Trump Tariffs Take Effect Hiking Trade Levies to a 100-Year High…
What Does It Mean – The implementation of reciprocal tariffs has escalated trade levies to unprecedented levels, marking a 100-year high. Targeting approximately 60 trading partners with trade surpluses, the policy imposes a 104% tariff on Chinese goods, prompting retaliatory measures from China and the EU. This aggressive trade strategy aims to reorder global commerce but has triggered market volatility, with U.S. equities fluctuating and European stocks hitting a yearly low. Critics highlight potential economic fallout, including recession risks, while proponents argue it strengthens domestic industry. The policy’s long-term efficacy remains under scrutiny as global markets adjust. Read more.
Bond Markets Retreat as US Treasuries Lead Yield Jump Worldwide…
What Does It Mean – A significant selloff of U.S. Treasuries has driven long-term yields to their highest levels since the 2020 pandemic, disrupting their traditional role as a safe-haven asset amid financial turmoil. This escalation, fueled by an intensifying trade war, has led to a global ripple effect, with bond markets worldwide experiencing deepened losses as investors offload government securities. The surge in yields reflects growing uncertainty, challenging the stability typically associated with Treasuries. Analysts note this shift could signal broader economic concerns, with markets reacting to heightened risk perceptions. Read more.
World Travelers Are Rethinking Vacation Plans to the US…
What Does It Mean – Travel warnings and anecdotal reports of detentions at U.S. borders have led to a noticeable decline in tourism from Canada and Europe. Data indicates a projected 5.5% drop in inbound travel to the U.S. for 2025, reversing earlier forecasts of nearly 9% growth. This shift, potentially costing $18 billion annually in tourist spending, is attributed to heightened border scrutiny and an escalating trade war, prompting travelers to redirect plans to destinations like Mexico. The economic implications underscore broader concerns about U.S. accessibility and international relations. Read more.
This May Not Be What They Were Originally Anticipating, But A “Reset” Of The Global Economy Is Definitely Here…
What Does It Mean – A dramatic shift in the global economy is underway, characterized by a “reset” that deviates from earlier expectations. Decades of investment in intricate global supply chains, costing trillions, cannot be swiftly undone, as reconfiguring production—like building a $10 billion chip factory over 3-5 years—is a slow process. The U.S. has imposed historic tariffs, disrupting businesses reliant on these networks, while the EU plans countermeasures on $28 billion of U.S. imports. This escalating trade war, coupled with a 60% recession probability per JPMorgan analysts, signals severe economic turbulence ahead. Read more.
Man loses legal bid to cash in $59,500 in chips from now-defunct New Jersey casino…
A man cannot redeem nearly $60,000 in chips from a now-defunct casino that he bought at an online auction because they were “pilfered” by an employee of a company who was supposed to destroy them, a New Jersey appellate panel has ruled.
The man tried to cash in the 389 chips in January 2023 with the state Treasury Department’s Unclaimed Property Administration, which was responsible for covering the redemption value of outstanding chips the Playboy Hotel and Casino had issued to patrons while in operation from 1981 to 1984. As part of its closing, the casino had transferred funds to the UPA to cover such redemptions.
The man told the UPA he had bought the chips — which were worth $59,500 — at an online auction and did not know their source. New Jersey State Police eventually determined that the casino had hired a company that was supposed to destroy the chips after it closed, but a former employee of that company “had pilfered several boxes of unused chips” sometime around 1990 and put them in a bank deposit box, the appellate panel noted.
The ex-employee told authorities that he later declared bankruptcy and forgot about the bank deposit box. The bank where the chips were stored opened the box in 2010 and confiscated the chips, eventually sending them to the auction house from which Hawkins purchased them.
“When the facts change, I change my mind.
What do you do?” ~ John Maynard Keynes
Our plan is “the plan will change.”
What is your plan?
Relative strength measures the price performance of a stock against a market average, a selected universe of stocks or a single alternative holding. Relative strength improves if it rises faster in an uptrend, or falls less in a downtrend. It is easily applied to individual positions in your portfolio and to sectors and asset classes.
A copy of our form ADV Part 2 is available online.
Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Investor Resources, Inc. (“Investor Resources”), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this newsletter will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this newsletter serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Investor Resources. Please remember to contact Investor Resources, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. Investor Resources shall continue to rely on the accuracy of information that you have provided. Investor Resources is neither a law firm, nor a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of the newsletter content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of Investor Resources’ current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees continues to remain available upon request or at https://www.investorresourcesinc.com/. Clients Please Note: Advise us if you have not been receiving account statements (at least quarterly) from Charles Schwab & Co.™