The Daily

The Nasdaq 100 is approaching a level versus the S&P 500 that could trigger the unwinding of the trade favoring US equities, according to Bank of America Corp. strategists.

Relative pricing for the tech-heavy index over the S&P 500 is holding above a high reached in 2000, “keeping investors comfortably long US tech stocks and US dollar,” said a BofA team led by Michael Hartnett.

 » Read more about: BofA Watches Tech for Signs Investors Are Souring on US Stocks  »

• Goldman Sachs predicts the S&P 500 will reach 6,500 in 2025.

• The bank cited Donald Trump’s “The Art of the Deal” as a roadmap for investing tips.

• Investors should broaden out and focus on opportunities in mid-caps, mergers,

 » Read more about: 4 investing tips from Trump's 'Art of the Deal' that apply in 2025, Goldman Sachs says  »

When President-elect Donald Trump takes office starting Jan. 20, major changes could impact the lives of Americans if he begins to move forward on following through with ambitious election campaign promises.

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• Commercial real estate has beaten the stock market for 25 years — here’s how savvy investors can become the landlord of Walmart,

 » Read more about: I'm 68 and rely on Social Security for retirement income — what might a Trump presidency mean for my benefits?  »

Mutual fund investment:  Around 80% of equities mutual funds have surpassed their benchmarks. The Assets Under Management (AUM) of stock mutual funds decreased by 4.03% sequentially, from Rs 26,43,291 crore in September 2024 to Rs 25,36,803 crore in October 2024, excluding Sectoral/Thematic Funds, a recent performance review conducted by PL Wealth Management stated.

 » Read more about: Mutual funds in 2024: 80% of equity MFs beat their respective benchmarks; check funds that outperformed  »

It’s always fascinating to see what big-name investors in the US have been doing. Every quarter, we get to peek behind the curtain through ‘13F’ regulatory filings, which show what they were buying and selling in the previous quarter. Unsurprisingly, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is very closely watched.

In Q3, one big move made by Buffett — or more likely one of his investing lieutenants,

 » Read more about: Billionaire Warren Buffett just bought shares of Domino’s Pizza. Should I grab a slice?  »

The 2022 stock market correction created countless buying opportunities for contrarian investors. While the British stock market proved fairly resilient, US stocks weren’t so fortunate.

But as most were panicking, these long-term-minded individuals were able to snap up terrific companies at dirt cheap prices. And today, they’re laughing with plenty of top-notch stocks already up by triple digits from their correction lows.

 » Read more about: 2025 stock market recovery: a once-in-a-decade chance to get rich?  »

• BofA is watching how the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 is trading against the S&P 500.

• It says a decline in the ratio between the two indexes could signal the end of the “US exceptionalism”

 » Read more about: Tech stocks are reaching a key threshold that could spell the end of 'US exceptionalism' trades, BofA says  »

Dividends can be an excellent way to generate passive income no matter what the stock market is doing. The best dividend-paying companies reward long-term investors with a blend of dividend income and capital gains. Still, there are some nuances to dividend investing worth considering.

Some folks prefer steady and ultra-reliable companies like Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) or Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE: APD).

 » Read more about: Like Passive Income? Then You'll Love These 3 Dividend Stocks.  »

Seniors awaiting an increase in their Social Security checks next year may be upset to discover that a chunk of that extra money is already spoken for.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that 2025 monthly Part B premiums will climb to $185, an increase of $10.30 from $174.70 in 2024.

 » Read more about: Medicare premiums rise for 2025, nicking retirees' Social Security checks  »

Cathie Wood of Ark Invest is best known for her high conviction in emerging themes, disrupting sectors such as technology or life sciences. While Wood has earned her share of media coverage, I’ll admit that sometimes I find her investment takes to be somewhat far-fetched.

Recently, I noticed that Ark Invest has added a significant chunk to its position in electric takeoff and landing company Archer Aviation (ACHR 4.50%).

 » Read more about: Cathie Wood Can't Stop Buying Archer Aviation Stock. Should You Invest While It's Still Below $5?  »