Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell tried to walk a fine line Wednesday in the first of two days of congressional testimony between explaining why the central bank paused its interest rate hikes while also acknowledging that inflation is far higher than it desires. The Fed put a hold on its aggressive campaign of raising interest rates for what would have…
The global drone market is taking flight in 2023, with an estimated 38.6% compound annual growth rate from 2023 to 2030, according to data and consulting firm Grand View Research. Global shipments of enterprise drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are expanding into business sectors from real estate to emergency response to military security and defense. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence and machine learning have…
One of the words you’ll hear most when talking with experts about investing in commodities is “hedging.” Commodities have been historically viewed as a hedge against inflation because rising consumer prices are often linked to rising commodity prices. “Commodity-focused exchange-traded funds, exchange-traded notes and mutual funds are probably among the simplest ways for investors to gain exposure to various commodities without directly…
When I work with clients who are still in their working years, I encourage them to continue investing through thick and thin, in every market cycle. That’s a pretty easy process for those who can schedule automatic paycheck withdrawals into an employer-sponsored account, such as a 401(k). That’s known as dollar-cost averaging. It’s a straightforward investment strategy whereby an account…
The Federal Reserve increased interest rates by a quarter point on Wednesday, firmly in line with market expectations while also affirming that the banking system is “sound and resilient.” The move represents a careful balancing of risks for the central bank, continuing its fight against inflation while also seeking to assure Americans that their banking system is safe following the…
Corporate bond funds can be separated into two distinct categories: investment grade and below investment grade. The former generally have a credit rating of BBB or higher but have lower yields. The latter have much higher yields but take on greater default risk with lower credit ratings. They’re commonly called high-yield, or “junk,” bonds. Compared to investment-grade corporate bonds, Treasury…
The days of the internal combustion engine are numbered. Growing concerns around greenhouse gas emissions have sparked a shift in the automotive industry to the production of electric vehicles, or EVs. This rapidly expanding industry is currently locked in a battle for market dominance between three types of companies. On one side, dedicated EV manufacturers like Tesla Inc. (ticker: TSLA), Lucid Group Inc.…
The global artificial intelligence industry is expected to grow from $59.6 billion in 2021 to $422 billion by 2028, according to Zion Market Research. Virtually every industry is being disrupted by AI, automation and robotics. Whether it be machine learning, smart applications and appliances, digital assistants, or autonomous vehicles, companies that aren’t investing in AI products and services risk becoming obsolete.…
Consumers around the world are all too familiar with inflation by now. With inflation expected to stay elevated throughout the year, the Federal Reserve is taking a more aggressive stance to tighten monetary policy by moving to increase interest rates and tame the sustained rise in prices. The Fed raised the interest rate for the fourth time this year in July, representing the largest…
What stocks has Warren Buffett bought and sold lately? Each quarter, all fund managers with at least $100 million in assets must publicly disclose their stock holdings to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission via Form 13F, giving investors a rare peek behind the curtain of some of the world’s largest and most successful hedge funds. One of the most…