The S&P 500 bounced back in November as positive economic data, falling inflation and an impressive start to the holiday shopping season boosted investor sentiment. After a strong November, the S&P 500 is up about 19% this year and is within striking distance of all-time highs. Top 2023 stock market performers include health care stocks with unique catalysts and stocks exposed to artificial…
For some investors, particularly those in the withdrawal phase of their investment journey, the primary goal isn’t necessarily to maximize total returns. Instead, they are often focused on generating steady, consistent monthly income to support their retirement plans. To address this, a variety of exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, are available, each designed with a singular focus: to provide consistent, higher-than-average monthly…
Cryptocurrency has had a short, but volatile and exciting history. It continues to be one of the most hotly debated global financial topics, with 2023 adding more marquee news headlines. Some countries, most notably China, have banned Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. However, others are embracing it fully. Click here to learn all about it. This post originally appeared at U.S. News &…
Investing in emerging industries like space tourism often presents a tempting opportunity for those chasing growth. The potential upside can be significant, but the risks are equally high, so the road to success can be tumultuous and prone to disappointment. For investors keen on tapping into the potential of the space industry but wary of the pitfalls of backing a…
In an era where positive stock-bond correlations are becoming more common, low-risk investors are now in search of alternative avenues to bolster their portfolios against unforeseen market dynamics. Enter the realm of alternative exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, that go beyond the traditional approach. These “smart” ETFs employ sophisticated, rules-based methodologies – often reminiscent of those strategies utilized by hedge funds. Additionally,…
Artificial intelligence has the potential to make people’s lives easier with personalized product recommendations, meal plans and quicker access to relevant information. Investing is not immune: Some investors are turning to new AI tools for stock picks and advice on how to manage their portfolios. The popularity of AI tools is growing among investors, but are these developments beneficial for…
Short squeezes have been among the most popular and controversial topics on Wall Street in the past couple of years. In 2021, groups of online stock traders on Reddit made headlines by orchestrating targeted buying campaigns to trigger short squeezes in some of the market’s most heavily shorted stocks. A short squeeze is a large, short-term spike in a stock’s…
Investing in the stock market offers many options. Some people prefer to invest in smaller, more volatile companies with the potential for high growth, known as small caps. Others might choose to focus on companies within a specific industry, like technology. But for those who want a more stable and reliable approach, blue-chip stocks often come to mind. Instead of trying to…
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…