Alphabet rose sharply. The stock gained about 5%. Berkshire Hathaway revealed a $4.3 billion stake. Alphabet became Berkshire’s 10th-largest holding. The move came through Todd Combs or Ted Weschler. Apple’s position was trimmed by 15%. The market watched economic data. The September nonfarm payrolls report is due Thursday. It will be the first major release after the shutdown. A strong or weak number could shift December rate-cut expectations. Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson signaled caution. He said poli ...

Economic Outlook - The Federal Reserve has begun cutting interest rates in 2025, which is expected to benefit the average American and enhance borrowing power for businesses, potentially leading to a rise in stock market investments [1] - As economic factors converge heading into 2026, investors with low risk tolerance may seek stability, with certain sectors expected to provide safety and growth to hedge against inflation [2] Stock Market Volatility - The stock market is experiencing volatility due to tariffs, inflation concerns, and government shutdowns, with the volatility index (VIX) reaching 22.44 on October 10, 2025, after hovering between 15 and 17 points since June [3] - The VIX is described as a measure of institutional hedging activity rather than a fear gauge, indicating that while institutional investors may be cautious, they are not overly fearful [4] Sector Analysis Health Care - The health care sector is identified as poised for growth, with fair valuations and ongoing health needs due to an aging population, making it recession-resistant [5] - AI-powered healthcare platforms are projected to perform exceptionally well, with the market expected to reach $504 billion by 2032 [5] Retail - The retail sector, particularly apparel and retail stocks, is anticipated to show stability, with historical returns of 27.3% and 25.8% respectively during previous falling interest rate environments [7] - Consumer discretionary and luxury goods sectors may face challenges, but overall retail is expected to remain stable [7] Investment Recommendations - Companies such as Zepp Health Corporation, OptimizeRX Corporation, and Veeva Systems are rated as "strong buys," indicating positive investment opportunities within the health care sector [6]

The past few weeks felt like an economic black hole. Every month, we rely on a steady stream of official government numbers to make AP Charts and evaluate where we stand. But when the longest government shutdown in history began on October 1st, the data stream froze. That delay created uncertainty in markets, complicated decisions for an already divided Federal Reserve. That left us wondering when AP Charts would be back on the schedule. Now that government workers are back in the office, the data flood is ...

Billionaire entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” investor, Mark Cuban, is known for his blunt, no-fluff advice and surprisingly, much of it applies to people living on a tight budget. Cuban didn’t grow up wealthy, and he’s always emphasized simple strategies that anyone can follow, no matter their income. Trending Now: Warren Buffett: 10 Things Poor People Waste Money On For You: 6 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 Below are seven of his most practical money tips, with advice that works even if ...

Market Performance - Major U.S. indexes showed mixed performance last week, with the Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrial Average declining by 2.7%, 1.4%, and 0.5% respectively [1] - Investors are shifting focus from high-valuation technology and AI stocks to more defensive sectors due to market volatility [1] Federal Reserve and Economic Data - The end of a 43-day government standoff has reduced political risks, but delays in key economic data releases have created uncertainty for the Federal Reserve and investors [2] - The Fed is balancing economic growth and inflation, with inflation remaining above the 2% target and a resilient labor market casting doubt on December rate cut expectations [2] Zacks Research Performance - Zacks Research has provided guidance that led to significant stock performance, with Macy's shares increasing by 14.9% since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 on September 18, outperforming the S&P 500's 2.2% increase [3][4] - Fresnillo plc also saw a 7.2% return since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 on September 19, compared to the S&P 500's 1.8% increase [4] Zacks Model Portfolio Returns - A hypothetical portfolio of Zacks Rank 1 stocks returned +8.64% in 2025 through September 1, outperforming the S&P 500's +7.60% [4] - The Zacks Model Portfolio has outperformed the S&P 500 index by over 12 percentage points since 1988, with an annualized average return of +23.8% compared to +11.3% for the S&P 500 [5] Specific Stock Performances - United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) shares increased by 32.4% after its Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform [7] - Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) gained 35.9% over the past 12 weeks, while CACI International Inc. (CACI) returned 20.1% during the same period [10] Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP) - The ECAP returned -1.30% in Q3 2025, underperforming the S&P 500's +8.1% gain, and +2.72% year-to-date compared to the S&P 500's +14.84% [15] - The portfolio aims to minimize capital loss by holding shares of companies with a proven track record of earnings stability [16] Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) returned 10.9% over the past 12 weeks, while UnitedHealth Group (UNH) increased by 5.9% [18] - The ECDP returned -0.01% in Q3 2025, underperforming the S&P 500's +8.1% gain [20] Top 10 Stock Portfolio - MasTec, Inc. (MTZ) has jumped 41.2% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500's 14.7% increase [22] - The Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +2,553.1% since 2012, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's +545.2% [24]

White House National Economic Council Director uh Kevin Hasset. Good morning, Kevin. How are you.>> You guys had a great uh marriage session there. Marriage counseling session. I think there's hope for you two. >> There there's hope.We got maybe we cover the gamut. Uh professional optimist, professional u skeptics. Uh maybe the truth is somewhere uh in in the middle.Uh Kevin, and I I have been fairly optimistic. I when people come on about uh the US economy, I can find a lot of positive things. Um why do yo ...

Actuarial firm Milliman is attempting something financial markets have yet to pull off: turning one of America’s fastest-rising costs, health-care inflation, into something investors can hedge with a single trade https://t.co/H2NTaZ8HgT ...

Canada inflation cooled by less than expected last month, supporting the Bank of Canada's move to the sidelines after back-to-back rate cuts. https://t.co/CFnyGIs4ta ...

Nigeria’s annual inflation slowed to a more than three-year low in October, strengthening the case for another interest-rate cut when policymakers meet next week https://t.co/r1cx6VLw2n ...

Find out which banks are offering the top rates. Money market accounts (MMAs) can be a great place to store your cash if you're looking for a relatively high interest rate along with liquidity and flexibility. Unlike traditional savings accounts, MMAs typically offer better returns, and they may also provide check-writing privileges and debit card access. This makes these accounts ideal for holding long-term savings that you want to grow over time, but can still access when needed for certain purchases or ...