January 8, 2020
The housing market is heating up to start the new year.
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell this week to 3.69 percent – the lowest level since October.
Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index hit an all-time high in 2019, seeing a 16 percent year-over-year increase in the share of consumers believing now is a good time to buy.
Home prices are also increasing, indicating strength and demand in the market, as prices nationally increased 3.7 percent annually in November, according to CoreLogic.
Here’s your weekly highlight.
A $10 Million Super Bowl Ad: Presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg is expected to launch a 60-second advertisement aimed at Donald Trump during the Super Bowl next month. Bloomberg, currently polling in fifth place, is hoping the spot will ignite some momentum under his campaign. President Trump’s re-election campaign is also expected to air a Super Bowl ad as well.
Narrowing The Trade Deficit Gap: The U.S. trade deficit was just $43.1 billion in November, the lowest level since President Trump took office. According to CNBC, much of the gain came from a reduction of the gap with China.
Oil Falls Despite Middle East Turmoil: Despite seeing an initial spike following the killing of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani, Futures on Brent crude oil fell 1.2 percent on Tuesday. According to James Athey of Aberdeen Standard Investments, U.S. oil production is now so large that it makes it more difficult for OPEC to “flex its muscles over global oil supply.”
Boeing Settles With American Airlines: In a confidential agreement, Boeing says it has settled a deal with American Airlines over the losses the airliner experienced with its controversial 737 Max plane being out of commission last year. According to Forbes, the airline estimated it lost around $540 million in 2019 due to the plane being grounded. American Airlines says it will allocate $30 million of the settlement to pay its employees for lost compensation, starting in March.
The Habit Burger Chain Acquired: Yum Brands, the owner of Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut is adding burgers to its portfolio after announcing the purchase of Habit Restaurants for $14 per share, equating to a $375 million buyout. Habit Restaurant’s shares surged over 32 percent on Monday after the news broke.
The Next Generation Of Video Games: During its keynote speech at CES in Las Vegas on Monday, Sony announced the launch date of its highly anticipated Playstation 5 console, expected to be released in time for the holidays later this year. Sony’s previous iteration, the PS4 sold over 106 million units and was the fourth best selling console of all-time.
Bitcoin’s Comeback Year?: It is no secret that Bitcoin’s hype and run have been muted since its explosion in late 2017. Bitcoin has already gained 12 percent year-to-date in 2020, and Nexo co-founder Antoni Trenchev told Bloomberg he believes it hit could surpass $50,000 this year.
Gold Continues To Climb: The quintessential safe-haven investment is on track for a 10th straight day of gains amid recent worldwide turmoil. Gold futures have hit their highest levels since April of 2013 as investors continue to monitor escalations between the U.S. and Iran.
The Next Big Thing: Like many, 2020 might be the year you want to beef up your portfolio and mix things up a bit. But how do you know what sectors to focus on? Should you only look at industries you know extensively, or should you be looking for up-and-coming sectors? Read our thoughts on how to find a solid investment for the coming year in Three Stock Market Sectors to Focus on in 2020
Playing It Safe: With investing, there’s a time to be risky and there’s a time to play it safe. Nearing retirement is almost always a time when you’ll want to be a conservative investor. Here are some options for a conservative portfolio with capital preservation and growth in mind: How to Invest for Capital Preservation
Financial Crash Course: If you’re looking to cruise into the new decade with better financial habits, all it takes is a little organization and discipline. For those looking to get your cash under control, we have six straightforward ways to do exactly that: 6 Straightforward Ways to Improve Your Finances in the New Year
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