5. U.S. stocks have just accomplished something that hasn’t happened since 1972
Joseph Adinolfi–Marketwatch U.S. stocks have just accomplished something that hasn’t been done since President Richard Nixon was still occupying the White House.
The S&P 500 SPX has risen for the 14th week out of 15 on Friday. According to Dow Jones Market Data, the last time the large-cap index recorded a comparable stretch of weekly gains was March 10, 1972. This marks the 13th time it has happened since the index’s inception in 1957.
DOW JONES MARKET DATA However, investors don’t need to look as far back to find a precedent for the magnitude of the index’s rise over this period. The S&P 500 has risen 22.1% over the past 15 weeks as of Friday’s close, the largest 15-week advance since a 22.5% gain during the period that ended Aug. 28, 2020, Dow Jones data show.
The index closed above 5,000 for the first time on Friday, its 10th record close of the year, according to Dow Jones data.
To be sure, the S&P 500 isn’t the only major U.S. equity index to score a historic winning streak on Friday. The Nasdaq Composite COMP also climbed for the 14th week out of 15 as well.
Barrons Nearly 66% of pharmacy professionals reported burnout in 2022, according to the Well-Being Index, a survey developed by the Mayo Clinic, and 73% reported emotional problems—higher than rates for physicians, nurses, and medical students.
TSLA international competitor and Warren Buffett Holding BYD…about to break 2022 and 2023 lows.
2. Tesla -24% YTD…TSLA Vs. S&P Chart.
This chart is TSLA vs. S&P…new lows with gap down 2024
3. AAPL held 200day Twice in 2024
4. Tokyo Bank Aozora Loan to Value Book in U.S. …Loan to Value Book (LTVs) Not Good.
Dave Lutz Tokyo-based Aozora Bank plunged more than 20% after warning of a loss tied to investments in US commercial property. In Europe, Deutsche Bank AG more than quadrupled its US real estate loss provisions to €123 million ($133 million) in the fourth quarter from a year earlier
89% of US household debt is fixed rate (mortgage, student, and auto loans) and 11% is floating rate (credit cards, HELOC, and other types of debt).
As a result, the transmission mechanism of monetary policy has been weak. Combined with significant excess savings during the pandemic, Fed hikes have had a limited impact on the consumer.
5. Spin-Off ETF Did Not Make New All-Time Highs Yet
“I guess it comes down to a simple choice – get busy living or get busy dying.” The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Retirement is more than just years.
The two most integral terms regarding your retirement have zero to do with stocks and bonds.
Understanding the difference between Healthspan and Lifespan drives the quality of your retirement, regardless of how much money you’ve accumulated.
A simple definition of Healthspan is the number of years we feel good. How long can we continue doing the activities that produce the most pleasure? To increase Healthspan, we need freedom from disability and disease.
Lifespan is the length of time we live, disregarding health. The gap between these has noticeably increased over the last 30 years, surging from 10.8 to 12.7 years over this timeframe.
A dominant reason for the increased gap is Americans are living longer. Old age presents more opportunities for developing chronic health conditions.
The dilemma is not all of the disparity is explained by age-related causes. Substance Abuse, Obesity, and Diabetes are becoming more prevalent in younger people. The same applies to mental health disorders.
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study in 2018, roughly 27% of U.S. adults had multiple chronic conditions, up from 25% in 2012 and 22% in 2001.
Health conditions can wreck the retirement of any individual. Seven-figure portfolios aren’t immune from chronic diseases’ devastating toll.
The data on the importance of Healthspan vs. Lifespan should serve as a wake-up call to anyone who believes a bull market is the prime ingredient for a successful retirement plan.
Developing health conditions takes more than a physical toll. A substantial health problem reduces life satisfaction more than losing a job or becoming widowed, divorced, or separated, according to a 2022 study published in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization.
Do you want to live to be a centenarian if the price includes 20-25 years of existing with chronic painful conditions slowly decaying your cognitive and physical abilities?
That’s the distinction between Healthspan and Lifespan.
Jonathan Krinsky at BTIG noted that a basket of 50 companies that “matter most” to hedge funds is about as extended on a daily basis as it’s been over the last two decades. Many of these holdings are semiconductors, megacap tech and communication services, he noted.
GM earnings yesterday stock finished +8%….GM vs. Tesla chart 50day about to go thru 200day to upside.
5. GM vs. Rivian and Lucid Chart
GM vs. RIVN about to break to new highs.
GM vs. LCID
6. Disney Chart Update
DIS showing some life…holding 200-day a couple times…breaking above sideways 3 months.
7. UPS Staircase Down for 3+ Years
See if UPS holds Nov. 2023 lows.
8. Banks Selling Some Commercial Loans at Discount
Business Insider Daniel GeigerLenders are bailing out of commercial real estate as a wave of debt builds Aon Center, an 83-story tower in Chicago, entered special servicing at the beginning of 2023.
Some $2.1 trillion of commercial estate debt is estimated to come due by the end of 2025.
Banks and other lenders could face big losses on those debts.
Recent loan sales show that banks are trying to limit their exposure.
Amerant Bank, a large community bank based in Coral Gables, Florida, recently announced that it had reached a deal to sell a $401 million portfolio of loans tied to a collection of apartment buildings in Houston for $370 million – a roughly 7% discount on the debt’s remaining balance. Amerant’s chief executive, Jerry Plush, described the planned sale on a January 25 earnings call as part of an effort to refocus its business on clients with whom the bank has an ongoing relationship.
Banking and loan experts, however, see deeper motivations behind the decision by the bank and a growing number of other financial institutions that are beginning to unload commercial real estate loans.”I don’t ever like banks having to take a loss,” said Stephen Scouten, a senior research analyst at Piper Sandler who covers Amerant. “Longer term, it’s probably of some benefit.”
Roughly $2.1 trillion of debt connected to commercial real estate assets, including office properties, apartment buildings, hotels, and retail spaces, will come due between now and the end of 2025 in the US, according to the real estate services firm JLL. With higher interest rates sapping commercial property values, JLL estimates that property owners will have to pour about $265 billion into paying down those loan balances in order to refinance. The wave of maturities and the enormous equity shortfalls have raised concerns that a growing number of commercial real estate debts will fall into distress, forcing banks and other lenders to suffer losses.
The recent loan sales suggest that lenders are beginning to take a defensive posture, diminishing their exposure to the commercial property sector and raising cash. “Staring at a problem is not going to make it go away,” said Kevin Aussef, the president of US investment sales at CBRE, who noted that the firm had just been hired by the Canadian bank CIBC to sell a $316 million bundle of US office loans. “At some point in time, you are better off responding to it than waiting.”
Aussef said that, for the time being, banks were seeking to sell off healthier loans at prices close to the face value of the debt and avoid heavily discounted sales that might force them to mark down loans more broadly across their portfolios. “We’re not seeing an avalanche of these lenders coming to the market,” Aussef said. The pace, however, is picking up.
@Charlie Bilello What happened following the 3 previous largest Russell 2000 drawdowns when the S&P 500 was at a record high?
Both indices would rally higher over the next year with the Russell 2000 outperforming and joining the S&P 500 at an all-time high…
April 7, 1999 (-19.2% Russell 2000 Drawdown): S&P 500 gained 14.3% over the next year and Russell 2000 gained 36.5%.
February 13, 1991 (-13.5% Russell 2000 Drawdown): S&P 500 gained 12.1% over the next year and Russell 2000 gained 35.5%.
January 21, 1985 (-13.3% Russell 2000 Drawdown): S&P 500 gained 17.4% over the next year and Russell 2000 gained 18.2%.
But what about the notion that “weak breadth” is a bearish signal for markets, something we heard from pundits throughout 2023?
The data simply doesn’t support that thesis. Historically, stocks have experienced above-average returns following periods of small cap underperformance (“weak breadth”) and below-average returns following periods of small cap outperformance (“strong breadth”). (see video discussion here)
Do you find yourself forgetting your keys? Spacing out on why you walked into a room? Losing your train of thought mid-sentence? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’re also a couch potato, there is one important strategy that could put you on the path to improved recall.
The secret to a better memory? Moving more. Aerobic exercise provides greater blood flow to your brain, especially to the hippocampus, a region that’s crucial to memory. A 2017 study in 51 healthy men and women, ages 18-35, found that those who had the highest fitness levels had a firmer, more elastic hippocampus and scored the best on memory tests.
BLOOD FLOW AND THE BRAIN
Healthy blood flow is crucial to your brain—and to your whole body. It transports nutrients, including oxygen, to every cell in your body and flushes away toxins. Even though your brain, which weighs about 3 pounds, makes up only 2% of your body’s weight, it uses 20% of the oxygen and blood flow in your body.
Exciting new research in Human Brain Mapping dispels the long-held belief that our brain cells age quickly; rather, it is the blood vessels that feed our neurons that are aging faster. If you want to keep your brain healthy, your mind sharp, and your mental health strong for as long as possible, you need to protect your blood vessels.
If you keep your blood vessels healthy, you may be able to avoid not only memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease, but also a host of mental health issues (see below) as well as physical problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and erectile dysfunction, among others. You’ll also have a lot more energy and you’re less likely to be overweight.
BRAIN HEALTH PROBLEMS OF LOW BLOOD FLOW
Anything that damages your blood vessels or impairs blood flow hurts your brain. Brain SPECT imaging studies reveal that low blood flow is related to many behavioral and psychiatric issues. SPECT is a type of brain imaging study that measures the brain’s blood flow and activity. Low blood flow seen on SPECT has been seen with:
In fact, research in Nature Communications shows that low blood flow is the #1 brain imaging predictor that a person will develop Alzheimer’s disease.
11 WAYS EXERCISE PROTECTS MEMORY
Here are some of the many ways physical exercise enhances brain health and protects memory:
Helps increase the size of the hippocampus, the Holy Grail of any memory enhancement program, according to the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and several other studies.
Protects the hippocampus from stress-related hormones, like cortisol, which normally shrinks it. Even leisurely walking has been shown to increase the size of the hippocampus in women, according to findings in Hippocampus.
Stimulates the production of growth factors, such as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factors), which nurture stem cell production.
Stimulates “neurogenesis,” the ability of the brain to generate new neurons
Decreases the formation of beta-amyloid plaque, clumps of protein found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Journal of Neuroscience.
Improves cognitive flexibility, as shown in 2015 research in Current Biology.
Improves mood, which is important because research shows depression has been linked to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Enhances insulin’s ability to lower high blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of diabetes. In some scientific journals, Alzheimer’s has been called “type 3 diabetes.”
Allows for greater detoxification through sweat, which is critical because toxins in any form damage the brain and increase the risk of memory problems and dementia.
Improves the quality of sleep. Some scientific research suggests that sleep disturbances may be a predictor of Alzheimer’s.
Improves immunity. Several studies have found immune system dysfunction in dementia.
WHICH EXERCISES ARE BEST FOR YOUR BRAIN?
Racquet sports are particularly beneficial. A 2016 study in theBritish Journal of Sports Medicine that followed more than 80,000 adults found that those who played tennis, table tennis, squash and other racquet sports had the lowest risk of dying during the nearly decade-long research. Swimming and aerobics are good choices, too. And if you walk, just be sure to keep up the pace to get the most benefits.
MORE WAYS TO BOOST BLOOD FLOW
In addition to physical exercise, there are many other ways to improve your blood flow, including treating high blood pressure, cholesterol, or other vascular problems, and avoiding cigarettes and caffeine, which constrict blood flow to the brain. Here are more easy, beneficial moves:
Hydrate better! Drinking at least 5 glasses of water a day could decrease your risk of hypertension
Drink more green tea
Limit salt intake
Take a good multivitamin/mineral, vitamin D, magnesium and an omega-3 EPA/DHA supplement daily
Support your memory with ginkgo biloba extract
Enjoy an ounce of dark chocolate every day (for the cocoa flavanols)
Eat more beets, green leafy vegetables, berries, pumpkin seeds, and cayenne pepper
Increase your intake of foods high in magnesium, such as avocados, nuts, and seeds
Eat more foods loaded with potassium, such as spinach and sweet potatoes
Limit alcohol, fruit juices, and sodas (including diet sodas)
Sleep 7 to 8 hours a night, and if you have sleep apnea, get it assessed and treated
Try hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), a simple, non-invasive, painless treatment with minimal side effects that use the power of oxygen to enhance the healing process. Before-and-after SPECT scans of people who have undergone HBOT reveal remarkable improvement in blood flow.
Blood flow is so important, it is the first risk factor in the Amen Clinics Memory Rescue BRIGHT MINDS Program, which identifies and treats the 11 risk factors that can steal your memory and your mind. Preventing and treating these risk factors is the best way to keep your memory sharp for the rest of your life.
We are available for in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 844-987-1117. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.
@Callum Thomas (Weekly S&P500 #ChartStorm) Buy the All-Time High: Or BTFATH as some call it — historically, there is a slight performance edge in buying on days the market reached an all-time high.
2. History of a Negative First 5 Days for Small Cap
From Dave Lutz at Jones Trading Negative returns during the Santa Claus Rally and first 5 days of the yr, but a higher Jan? That will likely be ’24 and I was really surprised how rare this combo is historically. The good news is full yr up nearly 20% on avg and higher all three times, Ryan
3. More Small Cap History
@Charlie Bilello What happened following the 3 previous largest Russell 2000 drawdowns when the S&P 500 was at a record high?
Both indices would rally higher over the next year with the Russell 2000 outperforming and joining the S&P 500 at an all-time high…
April 7, 1999 (-19.2% Russell 2000 Drawdown): S&P 500 gained 14.3% over the next year and Russell 2000 gained 36.5%.
February 13, 1991 (-13.5% Russell 2000 Drawdown): S&P 500 gained 12.1% over the next year and Russell 2000 gained 35.5%.
January 21, 1985 (-13.3% Russell 2000 Drawdown): S&P 500 gained 17.4% over the next year and Russell 2000 gained 18.2%.
But what about the notion that “weak breadth” is a bearish signal for markets, something we heard from pundits throughout 2023?
The data simply doesn’t support that thesis. Historically, stocks have experienced above-average returns following periods of small cap underperformance (“weak breadth”) and below-average returns following periods of small cap outperformance (“strong breadth”). (see video discussion here)
Do you find yourself forgetting your keys? Spacing out on why you walked into a room? Losing your train of thought mid-sentence? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’re also a couch potato, there is one important strategy that could put you on the path to improved recall.
The secret to a better memory? Moving more. Aerobic exercise provides greater blood flow to your brain, especially to the hippocampus, a region that’s crucial to memory. A 2017 study in 51 healthy men and women, ages 18-35, found that those who had the highest fitness levels had a firmer, more elastic hippocampus and scored the best on memory tests.
BLOOD FLOW AND THE BRAIN
Healthy blood flow is crucial to your brain—and to your whole body. It transports nutrients, including oxygen, to every cell in your body and flushes away toxins. Even though your brain, which weighs about 3 pounds, makes up only 2% of your body’s weight, it uses 20% of the oxygen and blood flow in your body.
Exciting new research in Human Brain Mapping dispels the long-held belief that our brain cells age quickly; rather, it is the blood vessels that feed our neurons that are aging faster. If you want to keep your brain healthy, your mind sharp, and your mental health strong for as long as possible, you need to protect your blood vessels.
If you keep your blood vessels healthy, you may be able to avoid not only memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease, but also a host of mental health issues (see below) as well as physical problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and erectile dysfunction, among others. You’ll also have a lot more energy and you’re less likely to be overweight.
BRAIN HEALTH PROBLEMS OF LOW BLOOD FLOW
Anything that damages your blood vessels or impairs blood flow hurts your brain. Brain SPECT imaging studies reveal that low blood flow is related to many behavioral and psychiatric issues. SPECT is a type of brain imaging study that measures the brain’s blood flow and activity. Low blood flow seen on SPECT has been seen with:
In fact, research in Nature Communications shows that low blood flow is the #1 brain imaging predictor that a person will develop Alzheimer’s disease.
11 WAYS EXERCISE PROTECTS MEMORY
Here are some of the many ways physical exercise enhances brain health and protects memory:
Helps increase the size of the hippocampus, the Holy Grail of any memory enhancement program, according to the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and several other studies.
Protects the hippocampus from stress-related hormones, like cortisol, which normally shrinks it. Even leisurely walking has been shown to increase the size of the hippocampus in women, according to findings in Hippocampus.
Stimulates the production of growth factors, such as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factors), which nurture stem cell production.
Stimulates “neurogenesis,” the ability of the brain to generate new neurons
Decreases the formation of beta-amyloid plaque, clumps of protein found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Journal of Neuroscience.
Improves cognitive flexibility, as shown in 2015 research in Current Biology.
Improves mood, which is important because research shows depression has been linked to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Enhances insulin’s ability to lower high blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of diabetes. In some scientific journals, Alzheimer’s has been called “type 3 diabetes.”
Allows for greater detoxification through sweat, which is critical because toxins in any form damage the brain and increase the risk of memory problems and dementia.
Improves the quality of sleep. Some scientific research suggests that sleep disturbances may be a predictor of Alzheimer’s.
Improves immunity. Several studies have found immune system dysfunction in dementia.
WHICH EXERCISES ARE BEST FOR YOUR BRAIN?
Racquet sports are particularly beneficial. A 2016 study in theBritish Journal of Sports Medicine that followed more than 80,000 adults found that those who played tennis, table tennis, squash and other racquet sports had the lowest risk of dying during the nearly decade-long research. Swimming and aerobics are good choices, too. And if you walk, just be sure to keep up the pace to get the most benefits.
MORE WAYS TO BOOST BLOOD FLOW
In addition to physical exercise, there are many other ways to improve your blood flow, including treating high blood pressure, cholesterol, or other vascular problems, and avoiding cigarettes and caffeine, which constrict blood flow to the brain. Here are more easy, beneficial moves:
Hydrate better! Drinking at least 5 glasses of water a day could decrease your risk of hypertension
Drink more green tea
Limit salt intake
Take a good multivitamin/mineral, vitamin D, magnesium and an omega-3 EPA/DHA supplement daily
Support your memory with ginkgo biloba extract
Enjoy an ounce of dark chocolate every day (for the cocoa flavanols)
Eat more beets, green leafy vegetables, berries, pumpkin seeds, and cayenne pepper
Increase your intake of foods high in magnesium, such as avocados, nuts, and seeds
Eat more foods loaded with potassium, such as spinach and sweet potatoes
Limit alcohol, fruit juices, and sodas (including diet sodas)
Sleep 7 to 8 hours a night, and if you have sleep apnea, get it assessed and treated
Try hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), a simple, non-invasive, painless treatment with minimal side effects that use the power of oxygen to enhance the healing process. Before-and-after SPECT scans of people who have undergone HBOT reveal remarkable improvement in blood flow.
Blood flow is so important, it is the first risk factor in the Amen Clinics Memory Rescue BRIGHT MINDS Program, which identifies and treats the 11 risk factors that can steal your memory and your mind. Preventing and treating these risk factors is the best way to keep your memory sharp for the rest of your life.
We are available for in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 844-987-1117. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.
4. Chinese Investors Pouring Money Out of Mainland
WSJDesperate Chinese Investors Are Pouring Into the U.S., Japan By Rebecca Feng
The frenzied buying of Japanese and U.S. ETFs is a sign of how tough it will be for Chinese authorities to lift investor sentiment. PHOTO: YING TANG/ZUMA PRESS
Chinese individual investors want to shift their money out of the country—and they are willing to pay a big premium to do so.
The best example of their desperation: Some this week have been buying funds that offer exposure to Japanese stocks at a 20% premium to what those stocks are worth.
An exchange-traded fund launched by China Asset Management Co.traded at a 14% to 20% premium to its indicative net asset value over the first three days of the week.
The ETF became so popular that China AMC halted its trading for an hour on Thursday, a move also taken by another firm. It warned investors about the big difference between the fund’s price and its net value and said investors could suffer heavy losses if they invest blindly. The premium came down to 5% on Thursday.https://www.wsj.com/finance/stocks/chinese-investors-are-pouring-into-the-u-s-japan-386be98e
Japan ETF vs. China ETF straight up in favor of Japan
5. Equal Weight Index Rolls Back Over vs. Cap Weight
6. History of Fed Lowering Rates at All-Time Highs?
7. Natural Gas is the Largest Source of American Electricity Generation
Barrons-For all of the momentum toward a greener energy system—U.S. electricity generation from solar and wind increased more than threefold from 2012 to 2022, according to the Energy Information Administration—natural-gas power has climbed 38%, to become the largest source of electricity generation in the U.S. Even in California, which has among the most aggressive decarbonization targets in the country, three natural-gas power plants that were originally slated to close in 2020 will instead operate until at least 2026, officials said last year. Others will remain in service even longer.
It’s not just a U.S. phenomenon. India’s government wants to nearly triple electricity production from natural gas by 2030. China, the world’s largest energy consumer, is increasing its use of natural gas as it shifts away from coal. Europe continues to rely on natural gas as it makes its green transition. Natural gas will remain essential, even as oil and coal fade away.
Hustle culture A swathe of fledgling entrepreneurs have taken the plunge and set up their own companies, with review site Yelp counting a record number of new business openings last year. All told, Yelp tallied a total of 762,200 new ventures in 2023, representing a 20% uptick on 2022. The data confirms a similar finding from analysis of governmental filings, which has revealed a pandemic-inspired “entrepreneurship boom“, as an increasing number of Americans take their economic fates into their own hands. Golden handcuffsThe Yelp report categorizes the new businesses by industry, finding a particular boom in the home services sector, with hundreds of new endeavors set up across carpentry (up 54%), masonry and concrete services (up 40%), and contractors (up 33%). Those new companies might be looking to capitalize on the “golden handcuff” phenomenon, as sky-high mortgage rates and property prices leave people investing in their current homes, rather than moving to new ones.Elsewhere, the leisure sector also saw a resurgence, with the number of new hotels and travel services up 28% on last year and restaurant openings up 10%, with major boosts for creperies and hot pot spots, which were up 63% and 53%, respectively. Related reading: Yesterday‘s better-than-expected 3.3% US GDP growth and rising consumer sentiment suggests the US economy is holding up well.
Psychology Today Evan Parks Psy.D. Here are five ways mindfulness helps rewire the brain, giving us better control over how we respond to stress, handle difficult emotions, manage pain, and adapt to change.
1. Mindfulness improves our brain chemistry. Research suggests that regular mindfulness practices help the brain increase levels of GABA, which helps us stay calm; dopamine, the pleasure and reward neurotransmitter; and serotonin, which helps us experience positive emotions.
2. Mindfulness changes our fear and stress response. When we take in sensory information about a possible threat, the amygdala is the first brain structure to process that information. The amygdala evaluates images and sounds; if it detects a threat, it passes on the information to the hippocampus, which activates the body to prepare for a threat. With regular mindfulness practice, the size of the amygdala shrinks. A smaller amygdala is correlated with a reduced fear response, increased calmness, better management of anxiety, and a feeling of well-being.
3. Mindfulness helps us stay connected to the present moment. Falling and staying asleep is often a challenge when we experience stressful periods of life. Our mind races back and forth between our regrets about the past and worries about the future, keeping us awake. During the day, our busy minds distract us from being present with the people we love and the work we need to accomplish. Because of changes in the insula and cingulate cortex, mindfulness practices help harness our ability to shift and focus our attention on our bodily sensations and regulate the emotional responses associated with those physical sensations.
4. Mindfulness facilitates learning and memory. The gray matter of the memory areas of the brain generally decreases with age, impacting memory processes, emotional regulation, and perspective-taking. As a result, our memory suffers as we get older, we become less flexible with change, and we find it difficult to appreciate the perspective of others. Mindfulness has been demonstrated to increase the size of the hippocampus, which leads to improved learning, memory, and stress management.
5. Mindfulness helps with brain healing and pain management. Mindfulness practices greatly enhance neuroplasticity. Recovery from brain injury requires healing damaged areas of the brain and using other areas to recover lost functioning. Mindfulness can improve emotional regulation and mental fatigue and help regulate pain. (Click here to learn more about how mindfulness helps pain management.)
2. Energy vs. QQQ Chart Closes Below 200-Week Moving Average
On a 2-year basis energy still beating tech….but chart breaking down. This chart compares energy etf XLE vs. tech etf QQQ
3. Solar Stock Update…TAN Resumes Downard Trend
$40 print will be break to new lows.
4. Chinese Investors Pouring Money Out of Mainland
WSJDesperate Chinese Investors Are Pouring Into the U.S., Japan By Rebecca Feng
The frenzied buying of Japanese and U.S. ETFs is a sign of how tough it will be for Chinese authorities to lift investor sentiment. PHOTO: YING TANG/ZUMA PRESS
Chinese individual investors want to shift their money out of the country—and they are willing to pay a big premium to do so.
The best example of their desperation: Some this week have been buying funds that offer exposure to Japanese stocks at a 20% premium to what those stocks are worth.
An exchange-traded fund launched by China Asset Management Co.traded at a 14% to 20% premium to its indicative net asset value over the first three days of the week.
The ETF became so popular that China AMC halted its trading for an hour on Thursday, a move also taken by another firm. It warned investors about the big difference between the fund’s price and its net value and said investors could suffer heavy losses if they invest blindly. The premium came down to 5% on Thursday.https://www.wsj.com/finance/stocks/chinese-investors-are-pouring-into-the-u-s-japan-386be98e
Japan ETF vs. China ETF straight up in favor of Japan
5. Equal Weight Index Rolls Back Over vs. Cap Weight
6. History of Fed Lowering Rates at All-Time Highs?
7. Natural Gas is the Largest Source of American Electricity Generation
Barrons-For all of the momentum toward a greener energy system—U.S. electricity generation from solar and wind increased more than threefold from 2012 to 2022, according to the Energy Information Administration—natural-gas power has climbed 38%, to become the largest source of electricity generation in the U.S. Even in California, which has among the most aggressive decarbonization targets in the country, three natural-gas power plants that were originally slated to close in 2020 will instead operate until at least 2026, officials said last year. Others will remain in service even longer.
It’s not just a U.S. phenomenon. India’s government wants to nearly triple electricity production from natural gas by 2030. China, the world’s largest energy consumer, is increasing its use of natural gas as it shifts away from coal. Europe continues to rely on natural gas as it makes its green transition. Natural gas will remain essential, even as oil and coal fade away.
Hustle culture A swathe of fledgling entrepreneurs have taken the plunge and set up their own companies, with review site Yelp counting a record number of new business openings last year. All told, Yelp tallied a total of 762,200 new ventures in 2023, representing a 20% uptick on 2022. The data confirms a similar finding from analysis of governmental filings, which has revealed a pandemic-inspired “entrepreneurship boom“, as an increasing number of Americans take their economic fates into their own hands. Golden handcuffsThe Yelp report categorizes the new businesses by industry, finding a particular boom in the home services sector, with hundreds of new endeavors set up across carpentry (up 54%), masonry and concrete services (up 40%), and contractors (up 33%). Those new companies might be looking to capitalize on the “golden handcuff” phenomenon, as sky-high mortgage rates and property prices leave people investing in their current homes, rather than moving to new ones.Elsewhere, the leisure sector also saw a resurgence, with the number of new hotels and travel services up 28% on last year and restaurant openings up 10%, with major boosts for creperies and hot pot spots, which were up 63% and 53%, respectively. Related reading: Yesterday‘s better-than-expected 3.3% US GDP growth and rising consumer sentiment suggests the US economy is holding up well.
Psychology Today Evan Parks Psy.D. Here are five ways mindfulness helps rewire the brain, giving us better control over how we respond to stress, handle difficult emotions, manage pain, and adapt to change.
1. Mindfulness improves our brain chemistry. Research suggests that regular mindfulness practices help the brain increase levels of GABA, which helps us stay calm; dopamine, the pleasure and reward neurotransmitter; and serotonin, which helps us experience positive emotions.
2. Mindfulness changes our fear and stress response. When we take in sensory information about a possible threat, the amygdala is the first brain structure to process that information. The amygdala evaluates images and sounds; if it detects a threat, it passes on the information to the hippocampus, which activates the body to prepare for a threat. With regular mindfulness practice, the size of the amygdala shrinks. A smaller amygdala is correlated with a reduced fear response, increased calmness, better management of anxiety, and a feeling of well-being.
3. Mindfulness helps us stay connected to the present moment. Falling and staying asleep is often a challenge when we experience stressful periods of life. Our mind races back and forth between our regrets about the past and worries about the future, keeping us awake. During the day, our busy minds distract us from being present with the people we love and the work we need to accomplish. Because of changes in the insula and cingulate cortex, mindfulness practices help harness our ability to shift and focus our attention on our bodily sensations and regulate the emotional responses associated with those physical sensations.
4. Mindfulness facilitates learning and memory. The gray matter of the memory areas of the brain generally decreases with age, impacting memory processes, emotional regulation, and perspective-taking. As a result, our memory suffers as we get older, we become less flexible with change, and we find it difficult to appreciate the perspective of others. Mindfulness has been demonstrated to increase the size of the hippocampus, which leads to improved learning, memory, and stress management.
5. Mindfulness helps with brain healing and pain management. Mindfulness practices greatly enhance neuroplasticity. Recovery from brain injury requires healing damaged areas of the brain and using other areas to recover lost functioning. Mindfulness can improve emotional regulation and mental fatigue and help regulate pain. (Click here to learn more about how mindfulness helps pain management.)
Found at Barry Ritholtz blog https://ritholtz.com
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