The U.S. economy underwent a period of historic inflation in the last five years. While the pace of rising consumer prices has slowed in recent months, Americans across the country are still living with the cumulative effects of pandemic-era inflation. Indeed, the overall cost of living in the United States is now 23.6% higher than…
Live Updates Live Coverage Updates appear automatically as they are published. Manufacturing Slows Yet Again 11:02 am by Gerelyn Terzo U.S. manufacturing activity slowed for the third straight month in May, with the Manufacturing PMI coming in at 48.5%, down from 48.7% in the prior month. PMI is a reflection of status of the manufacturing…
Live Updates Live Coverage Updates appear automatically as they are published. Manufacturing Activity in the U.S. Contracts in May 10:25 am U.S. ISM (Institute for Supply Management) data show a third straight month of decline for the U.S. in May. This index broadly describes whether manufacturing activity in the U.S. is expanding (over 50) or…
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock has been hammered down by nearly 20% this year, and it could get worse. The first of two primary triggers is a possible 25% tariff on all iPhones imported into the United States. The other is that Apple’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy is considered a dismal failure. 24/7 Wall St….
“John, this is an existential threat,” Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) CEO Jim Farley told one of his board members, John Thornton, after returning from a tour of China. Farley visited the country in September 2024. Thornton knows the Chinese market. He was a banker at Goldman Sachs there. He had also been Goldman’s co-chief…
Live Updates Live Coverage Updates appear automatically as they are published. US Economy contracts 10:22 am U.S. ISM (Institute for Supply Management) showed a third straight month of decline for the U.S. in May. The index, which broadly describes whether manufacturing activity in the U.S. is expanding (over 50) or contracting (under 50) read 48.5…
The stock market has offered tremendous long-term returns, but the risks become more difficult to justify as you get older. A Redditor in the FIRE subreddit recently did something that would be unthinkable for an investor in their 20s. This individual sold off 8% of their portfolio. While that money won’t generate compounded growth anymore, the…
It certainly does seem quite prudent to fund a retirement or semi-retirement via dividends. Whenever you have the opportunity to spend just the dividends or interest without having to touch that invested principal, you can put those fears of running out of money amid retirement to rest. Of course, chasing yield with value traps destined…
Late last year, Lucid Group Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID) began production of its highly anticipated Gravity luxury electric SUV. The vehicle was touted for its impressive horsepower and acceleration, and for its long-range capabilities. The SUV is a driver for Lucid’s strong 2025 sales growth forecast as well. Also this year, the company announced it would…
Going for the trifecta as a dividend investor — high yield, fits your budget, and bullish analyst views — can be a tall order. Fortunately, there is no shortage of dividend stocks to choose from, and we’ve spotted a trio of them that fit the bill. Consider Icahn Enterprises (NYSE: IEP), AT&T (NYSE: T) and…
Key Points ETFs that can deliver strong growth with a large dividend and mitigated risk are the ideal “Holy Grail” investment for many. Although it isn’t perfect, JP Morgan Chase’s JEPQ comes close to meeting those parameters, due to the use of derivative strategies to create a dividend component for a growth index ETF. The…
Moderna Disables Comments On X Post Announcing New Covid Shot Amid Backlash Moderna shares rose in premarket trading after the company announced FDA approval of its new lower-dose Covid-19 vaccine, mNEXSPIKE, for adults aged 65 and older, as well as individuals 12–64 with underlying health conditions. However, the approval sparked backlash on X, with many…
It should go without saying that in today’s day and age, it’s perfectly normal to be concerned about whether or not you are setting enough aside for retirement. The hope is that you can set aside money while working so that you can both live comfortably and prepare for your golden years. Key Points This…
If you’re a young renter with a good amount of savings who’s constantly being nudged by your parents to “buy a home already,” you’re probably feeling the pressure to make the plunge into homeownership, even though you’re perfectly fine with renting. Of course, buying versus renting a home is probably one of the most common…
Futures Slide On Renewed Trade Turmoil As Gold, Oil Spike US equity futures are weaker along with Asian and European markets as the trade war escalates after US and China accused each other of violating the terms of their recent agreements while geopolitical uncertainty weakened investor confidence. As of 8:00am, S&P futures are down 0.3% with…
So far this year, Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) has unveiled a scam disruption initiative, adoption of its “Tap to Phone” technology has soared, and it unveiled its vision for artificial intelligence (AI) in commerce. Fiscal second-quarter results exceeded Wall Street estimates, showing that consumer spending remains resilient. The company also announced a $30 billion share…
Steel & Aluminum Stocks Soar As Trump Plans Metal Tariffs President Trump announced Friday that steel and aluminum tariffs will double from 25% to 50%, calling the move a cornerstone of his “America First” agenda to revive U.S. manufacturing. The tariffs, set to take effect Wednesday, sparked a sharp rally in U.S. metal stocks in premarket…
The hunt for the best credit card feels like a never-ending adventure that can take you down many different rabbit holes depending on your needs. For some people, it’s all about the cash-back benefits, while others are heavily focused on travel rewards and earning free flights or hotel rooms. Key Points This Redditor believes the…
If you’re in a position to walk away from your job and live comfortably before you hit Full Retirement Age at 67, congratulations, you’re in a great financial position. This is especially true if you are in the FIRE world, where the goal is to earn enough, as quickly as possible, to retire early. Key…
Passive income is characterized by its ability to generate revenue without requiring the earner’s continuous active effort, making it a desirable financial strategy for those seeking to diversify their income streams or achieve financial independence. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), passive income generally includes earnings from rental activity or any trade, business, or investment in…
Tourists Flee As Mount Etna Erupts In Italy Hundreds of tourists scrambled for safety on Monday after Europe’s most active volcano, Mount Etna—located on the eastern coast of Sicily near Catania—erupted, unleashing dangerous pyroclastic flows. Limited details have been released about the eruption, but footage posted on X shows the crazy situation that immediately unfolded: ❗️[ 🇮🇹 ITALIE…
Contemplating early retirement is something that everyone who believes in the idea of financial independence and the “retire early” movement should consider. It’s perfectly normal for everyone to want to set some financial goals they want to hit by a certain age, and if these goals happen to align with being able to walk away…
Trump-Endorsed Nationalist Narrowly Wins Polish Presidential Election In Poland’s extraordinarily tight and closely-watched presidential run-off election, a staunch nationalist conservative on Sunday defeated a pro-EU liberal in an outcome that promises economic and geopolitical implications. With 100% of the precincts reporting, conservative historian Karol Nawrocki had 50.9% of the votes, compared to 49.1% for leftist Warsaw…
24/7 Wall St. Insights Americans spent $4,312 on groceries per capita in 2023. Grocery costs vary from state to state, ranging from $3,274 to $5,507. While grocery expenses track with cost of living, many of the highest-spending states are in rural, otherwise inexpensive regions. Also: Discover the next Nvidia A gallon of milk shouldn’t feel…
Not everyone thinks of nursing home expenses when they are saving up for retirement. However, it’s a big cost that can catch many people by surprise. One person has a Roth IRA and a trust lined up for nursing home expenses. It’s good to prepare for those types of costs while staying healthy, so you…
Key Points By many measures, the world is getting hotter. While 65% of Americans agree the weather is changing, there are 685 counties where fewer than 50% of residents agree. Climate skepticism is highest in some of the fastest warming counties. Planning for an uncertain future? Click here to get started. In 2024, the average…
Key Points While more than half of all billionaires live in just three countries, the world’s ultra wealthy are less concentrated at the city level. There are more than 50 cities with at least 10 billionaires, and nearly 800 cities with at least one billionaire. Just two of the top 10 cities are in the…
Gabbard Says US Speech At Shangri-La Summit Shows Commitment To Peace in Indo-Pacific Authored by Catherine Yang via The Epoch Times, Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, said on May 31 that the United States’ message to Indo-Pacific partners at the Shangri-La Summit was a message of peace. “The overarching message is very consistent with…
The Tide Is Turning Against The Transgender Takeover Of Women’s Sports In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes (men pretending to be women) from participation in publicly funded women’s sporting events. “We will not allow men to beat up, injure and cheat our women and our girls. From now on,…
Reishi Mushroom: An Ancient Mushroom For Modern Health Benefits Authored by Ben Lam and JoJo Novaes via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Lingzhi (Reishi Mushroom) is a medicinal mushroom regarded as a precious Chinese medicinal herb since ancient times. It is well known for its benefits of “tonifying the five internal organs and prolonging life.”…
The best way to deal with market uncertainty is to look for stable dividend stocks. 2025 has seen market volatility driven by recession concerns and tariff uncertainty, and this is when a portfolio built with dividend stocks can make all the difference. I have built a portfolio of dividend aristocrats that haven’t disappointed me despite…
Live Updates Live Coverage Updates appear automatically as they are published. Stock Down 15% Since Last Report — Valuation Cheap, But Not Convincing 5:40 am Campbell shares last closed at $34.17, down 15.3% since the company’s Q2 FY25 results in early March. That earnings release included a downward revision to full-year guidance — a move…
Which Cities Are Investing The Most Into AI? As the global AI race heats up, a growing share of AI funding is being funneled into a few dominant tech ecosystems. This map, via Visual Capitalist’s Kayla Zhu, visualizes the top 10 regions with the highest share of venture funding in the ecosystem that went to AI-native companies….
Art by GPT, based on a portrait of Ida Tarbell One thing I’ve learned, in my time as a pundit, is that many people claim to have read books that they have not actually read. This is true of giant dense tomes like Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century, but also — perhaps surprisingly…
Will Russia’s Military Build-Up Along The Finnish Border Likely Be The New Normal? Authored by Andrew Korybko via Substack, This is a predictable response to Finland’s unnecessary and highly provocative decision to join NATO… The New York Times (NYT) recently published an article about how “Russia Beefs Up Bases Near Finland’s Border”, which relied on…
These Are The World’s Biggest Shadow Economies The world’s $12.5 trillion informal economy covers nearly every corner of the world, seeing the highest concentration in emerging economies. Yet in absolute terms, China, the U.S. and India are home to the largest black markets—covering everything from street vendors to illegal activities that evade governmental oversight. Overall, this generates…
British Voters Lash Out Authored by Jake Scott via The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), In the United Kingdom, a mini political earthquake has thrown everything up into the air. At the beginning of May, several local councils held elections for the county, allowing voters a say in how their local services are managed—bin collection,…
What Is American Conservatism? Authored by Roger Kimball via The Epoch Times, “To be deceived about the truth of things and so to harbor untruth in the soul is a thing no one would consent to.” — Plato, The Republic Let me start with the genus. What is conservatism? The answer? It is cheerful allegiance to…
Palantir’s Deepening Government Ties Spark Fears Of Centralized Surveillance On Friday the NY Times published a report highlighting the Trump administration’s increasing use of software from data analysis firm Palantir, which has been deployed across at least four federal agencies for the stated purpose of increasing operational efficiency through data modernization. For now, each deployment of Palantir…
Will Russia’s Retaliation To Ukraine’s Strategic Drone Strikes Decisively End The Conflict? Authored by Andrew Korybko via Substack, Ukraine carried out strategic drone strikes on Sunday against several bases all across Russia that are known to house elements of its nuclear triad. This came a day before the second round of the newly resumed Russian-Ukrainian talks…
Trump Admin Shuts Down Massive $66 Million Food Stamp Fraud Scheme A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) employee and five others have been arrested for allegedly defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) of more than $66 million in unauthorized transactions, according to Fox Business. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins called it “one of the…
In this economic/financial news report we discuss the dire state of the U.S. economy, highlighting the impact of rising costs, unfilled jobs, and the use of AI in the workforce. It warns of a potential future with drastically reduced job opportunities and an aging population unable to sustain the economy. The presenter emphasizes that many…
Suspect Who Set Multiple People On Fire At Boulder Pro-Israeli March In Custody Following Terror Attack Police said a male suspect was taken into custody after a Sunday afternoon attack that “set people on fire” in Boulder, Colorado, in what the FBI director described as a “targeted” act of terror. Authorities identified the attacker who…
256,185 Pounds Of Canned Beef Stew Recalled Nationwide Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Georgia-based Hormel Foods Corporation is withdrawing roughly 256,185 pounds of canned beef stew products from across the United States as they could be “contaminated with foreign material, specifically wood,” the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said…
Big Bank Boss Urges America To ‘Stockpile Bullets, Not Bitcoin’ JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon argued at the inaugural Reagan National Economic Forum in California that the U.S. should should stockpile guns, ammunition and drones rather than Bitcoin. “We should stockpiling guns, bullets, tanks, planes, drones, you know, rare earths. We know we need to…
14 People Charged In $25 Million COVID Relief, Small Business Loan Fraud Scheme Authored by Aldgra Fredly via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Fourteen people were arrested on May 28 for allegedly being involved in a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $25 million in COVID-19 relief funds and federally guaranteed small business loans, according to…
Kremlin Prepared For All-Out Conflict With NATO: Institute For War The hawkish Washington DC-based think tank, The Institute for Study or War (ISW), had just prior to Ukraine’s Sunday shock drone operation which reportedly took out some 40 military aircraft deep inside Russian territory issued a report saying President Vladimir Putin is prepared for war with NATO if…
“Everything Has Been Alarmist”: Bessent Shuts Down CBS Over Inflation, Says US Will ‘Never Default’ On Debt For months, all we’ve heard from mainstream economic pundits is that Trump’s tariff scheme would lead to absolute chaos; ports would be shut down, inflation would cripple the US economy, and markets would crater. The response was an…
The single biggest reason to take a cash-back or travel credit card is to earn as many points as you can based on your shopping or spending habits. With all of the different options available today, it’s almost impossible not to have a credit card that earns you some kind of benefits or rewards with…
Wall Of Confusion Submitted by Peter Tchir of Academy Securities Wall of Confusion I think that we have seen the word “uncertainty” far too many times in the past few months. While uncertainty had its time and place, maybe confusion is a better description? This is a natural evolution of last weekend’s Uncertainty – Main…
CT Dems Advance Bill That Allows Lawsuits For Turning Over Illegals To ICE Connecticut Democrats have advanced a controversial bill amending the state’s Trust Act to let “any aggrieved person” sue municipalities—including police and school employees—that work with federal immigration authorities, according to Law Enforcement Today. The Law Enforcement Today article says that the measure,…
