http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick? The Retired Investor/@theMarket Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:05:23 EST en-us http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4604 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4604 Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:55:00 EST Last week's half-point interest rate cut by the Federal Open Market Committee, overshadowed what I believe is an even more important development. The Fed has kicked off a series of what they called "reserve management purchases" by committing to buy $40 billion per month in... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4603 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4603 Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:29:00 EST Faced with the choice, the Fed considers unemployment a greater threat to the economy than higher inflation. It is why they lowered interest rates again by one quarter point to close out the year.   Stocks rallied on the news on Wednesday afternoon but fell back on Thursday and... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4602 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4602 Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:55:00 EST Whether you know it or not, Americans are drinking less. This year, the percentage of Americans who say they drink alcohol has fallen to a record low. But don't kid yourself, 54 percent of Americans said they still do drink booze, according to a recent Gallup poll, which has been tracking... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4601 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4601 Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:53:00 EST When the Federal Open Market Committee meets Dec. 9-10, it will decide to lower interest rates again — or not. The data is inconclusive at best, but stocks have rallied for more than a week in anticipation of a cut. Let's hope they are right.   The odds of a cut are over... 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...