Asset returns were broadly negative during the seasonally low volume month of August. The Federal Reserve reiterated its commitment to fighting inflation and restoring price stability, despite the economic pain it may bring. Interest rates moved higher throughout the month, as market expectations shifted toward a higher-for-longer federal funds rate. [...]
Switching Gears SeatGeek, which sells tickets to live events through its mobile app, has raised $238 million in private funding after terminating a deal that would have taken it public. Founded in 2009, the company previously agreed to merge with a group that counts longtime Oakland Athletics GM Billy Beane [...]
Why Is Inventory So High? Prices have surged across the board during 2022’s record inflation, forcing consumers to adjust their spending habits. Instead of buying discretionary items like shoes, toys, and clothing, some consumers have been forced to prioritize spending on staples such as groceries and household basics. Thanks to [...]
Vacation season has come to a close. As the kids go back to school and you return to your normal day-to-day life, now is a great time to revisit your family values, evaluate the legacy you’ve built, and get your estate plans in order. To start, ask yourself a few [...]
Hiring 9 to 5 One sector of the economy that has no shortage of data points is the labor market. There’s high frequency data, such as weekly initial jobless claims, and widely covered data, such as non-farm payrolls and the unemployment rate. Regardless of the data point you choose to [...]
Deep Water Streaming Royal Caribbean (RCL) is bringing SpaceX’s Starlink internet service to its fleet of ships. The cruise line, which also operates Silversea Cruises and Celebrity Cruises, says the service will officially launch this Monday. Over the summer, it was tested out with a trial program which seems to [...]
Boosting Domestic Production First Solar is the nation’s largest solar-panel maker. It just announced plans to invest $1.2 billion in an effort to boost its US manufacturing capacity by 75%. Included in that plan is a $1 billion new factory that will be built in the southeastern US, on top [...]
What’s Happening Big changes could be coming as soon as next month to the Ethereum blockchain, which fuels the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH). An event known as “the Merge” is planned, and its backers argue it could result in higher crypto prices going forward. This upgrade will transition Ethereum [...]
Any time you can get a lower rate by refinancing one or more private student loans, you might as well. A lower fixed or variable rate, especially if combined with a shorter loan repayment term, may result in substantial savings. Refinancing federal student loans may also sometimes be a smart [...]
The All-Electric Push As the auto industry continues to move away from gas-powered engines, the biggest roadblock remains batteries. Made using lithium and largely produced outside the US, EV makers continuously face a battery shortage. This has raised the price of EVs and made it difficult for firms to boost [...]
