The US housing market has taken a significant hit in recent months, with the total value of homes declining by $2.3 trillion, or 4.9%, in the second half of 2022. This represents the largest drop in percentage terms since the 2008 housing crisis. While home prices are not collapsing, it is clear that the pandemic…
Interest rate hike over the past 12 months, has taken interest rates to 4.5 percentage points, marking the most rapid adjustment in interest rates since the 1980s. It is widely anticipated that the FED will enact another quarter-percentage-point increase to the interest rates in March. The Fed officials have projected that the unemployment rate would…
The Federal Reserve’s latest meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) was held on February 23rd, 2023. The main topic of discussion was whether or not to raise interest rates by 25 basis points, with almost all participants agreeing that it would be appropriate to do so. While participants noted that inflation had eased…
Investors were once again on edge on Wednesday, as worries about rising interest rates caused the S&P 500 to experience its fourth consecutive session of declines, marking its longest losing streak of the year so far. The index fell by 6.29 points, or 0.2%, closing at 3991.05, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average also suffered…
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Thomas Barkin recently expressed concerns about rising inflation in the United States, indicating that the central bank may need to raise interest rates to a higher level than previously anticipated. With inflation continuing to run too fast for comfort, Barkin believes that the Federal Reserve may need to take…
The global economic outlook in 2023 is a mixed bag, with some countries and regions facing significant challenges while others are poised for growth and stability. Factors such as energy prices, geopolitical risks, domestic policies, and global trade dynamics will continue to shape economic trends and prospects in the years ahead. The economic landscape in…
U.S. Hiring Spree Continues, and the U.S. has added 1.1 million jobs in the past three months and stepped up hiring in January, despite rising interest rates, elevated inflation, and lingering recession fears. This growth is being driven by large, yet often overlooked sectors of the economy, such as restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, and child-care…
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans Retail Investors turned to the stock market, leading to a surge in shares of forgotten companies and the rise of amateur traders. Retail investors, who are collectively the largest holders of US equities, are becoming cautious about investing in the stock market in 2023. Despite a surge in shares…
Commodities, also known as raw materials, are basic goods used in commerce, such as metals, oil, or agricultural products. Commodities have been traded for thousands of years, with evidence of grain trade in ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia and Egypt. The modern commodities market, however, has its roots in the 19th century. In 1848, the first…