http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick? The Retired Investor/@theMarket Thu, 04 Dec 2025 22:58:56 EST en-us http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4600 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4600 Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:06:00 EST The COVID-19 pandemic was supposed to spell the end of the cruise line industry. These massive ships, crammed with sick passengers, were labeled "petri dishes" by the media, infectious disease experts, and politicians. Six years later, the sector is alive and... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4599 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4599 Fri, 28 Nov 2025 16:10:00 EST This holiday-shortened week is usually a good one for stocks. Volumes are lower, and as the week progresses, fewer participants are at their desks. Whatever the reason, markets recouped all last week's losses.   The pullback may be over. At last tally, the S&P 500 Index... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4598 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4598 Thu, 27 Nov 2025 16:55:00 EST Fifteen thousand U.S. troops mass on land and sea. Facing them, the beleaguered president of a nation 11 times smaller than the U.S. Will we invade and why? "I don't rule out anything," answers the president of the United States.   A near naval blockade surrounds tiny... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4597 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4597 Fri, 21 Nov 2025 15:10:00 EST Markets were poised for a bounce, and Nvidia delivered. The AI semiconductor giant beat earnings handily, and its forward guidance was even better. The company's stock spiked higher and then fell. Where Nvidia goes, so goes the market.    After four down days in a row,... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4596 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4596 Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:18:00 EST It was supposed to be about fentanyl, or was it replacing Maduro? The Sleeping Giant has returned, and make no mistake, Venezuela is the target. The stakes, however, are much bigger than most realize.   It has been a while so you may need an update on the definition. "Gunboat... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4595 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4595 Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:45:00 EST After six weeks, the macroeconomic data that disappeared during the shutdown will begin to flow once more. The question Wall Street is asking is, will it be good, bad, or indifferent for the markets?   Readers should pay attention to the slew of expected government reports that are... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4594 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4594 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:26:00 EST The president was correct last week when he stated that the cost of a Thanksgiving meal at Walmart will be lower this year. He neglected to add that this year's dinner contains six fewer products than its 2024 basket and only 22 items, compared to 29. I guess that is no... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4593 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4593 Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:25:00 EST It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Historically, November and December have been considered the best months of the year for stocks. The problem is that history has been turned upside down this year.   Take the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing a case on tariffs... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4592 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4592 Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:38:00 EST It is that time of the year when consumers begin planning for the holidays. It will also be a time when prices on almost everything are expected to rise. You can blame that on tariffs. After several months of absorbing rising import costs due to Donald Trump's tariff policies, American... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4591 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4591 Fri, 31 Oct 2025 16:27:00 EDT It was a classic case of "buy the rumor, sell the news." Even though the Fed did cut interest rates again and a deal between China and the U.S. was announced, investors failed to celebrate.   Markets were bid up in anticipation of these events long before they happened. A...