Quasar Markets

The latest Consumer Confidence report showed a 6 month high when asking people if they felt good about the economy.  It’s a good sign—consumer spending makes up 70% of the economy.  It’s likely a result of the upcoming rate cuts.  Hopefully people move from feeling good about the economy to spending their dollars to stimulate it.

Bitcoin is up 33% since its January ETF launch and Ethereum is down 24% since its July ETF launch.  Of course, prices aren’t directly related to the launch of ETFs. But ETFs allow for investors to participate in trading crypto on traditional markets, so you would assume prices would go up with the increased demand and accessibility.  As always, do your research before investing in crypto or digital assets as they are more volatile than traditional investments.

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The growing housing shortage in the U.S., now at 4.5 million homes, presents both challenges and opportunities for investors.  This deficit is a key driver of the current housing affordability crisis, impacting market dynamics.

Nvidia remains at the forefront of the AI race.  Its stock is up +166% in the past year, which shows how valuable they’ve become.  At some point, they were even the most valuable company in the world.  With all of the doubt that AI is going to make a difference in the short term, Nvidia stands out as a beacon of hope for AI evangelists.

Understanding substitutes is essential for investors. They represent products or services that can replace each other in fulfilling consumer needs.  When consumers switch from one product to a substitute, it can significantly affect demand and profitability within an industry.  Investors who recognize these dynamics can better anticipate market changes.  This understanding allows for more strategic decision-making in investment portfolios.

The used car market looks to be coming back to neutral.  Meaning it’s headed back to pre-pandemic levels.  Since the pandemic price peak in Feb 2022, prices have fallen by 19.4%.  Have you tried buying a used car recently?

Can you break up a tech giant as big as Google?  The Department of Justice might be trying to. After Google’s antitrust lawsuit, where Google was ruled to be a monopoly in the online search market, it’s not completely out of the picture.  If you hold Google stock, be sure to keep an eye out for more news.

Inflation fell to under 3% for the first time in a long time.  Spring 2021, to be exact.  That means the Fed is more likely to cut rates.  But more importantly, it means that life is getting expensive at a slightly lower pace than it has been over the past 2 years.  And that’s a welcome statistic.

Commodity prices are sinking.  Commodities are defined as basic goods used in commerce.  And though investors are optimistic about the economy, the sinking prices of commodities are worrisome.  Precious metals fell 7% in the past month, while crude oil fell 14%.  As commodities make up the foundation of global trade, this is definitely something to keep an eye on.