My Investing Muse (08Jun2026) Layoffs, closures and Delinquencies US-based technology employers announced 38,242 job cuts in May, the highest monthly total since August 2024, according to Challenger Gray data. Year-to-date, tech sector job cuts rose +66% YoY, to 123,653, the highest among all sectors, and 3x larger than transportation, the next closest sector. AI was the most cited reason for job cuts for the 3rd consecutive month, with 38,579 cuts attributed to AI in May alone, the highest since Challenger began tracking in 2023. This accounts for 40% of all layoffs announced last month, up from just 7% in January. Year-to-date, AI has been cited in 87,714 job cuts in 2026, or 22% of the total, already surpassing the 54,836 recorded in all of 2025 and 12,742 in 2024. AI continues to resha

Economic Preview: Key Data Releases (week of 08Jun2026) Housing Market Existing home sales data for May will be released, with forecasts pointing to an annualized rate of 4.08 million units. This will be an important indicator for the direction of the U.S. housing market. Inflation Indicators The main focus in the coming week will be the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for May. Headline CPI is expected to rise 4.2% year over year, up from 3.8% in the previous month. Core CPI is also projected to increase, with a monthly gain of 0.5%, compared with 0.4% previously. Another key release will be the Producer Price Index (PPI) for May. PPI measures inflation at the producer level and often provides an early signal of price pressures that may later be passed on to consumers. The forecast stands at 0.

My Investing Muse (01Jun2026) Layoffs, closures and Delinquencies More than 20 trucking-related companies filed either Chapter 7 liquidation or Chapter 11 restructuring cases during the past 30 days, according to bankruptcy filings compiled by FreightWaves. Low-cost holiday carrier Magnicharters filed for bankruptcy protection in Mexico City approximately a month after suspending all flights for what it initially hoped would be a period of two weeks. In China, northwestern regional carrier Joy Air filed for bankruptcy protection and entered the early stage of the restructuring process at the start of the week after canceling all flights back in April. Zenith Aviation in administration over “cashflow issues, unpaid debtors” - The Street My thoughts 1. The Realities of AI Implementation: Gov

Economic Preview: Key Data Releases (week of 01Jun2026) The following sections outline key macroeconomic forecasts and indicators spanning manufacturing, services, labor markets, and energy sectors, with particular emphasis on metrics influencing upcoming Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions. 1. Manufacturing Sector Indicators S&P Global Manufacturing PMI (May): The forecast is projected at 55.3, indicating continued expansion and growth within global manufacturing. ISM Manufacturing PMI (May): The index is forecasted at 53.3, signalling anticipated growth within the domestic American manufacturing sector. ISM Manufacturing Prices (May): A significant point of concern is the high forecast of 85.3. This elevated metric indicates rising producer costs, which are highl

Economic Preview: Key Data Releases (week of 25May2026) Market Holidays Hong Kong will be closed on 25 May in observance of Buddha’s Birthday. The United States will also be closed on Monday for Memorial Day. In addition, Singapore will be closed on 27 May for Hari Raya Haji. Inflation and Consumer Sentiment The Conference Board’s consumer confidence reading for May is due, with consensus expectations at 91.9. This would represent a decline from the previous reading and may point to softer consumer sentiment. Markets will be watching the Core PCE Index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measurement of inflation. As a key input into interest-rate expectations, this release could have a meaningful impact on market direction and volatility. Growth and Business Activity US first-q