Quasar Markets

The future of airline investments is turbulent (No pun intended). A record number of passengers were expected to pass through US airports during the July 4th weekend.  Yet, airlines are facing constant headwinds.  Problems at Boeing, increased costs for fuel, wages, and interest rates make the industry a tough place to operate.  But that doesn’t mean it’s hopeless: people need to get places, and flying is the easiest way to do that.

Bitcoin prices fell to its lowest point in four months, down to $54,000.  Investing in crypto was and always will be a high risk endeavor.  It’s the nature of it being such a new technology.  Yet, people are still bullish on it, claiming that it will double in value at some point.  Is it possible? Absolutely. But as we’ve clearly seen so far, it’s a very high-risk asset.  So be sure to diversify your portfolio and avoid putting all of your eggs in one basket.

The US Jobs Report came out on Friday with some encouraging signs.  There were 206,000 new jobs in June, which fell below May’s number at 218,000.  (Decreases in jobs added is a sign of cooling inflation, which is one factor the Fed considers before cutting rates) The unemployment rate also rose slightly—the third straight month of increase.  But the good news:  PNC’s chief economist says that these data points all signal a healthy economy.

Car sales are finally improving.  GM, Tesla, Kia, Hyundai, and Toyota all boasted higher-than-expected Q2 sales numbers. With dealerships across the country dealing with the recent CDK hack, the high sales numbers come as a surprise for most.  After a few tough quarters for car manufacturers, this could be a good sign for investors in this industry.

The Japanese Yen is at its weakest level in nearly 40 years.  This presents an interesting opportunity for Forex traders (currency traders).  Do you take the risk and buy Japanese Yen with the hopes that it will rise?  One thing’s for sure—make sure to do the research and make an informed decision.

People aren’t renting DVDs anymore.  Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, the parent company of Redbox, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this week.  After Netflix and other streaming sites popped up, it’s a wonder how they’ve lasted this long.  Just another example of tech (streaming) making an entire industry (physical DVDs) irrelevant.

Following influencer stock picks isn’t a good investing strategy.  Just ask the Chewy investors who followed Roaring Kitty’s investment today.  While Roaring Kitty has been right about some stocks (Gamestop comes to mind) that doesn’t mean he’s always going to be right.  Do your own research and make informed decisions.  It’s your money on the line.

Supply and Demand principles don’t seem to apply to real estate right now.  Demand for houses hit a four-month low, and homes for sale hit a four-year high.  Prices rose to a record $419,300 median price in May. One of the biggest reasons for this — high interest rates.

The job market is cooling down.  June’s job report is expected to show 188,000 new jobs added.  But that’s a 30% decrease MoM from May.  The good news:  A slowing job market can be a sign of slowing inflation, which the Fed wants to see before slashing interest rates.  So we could be seeing a rate cut soon.

Diversification is an investor’s bread and butter.  Currency trading, aka Forex or FX trading, is a way to get more diversification in your portfolio.  Here’s what you need to know: