Category

COVID-19

stocks

What Today's Record Jobless Claims Mean for the Stock Market

By , Money Morning - • Print | Email

This morning, the U.S. Department of Labor reported a record number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits last week.

Following the closure of businesses across the country and the rise of "Social Distancing," nearly 3.28 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance.

The jobless claims number dwarfed the record 695,000 filers in October 1982.

Also, it blows away the 655,000 Americans who filed for jobless benefits in March 2009 – the height of the Great Recession.

Finally, the figure is more than double the consensus estimate of 1.5 million among economists and analysts.

Here's exactly what this jobless claims number means for the markets in the months ahead...

stocks

How Long Will the Coronavirus Market Crash Last?

By , Associate Editor, Money Morning - • Print | Email

Even while legislators discuss measures to relieve the economy in the coronavirus market crash, volatility runs high.

It's uncertain where the market is going day-to-day.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is above 60.

It never went higher than 30 in 2019.

That's making it hard for investors to know what's coming next.

That's why we want to talk about how long the coronavirus market crash will last.

Here's what we know about that so far.

Whether or not the answer becomes clear, there's only one thing you need to worry about...

The Fed

Why the Fed’s Latest Move Will Cause Runaway Inflation

By , Money Morning - • Print | Email

Pundits of every stripe thought the Federal Reserve was out of ammunition to keep the economy afloat while the world battles the coronavirus.

However, over this past weekend the Fed pulled out all the stops.

All that's left to throw at the economy is the kitchen sink.

Wall Street liked what it saw.

At first.

Stocks bounced up on the news before sinking into the red by yesterday's close.

But there's an even bigger problem...

Stocks

Bear Market 2020: Where to Invest Your $1,200 Coronavirus Check

By , Money Morning - • Print | Email

Your $1,200 coronavirus check from the government could be the first step you take to reaching the retirement of your dreams.

While $1,200 might not sound like a lot, it can add up in a hurry.

A $1,200 investment in Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) in December 2008 would be worth $42,530 today.

As Money Morning Chief Investment Strategist Keith Fitz-Gerald puts it, "picking the 'right' companies could set you up for once-in-a-lifetime wealth at prices you won't see again for a generation."

That's why we're going to show you exactly which stocks to buy to start building a retirement portfolio with just $1,200.

Read more...

The Fed

What the Fed's Really Doing, Who They're Bailing Out, and What's Next

By , Chief Investment Strategist, Money Morning • @ShahGilani_TW - • Print | Email

The Fed's been taking some desperate measures lately in these desperate times.

But markets haven't fully priced in their rescue and recovery programs for what they really are, which is an admission that "this time is different" and it's too late to stop what's going to happen next.

Today, our Shah Gilani's back to break down what the Fed's doing, in layman's terms, what it says about where things are, and what's next going forward...

Market Correction

Will the Coronavirus Cause a Recession?

By , Money Morning - • Print | Email

The coronavirus crash has decimated stocks, but the real risk is that the coronavirus could cause a recession.

That's where investors need to focus their attention right now.

Stocks simply aren't going back up until the economy recovers.

While we might not hit the technical definition of a recession, Americans are already experiencing the effects of one.

But there's a silver lining...