Independent thinking for complex markets and current events
The UK mandates that 22% of manufacturers’ vehicle sales must have zero tailpipe emissions this year, rising to 80% by 2030. Dealers face £15,000 fines for each non-compliant vehicle sold, while EVs only made up 16% of sales in the first five months. Most EV purchases are by corporate fleets, with actual retail demand likely …
We’re looking at multiple economic indicators like the yield curve and jobless claims to assess recession risks While an economic downturn is not here yet Risks of it are gradually increasing At this rate, we cannot rule out an H2 recession for sure — Bravos Research (@bravosresearch) July 2, 2024 All the "job openings" were …
CAUTION: Bitcoin has now broken back into its rising channel after spending 4 months above it Until the channel resistance is reclaimed, downside risk is elevated pic.twitter.com/joLSQk2hcA — Bravos Research (@bravosresearch) July 2, 2024
5-year correlation of USD/JPY v. 10y UST yield suggests 10y yield could head back toward 5%. Problem is US can't afford Interest, Entitlements, & Cold War 2.0 at a 5% 10y w/o more USD liquidity. Translation: Weak JPY is as much the Fed's & Treasury's problem as it is the BOJ's. pic.twitter.com/1LKDLWP1WV — Luke Gromen …
A recent report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies highlights an interesting paradox: while home prices soar and homeowners’ equity increases, many homeowners are still struggling with rising costs. Here are some key points: Equity Growth: The average homeowner’s equity has surged by $28,000 over the past year, reaching an average of about …
In May 2024, both Washington State and Illinois experienced an unemployment rate of 4.9%. While Washington’s economy added an estimated 16,000 jobs during that period, Illinois saw an increase of 12,700 nonfarm payrolls. It’s interesting to note that last summer, Washington’s unemployment rate was a record low of 3.6%. Washington State takes the 4th slot on highest unemployment rate along with …
by confoundedinterest17 In politics, it is usually discussed whether you are better off today than 4 years ago. Well, not if you are a renter or need to buy a home with mortgage financing. If you are a homeowner, you are better off in terms of home equty. With the Case-Shiller National home price index …
According to recent surveys, approximately 36% of Americans earning at least $250,000 a year claim that they are living paycheck to paycheck. This finding highlights how rising inflation is impacting households across the spectrum throughout the country. However, it’s essential to consider the nuances: some high earners may allocate disposable income toward retirement savings or college funds, …
Nvidia’s stock surge is fueling the tech and AI boom, driving up demand for data centers, which significantly increases energy consumption and strains local power grids, causing higher energy costs and potential blackouts. As the AI boom continues, the need for sustainable energy solutions like nuclear power is becoming critical to support the escalating energy …
67% of middle-class Americans express concern that their income isn’t keeping pace with the rising cost of living. This situation has led to what JPMorgan analyst Matthew Boss calls a “selective recession.” While upper-income consumers fare better, lower-income Americans are struggling to make ends meet due to elevated prices and dwindling savings. The pressure persists as inflation continues, …
NATO is currently in discussions regarding the deployment of additional nuclear weapons. These weapons would be taken out of storage and placed on standby. The reason behind this move is the growing threat posed by Russia and China. The head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, emphasized the importance of transparency around the alliance’s nuclear arsenal as a deterrent. While NATO aims …
This is something most people miss. Just because someone has a fixed rate mortgage it doesn’t mean their cost of ownership can’t increase. And if other costs do increase it’s identical to having an adjustable rate mortgage. At some point the owner has to sell. pic.twitter.com/t292RSSmCk — George Gammon (@GeorgeGammon) June 11, 2024 Fixed Rate …
Rubio’s Coastal Grill, a beloved restaurant chain known for its fish tacos, is indeed closing 48 locations in California due to the “rising cost of doing business.” These closures represent about a third of the Rubio’s locations in California, Nevada, and Arizona. Here are the key points: Reason for Closures: The decision to close these locations was influenced by …
by confoundedinterest17 Not so Sweet Home Chicago! After unexpectedly slumping last month to 37.9, the Chicago PMI index cratered even more unexpectedly in May, when it defied hopes of a rebound to 41.5, and instead tumbled even more, sliding to a cycle low of 35.4 which was not only below the lowest estimate, but was staggeringly low. To …
It's hard to understate just how unprecedented the scale of US fiscal stimulus is at the moment. Not only is the deficit massive for a non-crisis period, but its financing is almost entirely via very short-term issuance, which has never been the case before in a non-crisis time. pic.twitter.com/3mQWWPb7ds — Robin Brooks (@robin_j_brooks) May 30, …
The recent insights into consumer sentiment and economic outlook paint a complex picture of financial strain and diverging spending patterns across different segments of the economy. With 31% of recent home buyers citing financial challenges like budget constraints and high interest rates, it’s clear that affordability concerns are widespread and impacting major purchasing decisions. Moreover, …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmnO4O1MBdM The decline of our country is explicit. While 99% of our population is struggling to adapt to the rising cost of basic necessities, the top 1% of ultra rich Americans has seen their wealth increase by nearly 500% over the past four years. Though an America where some have more money than others is …
The recent surge in gold prices serves as a stark contrast to the cautious approach taken by wealth advisors, with a significant 71% allocating only 0-1% of their portfolios to the precious metal. What’s even more striking is the absence of any investors holding 10% or more in gold—an indication of underutilization despite its historical …
Republican Valentina Gomez, who’s running for Missouri Secretary of State, has posted a video on her social media telling voters not to be “weak and gay”. “In America, you can be anything you want, so don’t be weak and gay,” Gomez said while jogging though St. Louis in a bulletproof vest. “Stay f***ing hard.” https://twitter.com/_/status/1789843564177838145 …
Wages for the typical U.S. worker have surged since the pandemic, but for many Americans those gains are being gobbled up by rising rent. Rents jumped 30.4% nationwide between 2019 and 2023, while wages during that same period rose 20.2%, according to a recent analysis from online real estate brokers Zillow and StreetEasy. The gap …
President Biden Is Ready to Use the SPR Again If Needed. President Biden will use crude oil from the strategic petroleum reserve should the need arise, energy adviser Amos Hochstein has said, noting there was enough oil in the reserve. “We have been replenishing into the SPR for the last several months. I think we …
Fast food menu prices purportedly outpace inflation since 2014, but skepticism arises due to perceived inaccuracies in CPI data manipulation. Affordability strains are evident, with a significant portion of Americans sacrificing meals, vacations, and medical treatments to meet housing costs. Homeownership increasingly becomes a luxury amid re-accelerating inflation and the likelihood of interest rate hikes. …
Interest in selling a rental is rising. https://t.co/WeBG15EzoS pic.twitter.com/IyPj4PYDXc — Darth Powell (@VladTheInflator) April 26, 2024 Congrats housing market, March was the best you'll see for the rest of the year pic.twitter.com/pfpPm5YZJM — Darth Powell (@VladTheInflator) April 26, 2024
The intricate dance between economic indicators unveils a sobering reality: as US government debt skyrockets, Gold emerges as a beacon of stability, outperforming Bonds in a landscape of uncertainty. With national gasoline prices surging past $3.70 per gallon amid persistent inflationary pressures, concerns deepen over the prospect of breaching the $4.00 mark for the first …
Supply-driven rising oil price could potentially cause headwinds for S&P 500 pic.twitter.com/ghrmjBFAta — Win Smart, CFA (@WinfieldSmart) April 23, 2024 Twitter is the most bullish on the economy in more than 4 years pic.twitter.com/Ypo3Z8CAQv — Win Smart, CFA (@WinfieldSmart) April 23, 2024 S&P 500 Nears Worst Month in Over a Year as Rising Yields Signal …
Amid market uncertainty, retirement funds opt for safer bonds, while global managers increase commodities exposure to hedge against volatility. Amid market uncertainty, retirement funds opt for safer bonds, while global managers increase commodities exposure to hedge against volatility. Meanwhile, despite significant Federal Reserve rate hikes, US “super-core” inflation is surging, as per BofA analysis. Large …
Despite a surge in corporate buybacks, executives are offloading stock at a pace unseen in over a decade, raising concerns about underlying market sentiment and future prospects. The dwindling percentage of publicly traded firms witnessing net purchases from their executives, plummeting well below historical averages, suggests a departure from the norm in a healthy market …
Despite expectations of inflation tapering, the Federal Reserve’s favored inflation gauge surpasses 8%, highlighting ongoing economic strains. March’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) records a significant uptick at 3.5%, the highest since September 2023, with Core CPI outperforming forecasts for four consecutive months at 3.8%. Amidst this backdrop, concerns loom over the sustainability of rising power …
