By Steven M. SearsAs the stock market alternatively displays the grace of a boxer and the oafishness of a drunkard, investors are once more confronting that which they fear most: volatility.Sharp up and down days are increasingly common, suggesting chaos beneath the market's bid-and-ask machination…
By Craig MellowPension, or Social Security, reform tends to be mission impossible for democratic governments beholden to aging electorates. Germany's government, a fractious right-left coalition with approval ratings dwindling toward single digits, just pulled it off, apparently.Chancellor Friedric…
Tech stocks now account for 39% of the S&P 500 and were the primary drivers of the $1.7 trillion Vanguard S&P 500 ETF's 15% return. By Lewis BrahamIn the continuing battle between machines and humanity, Wall Street has sided with machines.While gas prices spiked to $5 because of the Iran war amid o…
Tech stocks' great run is leading to worries about overvaluation. Here are five defensive sectors — and 13 funds — that can provide protection. By Ian SalisburyFears of an artificial-intelligence bubble bursting may have you thinking about how to build a defensive portfolio. The problem? These days…
By Andy SerwerAt a recent gala dinner in Manhattan, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was asked how independent-minded the new Federal Reserve chairman, Kevin Walsh, would be, given President Donald Trump's strong preference, shall we say, for lower interest rates."Look, the president understands, h…
By Jack HoughI'll tell you upfront that I'm about to walk us to finance hell and back, to explain an overcomplicated, profoundly risky asset class that you definitely don't need. Also, the name is weird: perps.If there's a payoff for this column, it will come in any of three forms. First, you won't…
Data centers spell progress to Indian officials and conglomerates. But for locals, it means sharing already sparse resources. By Karishma VanjaniU.S. communities are ferociously battling America's data-center boom. Some win, some lose, but they all get a fair chance to fight.Not in India, where dat…
Margin expansion, sales growth, and a reliable dividend payment make the stock a good bet for volatile times. By Jacob SonenshinePhilip Morris International has proved it can move new products through the Food and Drug Administration's authorization processes. With margins expanding thanks to smoke…
The growing public backlash against data centers poses a threat to AI companies and their shares. By Joe LightThe artificial-intelligence boom might usher in the next industrial revolution, but first it is going to have to answer to Cheryl Cordes.The retired nurse and her neighbors in Genesee Count…
By Randall W. ForsythBond funds have been a boon to the municipal bond market, especially the exchange-traded variety, attracting investors seeking an economical vehicle for tax-exempt income. But are they the best choice for everybody?Just as an increasing number of wealthy people are opting for s…
By Mackenzie TatananniCarMax insiders loaded up on shares after a quarterly earnings report that showed the used-car dealer's turnaround remains a work in progress.The first purchase was by director Peter Bensen on June 22. Bensen snapped up 2,500 shares for $52.20 apiece — $130,500 in total. The t…
By Mackenzie TatananniStrategy's Stretch preferred stock — its key vehicle for funding Bitcoin purchases — has been in a tailspin. On the heels of a record low, insiders including the company's chief executive are snapping up shares.CEO Phong Le's revocable trust made its first-ever stock purchase…
By Megan LeonhardtAfter months of rising inflation, Federal Reserve officials penciled in at their June meeting expectations for a quarter percentage-point hike in interest rates later this year. But an unexpected slowdown in hiring last month may remove some of the pressure to lift rates, especial…
By Ed PriceEveryone likes to harp on about political polarization in the U.S. Ironically, that's a form of groupthink — a "follow the herd" mentality that sucks in commentators and analysts and blinds them to opposing ideas. Today, we are witnessing one of the darndest examples of groupthink among…
These disclosures are from 13Ds filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 13Ds are filed within 10 days of an entity's attaining more than 5% in any class of a company's securities. Subsequent changes in holdings or intentions must be reported in amended filings. This material is from June…
To the Editor: I read Al Root's article (" Cheap Drones Are Upending the Defense Sector," Cover Story, June 24) with both hope and humility. Root noted: "Views that drones will massively displace spending on manned platforms ignore institutional and political biases on military power."As we celebra…
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Investor Sentiment ReadingsHigh bullish readings in the Consensus stock index or in the Market Vane stock index usually are signs of Market tops; low ones, market bottoms. Last Week 2 Weeks Ago 3 Weeks Ago Consensus Index Consensus Bullish Sentiment 76% 7…
Stock Splits/Dividends Record Ex-Div Pay Company Name-Ticker Symbol (Exchange) Amount Date Date Date Arm ADRhedged-ARMH (NYSE ARCA ) 10-for-1 7-10 7-14 .... ASML ADRhedged-ASMH (NYSE ARCA ) 10-for-1 7-10 7…
By Hannah Erin Lang and Shradha DineshSmall companies are punching above their weight on Wall Street.The Russell 2000, which tracks shares of smaller companies, climbed some 22% in the first six months of the year. That is the best first half since 1991, beating the Nasdaq composite by around 9 per…
