Economy

“Inflationary Times Ahead: A Year of Rising Prices”

“EDITOR’S NOTE: The prospect of inflation is looming large in the minds of investors and economists around the world. With prices of goods and services on the rise this year, many are wondering if we are on the cusp of… Continue Reading…

Economy

“Annuity [Insurance] sales hit record last year, eclipsing sales during 2008 financial crisis amid fear, higher rates”

“Amid stock market gyrations, recession fears and loftier payouts, consumers last year pumped a record sum of money into annuities, a type of insurance that offers a guaranteed income stream. Buyers funneled $310.6 billion into annuities in 2022, according to estimates published… Continue Reading…

Banking

“Swiss central bank posts biggest loss in its 116-year history”

“The Swiss National Bank on Monday reported a loss of 132 billion Swiss francs ($143 billion) for the 2022 financial year, citing preliminary figures. It represents the biggest loss in the central bank’s 116-year history and equates to roughly 18%… Continue Reading…

Economy, Stocks

“Morgan Stanley says the stock market could bottom out next year..”

“…At base, Wilson says the S&P 500 is likely to sink another 20% before hitting a bottom near 3,100 during 1Q23. The index slipped into a bear market in June of this year, when the Federal Reserve began its aggressive… Continue Reading…

Business, Stocks

“Microsoft buys near 4% stake in London Stock Exchange as part of 10-year cloud deal”

“…U.S. tech giant Microsoft on Monday announced a 10-year partnership with the London Stock Exchange Group and took a near 4% stake in the U.K. bourse operator. The partnership involves next-generation data and analytics, as well as cloud computing products, according to a statement… Continue Reading…

Economy, Energy

“Gasoline is cheaper now than a year ago — and could fall below $3”

“Gasoline prices are now cheaper across the U.S. than they were a year ago, and the price per gallon could fall below $3 for most Americans by the end of the year. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon… Continue Reading…

Cryptocurrencies

“Crypto exchange Coinbase shed 85% of its value in a year”

“The market capitalization of Coinbase just dropped below $10 billion. This time last year, it was more than $70 billion. Why it matters: The amount of value lost in Coinbase stock is probably greater than the loss of value of FTX equity plus the loss… Continue Reading…

Investing, Personal Finance

“Average 401(k) balances plunged 23% year-over-year due to market volatility, Fidelity says”

“The average 401(k) balance sank for the third consecutive quarter and is now down 23% from a year ago to $97,200, according to a new report by Fidelity Investments, the nation’s largest provider of 401(k) plans. The financial services firm handles more… Continue Reading…

Economy

“40% of households will pay no federal income tax this year…”

“…Some 72.5 million households or 40% of households will pay no federal income tax this year, down from the pre-pandemic high of 60% two years ago, according to new estimates from the Tax Policy Center. In 2021, nearly 56% of… Continue Reading…

Economy

“Turkey prices are 73% higher than last year and might stay that way through Thanksgiving, commodities strategist says”

“The ongoing spread of bird flu will likely affect the price and availability of turkeys this Thanksgiving. Right now the price per pound of an 8 to 16 pound turkey is $1.99, up from $1.15 last year, according to USDA data. This is a 73% increase…… Continue Reading…