01-JANUARY 05-2023

Good morning.
Economic data is often mixed – with bad news appearing amid general prosperity, and good news occurring amid calamities.  The past year has seen the Federal Reserve aggressively raise interest rates to bring down inflation.
In real terms, they’re not there yet.  But they could be close.  Year-over-year numbers should start to show some big declines.  That will give the central bank a reason to pause.  However, some data remains stubborn.  The Fed wants to see higher unemployment, to ensure that inflationary pressures truly remain down.  But the latest job data shows a high record of job openings available.
Until this trend plays out more clearly, traders should continue to expect market volatility – and for stocks to largely keep trending lower until the Fed changes its tune.

Now here’s the rest of the news:

11 Predictions About What Will Happen In 2023
There is a growing consensus that 2023 is going to be a miserable year for the U.S. economy and for the global economy as a whole.  In fact, in all the years that I have been writing I have never seen so many big names on Wall Street be so… [Read Here]

Experts: Today’s Cheap Gas Won’t Last
With some regions of America enjoying gasoline prices below $3 a gallon after a summer that saw the national average exceed $5 for the very first time, it’s tempting to lull oneself into thinking cheap gas will last.  In fact, it won’t last for very much longer… [Read Here]

January 05, 2022

Good morning.
OPEC+, a group constitution of OPEC and Russia, have stuck with an existing agreement to increase their collective oil output by 400,000 barrels per day.  The move comes as a way to restore production that was sharply cut at the onset of the Covid-19 crisis.
It’s also a move that could help lessen – even if slightly – prices at the gas pump later in the year.  Oil prices recently hit a seven-year high, and have been around that level ever since.  As higher gas prices act as a tax particularly on lower-income workers, this is one area where dropping prices could act as the biggest relief for higher costs from the more widespread inflation right now.

Now here’s the rest of the news:

[Prediction] How Real Estate, Stocks And Other Assets Will Preform In 2022
Super-inflated asset prices such as housing, stocks, and bonds along with massive inflation have caused central banks to to react by pushing up interest rates.  But rising interest rates in the US won’t catch up with raging… [Read Here]

Top Bank: This Year Americans Will Learn The Scary Truth About Their Economy
The overall consensus for 2022 is that global growth will ease, that the easy money has already been made, and that the expected return per unit of risk moderates.  We forecast global GDP growth for 2022 at 3.9%, down from 5.6% last year, as the low-hanging fruit of re-opening has been… [Read Here]

January 05, 2021

Good morning.
The stock market saw a classic rally in the last two months of 2020.  The end of election uncertainty and the announcement of multiple Covid-19 vaccines made the holiday season look bright.
Now that it’s January – it’s clear we’re not out of the woods yet.  The United Kingdom is locking down again on a rise in Covid cases.  We’ve heard this story before, and we know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.  But we’re still in the tunnel, and stocks will still be volatile until the economy can completely open up once again.  Expect some increased volatility in the market now that the holiday season is over.

Now here’s the rest of the news:

Minimum Wage Hikes Kick in Across the Country – at the Worst Possible Time for Small Businesses –Brad Polumbo, FEE.org
100,000 small businesses forced to close in 2020 will not reopen.  A recent survey showed almost 60% of small business owners don’t expect to survive through June… [Read Here]

January 05, 2020

Let’s heal the Post-Holiday Blues Hangover!

If you’re feeling a little blue – or downright depressed – after the holidays, you’re not alone.  Post-holiday blues (and post-vacation blues for the matter) are a real thing, and if you experience a dark-mood day (or week) after the holidays, it’s quite normal.

During the holidays you are literally surrounded by expectations of how you are supposed to feel, what
you are supposed to do and what you are supposed to want.  If you don’t feel that this is “the most wonderful time of the year” or you don’t have access to buying extravagant presents, you may feel like something is wrong with you.  You may feel isolated and alone.  Now, add in the lack of sunlight in most geographical areas, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for feeling blue.  You may think you are the only one who feels this way, but YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE!  More importantly, here’s what to do about it.

• • Light.  If you don’t have access to sunlight, get a light box, go to a spa (with light therapy) or simply turn on more lights.  It all helps.
  • Connection.  Surround yourself with people who make you feel good (not people who hold you to some societal expectation of how you are supposed to feel).
  • Movement.  A sedentary body flattens mood like nothing else.  Make it a point to move every day, even if only for a few minutes every hour.
  • Create.  Make something from nothing because it’s fun and it’s good for your brain.  Try a new recipe, buy kinetic sand and build a castle, doodle, build a spaceship out of Legos.  It’s all about the process of creativity that lifts your mood.
  • Reward yourself.  Treat yourself with small things — things to look forward to later in the day or later in the week.  Pick an activity that you like to do — it could be a movie you want to see, a museum you haven’t been to in a while or something as simple as a chai tea latte.
  • Clear your Clutter.  Your physical clutter impacts your emotional well-being.  Choose a messy or over-packed closet in your home or your office and take some time to purge and organize.  It’s amazing how effective this can be in relieving your emotional clutter.
  • Quiet Time.  Stop filling up your schedule and take a few moments every day to slow down.  This tool is a perfect activity to accompany you during your moments of quiet.
  • Volunteer.  Giving feels good and creates connection with others who have similar views and passions.  Choose an organization whose mission resonates with you and go for it!
  • Eat Smart.  Eat dark leafy greens and cut down on sugars and refined flours, which give your system a high-low spike that negatively impacts your mood (and depletes your energy).
  • Sleep and Hydration.  As basic as this may sound, getting ample sleep and staying hydrated is absolutely vital for your mental health (and physical health).  These are non-negotiables.

The most courageous thing you can do to care for yourself is to tune into your whole self and get sup-port when you need it.  You can do it!  😉

January 05, 2019

Good Day!

Today is all about friends…  Shouldn’t every day?

Thanks Marie, Caryl, Murray!  Many, many more years together!

January 05, 2018

(zip)

January 05, 2017

Having a terrible day away from work … someone just painted my toenails red?

Just had to see if anyone was paying attention to the categories.

Wishing you the best!

REW