Good morning.
Inflation rates came in at a 7.1 percent annualized rate for November, giving markets a big initial jump higher. The best news comes behind the headline number. Individual components such as energy and used car prices dropped considerably. And the data for rents in the past few months should start showing up soon as well.
But we’re not out of the woods yet. Inflation in the post-World War II era has averaged closer to 3-4 percent, nearly twice as high as today’s rates. And interest rates are still negative in real terms, meaning the Federal Reserve will likely continue with raising rates… even if it’s slowly.
Traders can continue to expect some market volatility, and likely more downside pressure as long as rates continue to rise.
Now here’s the rest of the news:
November’s Inflation Numbers Shock Experts
Consumer prices rose less than expected in November, the second-straight month inflation pressures moderated more than anticipated by economists. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for November showed a 7.1% increase in prices… [Read Here]
Top Bank Warns: Unemployment Is About To Sky-Rocket
Is your job secure? Over the past couple of years, American workers generally didn’t need to be concerned about job security. Even if someone got fired unexpectedly, it was just so easy to find new employment because there simply was not enough… [Read Here]
December 14, 2021
Good morning.
The Federal Reserve is set to meet this week. The biggest issue? How to contend with rising inflation rates and reduce that risk without causing the economy to crash. That’s a big part of the “risk off” moves in the market in recent weeks. Traders should expect to see the Fed talk tough as they continue to gradually reduce their bond-buying activity. That may not be good enough. The latest consumer data sees that the public expects inflation to continue at 6 percent over the next year.
That’s a rate high enough on a permanent basis to significantly impact the markets going forward. Investors may want to be cautious until hearing from the Fed later this week, and narrow their positions only to industry-leading winners.
Now here’s the rest of the news:
Chairman Powell Paralyzed With Fear As Inflation Takes Over
One thing is certain, inflation is no longer officially “transitory.” For months, recently reappointed Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell kept telling the public that rising inflation was transitory, and would soon subside. [Read Here]
December 14, 2020
Good morning.
Last week saw the IPO of DoorDash and Airbnb, massive companies with multi-billion-dollar valuations finally reaching past angel investors and venture capitalists to hit the brokerage accounts of main street traders. The level of IPO activity in 2020 has now surpassed the last peak, set in 1999.
Should traders be worried? We remember what happened in 2000. But maybe not. This year, the bear market came first, after all. While the steepest bear market in history roared in March, it also proved to be short-lived. While history doesn’t repeat itself, it does rhyme. And that makes for a great market for traders to make money on both sides of a trade.
Now here’s the rest of the news:
Bloomberg Intelligence: Gold to $2,100 in 2021 “Without Much Risk”
When’s the last time a Bloomberg analyst said anything is a low-risk investment? Buy gold on the dips because Bloomberg says “it doesn’t have much in terms of risk.” [Read Here]
December 14, 2019
Gossiping has become a primary form of communication. We use gossip to feel close to one another and to feel better about ourselves.
But just because it’s normal doesn’t make it right. Gossip is poison. For those who are the target, gossip can be very painful and humiliating, and it can have a long-term detrimental impact on self-confidence and self-esteem. To that end, it can contribute to depression, anxiety, eating disorders and even suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Gossip can negatively impact a person’s performance at school or work, and it can negatively impact relationships, leaving one feeling ostracized and alone. Gossip can damage reputations and character.
Ruiz says, “Gossip is black magic at its very worst because it is pure poison. At first, it may be difficult to avoid gossip entirely but eventually, you will see how breaking the agreement to gossip will transform your life.”
While it can be difficult to break the habit of gossiping, awareness is key. It starts with noticing how many group interactions deal with gossip. Noticing which friends and groups spend more time gossiping. Paying attention to when and where you partake in gossip. Notice how it makes you feel when you gossip about yourself or others.
When you find yourself gossiping, stop, apologize and explain to your friends that you’re trying to break the bad habit. Bring up a different subject — move the conversation to a positive direction. Make others aware by telling them that the conversation is centered on gossip and you don’t want to be a part of it. Avoid habitual gossipers. Remove yourself from the situation. To Awareness … 😉
December 14, 2018
Creating Confidence
That’s right – create confidence. How? The same way an athlete boosts her confidence after a less than stellar performance, or in the same way a businessman jumps back from a bad investment. We move forward, and recognize that one misstep (or a series of) does not define who we are as people. To believe in yourself then, no longer requires goal achievement.
By this standard, self-acceptance and self worth are essential. Carole Radziwill recently wrote about this concept stating that “confident women are made, not born”. I had never thought of it this way and really – the concept of confidence being created is something that should resonate for all of us – not just women. Previously, I truly believed some people were born more confident than others, but I realize now that maybe I’ve misunderstood what it means to be confident.
So many times we wrap our self-worth up in completing certain tasks or goals. Noting that once we achieve a certain goal or standard, that it will boost our self-esteem and therefore confidence and worth. This is true to a point, as achievement does feel good and is a strong motivator. However for those of us who struggle with perfection it’s a dangerous internal dialogue to have. To say that we are only worth something if we can achieve a specific thing we’ve randomly attached value to creates a rat race…. and it’s a race that ultimately, we will never win. By this definition, we’ll always be chasing the next best thing, never satisfied, never fully confident, and always hungry.
What if we shifted our perspective to be more like those who are truly confident and happy with who/where they are? What would it take? It would take self acceptance. Goal attainment and confidence are two separate things, and the more we can assess these separately, the better off we are.
If we blindly accepted ourselves, without attaching achievement, how differently would we look and feel? What if we decided we were worth something not because we “earned it” but because we know who we are, and we know that’s someone worth believing in? What if we believed we were worth something simply because we are human, and know that nobody else out there is like us.
I don’t know about you, but I like it. I like knowing that I’m enough because I exist, and that it’s okay to believe in who I am because I accept and love all of me. Weaknesses, strengths, the whole package. There’s no other package like this – like me – like you. There is value in rarity.
In short, accept who you are and use all of what you know to propel yourself forward, rather than focusing exclusively on goal attainment. Achievement is one small portion of success; confidence, on the other hand, is a matter of perspective.
Change That Up!
