Black Coffee: Eyes Wide Shut

Group 1 - The overall rejection rate for any kind of credit in the past 12 months has increased to 24.8% from 23.1%, marking a new series high, with mortgage refinancing rejections hitting a record 45.7% [4] - A study indicates that only 40% of workers aged 61 to 65 are financially on track for retirement, with a median annual deficit of $9,000, representing a 24% shortfall in their funding needs [6] - Nearly 875,000 homeowners have underwater mortgages, the highest level in three years, attributed to softening home prices and elevated borrowing costs [14] Group 2 - The US is preparing $2,000 stimulus checks, while Japan and China are preparing stimulus packages of $110 billion and $1.4 trillion respectively, indicating a global trend towards monetary easing [8] - The 401(k) contribution limit for workers under 50 will increase to $24,500 in 2026, with higher limits for older workers, providing an opportunity for increased retirement savings [10] - The number of housing foreclosures has risen, with over 101,000 properties receiving filings in Q3, a 17% increase from the previous year [17] Group 3 - The three major stock indices posted significant losses for the week, with the S&P 500 and Dow down 2% and the Nasdaq down 2.7%, highlighting market volatility [20] - The "Magnificent 7 stocks" now account for over 36% of the S&P 500's total market capitalization, with NVIDIA alone contributing 20%, raising concerns about market concentration [20] - The US Mint has stopped producing pennies, a move seen as a sign of the declining value of the US dollar, which costs 3.7 cents to produce [25][30]