Month: June 2022

U.S. stocks just cemented their worst start to a year in more than half a century. But as the slowdown in the U.S. economy becomes increasingly difficult to ignore, the market for high-yield corporate bonds — often referred to as “junk bonds,” a Wall Street sobriquet for the debt of companies with less-than-stellar credit ratings — is flashing a warning.

It’s a cool breeze during a hot moment, but it’s not the summer weather. As record-breaking numbers of Americans pack their cars and travel to Fourth of July barbecues that will cost them more than last year, they’ll fill up at gas stations where they are likely to be paying just a little less at the pump. Believe it or

Hello! Welcome back to Distributed Ledger, our weekly crypto newsletter that reaches your inbox every Thursday. I’ll walk you through what’s going on in the current bear market. As usual, find me on Twitter at @FrancesYue_ to send feedback, or tell us what you think we should cover. You can also reach me through email to share your personal stories

News that resembles the plot of the 2013 sci-fi movie “Her” has made rounds in the media. Google engineer Blake Lemoine risked his career to try and prove to his peers and general public that LaMDA, the algorithm he was working on, had somehow become sentient. Lemoine was allegedly reprimanded by the tech giant for sharing the story with the

NEW YORK (Project Syndicate)—The global financial and economic outlook for the year ahead has soured rapidly in recent months, with policy makers, investors, and households now asking how much they should revise their expectations, and for how long. That depends on the answers to six questions. Six questions First, will the rise in inflation in most advanced economies be temporary

Commodities have performed well so far this year, buoyed by strength in oil on the back of tight supplies, but worries that the economy is headed for a recession has fed losses among the industrial metals. In Thursday dealings, the S&P Goldman Sachs Commodity index SPGSCI, -3.05% trades more than 30% higher so far this year, up nearly 2% for

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a host of major U.S. corporations described their efforts to exit the country. With the war about to enter its sixth month, the Moral Rating Agency has released new data surveying 114 of the largest companies in the world involved with Russia at the time of its Ukraine invasion. The Agency was

Hi! In this week’s ETF Wrap, you’ll get a look at where the money has flowed in the first half of 2022 and which areas are being fled by investors. For example, high-yield bond ETFs may wind up with their biggest outflows on record for the first six months of a year, according to Matthew Bartolini, head of SPDR Americas

Stephanie Walker, a Black retired nurse who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2015, has never been asked to participate in a clinical trial. But if the opportunity to do so came up, she would take it in a heartbeat.  “Give me the chance to say no after I’ve received all the information,” Walker, 63, told MarketWatch. “Let me

Starting July 1, workers in several states will be entitled to a higher minimum wage. Thanks to a law enacted three years ago, Connecticut residents who currently make $13 an hour will get a raise to $14. Meanwhile, non-tipped workers in In Washington, D.C., will start making an hourly wage of $16.10. Oregon workers will also start to earn a

President Joe Biden’s ambitious plan to address climate change hit a major hurdle as the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled to restrict federal reach in controlling emissions at power plants and beyond. The court, whose conservative majority has already shown reluctance in broadening federal agency scope, considered the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing

The miserable first half in financial markets comes to an end on Thursday. The S&P 500 SPX, -0.07% has dropped 20%. Government bonds have been no cushion, with the S&P U.S. government bond index losing 8%. Gold GC00, -0.36%, that supposed inflation hedge, has lost 1%. And don’t even ask about crypto. The only major asset that has really gained

If you’re an investor, one of your most important jobs is to diversify your portfolio. Find just the right mix of assets, and you can achieve what I call “peace of mind and a piece of the action.” But one size doesn’t fit everyone. Some investors want peace of mind above almost everything else. Others seem to want all the

The Lexus RX is quietly one of America’s most popular and important vehicles. It’s the best-selling product of Toyota’s TM, -0.92% luxury division year after year and one of the five vehicles luxury car shoppers are most likely to consider. Its balance of serene driving experience and dependable resale value is just about right. Lexus shouldn’t change it much. But it is time

This article is reprinted by permission from NextAvenue.org. Michael M. Kadish, 83, lives in Brooklyn, New York, and describes himself as being “in good health with a few ailments, nothing life threatening.” After turning 55, he developed arthritis, prostate problems, spinal stenosis and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). The prostate issue is under control with medication, and he takes medicine for

This article is reprinted by permission from NerdWallet.  It’s time for your teen to buy a car. You’ll want to set some ground rules. The last thing you want is to put your child into the driver’s seat of the wrong car. The best way to avoid disagreements is to set clear expectations and boundaries with your teen before the