Group 1: Market Performance - Tesla's stock surged by 3.6% following CEO Elon Musk's $1 billion share purchase [1] - Alphabet's shares increased by 4.5%, allowing the company to join the $3 trillion market cap club [1] - The communication services sector rose by 2.3% and is up 27% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 index's 12% gain [1] Group 2: Economic Indicators - U.S. and global stocks reached new highs, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq, Nikkei, and MSCI All Country hitting record levels [4] - The U.S. labor market is showing signs of deterioration, with the unemployment rate and weekly jobless claims at their highest since 2021 [9] - Average monthly mortgage payments in the U.S. are nearly double pre-pandemic levels, contributing to housing market pressures [10] Group 3: China and Trade Relations - A framework agreement was reached to transition TikTok to U.S.-controlled ownership amid ongoing U.S.-China trade talks [3] - A preliminary investigation by Beijing found that Nvidia violated its anti-monopoly law, impacting the company's market position [2] Group 4: Housing Market Challenges - The U.S. housing market is facing a crisis with a record shortfall of 4.7 million housing units, limiting labor mobility and economic growth [13] - High mortgage rates and soaring rents are exacerbating the housing crisis, leading to concerns about consumer spending and corporate profits [11][12] - Investment in the housing sector could create up to 1.7 million jobs and add nearly $2 trillion in cumulative GDP through 2035 [17]

`` By Michael S. Derby `` `` (Reuters) - James Bullard, the former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, said Monday he’d spoken last week with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about becoming central bank chair, and that he’s very interested in the job under the right set of conditions. `` `` “I talked to the Treasury secretary last Wednesday and his team” about the top Fed position as well as other issues, Bullard said in an interview with Reuters. Bullard, who is now Dean of the Mitch Daniel ...

Nigeria’s naira hit a near seven-month high boosted by stronger oil export earnings and foreign demand for the high yields offered by the local debt market ahead of possible interest rate cut next week https://t.co/Th2zSGNhuY ...

We have a busy week ahead of us in the stock market, though we already know the most consequential event awaiting market participants: Wednesday’s decision on monetary policy from the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). It is widely expected that the Fed will cut rates at this meeting for the first time in 2025; the FOMC had cut rates by 100 basis points (bps) in the final three meetings of 2024.There are two different trajectories complicating the Fed’s decision, based on its dual-mandate: full empl ...

Market Environment - The current market environment is challenging for investors, characterized by falling bond yields and mixed economic data, with the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield declining to 4.019% and the 30-year yield reaching 4.651% [2] - There is a 95% probability of a quarter-point reduction in interest rates at the Federal Reserve's upcoming meeting on September 16-17, indicating market anticipation for a potential interest rate cut [2] Economic Indicators - The Consumer Price Index in August increased by 0.4%, which is double the growth compared to the previous month, while annual inflation remains at 2.9% [3] - Weekly jobless claims reached 263,000, the highest level since October 2021, raising concerns about the labor market [3] - Analysts suggest these indicators support at least a 25-basis-point cut, with a possibility of a 50-point move [3] Jim Cramer's Stock Picks - The article presents 12 stock picks from Jim Cramer, host of CNBC's Mad Money, aimed at helping investors make informed decisions under current macroeconomic conditions [4] - The selection criteria for the stocks include recent mentions by Jim Cramer and the number of hedge funds holding these stocks as of Q2 2025 [6] Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) - Phillips 66 is included in the stock picks, with 47 hedge funds holding stakes in the company, indicating strong institutional interest [8][11] - The company reported a record-high refining utilization rate of 98% and an adjusted EBITDA of approximately $1 billion in its Midstream segment, moving towards a $4.5 billion annual EBITDA target by 2027 [9] - Phillips 66 is looking to purchase liquefied natural gas from the U.S. through long-term contracts, with Piper Sandler raising the stock's price target from $144 to $154 [10] Casey's General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY) - Casey's General Stores also has 47 hedge funds invested, reflecting strong confidence in its growth prospects [13][15] - The company reported Q1 2026 revenue of $4.57 billion, exceeding analyst expectations of $4.47 billion, with EPS beating consensus estimates by 15% [14] - Following a strong quarter, analysts raised the price target from $560 to $580, with Jim Cramer calling it his 'absolute favorite under-the-radar growth stock' [15] EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE:EME) - EMCOR Group has 51 hedge funds holding its stock, and its price target has been significantly raised after reporting Q2 2025 revenue of $4.30 billion, a 17.4% year-over-year increase [17][18] - The company revised its revenue guidance for 2025 upwards, indicating a strong outlook supported by high remaining performance obligations [19] - Analysts have raised the price target for EMCOR Group, with DA Davidson increasing it from $515 to $725, suggesting potential growth ahead [19]

Federal Reserve Policy - The market anticipates the Fed will cut rates this week, with debate centered on a 25 basis points cut versus a 50 basis points cut [1] - Data reinforcing labor market weakness and spillover into higher prices suggests a 25 basis points cut is more appropriate [2] - The Fed is expected to emphasize data dependence, making each meeting's decision independent [2][3] - There's a possibility of dissent within the FOMC regarding rate cuts, as inflation remains above the 2% target, around 28%-29% [16][17] - Structural factors in the labor force, such as immigration and the impact of AI, could influence the decision to cut rates [17][18] - The upcoming meeting will include the Summary of Economic Projections (SCP) and dot plots, revealing the committee's divisions based on incoming data [20] Inflation and Economic Data - Recent data showed a headline inflation number of 29% and core inflation around 3% annually [5] - Some consider the inflation data not "tame" enough for the Fed to definitively confirm movement towards the 2% target [6] Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Dynamics - Steven Myron's involvement raises questions about the Fed's independence [8] - The situation surrounding Lisa Cook's appointment and property disclosures adds uncertainty [8][9][10][11][12][13][14]

Your FOMC prediction?🔁 Cut ❤️ Don't Cut https://t.co/rcPT1VHTTE ...

Your FOMC prediction?🔁 Cut ❤️ Don't Cut https://t.co/zlDFyIXTkX ...

Trump predicted a “big cut” from the Federal Reserve this week ahead of a pivotal meeting at which the central bank’s governors are expected to ease policy for the first time in nine months https://t.co/jD6NrJvwMn ...

The economy took another hit this week. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report showing that consumer prices were up 2.9% in August from a year earlier. On top of that, revised numbers show that the US added almost a million fewer jobs than previously reported over the 12-month period ending in March. Should be pointed out that most of that period was during the Biden administration. And yet, President Trump continues to insist that all is well with the economy. In a post on Truth Social, he declar ...