News

Posted on August 29, 2024 by James Miller

Speaking at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium last weekend, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled an upcoming review of the Fed’s strategy while preparing for potential interest rate cuts in the coming months.  The review, the first since 2020, comes after a period marked by unprecedented challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, significant fiscal stimulus, […]

Posted on August 22, 2024 by James Miller

This week, gold prices stabilized above the significant $2,500 price per ounce mark as traders anticipate the Federal Reserve’s next steps. The prevailing expectations that the Fed will begin easing monetary policy with a 25-basis-point rate cut in September are supporting the gold markets. The price of gold has significantly increased over the past year. […]

Posted on August 16, 2024 by James Miller

Recent data on consumer prices suggests that inflation is easing, with the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) slowing to 2.9% last month – the lowest since March 2021. The monthly increase in consumer prices was a modest 0.2%, primarily driven by rising housing costs, which contributed to nearly 90% of this increase. Despite a general […]

Posted on August 14, 2024 by James Miller

The recent spike in U.S. inflation, which has persisted over the past three years, is beginning to decrease, largely thanks to American consumers. Companies like Amazon and Disney report that customers increasingly opt for more affordable alternatives, driving businesses to slow down or even cut their prices. Economists note that while consumer spending remains strong, […]

Posted on August 12, 2024 by James Miller

Private credit firms like Fortress Investment Group, KKR & Co., and Carlyle Group Inc. have increasingly invested in consumer loans across Europe and the U.S. This is amidst rising unemployment and economic uncertainties and is a shift as these firms seek new investment avenues due to compressed returns in traditional corporate financing. The industry, which […]

Posted on August 8, 2024 by James Miller

Stock markets are showing signs of recovery following recent tumult, with significant increases across major indexes. The S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Russell 2000 each rose approximately 1% on Tuesday, indicating a potential stabilization after Monday’s declines. Despite these gains, the overall market experienced five consecutive days of movements of at least 1%, the longest […]

Posted on August 6, 2024 by James Miller

Kohl’s is integrating Babies “R” Us shops into its department stores, aiming to establish 200 locations by this fall. Babies “R” Us, which went out of business in 2018, recently opened a flagship store at the American Dream mall in New Jersey.  This partnership allows Kohl’s to expand its baby products selection from clothing to […]

Posted on August 5, 2024 by James Miller

As summer temperatures soar, placing over 150 million Americans under heat advisories, air-conditioning companies are experiencing significant growth. Stocks of cooling company Trane climbed 40% year-to-date after a positive earnings report. The rise in temperatures is impacting the tech sector, with HVAC companies capitalizing on the increased need to cool energy-intensive data centers. This demand […]

Posted on August 1, 2024 by James Miller

Procter & Gamble (P&G) experienced a notable 5% drop in share price following its slowest sales growth in six years. Despite surpassing Wall Street’s earning expectations, the company reported a 7% decline in quarterly profits, totaling $3.1 billion. This downturn was partly due to decreased demand for products like Luvs diapers and SK-II skincare, particularly […]

Posted on July 26, 2024 by James Miller

According to a recent survey by Invesco, geopolitical risks have overtaken inflation as the primary concern for sovereign wealth funds and central banks, which manage approximately $22 trillion in assets. This shift underscores growing global uncertainties overshadowing economic pressures. The report, which surveyed 83 sovereign wealth funds and 53 central banks, highlights that escalating geopolitical […]