last month, marking a break from a string of data showing surprising strength in the labor market.
U.S. employers added a seasonally adjusted 175,00 jobs in April, the Labor Department reported on Friday. That was far less than in March, when gains exceeded 300,000, and also below what economists had expected. The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9% from March’s 3.8%.
According to the WSJ, wages also rose less than anticipated, increasing 3.9% from a year earlier after rising 4.1% in March.
Friday’s report today is sure to stir immediate debate among economists and investors about whether the labor market is merely cooling in a welcome fashion or starting to show more serious strains under the pressure of higher interest rates.
Treasury yields, which largely reflect investors’ expectations for short-term rates set by the Federal Reserve, fell after the report. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note was 4.471% in recent trading, according to Tradeweb, down from 4.569% Thursday.
Stock futures climbed, suggesting investors were pleased with the data, which could increase optimism about the outlook for inflation.
The holidays can be a stressful time for many, especially emergency healthcare workers, as Emergency Departments and ERs tend to get crowded. Holiday-related injuries spike in December, from slipping in the snow or falling while decorating to overindulging in holiday cocktails. So, to all the emergency healthcare providers working on holidays this year, the ME-P thanks you very much.
Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 index was up 63.39 points (1.4%) at 4,707.09; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 512.30 points (1.4%) at 37,090.24; the NASDAQ Composite was up 200.57 points (1.4%) at 14,733.96.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 18 basis points at 4.024%.
The CBOE® Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.14 at 12.21.
Financial shares led Wednesday’s gainers, reflecting ideas that lower interest rates will boost profit margins for banks. The KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) surged nearly 6% and ended at its highest level in over four months. The Fed’s outlook for slower growth in 2024, but no recession, also appeared to drive optimism among smaller companies, which are considered to have greater exposure to economic downturns. The small-cap Russell 2000® Index (RUT) outpaced its bigger counterparts, gaining 3.5% and ending at a four-month high.
Treasury yields fell sharply, with the 10-year note dropping to a four-month low just above 4%.
Posted on October 11, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
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.
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.
Posted on September 15, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The forecast for next year’s Social Security increase rose to 3.2% from 3% on Wednesday after the government said inflation ticked up in August. Annual inflation in August rose to 3.7%, from 3.2% in July but off a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022. Without the volatile food and energy sectors, the so-called “core” inflation rate was 4.3%, down from July’s 4.7%.
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Illegal drugs are expected to be one of the biggest threats to national security in 2024 as overdose deaths topped 100,000 in the last year, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s annual threat study. In its report released Thursday, DHS said it expects illegal drugs produced in Mexico and sold in the United States will continue to kill more Americans than any other threat.
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U.S. stocks ended sharply higher and the greenback jumped on Thursday as robust economic data failed to budge expectations that the Federal Reserve will leave its key interest rate unchanged next week. The rally boosted a broad array of assets. All three major stock indexes ended higher, as did all 11 major sectors of the S&P 500. The dollar jumped to a six-month high, 10-year Treasury yields rose, and crude oil futures hit their highest this year, helping energy stocks outperform the broader market.
A spate of economic data released before the opening bell showed energy prices, specifically gasoline, were largely responsible for a hotter-than-expected producer prices print and a consensus-beating retail sales reading.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was up 37.66 points (0.8%) at 4,505.10; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 331.58 points (1.0%) at 34,907.11; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was up 112.47 points (0.8%) at 13,926.05.The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 4 basis points at 4.286%. CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.69 at 12.79.
Retailers were among the market’s strongest sectors Thursday in the wake of stronger-than-expected August retail sales reported by the Commerce Department. Energy companies also climbed as crude oil futures extended a rally and topped $90 a barrel for the first time since mid-November. Small-cap stocks joined the upswing, with the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) rising nearly 1.5% and ended at a one-week high. Volatility based on the VIX fell under 13.00 and near pre-pandemic levels of early 2020.
Posted on August 24, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Home Mortgage rates just hit their highest mark since 2002, making home ownership even less attainable to potential buyers. Stagnation in the housing market could also put a squeeze on consumer spending, slowing broader economic growth. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, a popular home loan, hit 7.09% last Thursday, up from 6.96% the week before, according to mortgage behemoth the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).
In a statement tied to the release, Freddie Mac noted that the rise of the 10-year Treasury yield and the strength of the economy both contributed to the high rate.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500® Index rose 49 points (1.1%) to 4,436.02; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) rose 184 points (0.54%) to 34,472.98; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) rose 215 points (1.59%) to 13,721.03.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell 15 basis points to 4.180%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) fell roughly 1 point to 16.03.
Communication services—which is home to tech-adjacent companies such as Google parent Alphabet (GOOG), Facebook parent Meta (META), and Netflix (NFLX)—and technology were the top-performing sectors Wednesday.
Energy was the laggard, as crude oil futures slipped more than 1% to below $79.
Posted on July 21, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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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.
Posted on July 8, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Despite high prices, new car sales have been remarkably strong so far this year and are up 12% compared to the first half of 2022, according to Cox Automotive.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was down 12.64 points (0.3%) at 4398.95, down 1.2% for the week and just the second weekly decline in the past eight weeks; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 187.38 points (0.6%) at 33,734.88, down 2% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 18.33 points (0.1%) at 13,660.72, down 0.9% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 2 basis points at 4.06%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.61 at 14.83.
Energy shares were among the strongest performers, with the Philadelphia Oil Service Index (OSX) surging more than 6% to a four-month high. Benchmark WTI crude futures jumped more than 2% to close at a six-week high on hopes that OPEC+ production cuts will tighten supplies.
Regional banks and transportation stocks were also strong.
And, Samsung fell yesterday after revealing that its profits dropped 96% last quarter, giving the company its smallest quarterly profit since 2009 as it continues to sit on more memory chips than the market wants.
Posted on July 7, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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(AP) — U.S. officials granted full approval to a closely watched Alzheimer’s drug on Thursday, clearing the way for Medicare and other insurance plans to begin covering the treatment for people with the brain-robbing disease. The Food and Drug Administration endorsed the IV drug, Leqembi, for patients with mild dementia and other symptoms caused by early Alzheimer’s disease. It’s the first medicine that’s been convincingly shown to modestly slow Alzheimer’s cognitive decline.
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Markets: Yesterday was yet another “good news is bad news” day on Wall Street. After the ADP employment report showed private sector companies added more than 2x the jobs that were forecast last month, stocks fell and Treasury yields surged—an indication that investors expect the Fed to resume hiking interest rates to cool down the job market. So, all eyes are on the non-farm payrolls report since a stronger-than-expected report could result in even more Fed rate hikes than currently expected. Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index was down 35.23 points (0.8%) at 4,411.59; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 366.38 points (1.1%) at 33,922.26; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 112.61 points (0.8%) at 13,679.04.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 9 basis points at 4.035%.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) was up 1.25 at 15.43.
Energy was among the weakest sectors despite crude oil futures touching a two-week high.
Regional banks and Consumer Discretionary stocks were also lower. Volatility expectations based on the VIX jumped to their highest level since late May.
Posted on July 5, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended on Monday:
The S&P 500 Index was up 5.21 points (0.1%) at 4,455.59; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 10.87 points at 34,418.47; the NASDAQ Composite was up 28.85 points (0.2%) at 13,816.78.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 4 basis points at 3.862%.
The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) was little changed at 13.58.
Financial companies had a good day Monday, with the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) rising more than 2%.
The consumer discretionary sector was also strong, while energy companies got a bump as crude oil futures reached their highest level in more than a week.
Health Care stocks lagged.
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Wall Street is hoping for a strong start to the second half of 2023 taking cues from the recent tech rally that has boosted the overall investor sentiment. Turning toward the U.S.-China trade war, on Monday, the mainland posed restrictions on the export of gallium and germanium to the U.S. citing national security concerns. These metals are used in semiconductor manufacturing and the curb is being used as a means of retaliation to the U.S. chip ban on China.
Remarkably, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) stock has been on an uphill climb lately, thanks to the growing adoption of its North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging connectors by major automakers including General Motors (NYSE:GM), Ford (NYSE:F), and Rivian (NASDAQ:RIVN). Moreover, the EV maker posted better-than-expected auto delivery and production numbers for the month and quarter ending June 30, pushing shares up 6.9% on July 3.
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Future Salaries Will Decrease?
Median incomes are projected to drop over the next few decades, falling by 0.43 percentage points per year between now and 2020, 0.52 points per year between 2020 and 2030, and 0.2 points per year between 2030 and 2040.
Although the figures on their own are not staggering, the percentage drops over time will add up significantly. By 2050, an employee who earned $50,000 in 2013 will only make $44,000. The number is even more noticeable after accounting for inflation.
Posted on June 28, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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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.
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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%.
Posted on June 26, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Last week, the NASDAQ snapped its eight-week winning streak, but it’s still on pace for its best and has nearly erased its total losses from 2022. Over in the media world, everyone (Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Global) is struggling except Netflix.
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But, the U.S. dollar rose to a 15-month high against the ruble this Monday after dramatic weekend events in Russia, which saw an aborted mutiny by heavily armed mercenaries. The dollar index also found some safe-haven support on lingering worries that the protracted monetary tightening cycles from major central banks would further hurt the global economic outlook.
Posted on June 23, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The marine mystery that captivated the world this week had a tragic conclusion: Authorities confirmed yesterday that they found broken pieces of the OceanGate Titan submersible near the Titanic wreckage it was en route to explore, meaning its five passengers are dead.
They are OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British explorer Hamish Harding, Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his son, Suleman Dawood (who, according to his aunt, was “terrified” of the trip but ultimately went to please his dad for Father’s Day).
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday
The S&P and NASDAQ found their way back into the green after a three-day losing streak, though the market overall has been a little sleepy this week.
Yesterday’s winner goes to Overstock which jumped after the online retailer agreed to buy Bed Bath & Beyond’s IP, name and digital assets for $21.5 million. But BB&B, which went bankrupt in April, won’t be able to keep its stores open as part of the deal.
And, the 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little changed at 3.727%.
While, CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was was down 0.68 at 13.19.
Technology shares were among the weakest performers Wednesday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) dropping nearly 2% to near a two-week low.
Regional banks were also lower. Energy stocks led sector gainers as crude oil futures jumped nearly 2% to a two-week high on hopes for stronger demand from China.
Volatility based on the VIX sank to its lowest level since January 2020.
Posted on June 21, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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DEFINITION: A solstice occurs when one of the Earth’s poles (today, it’s the north) tilts toward the sun at the maximum angle. The two solstices, in December and June, mark the beginning of winter and summer and give us the longest days and nights of the year.
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Summer officially arrives: The summer solstice is on Wednesday today, marking the astronomical beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s also the longest “day” of the year above the equator. Soak in those 9 pm sunsets, because they won’t last forever … or at least until next year 2024.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 Index was down 16.25 points (0.4%) at 4,409.59; the Dow Jones industrial Average was down 108.94 (0.3%) at 34,299.12; the NASDAQ Composite was down 93.25 (0.7%) at 13,689.57.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 4 basis points at 3.769%.
CBOEs Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.97 at 13.53.
Retailers and regional banks were among the weakest performers Friday, and the Russell 2000 ended with a loss of about 1%.
Energy companies were among the strongest sectors thanks to crude oil futures extending a recent rally above $70 a barrel.
Posted on June 17, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended; yesterday
The S&P 500 Index was down 16.25 points (0.4%) at 4,409.59; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 108.94 (0.3%) at 34,299.12; the NASDAQ Composite was down 93.25 (0.7%) at 13,689.57.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 4 basis points at 3.769%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.97 at 13.53.
Retailers and regional banks were among the weakest performers Friday, and the Russell 2000 ended with a loss of about 1%.
Energy companies were among the strongest sectors thanks to crude oil futures extending a recent rally above $70 a barrel.
Posted on June 14, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
FLAG DAY 2023
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Measured year over year, inflation slowed to just 4 per cent in May — the lowest 12-month figure in over two years and well below April’s 4.9 per cent annual rise. The pullback was driven by tumbling gas prices and smaller increases in grocery prices and other items.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended, today:
The S&P 500® Index was up 30.08 points (0.7%) at 4,369.01; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 145.79 (0.4%) at 34,212.12; the NASDAQ Composite was up 111.40 (0.8%) at 13,573.32.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 6 basis points at 3.829%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.4 at 14.61.
Regional banks and oilfield services stocks led the gainers Tuesday. Crude oil futures rose 3% on expectations of stronger demand from China. Small-caps were also strong, with the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) rising more than 1% to its highest level since early March. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) fell to its lowest level in more than three weeks thanks to expectations interest rates could be near their peak.
Posted on June 13, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The Biden administration finalized a deal to preserve the federal mandate requiring U.S. health insurers to cover preventive care like cancer screenings and HIV-preventing medication at no extra cost to patients while a legal challenge continues. The agreement, first disclosed last Friday and now finalized in a filing in the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, leaves the mandate in place nationwide while the administration appeals a court order striking it down.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
Stock indices finished yesterday’s trading session in the green. The NASDAQ 100 (NDX), S&P 500 (SPX), and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) gained 1.76%, 0.94%, and 0.56%, respectively. The energy sector (XLE) was the session’s laggard, as it fell 0.95%. Conversely, the technology sector (XLK) was the session’s leader, with a gain of 2.18%.
Furthermore, the U.S. 10-Year Treasury yield saw little change, as it hovers around 3.74%. Conversely, the Two-Year Treasury yield decreased to 4.58%. This brings the spread between them to -84 basis points.
Posted on June 10, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives just unveiled a series of new tax breaks aimed at businesses and families while proposing to reverse some of President Joe Biden’s legislative victories, including credits to spur the sale of clean-burning electric vehicles.
Under the proposed legislation, married couples filing jointly would receive a $4,000 “deduction bonus” for two years that the committee said would potentially help up to 107 million families who take the standard deduction.
The legislation also would significantly increase the way businesses could claim depreciation deductions, raising the threshold to a permanent $2.5 million from the current $1 million that was contained in the Republicans’ broad 2017 tax cut package.
Other provisions include an expansion of tax benefits for small start-up enterprises to “S Corporations,” while eliminating some “red tape” that small businesses experience related to contract workers.
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The Closing Friday Markets
Markets: Stocks celebrated the summer Friday by jumping up yesterday, giving the S&P 500, which recently reentered bull market territory, its fourth positive week in a row. And, Tesla enjoyed its eleventh consecutive trading day in the green, matching its longest hot streak.
The S&P 500 Index was up 4.93 points (0.11%) at 4,298.86; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 43.17 points (0.13%) at 33,876.78; the NASDAQ Composite (COMPX) was up 20.62 points (0.16%) at 13,259.14.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little changed at 3.740%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was up 10 points at 13.75.
The Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services sectors—home to market heavyweights such as Alphabet (GOOGL), Apple (AAPL), Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), NVIDIA (NVDA), and Tesla (TSLA)—were the strongest performers Friday. Energy was among the weaker sectors, as crude oil futures fell 1.5% to just above $70. The small-company-focused Russell 2000 (RUT) lagged, falling about 0.9%.
Posted on June 9, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Former President Trump says he has been indicted on federal charges that emerged out of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s months-long investigation.
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Middle income home buyers in the United States are finding little on the market to buy, even if they can qualify and afford a mortgage. These would-be buyers face the most severe housing shortage of any other income bracket, according to a new analysis from the National Association of Realtors and Realtor.com that found the market is short more than 300,000 affordable homes for these buyers.
The report defined a middle-income home buyer as someone in a household earning up to $75,000 a year, the median household income in the United States. Given that income, these buyers can purchase homes valued up to $256,000 without being overburdened with housing costs. And there are a lot fewer homes in this category than a few years ago. Middle-income buyers can afford to buy less than a quarter — only 23% — of listings that are currently on the market. Five years ago, this income group could afford to buy half of all available homes, according to the report.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was up 26.41 points (0.6%) at 4293.93; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 168.59 (0.5%) at 33,833.61; the NASDAQ Composite (COMPX) was up 134 points (1.02%) at 13,238.52.
The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little changed at 3.714%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.29 at 13.65.
Retail and Consumer Discretionary stocks led gains Thursday among S&P 500 sectors, while technology stocks were also strong. Small-cap stocks eased, but the Russell 2000 (RUT) is still up 2.7% for the week. Energy stocks slumped after reports of a possible nuclear deal between the U.S. and Iran sent WTI crude oil futures down nearly 2%. Volatility fell near a two-year low.
The Biden administration is confident it will succeed in the courts against Merck & Co’s lawsuit filed on Tuesday, the White House said, defending the Medicare health insurance program’s authority to seek deals on medicine prices. “We are confident we will succeed in the courts: there is nothing in the Constitution that prevents Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
Behind negative returns for shares of UnitedHealth and Merck, as noted above, UnitedHealth’s shares were off $14.28, or 2.9%, while those of Merck have dropped $3.23, or 2.9%. A $1 move in any one of the 30 components of the Dow results in a 6.59-point swing. In summary:
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index was up 10.04 points (0.2%) at 4283.84; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 10.48 at 33,573.34; the NASDAQ Composite was up about 47 points (0.36%) at 13,276.42.
The 10-year Treasury yield was little changed at 3.687%.
Posted on June 6, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, 6th June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. Code-named Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day, it was the largest seaborne invasion in history.
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It has also been 42 years since the CDC first reported on AIDS in the US, describing five Los Angeles-area patients with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. Today about 1.2 million people in the US live with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, a condition that’s considered chronic but not necessarily fatal. Still, US leaders want to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.
Advocates are calling for gun violence to be considered as an “adverse childhood experience.”
Chicago health officials still recommend exercising caution over Mpox in the year following a major outbreak.
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With the drama of earnings season, the debt ceiling battle, and last Friday’s crucial jobs report in the rear-view mirror, Wall Street enters the week seeking new catalysts.
The S&P 500 Index (SPX) starts the week on the cusp of a new bull market. A close of 4,292 or above would represent approximately a 20% gain from the 2022 low close of 3,577 posted last October 12. A 20% gain from the bottom represents a new bull market. That said, the SPX is still down about 11% from its all-time high close of 4,796 posted January 3, 2022.
You may recall a strong rally last summer. But the 17% rally that lasted from mid-June 2022 through mid-August 2022 lifted the SPX just 17%—not enough to put it into bull market territory.
The 10-year Treasury note yield ($TNX) was down slightly to 3.68%. The U.S. Dollar Index ($DXY) is up slightly to 104.29. The Cboe Volatility Index® ($VIX) has been in positive territory all day today and was last seen up by 0.27 to 14.87. WTI Crude Oil (/CL) is up to $73.22 per barrel after Saudi Arabia said it would cut production.
Gold prices have traded in a range of $1,953.80 to $1,978.00 and were last seen trading higher by 0.17% to $1,973.00.
Natural Gas prices have traded in a range of $2.184-2.2301 so far today and were last seen trading higher by $0.077 (or + 3.55%) to $2.249/MMBtu.
Posted on June 2, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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National Hurricane Season Commences
The Atlantic hurricane season is the period in a year, from June 1st through November 30th, when tropical or subtropical cyclones are most likely to form in the North Atlantic Ocean. These dates, adopted by convention, encompass the period in each year when most tropical cyclogenesis occurs in the basin. Even so, subtropical or tropical cyclogenesis is possible at any time of the year, and often does occur.
Interest Rates?
New US government data shows there were more open jobs last month than expected, raising the possibility that the Federal Reserve could keep hiking Interest Rates Up.
Banks
Shares of large and mid-sized U.S. banks sharply under performed the broader markets with worries about commercial real estate loans in focus among bank investors.
Companies
The e-commerce giant Amazon has agreed to shell out the cash to settle a pair of lawsuits lodged by the Federal Trade Commission. It will cough up $5.8 million to resolve claims that it let employees and contractors access footage from Ring doorbell cameras and another $25 million because Alexa allegedly improperly retained information from children. Amazon’s also facing criticism from its staff—hundreds of corporate employees walked out yesterday to protest the company’s layoffs, return to office mandate, and contributions to climate change.
Advance Auto Parts tanked after the car parts seller cut its dividend and outlook for the year.
The Markets
Here is where the major benchmarks ended, yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was up 41.19 points (1.0%) at 4221.02; the Dow Jones industrial average (DJIA) was up 153.30 (0.5%) at 33,061.57; the NASDQ Composite was up 165.70 (1.3%) at 13,100.98.
The 10-year Treasurynoteyield (TNX) was down about 3 basis points at 3.603%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 2.25 at 15.69.
Oilfield services providers and other energy companies led sector gains, as crude oil futures rallied nearly 3% and pushed back above $70 barrel despite higher-than-expected U.S. inventories reported Thursday. Semiconductor makers and other tech companies continued their recent show of strength. The U.S. Dollar Index ($DXY) fell to its lowest level in more than a week amid ideas the Fed may soon “pause” its sharp rate hikes of the past year.
Posted on June 1, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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According to ABC News, the US House of Representatives just approved a bill to raise the nation’s debt ceiling while cutting some government spending over the next two years, in a major victory for both the White House and Republican leaders as the country tip-toes closer to a historic default on its bills. The final vote was 314-117. Now, the deal moves to the Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has promised to work to pass it quickly.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was down 25.69 points (0.6%) at 4179.83; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 134.51 (0.4%) at 32,908.27; the NASDAQ Composite was down 82.14 (0.6%) at 12,935.29.
The 10-year Treasury yield was down about 5 basis points at 3.641%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was up 0.26 at 17.74.
Regional banks were among the weakest performers Wednesday, while energy stocks also slumped as crude oil futures extended a recent sell-off.
The utilities and healthcare sectors were among the few gainers.
Despite weakness in technology, the NASDAQ still ended with a gain of 5.8% for the month, while the S&P 500 was up 0.3%. The U.S. dollar index rose to a 2½-month high.
Posted on May 27, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Money managers often share their thoughts in real time, but fewer still have 50 years of experience navigating the markets. Hedge fund manager Doug Kass is one of them.
Kass, who offers his stock picks and insights in his Real Money Pro Daily Diary, doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to managing risk. He recently told investors interested in artificial intelligence that the road to AI profits will likely be rockier than expected for the likes of Nvidia (NVDA) – Get Free Report, Microsoft (MSFT) – Get Free Report, Alphabet (GOOGL) – Get Free Report, and C3.ai (AI) – Get Free Report.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index was up 54.17 points (1.3%) at 4205.45; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 328.69 (1.0%) at 33,093.34; the NASDAQ Composite was up 277.59 (2.2%) at 12,975.69.
The 10-year Treasury yield was little changed at 3.81%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was down 1.22 at 17.93.
Tech remains the runaway upside leader among sectors, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor index soaring over 6% to a 14-month high Friday. The NASDAQ-100 also ended near a 14-month high. Communications services and real estate were also strong.
Oilfield services and other energy companies were among the weakest sectors, despite a jump of more than 1% in crude oil futures.
Posted on May 26, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The value of the US tech company Nvidia has soared by a quarter after it predicted a boom in demand for its computer chips to meet the needs of artificial intelligence products such as ChatGPT. Nvidia’s share price rose by 25% in early trading on the back of the announcement, and gave it a market valuation of more than $940bn (£760bn) after stock markets opened on Wall Street on Thursday, up from $755bn on Wednesday evening. The share price had already more than doubled over the course of 2023, amid huge optimism over the rapid progress of generative AI products. These require massive data centers full of semiconductor chips to operate.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index was up 36.04 points (0.9%) at 4151.28; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 35.27 (0.1%) at 32,764.65; the NASDAQ Composite was up 213.93 (1.7%) at 12,698.09.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 10 basis points at 3.823%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was down 1.01 at 19.02.
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index also rose more than 4% to near a 14-month high, while the NASDAQ-100 hit a 13-month high. Transportation stocks were also higher. Oilfield services companies were among the weakest performers as crude oil futures fell more than 3%.
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US credit rating called into question
Credit rating agency Fitch just warned that the fight over the debt ceiling could force it to question the US’ perfect credit rating. It said it had put the nation’s triple-A credit rating on “rating watch negative,” meaning it’s poised for a downgrade if lawmakers can’t work things out. Even negotiations that drag on too long before a deal is reached could trigger a downgrade: That’s what happened in 2011, when S&P dinged the US’ credit over default fears. S&P still hasn’t returned the nation’s score to its highest rating.
Posted on May 25, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Thousands of clients of Maxim Healthcare Services are about to receive a payment of up to $5,000 in compensation for a data breach. According to information obtained by The Sun, the private medical personnel company based in Columbia, Maryland; agreed to pay 2020 data breach claims filed in a class action lawsuit by residents of the state of California.
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Gold futures tallied a third consecutive session decline settling at their lowest in nearly a week as further strength in the U.S. dollar pressured prices for the precious metal. Gold gave up early gains that had been driven by uncertainty surrounding a U.S. debt-ceiling deal in Congress.
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And, here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was down 30.34 points (0.7%) at 4115.24; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 255.59 (0.8%) at 32,799.92; the NASDAQ Composite was down 76.08 (0.6%) at 12,484.16.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 4 basis points at 3.742%.
CBOEs Volatility Index was up 1.52 at 20.04.
Technology and regional bank stocks were among the weakest sectors, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index down more than 2%. Energy was one of the few gainers among S&P 500 sectors as crude oil futures climbed to a three-week high of near $74 a barrel. The U.S. dollar index rose a third straight day to a two-month high.
Posted on May 23, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index was up 0.65 point at 4192.63; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 140.05 (0.4%) at 33,286.58; the NASDAQ Composite was up 62.88 (0.5%) at 12,720.78.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 3 basis points at 3.721%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was up 0.38 at 17.19.
The NASDAQ-100 Index ended at a 13-month high, driven by gains in large tech companies. Lenders were also particularly strong, with the KBW Regional Banking Index up nearly 3%. Oilfield services companies also rose as crude oil futures ticked higher. Consumer staples was among the weaker sectors.
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Debt ceiling negotiations could result in less funding for state and local health officials to combat STDs. Remote work is making it easier for some family caregivers to fill care gaps. An RSV vaccine for pregnant women is another step closer to approval. Congress will question CIGNA over its practice of rejecting medical claims by the hundreds of thousands every month.
Posted on May 19, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Markets: Stocks climbed for the second straight day as a last-minute deal to raise the debt ceiling begins to take shape. GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer signaled their chambers could vote next week on an agreement that would avert the US’ first-ever default.
Stock spotlight: Netflix shares popped after the streamer said its cheaper ad-supported plan is off to a hot start. Earlier this week, Netflix said that 25% of its new subscribers opted for the ad tier in regions where it’s available.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was up 39.28 points (0.9%) at 4198.05; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 115.14 (0.3%) at 33,535.91; the NASDAQ Composite was up 188.27 (1.5%) at 12,688.84.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 7 basis point at 3.65%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was down 0.78 at 16.09.
The tech sector continued to be one of the market’s strongest performers, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index jumping nearly 3% and the Nasdaq-100 closing at a 13-month high. Real estate led decliners among S&P 500 sectors.
Also, the U.S. dollar index surged near a two-month high amid growing confidence the Fed won’t be lowering rates any time soon.
Posted on May 18, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Elizabeth Holmes has been ordered to report to prison on May 30th after an appeals court denied her bid to stay out of jail while she challenges her conviction for defrauding Theranos’s investors.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index was up 48.87 points (1.2%) at 4158.77; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 408.63 (1.2%) at 33,420.77; the NASDAQ Composite was up 157.51 (1.3%) at 12,500.57.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 3 basis point at 3.577%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was down 1.11 at 16.88.
Financials were among the strongest performers, with the KBW Regional Banking index soaring over 7%. Semiconductors also climbed and oilfield services companies gained as crude oil futures surged nearly 3%. Utility stocks were among the laggards.
Posted on May 17, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The Federal Trade Commission said on Tuesday [yesterday] it will try to block an effort by bio-pharmaceutical leader Amgen Inc. from purchasing Horizon Therapeutics for $28.3 billion, charging the move could force insurance companies to favor their products. The FTC said the coupling of Amgen and Horizon could have allowed Amgen to leverage its portfolio of top-selling drugs to entrench a monopoly position in treatments for thyroid eye disease and chronic refractory gout. The watchdog agency said Amgen could force insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, into favoring Horizon’s two monopoly products. It said Tepezza is used to treat thyroid eye disease, while Krystexxa is used to treat chronic refractory gout. The agency said neither of the treatments has competition in the pharmaceutical marketplace.
And, the CME FedWatch Tool shows an 82% probability of the Fed leaving rates where they are, versus an 18% chance of another rate hike. As for rate cuts, Liz Ann Sonders of Schwab said they remain unlikely “unless the banking crisis significantly worsens and/or the economy or labor market sinks notably.” “Otherwise, the most likely outcome is for the Fed to pause and hold,” she added.
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So, here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500® Index was down 26.38 points (0.64%) at 4,109.90; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 336.46 (1.01%) at 33,012.14; the NASDAQ Composite was down 22.16 (0.18%) at 12,343.05.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 4 basis points at 3.541%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was up 90 basis points at 18.02.
The energy sector was one of the weakest performers Tuesday, as WTI Crude Oil futures dipped. The Dow Jones U.S. Oil & Gas Total Stock Market Index was down more than 2%, while the S&P Global Oil Index shed 2.5%. Real estate and utilities also lagged. Communication services and tech were the strongest performers.
Posted on May 16, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The executive branch of the European Union said Monday that Microsoft has offered enough remedies to address antitrust concerns, paving the way for the proposed $69 billion acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard. The acquisition was opposed by rival game developer and PlayStation console maker Sony over fears it would see Microsoft’s Xbox platform push it out of the market. Market regulators globally, meanwhile, expressed concern over whether Microsoft would come to dominate the cloud-gaming market through the acquisition. On Monday, however, the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, said Microsoft had done enough to allay concerns on cloud gaming specifically to warrant a positive decision on the merger.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended [yesterday] Monday:
The S&P 500 Index was up 12.20 points (0.30%) at 4,136.28; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 47.98 (0.14%) at 33,348.60; the NASDAQ Composite was up 80.47 (0.66%) at 12,365.21.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up 3 basis points at 3.50%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was up 17 basis points at 17.20.
Financial companies were among the leaders Monday, with regional lenders Citizens Bank (CFG), PacWest Bancorp (PACW), Western Alliance (WAL), and Zions Bancorporation (ZION) all bouncing higher after a punishing stretch for the banks last week. The materials and technology sectors were also up, while utilities and real estate lagged.
Posted on May 13, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended this week:
The S&P 500 Index was down 6.54 points (0.2%) at 4124.08; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 8.89 at 33,300.62; the NASDAQ Composite was down 43.76 (0.4%) at 12,284.74.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 7 basis points at 3.464%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was up 0.10 at 17.03.
Consumer Discretionary Socks led the declines Friday among S&P 500 sectors, with financials and energy shares also weaker. Worries over the potential for more trouble in the banking sector helped send the KBW Regional Bank Index to its lowest close since late 2020. Utilities and Consumer Staples were among the stronger performers.
Jerome Powell May Get a New No. 2. President Biden said yesterday that he would nominate economist Philip Jefferson, who is already on the Fed’s board, to become second-in-command at the central bank, replacing Lael Brainard. He also plans to nominate the current US rep to the World Bank, Adriana Kugler, to an empty board seat. She would be the Fed’s first Latina governor. If confirmed by the Senate, the pair will jump into their new roles as the Fed continues to try to curb inflation without tipping the economy into a recession.
Posted on May 12, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500® Index was down 7.02 points (0.2%) 4130.62; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 221.82 (0.7%) at 33,309.51; the NASDAQ Composite was up 22.06 (0.2%) at 12,328.51.
The 10-year Treasury yield was down about 5 basis points at 3.382%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was down 0.03 at 16.91.
Financial companies were among the weakest performers Thursday, with the KBW Regional Bank Index dropping for a fourth straight day and ending near a 2½-year low. Energy shares were also under pressure with crude oil futures down more than 1%. Consumer Staples and Consumer Discretionary were among the few sectors posting gains. The U.S. dollar index jumped to its highest level in over a week.
Earnings roundup
The following companies reported results over the past day or had large, news-driven stock price moves:
Disney reported earnings of 93 cents per share, which met expectations, and better-than-expected revenue of $21.82 billion, but the drop in streaming subscribers alarmed investors. Subscriptions for the Disney+ streaming service totaled 157.8 million, down 2% from the end of 2022 and below expectations of closer to 163.2 million. This decline overshadowed a 17% jump in revenue from Disney parks. The company’s shares fell more than 8% to near a two-month low.
Alphabet (GOOGL) shares rose over 4% after the Google parent introduced several new artificial intelligence-driven tools at a developers’ conference, according to reports.
Beyond Meat (BYND) reported an expected net quarterly loss of 92 cents per share, an improvement from the $1.58 per share loss a year earlier. But shares of the plant-based meat producer were down about 18% after the company also said it would sell up to $200 million of common stock.
Peloton (PTON) shares fell more than 8% following reports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said it was recalling more than 2 million bikes over concerns about seat breakages and related injuries. Peloton will offer free, updated seat posts to anyone using the recalled model.
Robinhood (HOOD) reported a net loss of 45 cents per share, better than Wall Street expectations for a loss of about 61 cents per share, as well as stronger than expected revenue. Monthly active users rose 3.5% compared to the previous quarter, to 11.8 million. Shares of the broker rose more than 6%.
Trade Desk (TTD)reported net earnings 2 cents per share, compared with a loss of 3 cents per share a year earlier and above Wall Street expectations. Shares ofthe advertising technology company were down more than 1%.
Earnings reports taper off Friday, with a little over 100 companies expected to report, according to Nasdaq. Next week will also be relatively earnings-light, though several major retailers, including Target Corp. (TGT) on May 17 and Wal-Mart Inc. (WMT) on May 18, are on tap to announce results. Kohl’s Corp. (KSS) is scheduled to report results May 24.
Posted on May 11, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Because the inflation data came in roughly as expected, Wall Street sees the door still open for the Federal Reserve to leave interest rates alone at its next meeting in June. That would be the first time it hasn’t raised rates at a meeting in more than a year, and a pause would offer some breathing room for the economy and financial markets.
Today is the last day of the US Covid-19 public health emergency, which has been in place since Jan. 31st, 2020. With it comes the end of certain Covid-era rules, though some telehealth protections have been extended through the end of 2024. Here’s to all the medical professionals who got us through, and a remembrance for the millions who lost their lives to Covid.
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Brightline, a California-based mental health startup, laid off 20% of its staff this week following a data breach. North Carolina is the latest state to consider changes to the prior authorization process that advocates say delays care. A board member at Geisinger claims that consolidation prompted the healthcare provider to sell to Kaiser Permanente. Texas Gov. Greg Abbottsaid the state should address mental health issues in the wake of a shopping mall mass shooting, but did not call for gun control reform.
Finally, here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
The S&P 500 Index was up 18.47 points (0.5%) at 4137.64; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 30.48 (0.1%) at 33,531.33; the NASDAQ Composite was up 126.89 (1.0%) at 12,306.44.
The 10-year Treasury yield was down about 8 basis points at 3.441%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was down 0.80 at 16.91.
Oilfield services providers and other energy companies were among the laggards Wednesday, pressured by a more-than 1% drop in WTI crude oil futures.
Financial sector stocks struggling to escape the effects of the bank volatility earlier this spring helped push the KWB Regional Bank Index back near a 2½-year low reached last week.
The S&P 500® Index was down 18.95 points (0.5%) 4119.17; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 56.88 (0.2%) at 33,561.81; the NASDAQ Composite was down 77.36 (0.6%) at 12,179.55.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 1 basis point at 3.53%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was up 0.66 at 17.64.
Semiconductor stocks and other technology shares were among the weakest performers Tuesday, with materials and health care also slightly lower.
Energy companies including oil field services providers were among the strongest, as WTI crude oil futures rose for a fourth consecutive day to their highest level since May 1st.
Posted on May 9, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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It’s National Nurses Week and National Student Nurses Day. We at the ME-P salute all the nurses (and future nurses) who read and inform our stories, and all of those who’ve been on the front-lines of the pandemic. We hope you take some time to kick back or at least slip into some comfortable shoes.
The S&P 500® Index was up 1.87 points at 4138.12; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 55.69 (0.2%) at 33,618.69; the NASDAQ Composite was up 21.50 (0.2%) at 12,256.92.
The 10-year Treasury yield was up about 7 basis points at 3.515%.
CBOEs Volatility Index was down 0.2 at 16.99.
Among S&P 500 sectors, financial and energy companies were top gainers, with the latter getting some help from a more than 2% rally in WTI crude oil futures.
Transportation, utility and industrial stocks were among the weakest performers, and the Russell 2000 was down about 0.3%, reflecting continued weakness in small-caps.