The Signal Amidst the Noise

 I haven't been too ambitious to write for a while. Today I have a modest bit of motivation. It was an exciting day, for Investers. As it says in the Title of this post, the Stock Market Gapped-Up today! Shortly after my 9:30 alarm sounded, my second phone (An old Cell Phone that I still use through Wi-fi) came alive with notifications. I was standing in my Kitchen, pouring a cup of coffee, and talking to my mother through a Bluetooth earbud. I knew something was happening. I am quite eccentric when it comes to Investing. When I purchase a Stock, it is based on, "Fundamentals". Rather than analyzing Fundamentals, other retail Traders use Technicals. While I don't use them, I don't completely ignore Technicals either. I drew the conclusion that people use Technicals because they don't have a means to gather, store, and compare the data. They're left to follow the herd (as they heard) and seem to believe Stocks are a living thing with repetitive behaviors. I...

 Are you looking for a safe and convenient way to Invest Money and earn some interest? If so, you might want to consider buying i-Bonds, or Inflation-Protected Savings Bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury. In this blog post, I will explain what iBonds are, how they work, and why they are a great option for savers. I believe the Corner-Stone of an Individual Portfolio is the i-Bond. I advocate for Parents to start buying i-Bonds for their children, while they are young. These securities can be purchased on set intervals. For example, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, etc... Interest is compounded monthly which offers more growth than other channels. What Are i-Bonds? i-Bonds are a type of savings bond that pays interest based on two components: a fixed rate and a composite rate. The fixed rate is determined at the time of purchase and remains the same for the life of the bond. The composite rate is adjusted every six months to reflect changes in inflation, as meas...

 Hello, dear readers! Today I'm going to talk about a hot topic that has been making headlines lately: the SAG-AFTRA strike. If you don't know what that is, let me explain. SAG-AFTRA is the union that represents actors, singers, voice artists, and other performers in the US. They have been on strike since October 21, demanding better pay and working conditions from the major media companies, such as Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros, and Amazon. The strike has affected many productions, from movies and TV shows to video games and podcasts. Some of the projects that have been delayed or canceled include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Stranger Things, The Matrix 4, and Halo Infinite. That's right, folks, no more Baby Yoda or Eleven for a while. How will we cope?

The VIX, also known as the fear gauge, is a measure of the expected volatility of the S&P 500 index over the next 30 days. It is calculated based on the prices of options on the index. A low VIX indicates that investors are confident and complacent, while a high VIX signals that investors are fearful and uncertain. According to Macroption, the lowest point recorded of the VIX was 8.56 on Friday, November 24, 2017. It was Black Friday, a day of low trading activity after Thanksgiving. The lowest closing value of the VIX was 9.14 on Friday, November 3, 2017. The stock market's reaction to a low VIX has been mixed in the past. According to The Wall Street Journal, when the VIX has been below 20, S&P 500 returns over the next three months have often been close to nothing, based on data going back five years. However, according to Business Insider, a low VIX can also signal that the bull market is alive and well, as it reflects strong corporate earnings and low recession risk.

Do you want to save money on your heating and cooling bills? If so, you might want to consider Tyvek® HomeWrap® for your home. Tyvek® HomeWrap® is a breathable membrane that wraps around your exterior walls and prevents air and water from getting in or out. This helps your insulation work better and keeps your home more comfortable. Tyvek® HomeWrap® is different from other house wraps because it is made of a unique non-woven material that is durable, lightweight and easy to install. It can resist air penetration, water intrusion and UV exposure, while allowing moisture vapor to pass through. It also protects your exterior cladding and structural components from water damage.

If you're a dog lover, you might have wondered if raw food is better for your K9 than packaged dog food. After all, dogs are carnivores, right? They should eat meat, bones, organs and other natural foods, not processed kibble or canned food. But is raw food really the best option for your furry friend? Let's find out. Raw food diets for dogs are based on the idea that dogs should eat what their ancestors ate in the wild, before they were domesticated. This means feeding them raw meat, bones, organs, eggs, fruits and vegetables. Some people also add supplements like fish oil, probiotics or vitamins to their dogs' raw food.

Hey, did you hear the news? Berkshire Hathaway, the giant conglomerate led by Warren Buffett, is moving a lot of money into Short Term Assets. According to Bloomberg, they have a whopping $144.1 billion in Cash as of September 30, 2023. That's a lot of dough, right? But wait a minute, is that really accurate? Well, not exactly. You see, Bloomberg is using a broad definition of Cash that includes Treasury Bills and other Short-Term Investments that mature in less than three months. But if you look at the actual filings, you'll see that Berkshire Hathaway has only $38.2 billion in Cash and Cash Equivalents, and $105.9 billion in U.S. Treasury Bills.