Here are this week's investing and economic insights: #MarketTrends China's Economic Doomsday: Are Your Investments Safe? China's economy is facing significant challenges with six key indicators flashing red. GDP growth has slowed to 0.8% in Q2, exports declined, the Consumer Price Index fell into deflation, youth unemployment surged to 21.3%, the yuan hit a 16-year low against the USD, and new loans decreased dramatically. These issues pose a risk to global economic growth. Click here for bigger image>> image The Insight: How To Find The Opportunities Investors should consider cautious approaches to Chinese st

As the post-pandemic recovery chugs along, the global economy is set to see major changes in the coming decades. Most significantly, China is forecast to pass the United States to become the largest economy globally.The world’s economic center has long been drifting from Europe and North America over to Asia. This global shift was kickstarted by lowered trade barriers and greater economic freedom, which attracted foreign direct investment (FDI). Another major driving factor was the improvements in infrastructure and communications, and a general increase in economic complexity in the region.How Will the Global Economy Look in 2031?By the year 2031, there will be major changes in the global economic power rankings.The visualization uses data from the 13th edition of World Economic League Ta

The Federal Reserve's aggressive tightening has caused tech stocks to sharply fall in 2022. (read more down until the end for a free giveaway) It shook up the membership of the trillion dollar market cap club. The previous member who were dethroned (including their market cap in US dollar):: 1. Amazon - 0.91 trillion 2. Tesla - 0.675 trillion 3. Meta - 0.236 trillion The four current members of this exclusive club are (including their market cap in US dollar): 1. Apple - 2.21 trillion 2. Aramco - 1.02 trillion 3. Microsoft - 1.60 trillion 4. Alphabet/Google - 1.08 trillion For the time being, Apple, Microsoft, and Aramco are all well above the $1 trillion mark. But Alphabet's trajectory could knock it off the list if things don't change soon. GOOGLE Google has stated that the decline in c

Here are this week's investing and economic insights: #MarketTrends Major Asset Classes Are Outpeformed by S&P500 The S&P 500 has outperformed other major asset classes from 1970 to 2023, turning a $100 investment into $22,419. Corporate bonds and gold also saw substantial growth, while real estate returns were more modest. image The Insight: How To Find The Opportunities The historical performance of the S&P 500 suggests strong long-term returns. Corporate bonds and gold offer diversification, while real estate provides steady, if slower, growth. Help us spread the word. Forward this email to your friends and family. Were you forwarded the email? Sign up>>

Central banks around the world are getting involved in digital currencies, but some are further ahead than others.In this map, using the data from the Atlantic Council’s Currency Tracker to visualize the state of each central banks’ digital currency effort.A major benefit of government-issued digital currencies is that they can improve access for underbanked people.This is not a huge issue in developed countries like the U.S., but many people in developing nations have no access to banks and other financial services (hence the term underbanked).As the number of internet users continues to climb, digital currencies represent a sound solution.Just 9% of countries have launched a digital currency to date.This includes Nigeria, which became the first African country to do so in October 2021. H

Shocking news this week: #MarketTrends Investor Alert: The Hidden Dangers of Market Timing! Timing the stock market is challenging. Investors often sell early, missing out on rallies, while staying invested through highs and lows yields better returns. Missing just a few best days can significantly impact gains. Over 20 years, a buy-and-hold strategy yielded 9.8% annual returns, while missing 10 best days led to +5.6%, and missing 60 days to -4.2%. Best days occur during bear markets, making market-timing hard. Staying invested benefits due to market turmoil's best days. Consistency and skill are needed for successful market timing. image The Insight: How To Find The Opportunities Based on the data, the investment opportunity that can be inferred is to adopt a long-term, buy-and-hold inves

The goalposts of wealth are always shifting due to inflation and other factors.For example, someone with a net worth of $1 million several decades ago would have been considered very wealthy.According to recent survey results, however, $1 million is only enough to feel “financially comfortable” today.This shows the power of inflation, where it eats your money's purchasing power over time.Even bank interest will not help you much to combat this, if you put money in the bank.Investing is key in keeping your purchasing power higher than inflation.In this infographic, we’ve visualized several money milestones to give you a better idea of what it really takes to be wealthy in America.What it takes to be in California’s top 1%, $6.8MWhat it takes to be in America’s top 1

Throw away Your Past Winning Investment Strategies; World Bank Report said The World Bank’s latest report forecasts global growth to retract in 2023 to 1.7% from 2.9%, noting the challenges of ongoing tightening of monetary policy to curb inflation and the impacts of the Russian/Ukrainian conflict. The report also highlighted the significantly weaker prospects for advanced economies, which is unlikely to be the source of global growth in 2023. Q4 Earnings Season Fourth quarter earnings season is now under way and analysts are expecting 7 sectors to report an annual decline in earnings. Companies are now beginning to cut costs (mainly via job cuts) so when the earnings recession does end it may be due to lower costs rather than rising sales - ie. earnings may improve before the economy doe

Here are this week's investing and economic insights: #MarketTrends How to Invest Like a Pro in 2024 Top investment banks, including Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and UBS, offer a consensus on 2024 strategies. Despite risks, they advise against holding cash, favoring quality bonds and stocks. With interest rates peaking, institutions like BlackRock and Bank of America see value in inflation-linked bonds. Large-cap equities with strong balance sheets are favored, especially in a "higher rates for longer" environment. Artificial intelligence emerges as a key opportunity, with a focus on tech sectors. Global diversification targets India, Mexico, and Japan, recognizing growth catalysts amid geopolitical shifts image The Insight: How To Find The Opportunities Quality Bonds and Stocks: Prioritiz

Here are this week's investing and economic insights: #MarketTrends Is a Recession Looming in 2024? Experts Weigh In! Amid recession fears, U.S. economic forecasts for 2024 diverge. The Federal Reserve is optimistic, with a 0% recession probability, but the yield curve suggests a 61% chance. Economists are divided at 48%, while consumers are cautious at 69%. Goldman Sachs is optimistic at 15%, but CEOs prepare for a recession (84%). The Insight: How To Find The Opportunities Investors can consider diversified portfolios, including bonds and defensive stocks, given the uncertainty. Monitor interest rate impacts on consumer spending and corporate defaults. Seek investments in resilient sectors like major retailers. Stay cautious but open to opportunities depending on economic developments.

Interesting news this week for you: #MarketTrends Top 100 Brands in 2023 The Brand Finance Top 100 Brands in 2023 report reveals the most valuable companies globally based on brand equity. Amazon takes the lead with a $299 billion brand value, followed closely by Apple at $298 billion. Tech dominates, with 19.4% of the total brand value, while retail and media follow. Despite some tech giants' decline, the industry maintains a combined worth of $891 billion. BYD, a Chinese EV firm, experiences the sharpest rise with a 57% increase in brand value. ConocoPhillips and United Airlines also see significant gains. Clic

(16 min read) This article will analyze Tesla stock, focusing on providing a comprehensive overview of the company, its financial performance, and potential investment opportunities. By examining the stock, this article aims to help individuals make informed investment decisions and better understand the stock market. Is it a Good Time to Invest in Tesla Stock? The current market conditions for Tesla stock seem to be fluctuating. On January 31st, 2023, the stock price increased by 3.94% and went from $166.66 to $173.22 [1]. However, over the past month (21 trading days), the stock has declined by roughly 19% [2]. These market conditions can impact the decision to invest in Tesla stock. Company performance: Tesla recently announced its Q3 2022 earnings, and as of November 22nd, 2022, E

Here are this week's investing and economic insights: #MarketTrends Bitcoin’s Value Set to Skyrocket Post-Halving? In April 2024, Bitcoin’s mining reward will halve from ₿6.25 to ₿3.125. This event, known as halving, is significant for the cryptocurrency. Bitcoin’s blockchain, which records all transactions, rewards miners with Bitcoin for validating transactions. The Bitcoin network has a maximum limit of 21 million Bitcoins, with the mining reward halving approximately every four years. Despite initial revenue drops for miners after each halving, the value of Bitcoin tends to appreciate, compensating for the reduced quantity. image The Insight: How To Find The Opportunities The upcoming Bitcoin halving could present an investment opportunity. Historically, Bitcoin’s value has appreciate

#MarketTrends Investing in BRICS: The Next Big Opportunity? The IMF’s 2024 GDP growth forecasts reveal a mixed outlook for major nations. While global growth remains steady at 3.2%, several G7 and BRICS countries are projected to experience slower growth in 2024. China and India maintain high growth rates, but China’s pace has slowed. BRICS nations, despite lower forecasts, still outpace the G7 average. BRICS’ expansion faces challenges, but it aims to surpass the G7’s economic size in the coming decades. image The Insight: How To Find The Opportunities China and India: Consider investments in sectors aligned with their growth (e.g., technology, consumer goods). BRICS Nations: Monitor opportunities in emerging markets, especially sectors showing resilience. G7 Nations with Positive Growth

High energy prices are being driven by geopolitical tensions, while supply-side disruptions are also distorting consumer prices.  As a result, nearly half of the world's countries are experiencing double-digit inflation or higher. Some are even experiencing triple-digit inflation.  Zimbabwe, Lebanon, and Venezuela have the highest rates worldwide. As long as inflation remains aggressively high, central banks may continue to shift towards hawkish policies in 2023. So far, 33 of the 38 central banks tracked by the Bank of International Settlements have raised interest rates this year.  These coordinated rate increases are the largest in two decades, signalling the end of an era of ultra-low interest rates. Today , we are going to list the top 10 for reference (Country vs infla

Here are this week's investing and economic insights: #MarketTrends Fed’s Rate Cut: Boon or Bane for Investors? The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates in 2024, following a series of hikes in 2022. Institutions predict the first cut around mid-year, with total cuts around 100-125 basis points. Past rate cuts have often led to recessions, but the Fed Chair is hopeful of avoiding this outcome. image The Insight: How To Find The Opportunities Anticipated rate cuts could make bonds more attractive as yields fall. Stocks, particularly in sectors sensitive to interest rates like real estate and utilities, may also benefit. However, investors should monitor economic indicators for signs of a potential recession. Help us spread the word. Forward this post to your friends and family.

#MarketTrends Top 10 Expensive Cities: Can You Afford Them? Housing affordability in 2024 is assessed across 94 markets in eight countries, highlighting the most unattainable cities based on median price-to-income ratios. Hong Kong tops the list with a ratio of 16.7. Conversely, Pittsburgh is the most affordable at 3.1. Cities with ratios above 9.0 are deemed "impossibly unaffordable." image The Insight: How To Find The Opportunities Consider investing in real estate companies and REITs in cities with high median price-to-income ratios (e.g., Hong Kong, Sydney). They may offer solid returns due to demand. Conversely, lower-ratio cities (e.g., Pittsburgh) might present opportunities for development and growth investments. Help us spread the word. Forward this post to your friends and family

SPDR - 30 Years Performance The ETF industry marked its 30th anniversary since the world's first ETF (SPDR S&P 500 Trust) was launched in 1993. For the first time, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, which tracks the benchmark U.S. stock index, allowed investors to buy and sell hundreds of stocks through a single publicly traded share. Since the 1st ETF inception, there have been thousands ETF creations and closures, cementing its popularity as an investment vechicle. PASSIVE INVESTING AND DIVERSIFICATION The SPDR ETF and subsequent funds popularized the concept of simply following the market, also known as passive investing. ETFs offer investors a low cost way to invest in different "themes" or track indexes, with ETFs attracting the bulk of inflows at the expense of mutual fun

A strong brand has the ability to generate enormous value over time. This helps with deciding which company and sector to consider investing in. The annual Global 500 have released its report valuing 100 brand's bottom line. Here, we are going to list the top 10 (value are in billions of dollar) 1. Apple - 355.1B 2. Amazon - 350.3B 3. Google - 263.4B 4. Microsoft - 184.2B 5. Walmart - 111.9B 6. Samsung Group - 107.3B 7. Facebook - 101.2B 8. ICBC - 75.1B 9. Huawei - 71.2B 10. Verizon - 69.6B Some noteworthy mentions: Apple retains its top spot as the world's most valuable brand, with a total brand value of $335.1 billion, up 35% from last year's report. This is the highest brand value ever recorded in the Global 500 report's history, which has been published annually since 2007.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the effects of energy supply disruptions are cascading across everything from food prices to electricity to consumer sentiment. In response to soaring prices, many OECD countries are tapping into their strategic petroleum reserves. In fact, since March, the U.S. has sold a record one million barrels of oil per day from these reserves. This, among other factors, has led gasoline prices to fall more recently—yet deficits could follow into 2023, causing prices to increase. With data from the World Bank, the infographic charts energy shocks over the last half century and what this means for the global economy looking ahead. Since World War II, oil price shocks have been a major constraint on economic growth. As the war in Ukraine continues, th