The Federal Reserve began the process of cutting benchmark interest rates in September 2024, as expected. That came after a long series of rate hikes it initiated in early 2022 to help cool off surging U.S.
» Read more about: Prediction: These 2 Stocks Could Soar if the Fed Cuts Rates Further in 2025 »
The bull market has pushed the S&P 500 up 22% over the past year, but historically, the popular barometer has averaged about 10% returns annually. One strategy to beat the index is to invest in companies that are growing revenue or earnings at higher rates. Stocks might bounce around in the near term,
» Read more about: 3 Brilliant Growth Stocks That Can Outperform the S&P 500 by 2030 »
Returning 25% in 2024, the S&P 500 delivered a record-breaking year for stock market investors. A resilient global economy coupled with interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve continues to fuel optimism toward a strong outlook. Investors have also cheered results from the technology sector, where developments in artificial intelligence (AI) are already proving transformative for various industries.
» Read more about: These Were the 5 Worst-Performing Stocks in the S&P 500 in 2024 »
There are 10 companies in the world that currently have a market cap of more than $1 trillion. It would be reasonable to assume that none of these businesses have bargain stocks.
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» Read more about: US consumers ‘resilient and strong’ in face of high prices and interest rates »
The bullet points we mentioned do all contribute to inflation. But there is another less popular explanation for this latest move higher: Maybe the Federal Reserve is getting its monetary policy wrong and should not be cutting interest rates.
Should that really be so hard to believe?
» Read more about: Federal Reserve rate cuts could create more harm than good »
Pumpjacks draw out oil and gas from wells near Calgary in September, 2023. America’s dependence on Canada’s natural resources may be a weapon to level the battlefield in the face of import tariff threats from President-elect Trump.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
To the extent that these things can ever fully be counted,
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After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it’s evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $310.0 and $575.0 for UnitedHealth Group, spanning the last three …
» Read more about: UnitedHealth Group Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment »
This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy, and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here.
There is renewed talk of a coal power comeback in the United States,
» Read more about: Has Trump changed the retirement plans for the country’s largest coal plants? »
