Good morning. Investors can do best with a simple investment strategy, like buying and holding...
It's the monthly jobs numbers today and they're not going to be pretty and will be possibly the tip of the iceberg as we head into May.
 | | |  | DOW 30,630.17 | -0.46% | | | | | S&P 3,790.38 | -0.30% | | |  | NASDAQ 11,251.19 | +0.03% | | | | | *As of market close | | | • | Stocks traded mixed on Thursday, with the Nasdaq shaking off a 2 percent drop to close green. | | | • | Oil traded flat, closing at $96.05 per barrel. | | | • | Gold slid 1.6 percent, last going for $1,708 per ounce. | | | • | Cryptocurrencies trended higher, with Bitcoin at $20,626 at the stock market close. | | | | | | | |
| | | Consumer Brands Have Pricing Power Here—Making for Inflation-Beating Investments Now | | | | Rising inflation has brought down stock values as uncertainty has increased. But a number of companies are able to raise prices and pass on the costs of inflation to their customers.
That makes these companies able to maintain or even grow their profit margins during multi-decade high inflation. Once markets stop their current downtrend, these companies could continue to pay off and reward investors in the future.
» FULL STORY | | | | |
| | Insider Trading Report: Thor Industries (THOR) | | | | Todd Woelfer, Chief Operating Officer at Thor Industries (THOR), recently added 1,225 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 1.8 percent, and came to a total price of just under $100,000.
This follows up on some recent buys from company insiders in the past few months, including two director buys back in June. Buying activity goes back to last December, with insider sales earlier in 2021.
» FULL STORY | | | | |
| | Unusual Options Activity: Transocean (RIG) | | | | Shares of offshore oil and gas equipment company Transocean (RIG) are down about 30 percent in the past year, even as energy prices have been rising. One trader sees the potential for a further decline in shares in the next 11 months.
That's based on the May 2023 $1.50 puts. With 308 days until expiration, 15,308 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 104, for a massive 147-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.25 to make the trade.
» FULL STORY | | | | |
| | • | Euro Hits Parity with US Dollar
The Euro has hit parity with the US dollar, and even dropped slightly below the $1 mark. That's the first time in 20 years that the currency has broken lower than the US dollar. The moves comes as inflation has remained stronger-than-expected, and investors have sought refuge in cash, increasing demand for the US dollar relative to other currencies. | | | | • | Fed Governor Suggests Larger Rate Hike This Month
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Wallers suggests that the central bank may raise interest rates by another 75 basis points (0.75 percent) when the bank meets at the end of the month. That's based on the data showing that inflation continues to accelerate with a new high. Markets are already pricing in either a 75-basis point move, or a 100-basis point move, a full percentage higher. | | | | • | Gates Plans to Drop Off List of Wealthiest People
Bill Gates is moving $20 billion of his worth to his foundation. He has previously pledged to donate the majority of his wealth to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. With a current net worth of about $114 billion, Gates is the world's 4th wealthiest, but plans to drop off the list as his charitable work ramps up. | | | | • | Amid Rampant Inflation, This Item Holds Steady
Since 1985, Costco (COST) has offered a combo with a hot dog and soda for $1.50. Even amid rising inflation, particularly food inflation, the company's CEO is continuing to keep the price where it is, opting to bear the increased costs of doing so. The company has no plans to raise the price on this combo. | | | | • | Instagram Creates Additional Features to Creator Descriptions
Instagram is expanding on its subscriber features following an alpha test in January. The goal is to have more subscription service options on the platform, to better compete with sites like Patreon. New features include subscriber group chats, and exclusive posts for subscribers only. Instagram is owned by Meta Platforms (META), also parent company of Facebook. | | |
| | | | TOP | | | QCOM | 4.512% | | | | COST | 4.13% | | | | LVS | 2.769% | | | | NXPI | 2.768% | | | | ADI | 2.708% | | | | BOTTOM | | | CZR | 7.551% | | | | CAG | 7.121% | | | | MRNA | 6.523% | | | | CF | 5.81% | | | | MOS | 5.755% | | | | |
| | |  | | U.S. inflation is above 9%, but it is the breadth of the price pressures that is really concerning for the Federal Reserve. With supply conditions showing little sign of improvement the onus is the on the Fed to hit the brakes via higher rates to allow demand to better match supply conditions. The recession threat is rising. | | - James Knightley, ING's chief international economist, on why investors should brace for an even higher rate of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve in the months ahead. | |
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