@theMarket: Macro-Economic Data Indicate a Soft LandingBy Bill Schmick,
03:48PM / Friday, January 27, 2023 | |
The economy grew faster than most expected in the fourth quarter. Unemployment continues to remain tame and corporate earnings, while not stellar, have been good enough to support financial markets this week.
Good news on the economy has been bad news for the stock market at least since the Fed has been tightening interest rates. The reasoning has been that stronger growth and employment would feed the inflation rate forcing even further tightening by the U.S. central bank and ultimately choking off the economy.
Now that inflation appears to be coming down, a bullish case is building that says we might get away with just a mild (as opposed to a full-fledged) 0 Comments
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The Retired Investor: Back to the gymBy Bill Schmick,
04:52PM / Thursday, January 26, 2023 | |
As the New Year gets underway, the fitness industry is breathing a sigh of relief. It has been a rough three years for those who provide the means to a healthy body for millions of Americans, but times are changing for the better.
During the pandemic, one in four health and fitness facilities across the nation closed permanently. Americans, who were forced to hunker down at home either gave up their fitness routine overall or made do as best they could with a few dumbbells and maybe, if they could afford it, online membership to one of the many internet fitness sites such as Peloton.
Most readers are not aware that gyms and fitness studios were among the 0 Comments
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The Retired Investor: The Billionaire LotteryBy Bill Schmick,
03:59PM / Thursday, January 19, 2023 | |
On the surface, you would think that inflation has hit the lottery. Billionaire-dollar jackpots were infrequent until recently. But lately, the total winnings in the Mega Millions lottery have hit close to or over that magical mark several times. Is it inflation, or something else that has moved these jackpots to a whole new level?
There was a time when winning a million dollars in one of the nation's weekly lotteries was a big deal. Today, million-dollar winnings are no more than consolation prizes for those who picked a couple of winning numbers, but not the whole enchilada. As of today, there have been only a few times that the U.S. lottery has surpassed $1 billion. 0 Comments
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The Retired Investor: Beware Political PollstersBy Bill Schmick,
04:38PM / Thursday, January 12, 2023 | |
The pollsters were wrong in 2016, 2020, and now 2022. The recent "Red Wave" of GOP wins, so confidently predicted in the final days of the mid-term elections, failed to be no more than a red ripple. Is this a question of "three times you're out?"
Heading into November 2022, Republicans were shown to have a clear edge in battleground states, as well as throughout the nation generally, according to the average of most polls. A minority of polls, mostly those of traditional pollsters, seem to dispute those results but were drowned out by the red wave forecasters.
Some argue that the traditional pollsters got it right, 0 Comments
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@theMarket: Markets Are Stuck in Chop CityBy Bill Schmick,
10:36AM / Saturday, January 07, 2023 | |
Welcome to a new year of financial markets. But while the dates have changed, stocks continue to disappoint.
The S&P 500 Index has been caught in a range with the mid-point around the 3,800 level. Next week, we could see a minor break higher to the 3,920 level, but it probably won't last. That is because Wall Street experts are as confused as the rest of us. Forecasts for 2023 are all over the place with some strategists predicting an up year while others believe the declines of last year will continue.
The confusion stems from a variety of unknowns including the path of inflation, interest rates, and the economy overall. Currently, the markets are 0 Comments
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