The U.S. economy gained a surprisingly strong number of new jobs last month, a sign the nation’s labor market remains strong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 261,000 new jobs were created, exceeding the consensus of 205,000. Although the increase was the smallest since April of 2021, it was still strong by historical standards.
The historic pace of Fed interest rate hikes this year continue to dampen markets. While there is room for a reflexive rally in the short-term, we believe this bear market has longer to play out. Over the next 6-9 months the effects of the spike in interest rates should begin to weigh on the economy. Higher borrowing costs and prices will ultimately start to force consumers to choose to spend less thereby slowing economic growth.
If you are more comfortable discussing a Single Malt Scotch or French Bordeaux than some obscure tech stock or cryptocurrency, you are not alone. Billionaire investing legend Warren Buffet says investors should stick to areas they know when they are deciding what to invest in.
Social media and “tech” companies who rely on advertising dollars to be profitable have been under considerable pressure lately—to put it mildly. SNAP was the first major advertising-dependent social media company to report earnings this week, and it was a bloodbath. SNAP shares plunged 26% following its report to its lowest price since 2019—just $7.88.
Following World War 2, the United States was a global industrial behemoth with more than 40% of all private sector jobs in manufacturing. Today, that number is less than 10%. However, the latest jobs report shows “made in America” is at least attempting to make a comeback.
REITs, or Real Estate Investment Trusts, are considered by many to be an essential holding in a well-diversified portfolio. However, many REITs, especially those specializing in commercial real estate such as office buildings, have been horrifically damaged by the dramatic drop in demand for office space throughout the US.