Hans Kristensen, a nuclear expert at the Federation of American Scientists, said he's increasingly concerned that Vladimir Putin could go nuclear. Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on a screen set at Red Square as he addresses a rally and a concert marking the annexation of four regions of Ukraine Russian troops occupy - Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, in central Moscow on September 30, 2022.ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images Nuclear expert Hans Kristensen said he's "extraordinarily concerned" Putin could use nukes in Ukraine. In an interview, Kristensen said he is alarmed by Putin's increasingly threatening rhetoric. Kristensen is director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. In a speech on Friday, an increasingly unhinged Vladimir Putin, facing battlefield setbacks abroad and growing dissent at home, railed against what he portrayed as a hypocritical and gender-mad West — his address included a transphobic rant about sex-change operations and "outright Satanism" — as he announced the formal annexation of occupied eastern Ukraine, territory he said that Russia would defend with "all the means at our disposal."The Russian president is no stranger to colorful attacks on liberalism and, indeed, nuclear threats. Days after he ordered the Feb. 24 invasion, Putin tried to intimidate Ukraine's allies by announcing that he was putting his country's nuclear forces on a heightened state of alert and warning that those who continued supporting Ukrainian armed resistance would face "consequences they have never seen."But that threat was almost subtle compared to those made in the months since. Earlier this week, Putin warned that Russia's potential use of nuclear weapons was "not a bluff."Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's security council and always eager to demonstrate his loyalty to Putin and his "special military operation," echoed the remarks days later, saying that Russia could use nuclear weapons in Ukraine — "without asking anyone's permission, without long consolations" — if it felt "the very existence of our state," now expanded to include the Donbas region, were threatened.NATO would not dare respond, Medvedev added, and risk a broader nuclear conflagration over "a dying Ukraine that no one needs."The rhetoric could be dismissed as simple tough-guy posturing from a country that's current at risk of losing a war of choice. But long-time observers are alarmed, with Russia's long-time reliance on nuclear blackmail to get its way now more explicit than ever. Putin, indeed, on Friday pointed to the United States' dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II as "setting a precedent" for the use of nuclear arms in a conflict.Hans Kristensen is director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists who has been monitoring Russia's nuclear rhetoric. In an interview, he spoke to Insider about signs the US and others are looking for that might point to Putin pulling the trigger on a battlefield nuke — and why his latest speech is cause for alarm. Some questions and answers have been edited for brevity.Q. President Putin gave a speech just today marking the annexation of occupied eastern Ukraine. And in it he reiterated that he would use "all the means at our disposal" to defend Russian territory. Does that, to you, imply nuclear weapons? Did anything he say diverge from what we understand to be Russian nuclear doctrine? Anything alarming?A. Yeah, it confirms, what he said, earlier, last week, where he was more explicit. It's his style, if you will — he likes to rattle this sword and be very dramatic, but of course, the generic term, "all means at our disposal," could also mean many other things. It remains to be seen. I think the key here is that obviously he's trying to create a new condition, in Russian declaratory nuclear policy, where just someone upsetting the integrity of Russian territory somehow, potentially, is a recipient of a nuclear attack. And that goes beyond anything that is in the current declaratory policy. That certainly requires much more significant steps here. Obviously he's trying to create a situation where there's additional coercion — pressure — on Ukraine and the West to stop fighting and seek some kind of negotiated settlement here.Q. As you said, his rhetoric goes beyond Russian doctrine, which is, as I understand it, not so dissimilar to US doctrine: if there's an existential threat to the state, they might resort to nuclear weapons. So when you see Putin going a little bit more inflammatory, do you, as an expert, see that as just playing politics and — despite his protests that he isn't in fact bluffing — playing tough guy? Or do you think that does reflect a change in their doctrine?A. It reflects a change in the way that the president of Russia talks about this; whether it reflects an actual change in Russia's planning for these scenarios is another matter. Frankly, I think the Russian military is probably a little less excited about throwing nuclear weapons around because they know full well what the consequences of doing that will be.I think one could read it to sort of say this is what Putin does. This is his chest-thumping style — he likes to use big words to scare other people. But whether it's reflected in the actual planning they're doing is another matter and I think that'll take some time actually before we see that. But there are a number of steps they would have to take before they could use a tactical nuclear weapon in the Ukraine conflict. It's not like he has a red button on his desk and he could just press that when he feels like it. Q. I'm curious if there was anything that Putin could say that you would interpret as more alarming than just rhetoric? Whether there are kind of code words that, if you saw the introduction of them into Putin's speeches, you would take that as more than just posturing.A. Well, I thought I heard that. One of the lines in his speech was that the United States had already set a precedent for the use of nuclear weapons in war by referring to the use of nuclear weapons against Japan in World War II. I would say that's a new signal where he could begin to sort of argue, "We're not the first doing this, the Americans have already done this kind of stuff." And that could add another level of indicator that he's thinking about this in a new way.Q. Max Seddon, the Moscow bureau chief for the Financial Times, was commenting on this speech today and he was just saying, in general, it's the most blistering attack on the West as a whole that he's ever heard from Putin. And he said that, if he were a Western policymaker wondering if Putin would really use nuclear weapons, "I'd be very concerned."Do you share that concern or should we kind of take a step back and not get wrapped up in hysteria over nuclear weapons?A. No, I think we should be extraordinarily concerned. And I think that concern has to translate into very deliberate efforts to convince Putin and the Russian leadership that this would take the conflict to a whole new level. We've heard some statements from US officials, of course, that they've been trying to convey that for a long time and that urgency seems to have been deepened by Putin's latest speeches and his annexation of these territories into Russia.Q. As you probably saw, Dmitry Medvedev was basically saying that "the degenerate west" — they're not gonna want to get in a war of annihilation. That Ukraine doesn't matter, it's a failing state, if we use a tactical nuclear weapon, they're not going to risk the existence of London, Brussels, New York City over poor little Ukraine. How could the West respond to that, without laying all its cards out, to say that, "Well, no, we're not gonna tolerate that."A. Well, Medvedev might be right about that — that the West would not want to use nuclear weapons even if Putin used a nuclear weapon in Ukraine. The point is, the use of a nuclear weapon by Russia and Ukraine is not an attack on NATO. It is not an attack on the United States. Can NATO — can the United States — decide suddenly to attack Russia with nuclear weapons if they have not been attacked first? And that's a real tough issue and I don't think that is a likely outcome.I think the outcome is much more some intensifying of sanctions and diplomatic isolation, political isolation, maybe some cyber attacks, and in the most extreme form, probably some kind of military action. But again here, even that is hard to think about because, again, NATO has not been attacked. The United States has not been attacked. So can you start attacking Russia? That is a real hard dilemma here. So I think Medvedev, to some extent, is correct when he's saying that. Of course, the danger is that suppose Russia really thinks that it can just pop a nuke there — or several — and the West really is sort of armstrung; it can't really act, certainly not at the nuclear level.Q. I'm certainly not chomping at the bit myself to see a war between two nuclear-armed powers. But when you talk about things like sanctions and diplomatic isolation, it's hard not to roll one's eyes and be like, okay, so essentially what you are saying is that, "Yes, they could get away with using a nuclear weapon."A. One wildcard scenario you can imagine, of course, is that if he did do it that NATO would then — or the United States, more likely — would conduct strikes against Russian forces inside Ukraine. And that would be sort of, not quite be an attack on Russia — but of course it would be considered an attack on Russia because they are Russian forces — but it would be sort of at a half step, if you will. You could still say to the Russians, "We're doing this not to threaten Russia, as such, but to tell you that if you continue to do this then the next phase would be a lot more serious."Q. Just to get into the more nitty gritty here, when you used the term "tactical" nuclear weapon earlier, what is the difference between a tactical nuclear weapon and a non-tactical nuke?A. Well, tactical, or non-strategic — these are terms from the Cold War, where tactical to a large extent referred to battlefield weapons, where they were developed for wars involving nuclear weapons in a small region. Those were the type of scenarios that were very much at the center of planning during the Cold War and also because arms control treaties have looked at long-range strategic offensive forces, and never — except for the INF Treaty — looked at sort of medium- or shorter-range systems.Today, tactical nuclear weapons are essentially anything that's not covered by the strategic arms control treaties. It tends to generally just be shorter-range systems, most of which are also dual capable: they serve both conventional and nuclear roles. They tend to be shorter range, have a wider spectrum of explosive yield options, ranging all the way from one kiloton, perhaps even less, but certainly from one kiloton to tens of kilotons even up to 100, 150, 200 kilotons in some tactical systems.A Russian Tu-95 bear bomber and its escort fighter during an event in Russia.Photo by Elizaveta Becker/ullstein bild via Getty ImagesQ. When people talk about nuclear weapons, and the treaties that you're talking about that govern them, we tend to think about something that would trigger an existential war — the destruction of Earth as we know it — whereas these are to gain, to be obvious, a tactical advantage on the battlefield by hitting, say, a bunker that's deep underground. Or perhaps the reason Russia would be thinking about it is just simply the message that it would send, right?A. Yeah, I mean all of those missions could be accomplished with strategic weapons as well. It's more about what kind of attack are you doing. What's the intensity of the attack? And here the Russians, because of their geographic position. They're surrounded by potential adversaries in their near region, right? They have the Brits, they have the French, and of course NATO forces, and then they have the Chinese. So they need, in their military planning, they need sort of regional nuclear forces, to engage those adversaries in those regions.We could really think about them as strategic, because any use of a nuclear weapon would be strategic in nature. The "tactical" just comes in in the sense about the range of it and the intensity of the attack.The United States does not rely on tactical nuclear weapons as much as Russia does and that's partly because the United States doesn't have regions rights next to it where it has to fight nuclear wars. It used to have more tactical nuclear weapons when it had a lot of them deployed in Europe and in South Korea, but most of those were retired and pulled out after the Cold War. It has a few hundred nuclear tactical bombs left for fighter jets, and some of them are in Europe right now, but it's not something it relies heavily on for its nuclear war planning. So the US would choose instead, if it had to respond lightly — so like a small strike in response to something — they would rely more on strategic, for example, most prominently in that scenario, strategic bombers with either gravity bombs or long-range cruise missiles.Q. What would be the thinking behind using a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine? Is it kind of a situation where the worse Russia is doing on the battlefield increases the likelihood that they would use a nuclear weapon to say, "Look, just back off, NATO, stop arming this force that we're considering a proxy army against Russia"? What would be the strategic thinking — getting into the Russian mindset — of potentially using a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine?A. Well, there could be several, or a combination of them. One, for example, could be to try to turn the the tide of the war — to try to knock out some Ukrainian forces or key military facilities that they need to sustain their offensive. That would be a real battlefield use, if you could say that, but that takes more than probably one weapon because you would have to hit a number of areas and a number of facilities to have a real impact on the battle, if you will. And that's also a little complicating because if you start detonating nuclear weapons in the area you potentially get radioactive fallout that you can't control — it could rain over your own troops as well, so it might not be an advantage to do that in the field.Before the Gulf War in 1991, the Pentagon did a study on whether the use of tactical nuclear weapons against Saddam Hussein's forces there in the desert was an option. But they discovered that they would have to use a large number of tactical nuclear weapons to have a real impact — a real effect — on those forces. "Tactical" nuclear use is not as necessarily as limited and benign as some people sometimes think.That's one option, battlefield interest. The other one is of course related, in terms of psychological effect, but it would be more sort of a more clean terror attack where they use it against, for example, Kyiv — or a couple of cities — just to break the Ukrainian will to resist. But that would also be considered a much more significant attack — much more significant use — because of the human casualties involved.That could backfire in another way, politically, by motivating the West go in much more directly, so they really have to be careful about how they think about this. I think the big problem is with people both inside the Russian system, but also in the public in general, if they think about tactical nuclear weapons as something small; something less severe or something almost okay. That's the big danger here — that to treat that as sort of something that is doable.Russian President Vladimir Putin (L), accompanied by Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the Russian General Staff, oversees the 'Vostok-2022' military exercises at the Sergeevskyi training ground outside the city of Ussuriysk on the Russian Far East on September 6, 2022.MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty ImagesQ. There's been a lot of talk of concern among US officials that Russia could potentially use nuclear weapons, and the US has been at least talking about stepping up its surveillance of Russian forces. What exactly does that mean? What are the US and its allies looking for that would signal a potential use of a tactical nuclear weapon?A. Well, there are several steps that the Russians have to go through that they will be looking for. One has to do with the process of the decision itself. Putin would be involved in a conversation with his military leadership about this and they will have to agree. That's the most common theory about how the command decision will be made. It's not just that Putin has a red button on his desk. There are thought to be three people involved in this: Putin, the minister of defense, and the chief of the armed forces, and each of them has a vote. Presumably, if just one of them doesn't agree, then it can't happen. But it's very iffy if that is indeed the case. We don't quite know the details of this, but even if they make a decision, that decision has to be communicated down through the command and control system to the units that have to carry it out. That traffic is potentially detectable. And then you get to the units that are then activated. So for example, before you can even fire a tactical nuclear weapons system, you have to bring the warhead for it out of central storage. So that would be activity at the bunkers — the special units that are the custodial units and the security units, they would be activated. And then they would have to either transport it by truck or fly by helicopter out to the front line to the units that would actually have to launch it. And there you would have another team that would have to install it.So there are a number of these steps that would have to be sort of set in motion that would give away that something is happening. Whether the US is turning up its surveillance of this? I think it's been pretty busy surveilling this for a long time, actually. Satellite observations, both the visible spectrum of satellites, like normal images we can find on Google Earth, but also infrared and signal detection and then, of course, also intel. You see these spy planes that are flying along the borders all the time. They've been busy. They've been busy for a long, long time. This is a normal level of activity, I would say. And then there's spies on the ground. You have people in the system or maybe even out with some of the units that will relay information.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is going for the American League home run record. You can stream his remaining games on services like MLB.TV. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.Aaron Judge tied the American League record for most home runs in a season on September 28.AP Photo/Steve Nesius New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is one home run away from breaking the American League record. Judge tied Roger Maris' long-standing record of 61 home runs in a season on September 28. The Yankees have seven games left this season; you can watch matchups on YES Network and MLB.TV. The New York Yankees have already secured their place in the 2022 MLB Playoffs, but outfielder Aaron Judge is continuing his pursuit of the American League home run record set by Yankees legend Roger Maris in 1961. Judge tied Maris' mark of 61 home runs in a season on September 28, and the Yankees have seven games left as the regular season enters its final week.Judge is also in the chase to become the AL's first triple-crown winner in a decade; Miguel Cabrera was the last batter to lead the American League in home runs, batting average, and RBIs in 2012. Before Cabrera, no hitter had achieved the triple crown since 1967. Judge is also considered a favorite for the American League's most valuable player award, alongside Angels star Shohei Ohtani.Judge's next game against the Baltimore Orioles on September 30 will stream for free on MLB.TV, and will also be available via Amazon Prime Video, ESPN+, and the YES Network. All of Judge's at-bats during the game will be streamed on MLB.com as well.The Yankees' home cable TV station, the YES Network, will carry all the remaining games in the teams local market, which includes New York and Connecticut, as well as parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. For those outside the region, MLB.TV will stream all of the Yankees games; a subscription costs $30 but the free seven-day trial for new members will cover the rest of the regular season.Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees' remaining 2022 season scheduleMatchupTimeChannelBaltimore Orioles at New York YankeesSeptember 30, 7:05 p.m. ETMLB.TV, Amazon Prime Video, ESPN+, YES NetworkBaltimore Orioles at New York YankeesOctober 1, 1:05 p.m. ETYES Network, MLB.TV (blackout restrictions apply)Baltimore Orioles at New York YankeesOctober 2, 1:35 p.m. ETESPN+, YES Network, MLB.TV (blackout restrictions apply)New York Yankees at Texas RangersOctober 3, 7:05 p.m. ETYES Network, MLB.TV (blackout restrictions apply)New York Yankees at Texas RangersOctober 4, 2:05 p.m. ETYES Network, MLB.TV (blackout restrictions apply)New York Yankees at Texas RangersOctober 4, 8:05 p.m. ETYES Network, MLB.TV (blackout restrictions apply)New York Yankees at Texas RangersOctober 5, 4:05 p.m. ETESPN+, YES Network, MLB.TV (blackout restrictions apply)How to stream Aaron Judge's home run chaseThe easiest way to stream every moment of Aaron Judge's home run chase is to subscribe to MLB.tv. Judge's September 30 game will be free for all viewers, but it's unclear if the rest of the Yankees' regular season games will be free too.MLB.tv costs $30 but the free seven-day trial for new members will cover all of Judge's remaining games. Unfortunately, MLB.tv will black out Judge's games for fans in the Yankees' home market of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.Viewers within those states must subscribe to the YES Network via cable or another TV provider to watch Yankees games. If you don't have YES via cable, DirecTV Stream offers the YES Network with its $90 choice package; there's a five-day free trial period that will cover the remaining Yankees games from October 1 to October 5.Other streaming options include ESPN+, which will stream three of the Yankees' final seven games, including the season finale against the Texas Rangers on October 5. ESPN+ costs $10 a month or $100 per year.Amazon Prime Video will also air the Yankees game on September 30, the last of 21 pre-determined Yankees games that Prime Video chose to stream during the season. Prime Video costs $9 per month, but since the game is free on MLB.tv, we recommend watching there.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

A whale with a lot of money to spend has taken a noticeably bullish stance on IBM. Looking at options history for IBM (NYSE:IBM) we detected 10 strange trades. read more.....»»

Foot Locker's (FL) robust strategic efforts and the digital business are boosting results. Also, management is focused on enhancing presence internationally. Foot Locker, Inc. FL seems to be a good pick, thanks to its robust business strategies. Management has been investing significantly in reinforcing its digital presence and the direct-to-consumer (DTC) operations. FL is focused on improving performance through its operational and financial initiatives. Shares of this athletic footwear and apparel company have appreciated 30.3% over the past three months against the industry’s 2.1% decline.Let’s Delve DeeperFoot Locker is effectively managing inventory, investing in digital platforms and improving supply-chain efficiencies. The retailer has been augmenting its e-commerce platform, growing DTC operations, tapping into underpenetrated markets and opening Power Stores for a while. Management remains committed to the omni-channel progress.In second-quarter fiscal 2022, FL’s digital sales penetration rate was 16.9%, up from 14.3% seen in fiscal 2019. In the first week of the fiscal third quarter, Foot Locker completed the global rollout of its new e-commerce platform via implementations in Singapore and Malaysia. Management had earlier activated a Shop My Store feature on its website. It also added Apple Pay and Google Pay to digital payment options for providing greater flexibility, and convenience to customers. FL’s buy online and pickup in-store capabilities along with an updated mobile-app experience appear encouraging.Foot Locker is constantly accelerating its efforts, including greater diversification of merchandise and vendor mix, rollout of the important growth banners, advancement of omnichannel endeavors and implementation of the cost-savings program. FL announced a cost-optimization initiative, expecting the program to deliver $200 million of annual savings after being completely executed with the benefits starting in the fiscal third quarter and building into the fourth quarter.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchInternational expansion is another major catalyst. Foot Locker continues to progress with its expansion strategy within Asia by penetrating the untapped markets via licensing arrangements. It is also advancing well with the membership program FLX, inspiring customers to remain within the Foot Locker portfolio of banners.During the fiscal second quarter, the FLX program continues exhibiting momentum and helping Foot Locker serve customers efficiently. It has six key countries in Europe on the FLX platform. On its last earnings call, management informed that it captured above 70% of sales through its members in the United States, comparing favorably with the 50% witnessed two years ago.Foot Locker anticipates capital expenditures of approximately $275 during fiscal 2022, directed toward store openings as well as technology and omnichannel investments. In fiscal 2022, management expects to open roughly 100 stores, including 40 community and power outlets, plus 20 WSS stores and two atmos stores, while shutting down nearly 190 stores.Wrapping up, Foot Locker appears to be well-poised well for growth, based on all the aforementioned strengths. An impressive long-term expected earnings growth rate of 32.3% coupled with a Value Score of A shows the potential of this current Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock.Solid Picks in RetailSome better-ranked stocks are Designer Brands DBI, Buckle BKE and Capri Holdings CPRI.Designer Brands, the leading footwear and accessories designer, presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Designer Brands’ fiscal 2022 sales and earnings per share (EPS) suggests growth of 6.9% and 23.5%, respectively, from the corresponding year-ago levels. DBI has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 55.1%, on average.Buckle, a leading retailer of apparel, footwear and accessories has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. BKE has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.3%, on average.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Buckle’s fiscal 2022 sales and EPS suggests growth of 6.8% and 4.5%, respectively, from the year-ago corresponding figures.Capri Holdings, a global fashion luxury group of iconic brands like Versace, Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors, carries a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Capri Holdings’ current financial-year sales and EPS suggests growth of 3.3% and 10.1%, respectively, from the corresponding year-ago tallies. CPRI has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 32.4%, on average. This Little-Known Semiconductor Stock Could Be Your Portfolio’s Hedge Against Inflation Everyone uses semiconductors. But only a small number of people know what they are and what they do. If you use a smartphone, computer, microwave, digital camera or refrigerator (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg), you have a need for semiconductors. That’s why their importance can’t be overstated and their disruption in the supply chain has such a global effect. But every cloud has a silver lining. Shockwaves to the international supply chain from the global pandemic have unearthed a tremendous opportunity for investors. And today, Zacks' leading stock strategist is revealing the one semiconductor stock that stands to gain the most in a new FREE report. It's yours at no cost and with no obligation.>>Yes, I Want to Help Protect My Portfolio During the RecessionWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Foot Locker, Inc. (FL): Free Stock Analysis Report Buckle, Inc. The (BKE): Free Stock Analysis Report Capri Holdings Limited (CPRI): Free Stock Analysis Report Designer Brands Inc. (DBI): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research.....»»

More short-term hosts are playing to renters' love of pickleball. Addison Seale manages a luxury Airbnb Inc. listing near Joshua Tree National Park in southern California, a short-term rental market that boomed during the pandemic as people fled cramped cities in search of outdoor space. The house is sleek—a single story, three-bedroom concrete home with a deck, hot tub, small above-ground pool and a striking view of the desert. But to set the home apart from the 1,200 other rentals in the area, Seale, 25, and her fiancé decided against an in-ground pool, and chose a pickleball court instead. “Compared to putting in a pool it was extremely cheap because it’s a concrete slab they had to finish and put the lines on,” she said. “We really just wanted something we could use and make us stand out.” [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Seale’s property is one of almost 1,300 short-term rentals across Airbnb and Expedia Group Inc.’s Vrbo that mention pickleball in their listing title or description, according to industry data provider AirDNA. The number of citations has increased 32% from 2019. Read More: Why Older People Love Pickleball So Much While the number of residences boasting pickleball courts is still small compared with the more than 8 million listings combined for Airbnb and Vrbo, having homes that will entice guests helps the companies compete with hotels. After two years of Covid lockdowns, the travel companies have been enjoying a boom in demand, with revenue in the second quarter topping analysts’ expectations. But shares of Airbnb and Expedia are down about 37% and 48%, respectively, this year as analysts expect travel to taper off toward the end of 2022 amid high inflation and an uncertain economic outlook. Property listings that mention pickleball are down about 200 this year, likely a reflection of softer demand for popular sites near mountain and lake getaways, AirDNA said. Pickleball—played with a plastic, hollow-ball and wide paddle—resembles a cross between tennis, badminton and ping-pong. Players can compete as singles or as doubles on a court or even a driveway marked with chalk. All that’s needed is a lightweight and inexpensive net and paddles, making the game easily accessible to most people. The popularity of the sport exploded recently, growing 39% over the last two years to 4.8 million players, according to a study from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, a global trade group for sports and fitness brands. Players in the 18-34 age range make up almost 29% of total players, but among serious pickleball enthusiasts, those who play eight times or more a year, almost a third are 65 or older. Advertising pickleball perks can help short-term rental hosts get noticed amid a flood of new properties that have cropped up since the pandemic. Demand for homes has swelled as people take advantage of flexible work options. More guests are looking for stays of a month or more, and many are bringing their whole families in search of a space to combine work and leisure. The top amenities people are looking for include home offices, fast Wi-Fi, backyards and pet-friendly homes, according to Airbnb. The San Francisco-based company said it doesn’t track searches for pickleball, but does note that travelers say amenities are a top priority for a great trip, especially when guests are booking for longer stays. On a blog post for hosts, Airbnb advises: “Thoughtfully outfitting your space and adding popular amenities to your listing will help you stand out from the crowd.” One host on the site suggested that other hosts “write your listing to invite people who value and enjoy the same things you do.” That’s what Mike and Barbara Burch did. The Sedona, Arizona, residents converted a guest house on their property into an Airbnb listing and installed a pickleball court in September 2020 after playing at their church’s gym before the pandemic. It’s been a draw for reservations, and the couple, who describe themselves as “very active seniors,” finds new playing partners when their guests pick up the paddles. Read More: Airbnb Made Overtourism Worse. Now It Wants to Fix That “I have many people who will say, ‘I saw you had a pickleball court and that’s what bought me to your site,’” Barbara Burch said. “We’ve taught a lot of people that have no physical ability at all.” Pickleball players in the US are concentrated on the coasts, with more than 1 million from Florida to Washington, D.C., and more than 750,000 players on the West Coast, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association report. But tournaments happen all across the country, including one in Sacramento, California, at the end of September that offers a $40,000 prize. That means travelers could be looking for a pickleball-friendly place to stay while competing, or to stay in shape while on vacation. Saint George, Utah, has the most pickleball-related rental listings in the US, with more than 100, followed by the Florida cities of St. Petersburg, Panama City Beach and Naples, according to AirDNA. Like Lake Tahoe, and Joshua Tree, Arizona saw a boom in the popularity of short-term rentals during the pandemic, along with a hot housing market. The number of short-term listings in Phoenix increased 46% as of August compared with last year, according to AirDNA. While many people flocked to the sunny, dry destinations as an ideal place to weather the pandemic and work from home, not everyone wants to just lounge by the pool after a day of video calls or while on a family trip. “If you go to a place like Arizona you’re gonna lay at the pool,” said Sarah Bradford, a former vacation rental manager and self-described pickleball fanatic. “A family is tired of playing at the pool after an hour. You need activities; you’re on vacation.”.....»»

Cintas notched a double beat in earnings, but its forward guidance is the real story. There are always good companies to invest in a bear market. As a stock trade exclusively, there may be better options. Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) is down just over 1% the day after it reported strong earnings. On the top line, the […] Cintas notched a double beat in earnings, but its forward guidance is the real story. There are always good companies to invest in a bear market. As a stock trade exclusively, there may be better options. Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) is down just over 1% the day after it reported strong earnings. On the top line, the company posted revenue of $2.17 billion which was up from the $2.08 billion forecast by analysts. The bottom line number was equally strong. Earnings per share (EPS) came in at $3.39 which was significantly higher than the forecast of $3.13. if (typeof jQuery == 'undefined') { document.write(''); } .first{clear:both;margin-left:0}.one-third{width:31.034482758621%;float:left;margin-left:3.448275862069%}.two-thirds{width:65.51724137931%;float:left}form.ebook-styles .af-element input{border:0;border-radius:0;padding:8px}form.ebook-styles .af-element{width:220px;float:left}form.ebook-styles .af-element.buttonContainer{width:115px;float:left;margin-left: 6px;}form.ebook-styles .af-element.buttonContainer input.submit{width:115px;padding:10px 6px 8px;text-transform:uppercase;border-radius:0;border:0;font-size:15px}form.ebook-styles .af-body.af-standards input.submit{width:115px}form.ebook-styles .af-element.privacyPolicy{width:100%;font-size:12px;margin:10px auto 0}form.ebook-styles .af-element.privacyPolicy p{font-size:11px;margin-bottom:0}form.ebook-styles .af-body input.text{height:40px;padding:2px 10px !important} form.ebook-styles .error, form.ebook-styles #error { color:#d00; } form.ebook-styles .formfields h1, form.ebook-styles .formfields #mg-logo, form.ebook-styles .formfields #mg-footer { display: none; } form.ebook-styles .formfields { font-size: 12px; } form.ebook-styles .formfields p { margin: 4px 0; } Get The Full Henry Singleton Series in PDF Get the entire 4-part series on Henry Singleton in PDF. Save it to your desktop, read it on your tablet, or email to your colleagues (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Q2 2022 hedge fund letters, conferences and more   Find A Qualified Financial Advisor Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you're ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. But the really notable part of the company’s earnings report is that it raised its guidance for the rest of 2022. If this was happening a year ago, or even two years ago, many investors wouldn’t have thought anything about it. In fact, CTAS stock might have been falling because the results weren’t “good enough.” But there aren’t a lot of companies that are beating on earnings and raising their guidance. Cintas did that. And that’s the lesson that investors should remember. There are going to be companies that perform well even during a bear market. But finding them is going to require more effort. Cintas has a couple of factors working for it. This article will explore a few reasons why Cintas may be a good option for long-term investors, and why there may be better options for short-term traders. A Strong Customer Base As Dave Gilreath, chief investment officer and portfolio manager for Innovative Portfolio’s mentioned on The MarketBeat Podcast, the workers that Cintas is supplying uniforms for are essential workers. Remote work is not an option for them. And, with factory output showing signs of increasing in the country, there’s another reason to believe in the company’s forecast. And some of it is because the company is diversified in many areas such as personal protective equipment (PPE). One example of this is the company’s Ready for the Workday program allows businesses to have essential products and services delivered in a contactless way. Solid Financials It’s interesting to note that Cintas, which is largely seen as a company that would depend on in-person work saw its revenue increase on a sequential and year-over-year basis during the pandemic. Part of this was, as Gilreath noted, because it captures essential workers. But capturing revenue and making efficient use of it are two different things. Cintas scores well on several key profitability metrics such as Return on Equity, Return on Assets, and Profit Margin. And the company has been growing its free cash flow (FCF) at an impressive pace. A Growing Dividend Cintas falls into the category of Dividend Aristocrats. This category is made up of companies that have increased the dividend they pay for at least 25 consecutive years. Cintas has now managed to increase its dividend for 38 consecutive years. With a yield of just over 1% (1.19%), the stock isn’t one that may catch the attention of dividend investors. But once again, I’ll point out something Gilreath mentioned. A significant reason for the low yield is that investors have received a 169% gain in the CTAS stock share price over the past five years. The Stock May be Overvalued in the Short-Term I’ve given long-term investors several reasons to look at Cintas as a company that can help them weather the current bear market. But if you’re a short-term trader, I’ll admit there may be better options. CTAS stock currently trades at a P/E ratio of over 30x earnings and while it’s trading in the middle of its 52-week range, it has met resistance on the upper end of that range twice in the last year. That leaves the company little margin for error at a time when the company admits it faces higher operational expenses. So far, the company has been able to offset that with higher prices and growth in new customers. But if the country faces a prolonged recession that model will be put to the test. Cintas is a part of the Entrepreneur Index, which tracks some of the largest publicly traded companies founded and run by entrepreneurs. Should you invest $1,000 in Cintas right now? Before you consider Cintas, you'll want to hear this. MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Cintas wasn't on the list. While Cintas currently has a "Moderate Buy" rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys. View The Five Stocks Here Article by Chris Markoch, MarketBeat.....»»

Olive Garden has relied on pasta promotion to attract customers during previous sales slumps. This year's iteration is nearly 30% more expensive. Irene Jiang / Business Insider Olive Garden is bringing back the Never Ending Pasta Bowl for a limited time this fall. It will cost $13.99, up from $10.99 last time with extra charges for protein. Olive Garden has relied on pasta promotion to attract customers during previous sales slumps. Olive Garden is bringing its famous Never Ending Pasta Bowl promotion. The casual dining chain first announced the news on TikTok.The pasta deal will be more expensive this time around, at $13.99 for unlimited pasta, plus $4.99 for additional proteins, including meatballs, sausage, or chicken for a total of about $19. The last time Olive Garden introduced the deal, it cost just $10.99.Olive Garden brings back the promotion periodically, where for a set price customers can get unlimited servings of pasta, along with breadsticks and salad. When sales are low, the chain has historically relied on the Never Ending Pasta deal to keep things going. In 2019, Olive Garden brought back the promotion as sales were dipping, and ended up with a relatively small 1.5% increase in sales. The restaurant chain is seeing declining sales among lower-income consumers, which could be an impetus to bring back Never Ending Pasta. CEO of parent company Darden Restaurants Ricardo Cardenas told investors in September that consumers making less than $50,000 per year were "feeling a little bit worse," and had less discretionary income to spend on dining out. At the time Cardenas wouldn't discuss the pasta promotion specifically, but he did say that any deals Olive Garden promoted would be based on emphasizing the brand and "be simple to execute and not be at a deep discount." When Cardenas took over in 2021, he acknowledged that Never Ending Pasta had a "negative impact" on bottom lines in the past. The pasta promotion was historically good at bringing customers into the restaurant, but less so at creating big checks and profitable margins for Olive Garden. This time around, Olive Garden is focusing on profitable sales growth and getting a healthy return on their investment in this promotion.Never Ending Pasta will be available from October 3 to November 20, with four pasta options and five sauces.Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips Investors looking for the best cheap cryptos don't really have to look that hard, but these three options look enticing now. The post The 3 Best Cheap Cryptos to Buy Now appeared first on InvestorPlace. More From InvestorPlace Buy This $5 Stock BEFORE This Apple Project Goes Live The Best $1 Investment You Can Make Today Early Bitcoin Millionaire Reveals His Next Big Crypto Trade “On Air” It doesn’t matter if you have $500 or $5 million. Do this now......»»

Biohaven Pharmaceuticals (BHVN) suffers a setback as verdiperstat fails to meet the primary and secondary endpoints in an ALS study. Biohaven Pharmaceuticals BHVN recently announced that the phase II/III HEALY ALS platform study evaluating verdiperstat for treating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) failed.ALS is a progressive, rare and life-threatening neuromuscular disease characterized by the loss of motor neurons in the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord that leads to progressive muscle weakness and difficulties in speaking, swallowing, and breathing. Per the company, the disease affects approximately 30,000 people in the United States. Presently, there are no approved treatment options and no cure for ALS.The HEALY ALS study is an adaptive study evaluating multiple investigational treatments simultaneously for the easy and accelerated development of treatment options for ALS patients.Biohaven evaluated verdiperstat in the study participants with ALS for a period of 24 weeks. The candidate did not exhibit any statistically significant difference in the prescribed primary efficacy outcome, disease progression measured by the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised or survival in patients who received the drug compared with a placebo. The candidate also did not exhibit any improvements in the key secondary efficacy measures of the study.The initial data from the safety analysis of the study was in line with the candidate’s previous studies.The company continues to conduct additional analyses of the candidate and expects to report results from the complete results at an upcoming scientific meeting.Shares of Biohaven have returned 9.9% in the year-to-date period against the industry’s decline of 24.5%.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchBiohaven is a commercial-stage biopharma company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for rare neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases.Biohaven is also conducting a phase III study evaluating taldefgrobep alfa in Spinal Muscle Atrophy (SMA). In July, the company initiated the enrollment of participants in the SMA phase III study.Biohaven is among a handful of companies exploring the ALS market. Notably, in the ALS space, there are two companies, namely Amylyx Pharmaceuticals AMLX andIonis Pharmaceuticals IONS, who have made progress in the target market.Amylyx Pharmaceuticals recently announced that the FDA approved its pipeline candidate, Relyvrio (sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol), for treating ALS in adults. In a randomized placebo-controlled study, Relyvrio significantly slowed down the loss of physical function in adult ALS patients.Ionis is also developing several candidates for different forms of ALS, including ION363 for ALS, with mutations in the fused in sarcoma gene, or FUS (FUS-ALS), and tofersen, in partnership with Biogen, for superoxide dismutase 1 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SOD1-ALS)In July, the FDA accepted the new drug application (NDA) for Ionis/Biogen’s tofersen in the treatment of SOD1-ALS. The application has also been granted priority review and a decision is expected by Jan. 25, 2023.Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. Price  Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. price | Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. Quote Investors should note that Biohaven entered into a definitive contract with Pfizer PFE in May 2022, wherein the latter will acquire the former for an all-cash transaction of $148.50 per share or a total equity value of $11.6 million.Per the terms of the transaction, Pfizer will acquire Biohaven’s calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pipeline. With regard to the non-CGRP pipeline, all existing shareholders of Biohaven (including Pfizer) will receive half a share of a new publicly traded company that will retain the company’s non-CGRP programs for every one common share of Biohaven. The new company will continue to operate under Biohaven’s name. The transaction is expected to be complete by early 2023.Biohaven currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here. This Little-Known Semiconductor Stock Could Be Your Portfolio’s Hedge Against Inflation Everyone uses semiconductors. But only a small number of people know what they are and what they do. If you use a smartphone, computer, microwave, digital camera or refrigerator (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg), you have a need for semiconductors. That’s why their importance can’t be overstated and their disruption in the supply chain has such a global effect. But every cloud has a silver lining. Shockwaves to the international supply chain from the global pandemic have unearthed a tremendous opportunity for investors. And today, Zacks' leading stock strategist is revealing the one semiconductor stock that stands to gain the most in a new FREE report. It's yours at no cost and with no obligation.>>Yes, I Want to Help Protect My Portfolio During the RecessionWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Pfizer Inc. (PFE): Free Stock Analysis Report Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IONS): Free Stock Analysis Report Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. (BHVN): Free Stock Analysis Report Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMLX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research.....»»

A strong labor market is just one of several positives that investors are ignoring right now. But Kevin Matras can look behind the headlines and help you take full advantage of an improved fourth quarter and beyond. It’s been a rough year so far.40-year high inflation, which forced the Fed to aggressively raise rates in an effort to bring it down, has been weighing on stocks.As tough as this year has been, I’m reminded of the comparison that was made between the first half of this year, and the first half of 1970.This year’s first half performance (the S&P was down nearly -21%), was strikingly similar to that of 1970 (also down -21%). And in both periods, high inflation was an issue.But in the second half of 1970, the S&P was up 27%.Of course, that doesn’t mean that’s how it’ll go for the back half of this year. But it doesn’t mean it won’t either.Granted, the last few months haven’t been any easier. And there’s only 3 months left of this year. But with plenty of economic positives backstopping the economy right now, not the least of which is a strong labor market, there’s definitely a chance that the market is being too pessimistic.While we unofficially saw a recession after Q2 GDP fell by -0.6%, which followed Q1’s -1.6% (two quarters in a row of negative GDP is the technical definition of a recession), consumer demand remained strong throughout. So did corporate earnings. And the jobs market stayed sizzling hot.You can also see that in the GDI numbers (Gross Domestic Income), which measures U.S. economic activity via the income earned for these activities. Usually, the GDI and GDP (Gross Domestic Product) are statistically very similar. But unlike the GDP, the GDI was up in the first half of the year with a positive 0.5% annualized growth rate, while GDP was down.Will these two measures converge? If so, will GDP rise to meet GDI, or will GDI fall to meet GDP? Or maybe a little bit of both? TBD. But, at the moment, GDP forecasts are pointing to plus signs for the rest of the year.Q3 GDP is only expected to eke out a 0.3% gain. But Q4 is expected to be better, with full year estimates showing another year of growth. (It’s no longer a recession when the economy starts growing again.)And the Fed is predicting 2023 to be even better still with a 1.8% GDP growth rate.So there’s plenty of positives in the market right now. (The market happens to be ignoring them at the moment. But they are there nonetheless.)And with the market seemingly pricing in the worst-case scenario (deep and long recession), stocks are primed to rally once it looks like the worst-case scenario won’t come to pass (shallower and shorter recession). Peak Inflation Is Behind Us  One of the key factors which will likely determine where the market goes from here, will be inflation, and therefore, interest rates.Even though inflation is still too high, it has been ticking down for the last few months.Headline inflation, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is at 8.3% y/y, with core inflation (less food & energy) at 6.3%. That’s down from its peak of 9.1% and 6.5%.While that dip is not a lot, and it’s a far cry from the Fed’s goal of getting it back down to 2%, the mere fact that it’s no longer making new highs, and instead is ticking lower, is a step in the right direction.(Oil prices, for example, have fallen sharply. After trading over $130 a barrel, crude oil is now trading at $82. That’s a decline of -37% in a matter of months. And that’s helping to ease inflation concerns.)A few months ago, many were expecting inflation to soar above 10% or more. Now, expectations are for it falling to 5-6% next year, with the core rate falling even lower.And that means the Fed may not have to raise rates as much as people are fearing.Are Stocks Undervalued? Let’s also not forget that valuations are down.The P/E ratio for the S&P is at multiyear lows, and is trading below its five-year average.And that makes stocks a bargain.Of course, if earnings drift lower, valuations will creep up. But there’s plenty of room for stocks to remain relatively cheap.And the earnings outlook is still forecasting growth.Add in another trillion dollars in stimulus between the CHIPS Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, and that should extend the growth outlook even further.More . . .------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Alert: Buy These Ultimate Four Stocks There's still time to get in early. These aren't just 4 promising stocks. They were handpicked from hundreds of strong companies by Zacks' experts because they present the greatest upside for Q4:Stock #1: Little-known but highly influential tech stock with clients like Apple and Nvidia.Stock #2: Cutting-edge streaming company ready to break out. EPS estimates are up 25% in 30 days.Stock #3: An under-the-radar alternative energy company with estimates up to 70% in topline growth.Stock #4: Chemical company poised to become the dominant supplier of materials for EV batteries.Deadline to download our just-released Ultimate Four Special Report is Sunday, October 2.See Our “Ultimate” Stocks Now >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------How Do Stocks Perform Around Midterms? Many are familiar with the Presidential Cycle and the markets. But many may not know that the Presidential Cycle covers all for years of a presidency.Of particular interest is the midterm portion of the cycle, which is where we are right now.And historically, it’s amazing to see how favorable this cycle is for investors at this point in time.Developed by Yale Hirsch, of the Stock Trader’s Almanac, the theory suggests that the stock market follows a pattern which correlates with a U.S. president’s four-year term. The election cycle consists of the post-election, midterm, pre-election, and election years. 2022 is an example of a midterm year, i.e., the second year in the 4-year presidential cycle.In the first two years after an election, the second year tends to be the weakest. In fact, it’s the weakest of all four years. Congressional elections take place – and with them, they bring the potential to shift the political backdrop.Hirsch discovered that wars, recessions, and bear markets (sound familiar?) tend to start in the first two years of a president’s term. This year, the market entered the weak spot of the cycle. And with an aggressive Fed, high inflation, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the weakness in stocks was amplified.Those who know their market history will find it somewhat unsurprising that the start to this year was rough. The second and third quarters of midterm years are historically quite weak. (History repeating itself once again.)But more prosperous times typically lie ahead in the latter half of the cycle.In fact, we’re entering the most bullish part of the calendar -- Q4 of year 2 in the 4-year presidential cycle (the second-strongest quarter of all 16 quarters), sporting an average return of 6.6% (since 1950); and Q1 of year 3 (the strongest quarter of all 16 quarters), with a 7.4% average gain.And when we factor in that the third year of the presidential cycle has historically witnessed the best performance of all four years, the outlook for stocks looks even brighter.Now Is The Time To Start Building Your Dream Portfolio  With stocks near their lows, now is the time to start building your dream portfolio.As legendary investor Warren Buffett once said, “be greedy when others are fearful.”And there’s plenty of fear in the market right now.But it should also be known that a large part of any market recovery typically comes at the very beginning.Whether that’s now, next week, or next month, etc., we’re definitely much closer to the bottom than we were just a few short weeks or months ago.To increase your odds of getting in at the bottom, you should always be scanning for new stocks to get into.True, when the market is falling, and economic conditions weaken, there will be fewer stocks coming through your screens. That’s just the way it is.But there will always be great stocks coming through. And savvy investors who diligently stay engaged in the market, even when times are tougher, will find those gems when others have given up.And since you are doing this regularly, you won’t miss out when the market turns around. Of course, they won’t all be winners. You may get into a new stock that goes down. But that’s OK. If you keep your losses small, you won’t do any damage to your portfolio.But you will inevitably find yourself in some spectacular picks at precisely the right time.And if you don’t think there’s money to be made during tough times like these, just know that YTD, even though the major indexes are all down, there are 689 stocks that are by 10% or more; 495 that are up by 20% or more; 213 up by 50% or more, and 85 that are up by 100% or more.Increasing Your Odds Of Success  Of course, picking winning stocks does require a degree of skill.If you keep looking at the wrong things to pick stocks with, you’ll rarely if ever get into the winners.But picking winning stocks is easier than you think.For example, did you know that stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buy have beaten the market in 28 of the last 34 years with an average annual return of 25% per year? That's more than 2 x the S&P with an annual win ratio of more than 82%.That includes 3 bear markets and 4 recessions.And did you know that stocks in the top 50% of Zacks Ranked Industries outperform those in the bottom 50% by a factor of 2 to 1? There's a reason why they say that half of a stock's price movement can be attributed to the group that it's in. Because it's true!Those two things will give any investor a huge probability of success and put you well on your way to beating the market.But you still have to narrow that list down to the handful of stocks you can buy at any one time.And that’s where the professional expertise of our editors comes in.One of the best ways to begin picking better stocks is to see what the pros are doing – the pros who use these methods to select the best stocks to buy.Whether you’re a growth investor, or a value investor, prefer fast-paced momentum stocks, or mature dividend-paying income stocks, there are certain rules the experts follow to maximize their gains.This applies to large-caps and small-caps, biotech and high-tech, ETFs, stocks under $10, stocks about to surprise, even options, and everything in between.Regardless of which one fits your personal style of trade, just be sure you’re following proven profitable methods that work, from experts who have demonstrated their ability to beat the market.The best part about these strategies is that all of the hard work is done for you. There’s no guesswork involved. Just follow the experts and start getting into better stocks on your very next trade.The Easiest, Fastest Way to Get Started  Download our just-released Ultimate Four Special Report. It's simple. Gain access to all our recommended stocks for the next 30 days. Take part in the experience we call Zacks Ultimate.Total cost? Only $1. I'm not kidding.And there's not a cent of further obligation.Get started now and you'll receive our just-released Ultimate Four Special Report.It names and explains 4 stocks with strong fundamentals that are hand-picked by our experts to have the biggest upsides for Q4. And despite inflation there couldn’t be a better time to get aboard. Stocks are substantially undervalued, but the U.S. economy is much better than most people realize, with strong consumer demand, robust job market and solid corporate earnings.In particular, these 4 stocks are riding trends that could prove very lucrative for investors...Stock #1: It’s one of the world’s most influential tech stocks, but most investors have never heard of it. Revenue jumped 44% thanks to extreme demand for its products from other tech companies like Apple.Stock #2: This cutting-edge entertainment company is ready to break out. Shares are already climbing after a pullback earlier in the year, and with EPS estimates up 25% in the last 30 days, big gains are on the horizon.Stock #3: An under-the-radar alternative energy company is poised to leap into the headlines. Analysts are calling for a massive 70% in topline growth – and government stimulus could push revenues even higher.Stock #4: The surging electric vehicle industry will give this chemical company a major boost. With operations on 5 continents, it could become a dominant supplier of materials for a new generation of EV batteries.Don’t miss this chance to get in early on our latest Ultimate Four. We’re limiting the number of people who share that Special Report. There’s a hard deadline - the opportunity to download it ends midnight Monday, October 2nd.Start Zacks Ultimate and see our Ultimate Four stocks now >> Thanks and good trading,KevinKevin Matras serves as Executive Vice President of Zacks.com and is responsible for all of its leading products for individual investors. He invites you to download Zacks’ newly released Ultimate Four Special Report. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research.....»»

Nomura: When Does The Fed "Blink"? The velocity of “things breaking” around the world (Yen, Yuan, Euro, Sterling, SONIA, Gilts, MBS, Lev Loan deals, the entirety of the UK LDI / Pension complex) is obviously a “neon swan” telling us that we are clearly now in the “market accident” stage from the tightening surge. And, as Nomura's Charlie McElligott notes, let’s be fair…all of these things are happening for completely rational reasons, particularly for the USD vs lack of viable global alternatives, as the US economy remains the “cleanest dirty shirt” by-far, while rest of world is running increasingly “incongruent” monetary vs fiscal policy on structural issues. Again, looking at the below generic UK / Europe type set-up, McElligott points out a laundry-list of messy inputs (h/t Jordan Rochester): Collapsing terms of trade / trade-deficits largely due to energy imports Manu / Industrial growth slowing due to high energy / input costs “Hiking into recession” with slower consumer being negatively impact by broad inflation (energy bills, food costs) AND shock-resets on mortgage rates "Demand CONSTRUCTION" policies which feed actually FEED consumption and inflation (energy caps, subsidies, fiscal stim / tax cuts) And again, all while those central banks are trying to “rage tighten” monetary policy with hot inflation - but against collapsing currencies thanks to the “USD Wrecking Ball”. And so, authorities are starting to agitate against growing market and economic calamity being caused by the impulse tightening of FCI and the USD Wrecking Ball - which is making the “macro trend trades” which have dictated all thematic performance in 2022 now increasingly open to reversal. So what will make the Fed "blink"? The Nomura strategist writes that, outside of trying to project outrageously unpredictable Inflation data, there are two scenarios: Job losses / Negative NFPs - currently, labor mkt tightness and wage growth at all-time highs gives Fed room to hit the economy HARDER, bc a hot jobs mkt gives you room to crunch it—so the Fed will keep hiking into postive NFP prints; but my view has continued to be that the first time you print a negative NFP, the market will immediately interpret it as a counter-intuitive “constructive” signal for Equities, because this allows for a Fed pivot back towards “dual mandate” (from current solo focus on inflation) which means they can “move the goalposts” - ESPECIALLY as “job losses” then becomes a political feature / issue Credit Market “freeze,” as Corp access to Capital Markets dries-up (note: this is NOT necessarily then about some absolute Spread level of say HY)—if FCI tightening and / or market Vol hits such an extent that BBBs can’t do debt deals…then the Fed will make a move; watching Lev Loans- and / or CLO- markets as most reasonable spots for an “issue” due to floating-rate nature of the products. Are we starting to see any signs of this anticipation of a Fed Pivot? Turning to tactical Equities / Vol - yesterday was the first day in four where we saw some normalization in the recent blast of Vol / Skew / Crash outperformance vs Spot Index,despite the seemingly big “down day”—with a resumption of fairly aggressive “monetization of downside” flows in Equities index / ETF options. And this segues nicely into today’s quarterly rebalance of the large client SPX Put Spread Collar, which tends to exhibit tremendous market impact on hype alone…but for many of the past year and a half’s rebal cycles, has indeed marked local market inflection points. Per the desk Put Spread Collar update: “The SPX Sept 30th 3020/3580/4005 Put Spread Collar (cust long the Sep 30th PM 3580/3020 Put Spreads vs. short the Sep 30th PM 4005 Calls) is expected to be rolled at some point today. The gamma on the SPX Sep 30th PM 3580 Put was ~$2.3B as of last night’s close, so dealers/market makers are broadly welcoming this morning’s de minimis move in futures. Based on last night’s closing level, the expectation is that the investor will roll into something like a a new SPX Dec 30th 2910/3460/3800 Put Spread Collar ~46,000x, which will create ~$16.8M of vega supply in that Dec 30th bucket (along with a fair amount of downside skew via that Dec 30th 2910 Put). The structure has ~$7B of net delta to sell as it currently stands on the MOC, though in the past we have seen this structure trade with a 1-day option (would sell a Sep 30th ITM call for example) so that the delta impact comes on the close as opposed to intra-day” McElligott's point is that with the recent “bid” to Vol / Skew that it is looking “rich” again (as an entry point then for it to fade from) - and yes, with a likelihood that the end of day Equities MOC imbalance could be a disasterously huge “$7B FOR SALE” print that frightens the mkt….i actually kinda think it sets up for a potential relief trade thereafter next week or even into / around Oct Op-Ex, because Dealers are getting a BUNCH of Vega and Gamma back, as well as picking up some big downside Skew…IF WE CAN AVOID A MELTDOWN TO THE 3580 STRIKE FIRST. I think all of this sets-up for a short-term tactical dynamic where Equities implied Vol could come off the recent squeeze higher and begin fading again next week, which then along with the reduced “Short Gamma” dynamic, but against so much “Negative $Delta”…could allow for Equities “relief” as iVol softens further with Dealers in a much “cleaner” place from an Options market perspective. Interestingly, the team at SpotGamma note a similar tactical dynamic as today's put expiration is enough to give equities a bump, and that could lead to a rapid decline in implied volatility. So, we have puts deltas coming off due to expiration, but also vanna. Shown below is the VIX which has hit recent highs – but note too the movement of the TDEX “Tail Risk” index. There was a sharp move in this metric over the last week which tells us that traders were buying deep out of the money puts. On a rally this stuff could get smoked, and could help generate a ~5% equity rally rather quickly. But SpotGamma warns, the macro risks in this environment are massive, an its the perfect environment for something to snap and lead to limit down style moves. This is why we favor playing rallies in call positions with fixed risk. Second, this view of a rally is based on positional analysis, nothing fundamental. Because we are in a put-heavy environment with high volatility rallies should be treated as very unstable and subject to rapid reversal. Think CPI crash, or even yesterdays reversal from 3940 Wed closing to 3910 Thursday lows. Those were 3-5% rallies which retraced in hours. Tyler Durden Fri, 09/30/2022 - 14:15.....»»

The best gifts for college students are practical and fun. Here are 59 gift ideas from a recent college graduate. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.Amazon; Urban OutfittersWhen students enter university and are first introduced to the world of adulting, the more practical and helpful the gift is, the better. A reliable face cleanser that manages stress breakouts? Check. Professional accessories to defeat imposter syndrome at their new internship? Check. Dorm decor that makes their place feel like a real home? Check, check, check.Between studying and working and more studying and more working, college students can use a break – or a helpful gift to keep them motivated. Keep scrolling to browse gifts beyond the essentials, from cool neon signs to a unisex skincare routine.The 59 best gifts for college students in 2022:A trendy Trader Joe's-inspired cookbookUrban Outfitters"The I Love Trader Joe's College Cookbook" by Andrea Lynn, available at Urban Outfitters and Amazon, from $15.29If there's one place you hear all these Gen Z'ers talking about, it's Trader Joe's. This quirky cookbook contains 160 easy recipes for busy (and usually broke) college students, drawing from some of the brand's favorite ingredients to create mouth-watering hors d'oeuvres, party-worthy appetizers, and nourishing meals.Does your student prefer to cook with the air fryer? Check out this equally nifty "I Love Trader Joe's Air Fryer Cookbook"! A helpful air purifierBed Bath & BeyondHoMedics TotalClean 4-in-1 Air Purifier, available at Bed Bath & Beyond, Amazon, and Home Depot, $69.99For college students living in a traditional dorm room, a breath of fresh air is more than welcome. This HoMedics TotalClean 4-in-1 air purifier creates cleaner air no matter how small the space is, clearing pollen, dust, smoke, pet dander, mold spores, and germs for easy breathing. Bonus points: It has an auto shut-off timer, a built-in night light, and a three-year manufacturer's warranty for optimal satisfaction.A bottle or two of famous toilet spraysPourriPoo-Pourri Toilet Sprays, available at Pourri and Amazon, $9.99Whether they're in a community bathroom or a private one, odds are they'll be sharing it with a roommate. These Poo-Pourri toilet sprays use essential oils and plant-based ingredients to eliminate bathroom odor before it begins. Just pick their fave scent, spray, and go — no stink necessary!Neon light signs for ultimate dorm vibesDormify"Good Vibes Only" Neon Sign, available at Dormify, $79Nothing screams college vibes more than a quirky neon light or color-changing LED-rimmed walls. Dormify's options are perfect for achieving this, and the brand has everything from wholesome neon signs to goofy ones. A manifestation of good vibes is probably helpful for the average student, but there are plenty of other options like GRLPWR, Happy, and Party.Coffee table books that add a touch of personalityAmazon"In Vogue: An Illustrated History of the World's Most Famous Fashion Magazine" by Alberto Oliva dna Norberto Angeletti, Available at Amazon and Walmart, $50.99"Color Scheme: An Irreverent History of Art and Pop Culture in Color Palettes" by Edith Young, available at Amazon and Walmart, $19.29For all the books college students have to read for class, it's nice to have some decor books laying around that are beautiful to look at and fun to flip through. Depending on their interests and aspirations, "In Vogue: An Illustrated History of the World's Most Famous Fashion Magazine" is perfect for a fashionista. For an artsy student, "Color Scheme: An Irreverent History of Art and Pop Culture in Color Palettes" is a great choice. A statement scrunchie that'll make any outfit look goodAmazonKitsch Dinner Scrunchie, available at Amazon and Target, from $13.53There are few accessories that can pull together an outfit and make it look chic, even if that outfit is sweatpants. The massive dinner scrunchies by Kitsch are the perfect accessory to add to a quick outfit and make it look put together. Gifting this to someone means they will always have the option to add an easy, fashionable touch to their look.A trio of unisex products that makes skincare clean and simpleAtticusBest Seller Trio, available at Atticus, $83.70Stress affects how our skin looks, especially in college. Skincare, however, can get overwhelming because of how many options are available. Atticus's high-quality skincare line makes it simple for everyone and is made to be gender inclusive. Its trios, like the Best Seller, include all the products you need: a cleanser, daily moisturizer with SPF, and night cream with anti-aging ingredients. A modern card game for nights in and partiesAmazonWhat Do You Meme Game, available at Amazon and Walmart, $29.99College students today are of the meme generation, so this game will be highly appreciated. This set includes 75 of the funniest memes plus 360 caption cards to make the wonkiest combinations for a game during study breaks or chill wine nights.One of the easiest ways to find your favorite fragranceScentbirdPerfume subscription (6-months), available at Scentbird, $89Finding a fragrance that speaks to you is a step towards finding your style. But buying a bunch of different scents can take a long time and cost a lot. Scentbird is a perfume and cologne discovery subscription that helps you find your favorite perfumes by sending monthly options based on your preferences.A sunrise alarm clock for a gentle, phone-free wakeupSuzy Hernandez/InsiderHatch Restore, available at Amazon and Target, $129.99Using your phone as an alarm clock makes it a lot more tempting to start scrolling on your phone first thing in the morning, which isn't the healthiest habit. A sunrise alarm clock can help your student have a much better start to their day than immediately checking emails or scrolling on Instagram. The Hatch Restore is a great sunrise alarm option with a ton of special features.One of the nicest and most classic notebooksMoleskineMoleskine Classic Notebook, available at Amazon and Walmart, from $18.63Moleskine journals have a history of belonging to creatives and being the place where great ideas and art begin. If the student you're thinking of is a writer or artist, a Moleskine journal is a perfect gift to let them know you support them. These are also stellar for note-taking.An air fryer for the snack loverAmazonThe Philips Premium TurboStar Air Fryer, available at Amazon and Walmart, from $149.95Air fryers are all the buzz for how they can turn just about anything into a warm, crispy delight. Plus, they save a ton of time, which every college student can appreciate. The Philips Premium TurboStar Air Fryer is one of the best air fryers on the market today.There's some controversy about how good air fryers actually are, so you can also think about gifting a toaster oven.A good wallet to hold their cards, cash, and student IDVera BradleyVera Bradley Microfiber Zip ID Wallet, available at Vera Bradley and Amazon, from $20Vera Bradley's Zip ID Wallet is a great option for students who have to frequently show or swipe their student ID, but don't need an overstuffed bifold. The O-ring is a convenient and sturdy place to hold all their keys. It also makes it easy to clip the wallet into their other bags.A steady supply of healthier (and still tasty) snacksThrive Market1-Year Membership + $25 Shopping Credit, available at Thrive Market, $84.95College students live off good food and snacks. Gifting a subscription to Thrive Market means access to healthier snacks, which leads to them feeling more energized and better studying.A long-lasting backpack that'll look good on campus and at job interviewsHerschelHerschel Little America Backpack, available at Herschel and Amazon, from $94.99Typical backpacks work great for class, but what about everything that happens outside of class? Having a sturdy backpack that's well-suited for traveling and job interviews helps a ton. Herschel's Little America is a great option because it's versatile, sturdy, and stylish. Similarly, the Dagne Dover backpack ($215) is specifically designed for a woman's body and is made to store everything you need and go anywhere you go. If the student is a tote person and doesn't touch backpacks, the Longchamp Le Pliage Shoulder Bag ($155) is a staple for students and young workers alike.An aroma diffuser to set the moodGrove CollaborativeCollaborative Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Diffuser, available at Grove, $39.99An aroma diffuser delivers calming, in-home aromatherapy and is a great fragrance option for dorms where candles usually aren't allowed. This one from Grove Collaborative diffuses essential oils for up to five hours at a time, has LED light options, and elegantly blends into any room thanks to its minimalistic ceramic design.If you're looking for more diffusing options, check out our guide to the best essential oil diffusers we tested. A weighted blanket that'll change the way you sleepTranquilityTranquility Weighted Blanket, available at Target and Walmart, from $49Every college student ever has needed better sleep. Weighted blankets apply a calming pressure on you, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up more rested. Tranquility's weighted blanket is perfectly-sized it is to move from bed to couch, fits a standard dorm twin XL bed, and is easily washable.A foolproof planner to keep everything in orderDay DesignerWeekly Planner, available at Day Designer, $68A planner keeps them organized between all their assignments, exams, and social events. Day Designer makes luxurious planners that students love. Planners come in daily or weekly options which each have space for all your checklists and schedules, plus extra pages for goal setting, future planning, and notes.If this style doesn't suit them, pick another from our favorite planners for college students.The most comfortable socks college students can ownBombasWomen's and Men's Ankle Sock 4-Pack, available at Bombas, $49.40Bombas makes the best socks on the market. They benefit from upgrades like a supportive honeycomb stitch, blister tabs built into ankle-height styles, and a Y-stitched heel and "invisitoe" that minimizes annoying bumps. Even if it seems like socks aren't an exciting gift, comfort is pretty much always a hit in college. Plus, for every pair purchased, Bombas donates a specially designed sock to someone in need.A cult-favorite tumbler to keep their drinks just the right temperature for hoursHydro FlaskHydro Flask 40 oz. Wide Mouth Water Bottle, available at Hydro Flask, REI, and Amazon, from $49.95This HydroFlask will keep cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot drinks hot for up to 12 hours with the lid on, perfect for when they need coffee during a long night studying.Great coffee from all over the world to help them stay energizedAtlas Coffee Club3-Month Coffee Subscription, available at Atlas Coffee Club, $60If they drink coffee, they'll likely drink a fair amount of it during college. And it's really nice to have a cup better than one from the dining hall. Atlas Coffee is a monthly subscription that's sort of like a worldwide coffee tour — bringing the best single-origin coffee (with a postcard from its origin country) to your door. They'll also get brewing tips and flavor notes. A book that helps them build good habits and break bad onesAmazon"Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones" by James Clear, available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, from $11.98Many college students are trying to map out what they want out of life and how to build the habits that get them where they want to go. In the popular book "Atomic Habits," James Clear, an expert on habit formation, teaches practical strategies for building lasting habits and ditching detrimental ones. Popular wireless over-ear headphones for quality noise-cancelingAmazonBeats Solo3 Wireless Noise Cancelling On-Ear Headphones, available at Amazon, Walmart, and Apple, from $116.09If there's one thing every college student needs, it's good wireless headphones. This Beats pair has rich sound and up to 40 hours of listening time. And if they let the battery run out, a five-minute charge converts to three hours of playback.If they're a runner and need something lightweight and in-ear, you should opt for Jaybird Vista.An inexpensive way to get the iced coffee they love at homeAmazonTakeya Patented Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker, available at Amazon and Walmart, from $30.39If the student you're thinking of drinks coffee — and there's a very good chance they do — having access to one of the best cold brew contraptions will be a gift that keeps on giving. A cold brew machine means you can go 4-5 days in a row without brewing another pot. It's also easy to clean. Find a full review here.A waterproof speaker that can bring the bassJBLJBL Flip 5 Bluetooth Speaker, available at JBL, Amazon, and Walmart, from $89A Bluetooth speaker is a must-have: it helps set the mood for study nights and brings the party to life whenever they're hosting. JBL's Flip 5 speaker is the best choice. It has vibrantly booming bass, lasts for up to 12 hours without a charge, and is waterproof.Clothes and shoes for their upcoming interviews and presentationsEverlaneThe Oversized Blazer, available at Everlane, $228Workday Khakis, available at Dockers, $66Wool Coat, available at Other Stories, from $219College is full of big meetings, presentations, and nerve-wracking interviews. For days when sweatpants aren't an option and something more formal is needed, these are some great options for women's staples. We've also created a list of our personal favorite workwear stores for women and men — plus the best styles to buy from each one. A nice watch they can wear to internshipsMVMTMVMT Men's Chrono Watch, available at MVMT and Amazon, from $135MVMT Women's Avenue Watch, available at MVMT and Amazon, $128MVMT makes beautiful watches for men and women at great prices, and they feel more contemporary to wear than most on the market. It's a versatile, sentimental gift you can feel good about giving because you know they'll feel good — and perhaps more put-together — wearing it. One of the best tablets for note-taking, entertainment, and everything elseAmazonApple 10.2-inch iPad (32 GB), available at Amazon, Apple, and Walmart, from $299.95 If you go on a college campus today, you'll probably see iPads all over the place — and for good reason. These slim rectangular boxes are bundles of joy for students. They make note-taking, e-reading, Netflix, and leisure drawing easy to do all in one place. The new 256GB iPad ($479) will make an unforgettable gift. If you want to take it up a notch, the highly-coveted and ultrafast 11" iPad Pro ($799) is even better.If they already have an iPad, you can think about getting them an Apple Pencil ($129), which will level up their gadget even more.A key-, wallet-, and iPhone-finderAmazonTile Mate, available at Amazon, Target, and Walmart, $24.99You can't go wrong with a tracker for their keys, wallet, or phone. The Tile Mate is compact, thoughtful, and useful for everyone — especially an oft-frazzled college student.  A bed frame that can easily move with themLauren Savoie/InsiderThuma Bed Frame (Full), available at Thuma, from $995A good bed frame is the foundation of good sleep and this one by Thuma features interlocking Japanese joinery that makes it incredibly sturdy but easy to disassemble, move, and store. It's a great option for young adults on the move, especially if they're moving into older or smaller buildings. A smartphone-sized travel photo printerStaplesFujifilm Instax Mini Link Bluetooth Photo Printer, available at Amazon, B&H Photo, and Apple, from $89.95Mini portable Bluetooth printers make turning iPhone photos into tangible memories quick and easy — which is especially convenient for decorating their room. All they'll have to do is download the app (which also has internal PhotoShop elements and features like themed stickers and collages) and connect via Bluetooth. Their favorite comfort foodsGoldbellyFood gifts, available at Goldbelly, prices varyGoldbelly makes it possible to satisfy their most specific and nostalgic cravings no matter where they live in the US — a cheesecake from Junior's, deep dish pizza from Lou Malnati, and more. Browse the iconic gifts section for inspiration.A media streamer that transforms a normal TV into a smart oneAmazonRoku Ultra 4K/HDR/HD Streaming Player, available at Amazon, Roku, and Walmart, from $86.89Most college students aren't forking over a monthly payment to cable. This streaming player is, overall, the best one you can buy, and it transforms an otherwise ordinary TV into one that can stream shows and movies from Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, Prime Video, and others all in one spot.  One of the best facial cleansers for a clean and effective routineFOREOFOREO Luna 3 Facial Cleansing Device, available at FOREO, Amazon, and Sephora, $219FOREO's cult-favorite Luna 2 cleansing device gently and effectively cleans with thin, antimicrobial silicone touch points, and it removes 98.5% of dirt and makeup residue without irritating the skin. Plus, it's 100% waterproof and the battery life lasts for a few months per charge. Find a full review from a female reporter and a male reporter here.Trendy and convenient Apple AirPodsAppleApple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) with Charging Case, available at Target, Amazon, and Apple, from $239.99If you're after the title of their favorite relative of the year, here's a good place to start. AirPods are both easy to use and functional as well as trendy. A comfy Patagonia pullover they'll rely onPatagoniaMen's and Women's Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Pullover, available at Patagonia, $129Men's and Women's Better Sweater 1/4-Zip Fleece, available at REI, $129It's a good bet that many of their peers will also have this Snap-T pullover from Patagonia. This and the Better Sweater are long-held favorites, and both are comfortable classics that they'll no doubt come to rely upon. A Patagonia sweater is also a particularly good gift for students who are invested in sustainability. The company has been turning plastic bottles into polyester for its clothing since 1993, and continues to do so today.The world's comfiest shoesAllbirds/InstagramMen's and Women's Wool Runners, available at Allbirds, $110Startup Allbirds makes wildly popular shoes out of soft, sustainable materials. Their Runners, made of super-soft merino wool, have been nicknamed "the world's most comfortable shoes." You can find a full review here. A portable projector that's the size of a soda canAmazonAnker Nebula Capsule Smart Mini Projector, available at Amazon and Walmart, $299.99Anker's Nebula Capsule is a powerful and versatile mini projector, and its portability makes it a great option for college students who want a cozy movie-viewing experience in the comfort of their own room. It's 1 pound and the size of a soda can, but it has surprisingly crisp image quality and 360-degree sound. Find a full review here.College merchandise for school spiritAmerican EagleShop American Eagle's Tailgate ApparelParticularly if they're going to a school with a big sports team, you can be sure they'll both need and appreciate all the fan gear. A great game for a night in with friendsAmazonCards Against Humanity, available at Amazon, Target, and Walmart, $29Grab a fun card game they'll inevitably end up pulling out to play with friends on the weekend nights and snow days. Check out What Do You Meme, too.A Brooklinen gift card for really nice sheetsBrooklinenGift Card, available at Brooklinen, from $50Few things sound as nice as comfortable, beautiful sheets that you don't need to buy for yourself. Brooklinen is one of our favorite startups to shop at, and we ranked their sateen cotton sheets the best luxury sheets you can buy.A monthly subscription of personalized new makeup, haircare, and skincare samplesBirchbox Man/InstagramOne Year Subscription, available at Birchbox, $156College students like to look and feel good, but tight budgets aren't conducive to trying a lot of new grooming products. Birchbox sends samples of new and beloved products once a month, so they can test out new finds and discover products they may want to buy a full size of in the future. It's also just fun to get a monthly gift that is all about them. An Echo Dot with a built-in clockAmazonEcho Dot (4th Gen) with Clock, available at Amazon, B&H Photo, and Best Buy, $59.99The newest Echo Dot is more convenient than ever. The all-new design features a larger speaker for better audio, a digital clock to display the time and timer countdowns, and all of Alexa's other features. A savvy suitcase for traveling on holiday breaksAway/FacebookThe Carry-On, available at Away, from $275Away's popular suitcases deserve their hype. Their hard shell is lightweight but durable, their 360-degree spinner wheels make for seamless traveling, and the external (and ejectable and TSA-compliant) battery pack included can charge a smartphone five times over. It's also guaranteed for life by Away. Find our full review here.We also recommend Calpak for other luggage options. A book about capitalizing on the huge choices to make in your 20sAmazon"The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter — And How to Make the Most of Them Now" by Meg Jay, available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, from $12.19The decisions you make in your 20s can greatly impact the rest of your life. The best defense is a good offense and your grad should know now, before any life-altering events crop up, how to get the most out of their "defining decade."An Amazon Prime membershipTommaso Boddi / Getty ImagesGift an Amazon Prime membership, $139An Amazon Prime membership is one of those things that immediately makes life easier. If you decide to gift one, the recipient will enjoy free two-day shipping; access to the Prime Now app, which provides free two-hour delivery on tens of thousands of items; Prime Video, Amazon's streaming video service; Prime Music; the Kindle Lending Library; Prime Reading; Prime Audible Channels; unlimited photo storage, and more.If you want to see how Amazon Prime actually gives you a lot more than free shipping, you can read about the benefits of the service here.A candle to remind college students of their favorite place or hometownAmazonHomesick Location Scented Candle, available at Amazon, Homesick, and Uncommon Goods, from $34If they're away from family or friends, a reminder of home is a wonderful thing to have around. Make sure to check the rules of their dorm or living situation before buying them a candle.Childlike cereal for adultsMagic SpoonFour Flavors, available at Magic Spoon, $39Magic Spoon is a "childlike cereal for adults" that's high in protein and low in sugar — and all four flavors are delicious. Here's one way to show college kids it is completely possible to transition to adulthood without losing all the joy of being a kid. You can read more in a personal review here. Framed memoriesFramebridgeGift Card or Frame a Memory, available at Framebridge, from $45Help them honor some of their best memories — whether it's from friends now studying across the country, family, or best-loved locales. Framebridge is relatively affordable, but decor is one of the luxuries plenty of college students shirk to save elsewhere, so give them permission and funds to make their dorm a home.A monogrammed leather shave bagLeatherologyLeatherology Small Shave Bag, available at Leatherology and Amazon, from $95The dreaded truth of college is that you'll most likely need to schlep your shower belongings to a communal area if you live in the dorms. No one wants to rely on a plastic shower caddy to do that. Grab them a leather shave bag that they'll use for years to come — they probably wouldn't justify the expense on their own, and they'll be grateful to have it. If you're looking for a chic aesthetic, Dagne Dover also makes a great neoprene toiletry bag named the Hunter (from $45) that's built to accommodate makeup. If they have a lot of toiletries, you'll probably want to get the large size for $55.The most comfortable lounge pants we've ever tried for lazy weekend morningsMeUndiesMen's and Women's Lounge Pant, available at MeUndies, $68MeUndies is a popular LA startup that makes some of the most comfortable underwear we've ever tried. Their lounge pants, however, are the real hidden gem — perfect for lounging around on weekend mornings, and they're sleek enough to avoid feeling too unkempt.The best pillow you can buyCoop Home GoodsPremium Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow, available at Coop Home Goods and Amazon, $72Make sure they're optimizing their sleep with the best pillow you can buy. Thanks to the shredded memory foam, they'll get the support and comfortable "sinking in" sensation of a traditional memory foam pillow, but none of the excessive heat or firmness that can be a problem with solid foam. Read more in our buying guide here.A wonderful addition to any skincare routineSephoraKiehl's Ferulic Brew Antioxidant Facial Treatment with Lactic Acid, available at Kiehl's and Sephora, $54This new facial essence from Kiehl's is a great addition to any skincare routine. It's especially good for those who want to even out their skin tone, smooth skin texture, and add some extra moisture. It's made with rich ingredients and is simple to use: you just pat a few drops onto your face, rub it in, and it'll do its magic.A custom poster of their favorite placeGrafomapA customized poster, available at Grafomap, from $19Commemorate their college town, hometown, or favorite place in the world with this customizable graphic map so they can keep it with them wherever life takes them.An extra-long, reinforced phone chargerAmazonNative Union 10-Foot Extra-Long Charging Cable with Leather Strap, available at Amazon, Walmart, and Native Union, from $24If they're going to be tethered to devices, you may as well give them a long leash. This long charging cable means no matter where one is, they'll have power — and they won't have to sit at the foot of their bed to reach it. A gym bag that can transition to a professional settingNordstromHerschel Supply Co. Novel Duffel Bag, available at Amazon, Nordstrom, and Herschel, from $67.64Just like bringing a beat-up JanSport everywhere, lugging an old nylon gym bag isn't ideal for anyone looking for versatile use. Herschel Supply Co. makes reliable, long-lasting bags, and this one has a separate compartment for gym or dress shoes. A microwave-safe ramen cooker for stressful or time-crunched nightsAmazonRapid Ramen Cooker, available at Amazon and Walmart, from $5.99There will be plenty of late nights filled with cheap and tasty ramen. If they're going to eat it anyway, at least let them make it quickly and perfectly every time.A super soft throw blanket they'll cocoon themselves in time and time againAmazonBEDSURE Sherpa Fleece Blanket, available at Amazon and Walmart, from $25.99Grab their favorite candy, this sherpa-lined fleece blanket with over 4,400 five-star reviews on Amazon, and a Hulu gift card to make their nights in actually fun.Gift cards — perhaps the best gift you can give a cash-strapped college studentFlickr Creative Commons/Lani EldertsWhat a stressed, broke college student needs most is money and probably a hug. If you're looking for a way to gift maximum convenience, gift cards are a surprisingly thoughtful way to do that — either for their favorite restaurant, transportation, school books, or music to keep them occupied during long study hours. Check out more gift card gifts here. Everything: Visa Gift Card / Amazon Gift Card Coffee: Starbucks Gift CardSchool books: Amazon Gift Card Entertainment: Netflix Gift Card / Hulu Gift Card / Sling Gift Card / StubHub Gift CardTransportation: Uber Gift CardFurniture: Amazon Gift Card / Wayfair Gift CardMusic: Spotify Gift CardGroceries and food: Whole Foods Gift Card / Chipotle Gift CardClothes: Nordstrom Gift Card / Everlane Gift CardTech: Best Buy Gift CardTravel: Delta Gift Card / Airbnb Gift CardRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

A whale with a lot of money to spend has taken a noticeably bullish stance on Lowe's Companies. Looking at options history for Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW) we detected 11 strange trades. read more.....»»

Regions Financial (RF) will pay a $50-million civil monetary penalty and refund customers around $141 million for surprise overdraft fees charged earlier. Regions Financial Corp RF has been asked by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) to pay $191 million in redressal and fines for levying illegal overdraft fees on customer accounts from 2018 to 2021.While the bank does not charge these fees anymore, it will have to pay a $50-million civil monetary penalty and refund customers around $141 million charged earlier. The financial impacts of the settlement will be reflected in RF’s third-quarter 2022 results.Management noted, “The CFPB settlement involves one type of overdraft fee that was previously charged when there was sufficient money in an account when a debit card or ATM transaction was authorized – but not when the transaction actually posted to the account, due to other transactions.”In 2019, Regions Financial initiated modifications in its overdraft process to offer customers effective tools for managing their daily cash flow and avoiding various fees. Also, this year, the company eliminated overdraft protection transfer fees and non-sufficient fund (NSF) fees.The company reduced caps on overdraft fees, launched an early direct deposit feature, making consumers’ paychecks available up to two days early, and introduced a low-cost line of credit to help customers meet short-term financial needs. The changes led to lower fees, declines in fee-related revenues and benefited consumers.Nonetheless, Regions Financial is focused on expanding and diversifying its business operations on the back of investments in varied product offerings and inorganic activities. In December 2021, the company closed the acquisition of Clearsight to leverage the latter’s extensive technology sector knowledge in the M&A advisory services space. As the company is committed to diversifying its revenue streams and meeting customer needs via diverse services, we believe that such endeavors will support its growth prospects in the long term.Over the past year, shares of RF have lost 8.6% compared with the 8.3% decline recorded by the industry. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Currently, RF carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Other Banks Removing Overdraft FeesOf late, banks have been facing increased scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers for charging overdraft and other fees to consumers. Several U.S. consumer banks have been asked to eliminate all consumer overdraft fees to safeguard customers. Amid this, banks like The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. PNC and BOK Financial BOKF have been undertaking actions to align with such requests.Earlier this month, BOKF announced that it would eliminate all NSF fees and reduce overdraft fees by the end of 2022. By the end of the year, BOKF will reduce the maximum number of overdraft fees charged per day from five to three and increase the overdraft cushion to $50 from $5.As part of its efforts to enhance the financial well-being of its customers, PNC announced that it would no longer charge its consumer deposit account customers NSF fees.Notably, PNC has been one of the first financial institutions to take a major step in addressing overdraft fees. In April 2021, the company launched Low Cash Mode, a cornerstone feature of its Virtual Wallet Spend account, which provides consumers with real options for avoiding overdrafts, while maintaining overdraft availability for those who need to make payments during temporary cash shortfalls. This Little-Known Semiconductor Stock Could Be Your Portfolio’s Hedge Against Inflation Everyone uses semiconductors. But only a small number of people know what they are and what they do. If you use a smartphone, computer, microwave, digital camera or refrigerator (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg), you have a need for semiconductors. That’s why their importance can’t be overstated and their disruption in the supply chain has such a global effect. But every cloud has a silver lining. Shockwaves to the international supply chain from the global pandemic have unearthed a tremendous opportunity for investors. And today, Zacks' leading stock strategist is revealing the one semiconductor stock that stands to gain the most in a new FREE report. It's yours at no cost and with no obligation.>>Yes, I Want to Help Protect My Portfolio During the RecessionWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Regions Financial Corporation (RF): Free Stock Analysis Report The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc (PNC): Free Stock Analysis Report BOK Financial Corporation (BOKF): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research.....»»

Inverse and inverse-leveraged ETFs either create an inverse short position or a leveraged inverse short position in the underlying index through the use of swaps, options, futures contracts and other financial instruments. Wall Street has been being badly hit in September as Fed’s aggressive rate hikes have sparked fears of a recession. The three major bourses are in deep red over the past month. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones are down 8.2% and 7.7%, respectively, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index underperformed, plunging 9%.This has resulted in huge demand for inverse or inverse-leveraged ETFs as these fetch outsized returns on bearish sentiments in a short span. Direxion Daily MSCI Real Estate Bear 3X Shares DRV, Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3x Shares SOXS, MicroSectors FANG & Innovation -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN BERZ, ETFMG 2x Daily Inverse Alternative Harvest ETF MJIN and Direxion Daily Small Cap Bear 3x Shares TZA might continue their strong performance if sentiments remain the same.Inverse and inverse-leveraged ETFs either create an inverse short position or a leveraged inverse short position in the underlying index through the use of swaps, options, futures contracts and other financial instruments. Due to their compounding effect, investors can enjoy higher returns in a very short time, provided the trend prevails.The S&P 500 hit lows last seen in late November 2020, while the Dow Jones Industrial Index fell into bear territory early this week. The renewed selling pressure came after Fed Chair Jerome Powell raised interest rates by another 75 bps. This marks the third consecutive rate hike of 0.75% and pushed the benchmark interest rate to 3.0-3.25%, the highest level since 2008 (read: ETFs That Won After Fed Rate Hike).With inflation nearly at a 40-year high, the central bank also signaled that additional large rate hikes were likely at the upcoming meetings as it combats inflation. Fed officials now expect the federal funds rate in the range of 4.25% to 4.5%, a full percentage point above 3.25% to 3.5% to end 2022 that was projected in June. This means that the central bank could approve another three-quarter point hike at its November meeting and then a half-point rate rise in December. Economists warned that the rapid tightening would hurt the labor and housing markets, thereby pushing the economy into recession and impacting the stock market.Direxion Daily MSCI Real Estate Bear 3X Shares (DRV) – Up 65.2%Direxion Daily MSCI Real Estate Bear 3X Shares seeks to deliver three times the inverse performance of MSCI US REIT Index. It has AUM of $202.8 million and an average daily volume of around 468,000 shares.Direxion Daily MSCI Real Estate Bear 3X Shares charges 95 bps in fees per year (read: Short Rate-Sensitive Sectors With These ETFs).Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3x Shares (SOXS) – Up 57.9%Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3x Shares targets the semiconductor corner of the technology sector with three times inverse leveraged exposure to the ICE Semiconductor Index.Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3x Shares has amassed about $545.9 million in its asset base while charging 95 bps in fees per year. Volume is good as it exchanges 66.7 million shares per day on average.MicroSectors FANG & Innovation -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN (BERZ) – Up 52.1%MicroSectors FANG & Innovation -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN is linked to the three times leveraged inverse performance of the Solactive FANG Innovation Index. The index tracks the stock prices of 15 large-capitalization, highly liquid U.S. technology stocks.With AUM of $20.5 million, MicroSectors FANG & Innovation -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN has an expense ratio of 0.95% and trades in an average daily volume of 260,000 shares.ETFMG 2x Daily Inverse Alternative Harvest ETF (MJIN) – Up 43.2%ETFMG 2x Daily Inverse Alternative Harvest ETF provides leveraged inverse exposure to companies within the cannabis ecosystem bene???tting from global medicinal and recreational cannabis legalization initiatives. It measures the two times opposite performance of the return of the Prime Alternative Harvest Index.ETFMG 2x Daily Inverse Alternative Harvest ETF has amassed $1.4 million and trades in average daily volume of 24.000 shares. It charges 95 bps in fees per year.Direxion Daily Small Cap Bear 3x Shares (TZA) – Up 39.9%Direxion Daily Small Cap Bear 3x Shares provides three times inverse exposure to the Russell 2000 Index, charging 94 bps in fees and expenses. It has been able to manage $540.3 million in its asset base with a heavy average daily volume of 9.4 million shares (read: Should You Buy Small Cap ETFs Now?).Bottom LineWhile the strategy is highly beneficial for short-term traders, it could lead to huge losses compared with traditional funds in fluctuating or seesawing markets. Further, their performances could vary significantly from the actual performance of their underlying index over a longer period compared to a shorter period (such as weeks or months) due to their compounding effect (see: all the Inverse Equity ETFs here).Still, for ETF investors bearish on equities for the near term, either of the above products could make an interesting choice. Clearly, these could be intriguing for those with a high-risk tolerance and a belief that the “trend is the friend” in this specific corner of the investing world. Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week.Get it free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Direxion Daily Small Cap Bear 3X Shares (TZA): ETF Research Reports Direxion Daily Real Estate Bear 3X Shares (DRV): ETF Research Reports Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3X Shares (SOXS): ETF Research Reports MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN (BERZ): ETF Research Reports ETFMG 2X Daily Inverse Alternative Harvest ETF (MJIN): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research.....»»

Dividends are one of the best benefits to being a shareholder, but finding a great dividend stock is no easy task. Does Amer Movil (AMX) have what it takes? Let's find out. Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. However, when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend yield, a metric that measures the dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.Amer Movil in FocusBased in Mexico City, Amer Movil (AMX) is in the Computer and Technology sector, and so far this year, shares have seen a price change of -19.52%. Currently paying a dividend of $0.44 per share, the company has a dividend yield of 3.74%. In comparison, the Wireless Non-US industry's yield is 2.18%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.85%.Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $0.64 is up 61.6% from last year. In the past five-year period, Amer Movil has increased its dividend 3 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 10.41%. Any future dividend growth will depend on both earnings growth and the company's payout ratio; a payout ratio is the proportion of a firm's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Amer Movil's current payout ratio is 31%. This means it paid out 31% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.AMX is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2022 is $1.24 per share, with earnings expected to increase 21.57% from the year ago period.Bottom LineInvestors like dividends for many reasons; they greatly improve stock investing profits, decrease overall portfolio risk, and carry tax advantages, among others. It's important to keep in mind that not all companies provide a quarterly payout.Big, established firms that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options, but it's fairly uncommon to see high-growth businesses or tech start-ups offer their stockholders a dividend. During periods of rising interest rates, income investors must be mindful that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle. That said, they can take comfort from the fact that AMX is not only an attractive dividend play, but is also a compelling investment opportunity with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). This Little-Known Semiconductor Stock Could Be Your Portfolio’s Hedge Against Inflation Everyone uses semiconductors. But only a small number of people know what they are and what they do. If you use a smartphone, computer, microwave, digital camera or refrigerator (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg), you have a need for semiconductors. That’s why their importance can’t be overstated and their disruption in the supply chain has such a global effect. But every cloud has a silver lining. Shockwaves to the international supply chain from the global pandemic have unearthed a tremendous opportunity for investors. And today, Zacks' leading stock strategist is revealing the one semiconductor stock that stands to gain the most in a new FREE report. It's yours at no cost and with no obligation.>>Yes, I Want to Help Protect My Portfolio During the RecessionWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report America Movil, S.A.B. de C.V. (AMX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research.....»»

Investors need to pay close attention to Brilliant Earth (BRLT) stock based on the movements in the options market lately. Investors in Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. BRLT need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Oct 21, 2022 $2.50 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.  What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Brilliant Earth shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Brilliant Earth is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Retail - Jewelry industry that ranks in the Top 26% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, no analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while four have dropped their estimates. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from 6 cents per share to 5 cents in that period.Given the way analysts feel about Brilliant Earth right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.Looking to Trade Options?Check out the simple yet high-powered approach that Zacks Executive VP Kevin Matras has used to close recent double and triple-digit winners. In addition to impressive profit potential, these trades can actually reduce your risk.Click to see the trades now >>  This Little-Known Semiconductor Stock Could Be Your Portfolio’s Hedge Against Inflation Everyone uses semiconductors. But only a small number of people know what they are and what they do. If you use a smartphone, computer, microwave, digital camera or refrigerator (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg), you have a need for semiconductors. That’s why their importance can’t be overstated and their disruption in the supply chain has such a global effect. But every cloud has a silver lining. Shockwaves to the international supply chain from the global pandemic have unearthed a tremendous opportunity for investors. And today, Zacks' leading stock strategist is revealing the one semiconductor stock that stands to gain the most in a new FREE report. It's yours at no cost and with no obligation.>>Yes, I Want to Help Protect My Portfolio During the RecessionWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. (BRLT): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research.....»»

We have highlighted the three ETFs each from the best and worst-performing zones of the nine months of 2022. The stock markets across the globe are struggling this year as consumer prices are showing no signs of easing, compelling the central banks to fight against inflation by raising interest rates once again. In fact, the Federal Reserve has been on an aggressive tightening policy to bring down inflation, which is near its highest levels since the early 1980s.In its fight, Fed Chair Jerome Powell raised interest rates by 75 bps for the fourth consecutive time that pushed the benchmark rate to 3.0-3.25%, the highest level since 2008. The rapid tightening has sparked worries over recession, leading to a sell-off in the stock markets. Additionally, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in supply-chain issues while most of the developed and developing economies are witnessing a slowdown.Meanwhile, the hot commodity market started to cool off in recent months and the yields are hovering around their multi-year highs (read: Higher Yields to Fuel Rally in These ETFs).Given this, we have highlighted the three ETFs each from the best and worst-performing zones of the nine months of 2022:Best ZonesEnergyEnergy prices have been soaring this year, with natural gas on a tear buoyed by supply disruptions, adverse weather conditions and declining inventories. United States Natural Gas Fund UNG is the biggest winner, gaining 89.7% so far this year. United States Natural Gas Fund provides direct exposure to the price of natural gas on a daily basis through futures contracts. If the near-month contract is within two weeks of expiration, the benchmark will be the next month's contract to expire.United States Natural Gas Fund has AUM of $467.1 million and trades in a volume of around 6.3 million shares per day. The fund has 1.11% in expense ratio.Hedge FundInvestors flocked to Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF PFIX to combat rising rate worries. Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF seeks to provide a hedge against a sharp increase in long-term interest rates and benefit from market stress when fixed-income volatility increases, while providing the potential for income. It buys put options on longer-term Treasury bonds to offer “the most liquid and the most cost-efficient way of getting interest rate protection.” Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF is the first ETF providing a simple, direct and transparent interest rate hedge (read: 5 ETFs Up 20% or More in the First Nine Months of 2022).PFIX has accumulated $361.2 million in its asset base and trades in an average daily volume of 160,000 shares. It charges 50 bps in annual fees and has gained 78.3% so far this year.Long/ShortLong/short ETFs are less volatile, less risky and relatively stable when compared to the market-cap counterparts. These products provide hedging facilities that protect the portfolio from huge losses in turbulent times. The long/short strategy takes the best of both bull and bear prediction by involving buying and short selling of equities at the same time.KFA Mount Lucas Index Strategy ETF KMLM is leading in this space, gaining 45%. It is benchmarked to the KFA MLM Index, which consists of a portfolio of 22 liquid futures contracts traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges. The index includes futures contracts on 11 commodities, six currencies, and five global bond markets. These three baskets are weighted by their relative historical volatility, and within each basket, the constituent markets are equal-dollar weighted.KFA Mount Lucas Index Strategy ETF has amassed $275.8 million in its asset base and trades in an average daily volume of 81,000 shares. It charges 92 bps in annual fees.Worst ZonesTechnologyThe technology sector has been badly caught in a selling spree triggered by rate hikes. This is because it relies on easy borrowing for superior growth, and its value depends heavily on future earnings. A rise in long-term yields lowers the present value of companies’ future earnings, sparking fears of overvaluation. VanEck Vectors Digital Transformation ETF DAPP has tumbled 73.3% this year.VanEck Vectors Digital Transformation ETF aims to offer exposure to companies that are at the forefront of the digital asset transformation, such as digital asset exchanges, payment gateways, digital asset mining operations, software services, equipment and technology or services to the digital asset operations, digital asset infrastructure businesses or companies facilitating commerce with the use of digital assets. VanEck Vectors Digital Transformation ETF tracks the MVIS Global Digital Assets Equity Index and holds 25 securities in its basket.VanEck Vectors Digital Transformation ETF charges 50 bps in annual fees and trades in an average daily volume of 93,000 shares. DAPP has accumulated $28.9 million in its asset base.ShippingThough the shipping ETF performed well in September, it is among the worst performers due to declining freight rates amid waning dry bulk demand. Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF BDRY has plunged 69.6% so far this year. It is the only freight futures ETF exclusively focused on the dry bulk shipping market through a portfolio of near-dated freight futures contracts on dry bulk indices.Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF holds freight futures with a weighted average of approximately three months to expiration, using a mix of one-to-six-month freight futures based on the prevailing calendar schedule (read: 5 ETFs That Survived September Slump With Double-Digit Gains).Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF has accumulated about $44.2 million in AUM and trades in a good volume of about 334,000 shares per day on average. It charges a higher annual fee of 2.85%.CannabisBeing a high-growth sector, cannabis has been a victim of a round of broad market sell-off. AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF YOLO has tumbled 67.6% so far this year. It is an actively managed fund with a dedicated cannabis investment mandate domiciled in the United States. YOLO seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in both domestic and foreign cannabis equity securities.AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF holds a basket of 24 stocks with a double-digit exposure to the top two firms. American firms make up 61.4% of the portfolio, followed by a 28.7% share of the Canadian firms.AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF has gathered $57.4 million in its asset base and charges 76 bps in annual fees. YOLO trades in an average daily volume of 53,000 shares. Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week.Get it free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report United States Natural Gas ETF (UNG): ETF Research Reports Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF (BDRY): ETF Research Reports AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF (YOLO): ETF Research Reports KFA Mount Lucas Index Strategy ETF (KMLM): ETF Research Reports VanEck Digital Transformation ETF (DAPP): ETF Research Reports Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF (PFIX): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research.....»»

Invest in high dividend-paying mutual funds, like ABRYX, CABIX and RAPZX to generate regular income. The Federal Reserve has adopted an aggressive monetary policy to tame inflation with yet another 75-basis point interest rate hike in its last meeting in September. The consumer price index (CPI) for the month of August rose 0.1% after remaining unchanged for the month of July, mostly because of the increasing prices of goods and services, including rents, food and healthcare.Inflation is still hovering at a four-decade high and is pinching hard the pockets of an average American. The Fed chairman has signaled in his speech that the central bank would continue with its rate hike stance to bring inflation to its desired level of around 2%.Investors suffering from the beginning of this year have reacted bearishly toward Fed’s hawkish stance since such tightening measures to curb inflation might derail economic growth in the near future. After all, interest rate hikes will increase the cost of borrowing, impact consumer spending, increase unemployment and slow down economic growth, which will eventually push the economy toward a recession. The S&P 500, the DOW & the Nasdaq declined 23.62%, 19.57%, and 31.37%, respectively, so far this year.On the other hand, the incessant Russia-Ukraine war and rising military tension between China and Taiwan are also disrupting the global supply-chain environment in their own ways. Thus, investors looking to diversify their portfolios and earn a regular income in such uncertain times can choose to invest in dividend-paying mutual funds.Mutual funds, in general, reduce transaction costs and diversify their portfolios without an array of commission charges that are mostly associated with stock purchases (read more: Mutual Funds: Advantages, Disadvantages, and How They Make Investors Money).We have, thus, selected three mutual funds that have a promising dividend yield, have given impressive 3-year and 5-year annualized returns, boast a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), offer a minimum initial investment within $5,000 and carry a low expense ratio.Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Fund ABRYX seeks to achieve positive returns during a market downturn by investing in derivative instruments like futures, options, currency forward contracts and swap agreements. ABRYX invests in multiple asset classes.Mark Ahnrud has been the lead manager of ABRYX since Jun 2, 2009, and most of the fund’s exposure is in sectors such as the money market, U.S. treasury bonds and U.S. treasury bills.ABRYX’s dividend yield is 13.9%. The fund’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 3.6% and 3.4%, respectively. The annual expense ratio of 1.04% is lower than the category average of 1.29%. ABRYX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2.To see how this fund performed compared in its category, and other 1 and 2 Ranked Mutual Funds, please click here.A.B. Global Risk Allocation Fund Class I CABIX seeks total return consistent with reasonable risks through income-generation and long-term growth of capital by investing in a portfolio of global asset classes, including equity/credit, fixed-income, and inflation-sensitive instruments. CABIX also invests in hybrid securities.Leon Zhu has been the lead manager of CABIX since Oct 8, 2012, and most of the fund’s exposure is in sectors such as others, technology and finance.CABIX’s dividend yield is 10.0%. The fund’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 6.6% and 5.1%, respectively. The annual expense ratio of 1.07% is lower than the category average of 1.29%. CABIX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1.Cohen & Steers Real Assets Fund Inc Class Z RAPZX invests most of its net assets domestic and foreign companies with exposure in real estate companies, including real estate investment trusts, commodities, natural resource companies, infrastructure companies, and gold and other precious metals. RAPZX also invests in short-term, fixed-income securitiesBenjamin Morton has been the lead manager of RAPZX since Jan 31, 2012, and most of the fund’s exposure is in sectors such as others, finance and industrial cyclical.RAPZX’s dividend yield is 7.6%. The fund’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 9.0% and 6.7%, respectively. The annual expense ratio of 0.80% is lower than the category average of 1%. RAPZX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1.Want key mutual fund info delivered straight to your inbox?Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing mutual funds, each week Get it free >> This Little-Known Semiconductor Stock Could Be Your Portfolio’s Hedge Against Inflation Everyone uses semiconductors. But only a small number of people know what they are and what they do. If you use a smartphone, computer, microwave, digital camera or refrigerator (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg), you have a need for semiconductors. That’s why their importance can’t be overstated and their disruption in the supply chain has such a global effect. But every cloud has a silver lining. Shockwaves to the international supply chain from the global pandemic have unearthed a tremendous opportunity for investors. And today, Zacks' leading stock strategist is revealing the one semiconductor stock that stands to gain the most in a new FREE report. It's yours at no cost and with no obligation.>>Yes, I Want to Help Protect My Portfolio During the RecessionWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (RAPZX): Fund Analysis Report Get Your Free (ABRYX): Fund Analysis Report Get Your Free (CABIX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report.....»»

Fed Put Getting Closer, Equity Market Says By Simon White, Bloomberg Markets Live reporter and macro strategist The price of deeper out-of-the-money insurance in equities is falling, implying lower demand for crash insurance. This suggests the market believes the Fed put is getting closer. A conundrum all year has the been the relatively low level of the VIX despite equity markets being in a bear market. The VIX has been low relative to implied volatility, relative to longer-term volatility, and remains low compared to cross-asset volatility. Most notably, though, the VIX has been low -- and continues to fall -- versus at-the-money (ATM) volatility. This is due to the price of further out-of-the-money (OTM) put options falling by more than options that are less out of the money. We can see this by looking the difference in volatility between 80% and 90% out-of-the­-money put options and see it has been falling. As the VIX is a weighted average of all S&P options with approximately 1-month to expiry and that have a non-zero bid, the lower price of these deeper out-of-the-money options is keeping the VIX lower relative to at-the-money volatility than it otherwise would be. Puts have still been in demand though. The put/call volume ratio has been rising, showing that investors are buying more puts relative to calls. But the put/call price ratio has been falling, showing that investors have been paying relatively less for those puts. Investors have therefore not been paying up as much for crash insurance, and buying puts that are less out of the money. The Fed is now well into its hiking cycle, and the market is inferring it believes the Fed put is getting nearer. Certainly, current oversold conditions suggest a short-term bounce is at hand. But while excess liquidity remains depressed, it will be hard for the market to make new highs. The Fed put may be closer, but that does not mean the bear market is over. Tyler Durden Fri, 09/30/2022 - 10:18.....»»