http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick? The Retired Investor/@theMarket Sun, 13 Oct 2024 00:03:16 EDT en-us http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4486 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4486 Fri, 11 Oct 2024 15:31:00 EDT Mixed inflation data, higher unemployment claims, steeper bond yields, the unresolved Israeli counterstrike against Iran, and jitters over the election kept the equity averages volatile throughout the week. Despite those worries, the S&P 500 Index and the Dow hit record... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4485 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4485 Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:44:00 EDT In the 1950s, nuclear was deemed the energy of the future. Unfortunately, the world's ardor for replacing fossil fuels with clean atomic energy hit a brick wall in the 1970s. It is only recently, after decades of false hopes, that we may be entering a new age of U.S. nuclear... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4484 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4484 Fri, 04 Oct 2024 15:02:00 EDT It was a week to remember in financial markets. Hurricane Helene, the longshoreman strike, Iran's ballistic missile attack against Israel, American drones shot down by Houthi rebels, and a massive gain in U.S. jobs — welcome to October.   All the above happened in just the... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4483 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4483 Thu, 03 Oct 2024 16:17:00 EDT The U.S. economy continues to grow, fueled by generous fiscal spending in an election year, robust corporate earnings, and a consumer willing to keep spending. The Federal Reserve Bank's loosening of monetary policy last month also promises to boost growth.   That dovetails with... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4482 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4482 Sat, 28 Sep 2024 11:32:00 EDT A week after the U.S. central bank's policy shift, Chinese authorities unleashed their monetary policy dragon. The move caught world financial markets by surprise and launched the Shanghai Composite index up more than 9 percent in three days.   The People's Bank of China... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4481 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4481 Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:29:00 EDT On the back of last week's half-point cut in interest rates by the Federal Reserve Bank, equities and many commodities rallied anticipating continued growth in the U.S. economy. Why, therefore, did bond prices plunge?   Normally, after the Federal Reserve Bank begins an interest... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4480 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4480 Fri, 20 Sep 2024 15:08:00 EDT The Federal Reserve Bank's half-point interest rate cut surprised investors and traders alike this week. The central bank also indicated that the markets could expect more of the same in the months ahead.   The main three averages soared on the news on Thursday and into Friday.... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4479 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4479 Thu, 19 Sep 2024 16:45:00 EDT Consumers have been bludgeoned for years by higher prices. In this era of inflation, discounts disappeared as prices of everyday items climbed higher and higher each year. It has been a long time, but value is finally returning in various consumer areas.   This summer could be... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4478 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4478 Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:50:00 EDT After two years of monetary tightening, the Federal Reserve Bank is poised to begin loosening its policy. Is the event already priced in or will the stock market celebrate with new highs?   It may depend on how deep a cut the Fed is willing to make. In my opinion, in the long run it... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4477 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4477 Thu, 12 Sep 2024 16:37:00 EDT The fertility rate in the United States has fallen by 3 percent since 2022. That is a historic low and marks the second yearly decline in a row. How will that impact the economy?   In the simplest terms, if you have lower population growth then you will have fewer people producing...