Retail sales surpassed Wall Street’s estimates in August, as investors keep a close eye on any signs of a slowdown in consumer spending. The data comes as the Federal Reserve’s two day policy meeting kicks off in Washington with the central bank widely expected to cut interest rates as economic growth data slows and inflation lessens.Retail sales rose 0.1% in August. Economists had expected a 0.2% decrease in spending, according to Bloomberg data. Meanwhile, retail sales in July were revised to a 1.1% increase, from a prior reading that showed sales increased by 1% in the month, according to Census…
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General Motors has shifted its focus away from traditional passenger cars, joining other automakers who are prioritizing crossovers and SUVs. This shift reflects the market’s current preference for these vehicle types. As a result, many iconic GM models from the past are unlikely to return, and defunct brands like Pontiac remain a distant dream. Among the countless exciting vehicles GM has produced over the decades, the Firebird stands out. This 1969 first generation convertible muscle car, powered by a V8 engine, is now seeking a new owner. While the specific output of the 350 (5.7-liter) V8 is unknown, it’s likely…
(Reuters) – Futures tied to Canada’s main stock index rose on Tuesday on expectations of a bigger interest-rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve later this week, while losses in commodity prices capped gains.The futures on the S&P/TSX index were up 0.2% at 6:12 a.m. ET (10:12 GMT).Markets await the Fed’s policy decision on Wednesday, and are betting on a 65% chance of a 50-basis points cut, according to LSEG data.The composite index hit a record high for the third straight session on Monday in anticipation of a bigger rate cut in the U.S.Domestic investors will also parse through the…
The Federal Reserve starts its two-day rate-setting session today, and economists are expecting the Fed to announce a half-point cut to its benchmark interest rate tomorrow afternoon, ushering in a new era of lower rates for savvy savers who’ve enjoyed historic yields since 2020.If you aren’t yet taking advantage of competitive interest rates on high-yield savings accounts, it’s an ideal time to give them a closer look. HYSAs are among the best ways to prepare your money for rate cuts, with FDIC-insured digital banks and online accounts still paying out up to 5.50% APY — more than 10 times the…
Image source: The Motley Fool Warren Buffett is one of the most respected investors of any generation. As a result, the actions he takes on his portfolio via Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B) attract attention. So over the course of the past year or so, something interesting has been noted from the company updates. Here’s what I think it means and what I can learn. Big numbers Put simply, Buffett is hoarding cash like never before. In the latest report, it showed that Berkshire had a cash pile of $277bn. That might sound like a lot of money… because it is! For…
Vehicle miles driven nationwide have jumped 12 percent since the pandemic lockdowns temporarily cleared out streets. Traffic congestion now exceeds pre-COVID levels, and even more concerning, it’s rising faster than when shelter-at-home orders ended in 2021. (City Lab) U.S. cities that want to fight the trend can look to Europe, where cities are taking steps like limiting where people can drive and investing in bike infrastructure. (Time) Complete Streets do make a difference — if supporters can overcome entrenched interests and budgetary constraints to implement them. (Transportation for America) Mail carriers are big fans of the Postal Service’s new trucks,…
In the world of finance, understanding and managing crises are crucial for maintaining robust portfolio performance. Significant drawdowns can erode years of accumulated gains. Therefore, identifying potential equity market drawdowns and understanding their economic implications is a key focus for asset managers. This post will explore a sophisticated identification methodology I developed in collaboration with Merlin Bartel and Michael Hanke from the University of Liechtenstein. The approach identifies equity drawdowns using advanced spatial modeling, which can be used as a dependent variable in predictive models. Understanding the Challenge: Drawdowns in Equity Markets Equity markets are inherently volatile, and periods of…
Tech-Branche: Optimisten und ZweiflerDie ganz große KI-Begeisterung scheint verflogen. „Die Nachfrage nach Technologie- und Halbleiter-ETFs ist zurückgegangen“, bemerkt Puschmann. „Tech-ETFs machen bei uns zwar noch ein Drittel des Umsatzes in Branchen-ETFs aus, es sind aber nicht mehr nur Käufe“, erklärt auch Mohr. Die lange extrem beliebten iShares S&P 500 Information Technology (IE00B3WJKG14) und Xtrackers Artificial Intelligence & Big Data (IE00BGV5VN51) würden jetzt in beide Richtungen gehandelt. Heinrich beobachtet aber noch Kaufinteresse an Cloud Computing-ETFs (IE00BMH5YF48).Thema Nummer zwei ist die Gesundheitsbranche, etwa mit Zuflüssen in den Xtrackers MSCI World Health Care (IE00BM67HK77), aber Abflüssen aus dem Invesco Nasdaq Biotech (IE00BQ70R696), wie…
NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Industrial Average set a record after a quiet Monday of trading, as Wall Street geared up for the most anticipated meeting of the Federal Reserve in years.The Dow rose 228 points, or 0.6%, to surpass its prior all-time high set a few weeks ago. The S&P 500 index, which is much more comprehensive and widely followed on Wall Street, ticked up by 0.1% to climb within 0.6% of its own record set in July.The Nasdaq composite slipped 0.5% as big technology stocks and other market superstars gave back a bit of their big gains…
In today’s video, I discuss recent updates impacting Intel (NASDAQ: INTC). Check out the short video to learn more, consider subscribing, and click the special offer link below.*Stock prices used were the after-market prices of Sept. 16, 2024. The video was published on Sept. 16, 2024.Should you invest $1,000 in Amazon right now?Before you buy stock in Amazon, consider this:The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Amazon wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the…