The S&P 500’s 2024 rally resumed in May as strong first-quarter earnings numbers overshadowed fears over slowing economic growth and potential stagflation. After a strong 2023 performance, the S&P 500 is up more than 10% year to date, and investors are hoping the inflation outlook will improve further in coming months. Top 2024 stock market performers include health care stocks with unique…
American retirees are gingerly making their way through their golden years, treading forward as all sorts of economic minefields surround them. Maybe that’s why 63% of Americans are more worried about running out of cash in retirement than dying, according to a new Allianz Life study. That’s where being disciplined and creative about low-risk but potentially high-return investments can help, even…
The global pharmaceutical industry will generate more than $1.16 trillion in sales in 2024, according to Statista. The oncology segment alone is expected to generate $214 billion in sales this year. The pharma industry is expected to grow 6.2% annually, reaching $1.47 trillion by 2028. Not only are pharmaceutical stocks excellent defensive investments in an uncertain economy, some pharma stocks…
Leaving money in a stagnant bank account guarantees that inflation will gradually reduce your purchasing power. Most bank savings rates don’t keep up with inflation, and even if they do, the interest payments get taxed as ordinary income. Investing in various assets can help investors beat inflation and reach their retirement goals sooner. Mutual funds and stocks are both useful starting points…
Stocks trading under $10 can be attractive for investors looking to scoop up some cheap shares. Unfortunately, quality stocks trading for less than $10 are few and far between. Stocks priced at this level can be a red flag for investors that something serious is wrong with a company. Many of these stocks have challenged underlying business models or difficult…
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell stuck to his script that it is not yet time to begin cutting interest rates on Wednesday in the first of two appearances this week on Capitol Hill. The Fed has taken interest levels to their highest in decades in a battle to bring inflation down to the central bank’s 2% annual target. Although significant progress has been made, prices remain…
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust’s investment portfolio is worth $42.3 billion as of Dec. 31, according to the trust’s latest 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Feb. 14. That’s up from $38.9 billion as of Sept. 30. What changed with the Gates Foundation Trust’s portfolio in the last three months of 2023? The trust pared…
Cheap stocks are attractive to many investors who have modest means. After all, the most expensive stocks, including Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (ticker: CMG), Autozone Inc. (AZO) and Booking Holdings Inc. (BKNG), can trade for more than $2,000 for a single share. If you’re looking for cheap stocks to buy under $20, then this list will provide you with a few…
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday did what everyone expected, holding interest rates steady for now. But it also avoided saying anything about what it plans to do with rates in the future, dashing hopes for now that rate cuts are in the offing soon. Those looking for tea leaves will, however, seize on the exact phrasing of the Fed’s statement that may…
Several of the major U.S. stock indexes are at or near their all-time highs. The stock market is soaring right now as investors look forward to possible interest rate cuts later this year. With inflation coming back down, the Federal Reserve is set to loosen monetary policy and that has caused euphoria on Wall Street. So is it too late to get…