Young Research & Publishing Inc.

Investment Research Since 1978

Compensation was paid to utilize rankings. Click here to read full disclosure.

Are Investors Ready to Pounce?

By

Investors waiting to pounce? Not buying it. They finally have rates they can sink their teeth into. They’re in no rush to take on more risk. At least, that’s not what they’re telling me. In The Wall Street Journal, Jack Pritcher suggests investors are looking for more risk. He writes: Stocks and bonds have surged in November. With record investor balances in money-market funds, some analysts are optimistic that they have more room to run. Everything from technology stocks to junk-rated company debt has been rising after an encouraging inflation report reinforced bets that the Federal … [Read more...]

Happy Black Friday

By

You know how Your Survival Guy feels about money: save a third, spend a third, pay taxes with a third. Well, today, let’s focus again on the spending. One of the best ways to keep you motivated and in the game is to take some trips every now and then. Your Survival Guy and Gal just got back from Anguilla, celebrating our 25th anniversary. It wasn’t cheap, but it had also been 25 years since we were last in the Caribbean. That’s a long time. You know there’s plenty of bucket trips you want to take. Now is the perfect time to start making it happen. Action Line: Enjoy Originally … [Read more...]

Preparing You and a Loved One for Thanksgiving

By

Your Survival Guy’s here to help you prepare for Thanksgiving dinner. Not with the turkey, stuffing, or desserts but with the conversation. We all know the third rails of holiday conversation: religion, politics, and money. And not in any particular order. I think politics and religion have worn everyone out and are only brought up in safe spaces like away from the kitchen when you can say how you really feel or not. But not money. Money talk is thrown all around the table like dinner rolls. “Can you believe this economy?” “I’m buying…” “Looks like interest rates higher for … [Read more...]

Ford Tapping the Brakes with Slower EV Demand

By

Mike Colias of The Wall Street Journal tells his readers that Ford has restarted the construction of a battery plant it paused back in September, but downsized the scope of the project. He writes: Ford Motor F 0.20%increase; green up pointing triangle is moving forward on construction of a battery plant in Michigan but at a reduced size from original plans, citing a pullback in the outlook for future electric-vehicle demand. Ford in September paused work on the factory, in Marshall, Mich. At the time, the company said it was reassessing its ability to competitively operate the plant, … [Read more...]

How Low Can Home Sales Fall?

By

Your Survival Guy is watching as existing home sales hit levels last seen during the aftermath of the housing crisis. According to the hopeful economists at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sales will rise next year by 13.5%, and mortgage rates will pull back to 6% to 7% by Spring. All that remains to be seen. NAR writes: "Builders are back on their feet, up 5% in newly constructed home sales year to date," said [NAR Chief Economist Lawrence] Yun. "Builders can simply create inventory. In a housing shortage environment, builders are really benefiting." He explained NAR's … [Read more...]

“Inflation Is Killing Me,” He Said, “No It’s…”

By

“Inflation is killing me,” he said. “No, it’s not,” I said. “You have income coming into your account, a sizable portfolio, and yes, maybe asset prices are off, but the cash flow is solid.” The cost of everything has been up, but now deflation is certainly a risk to consider. What we worry about today often doesn’t come true tomorrow or the next day or year. May we all live long enough to be eaten alive by inflation. You’re still able to put food on the table. The key is to have a plan and stick to it. To look at your overall portfolio yield and how it did through some rough … [Read more...]

Young Americans Tighten Their Belts as Boomers Consume

By

Young Americans are getting hit hard by the interest rate tightening cycle. Coupled with the impending implosion of Social Security and the $33 trillion in debt their parents and grandparents racked up, the future looks hard for Millennials and Gen-Zers. In The Robin Report, Warren Shoulberg explains that despite the troubles faced by younger generations, Baby Boomers are still consuming. He writes: The boomers, we all know, generally never met something they didn’t think they needed to buy. All those idealistic values that guided them earlier in their lives — the creation of Earth Day, … [Read more...]

Israel and Hamas Conflict Spilling into World’s Oceans

By

Costas Paris of The Wall Street Journal tells his readers that an Iran-backed group took Galaxy Leader’s 25 crew members hostage in the Red Sea over the weekend. He writes: Iran-backed Yemeni rebels said they hijacked an Israeli-linked cargo ship with 25 crew members in the Red Sea over the weekend, heightening tensions in the Gaza conflict. The Houthis, a rebel group that controls Yemen’s north, said on X, formerly Twitter, that they are taking the vessel to the Yemeni coast and would continue to target vessels linked to Israel because of its attacks on Gaza. Middle East brokers … [Read more...]

What Do Plunging Metal Prices Say About Electric Vehicles?

By

Scott Patterson of The Wall Street Journal is reporting that mining projects are being delayed after a plunge in battery-metal prices. He writes: America’s transition to electric vehicles is running into an unexpected snarl. A surprising crash in prices for lithium, cobalt and other metals used in EV batteries is hitting mining companies, which are suspending or delaying new projects and expansions. The disruptions are threatening to deepen shortages of those materials in coming years and hit the brakes on the Biden administration’s timeline for weaning the country off gas-powered … [Read more...]