Ahead of their policy-setting meeting this month, Federal Reserve policymakers have been pretty clear about two things: They are not itching to raise interest rates, but few among them are ready to declare victory, either. And for now, even the Fed’s more hawkish policymakers are content to let the data play out, even as they monitor whether surprisingly strong consumer…
When it comes to technology index funds, the granddaddy of them all is the Invesco QQQ Trust (ticker: QQQ), the avatar for the closely watched Nasdaq-100 – an index that isn’t a pure play, but which defines many investors’ perceptions of tech. Beating QQQ is a worthy target, with a five-year price gain of 102.3% as of Aug. 30, nearly doubling…
There are few things investors can be certain of, but constant and steadily increasing demand for global food supplies may be one of them. Particularly after disruptions to global wheat and corn supplies after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, it has become clear that agricultural commodities – and thus agricultural stocks – are an area that’s worth paying close attention to as…
Cryptocurrencies have enjoyed a strong resurgence in 2023. Bitcoin (BTC) is up by about 78% as of Aug. 10, and Ethereum (ETH) has rewarded investors with a year-to-date gain of about 55%. Renewed interest in the alternative asset and institutional investors pouring into crypto have contributed to the rally. Investors can choose from thousands of altcoins to diversify their crypto portfolios. Cardano (ADA), XRP (XRP), Solana (SOL)…
In a great year for stocks, it’s easy to get caught up in the rush and pile into the latest fashionable trades. But what goes up often comes back down, and it can be quite costly to buy a stock that has already jumped 100% or 200% and then comes crashing back to earth. There’s no surefire way to invest…
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…