Dear Friend,
Inflation’s inching up, but the Fed’s still got its finger hovering over the rate-cut button for December.
Investors are cheering, Trump’s probably doing a victory lap, and the Fed’s busy patting itself on the back while keeping an eye on tariffs and holiday shopping sprees.
Meanwhile, Temu is turning Gen Z into bargain-hunting pros, leaving Amazon in the dust.
And if you’re flying solo in life, we’ve got some estate-planning tips you’ll want to check out.
All that and more in this week’s Everlasting Wealth Insider Report—let’s dive in!
Jeremy Blossom
Editor in Chief, Everlasting Wealth
MARKET HEADLINES
📈 TSMC’s stock is climbing after news that it could snag up to $6.6 billion in government funding for its Arizona chip factories. 🏭 This is part of the CHIPS Act, supporting a $65 billion investment that’s set to create thousands of jobs. The first facility opens next year, marking the biggest foreign direct investment in U.S. history. Meanwhile, Trump’s criticism of the CHIPS Act raises some doubts about future payouts.
🚀 Friday’s stock action is wild! Wall Street cooled on rate cut hopes after Powell’s latest comments, and here’s the roundup: Applied Materials dropped 8.2% despite a solid earnings report due to a weak outlook. Meanwhile, Tesla might weather a potential EV tax credit cut better than rivals. Palantir is switching to Nasdaq, Domino’s is up after a Berkshire buy, and Ulta tanked because Buffett bailed. 📉
🍕 Berkshire Hathaway grabbed $550 million worth of Domino’s stock, boosting its premarket price by 7.6%. They also picked up shares in Pool but dumped Ulta and slashed their Apple stake. 📊 Seems like Buffett’s team is flipping stocks faster these days—watch out for any quick sell-offs post-news!
💊 Amazon is shaking up healthcare again by selling super cheap generics for hair loss and ED. 🛒 Hims & Hers stock tanked 22% on the news. With Amazon Pharmacy and One Medical in its arsenal, this could spell trouble for smaller telehealth players that rely on aggressive marketing to survive. Will they stand a chance?
📉 The S&P 500’s dividend yield is at its lowest since 2001, sitting at 1.18%. Blame it on tech giants like Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, whose payouts are tiny compared to their market weight. The gap between U.S. and international yields is widening, with overseas ETFs offering a much healthier 2.6%. 🌍
Retail Sales Are Up—Looks Like Americans Still Love to Shop
October retail sales beat expectations, rising 0.4% instead of the predicted 0.3%.
Turns out, even with a cooling job market, Americans are still swiping those credit cards like there’s no tomorrow.
Some economists were nervous, blaming hurricanes and less discretionary spending, but nope—consumer confidence hit its highest level since 2021.
The Fed’s watching closely, but the takeaway? U.S. consumers are tough cookies, and they’re ready to spend their way through the holiday season, even if the economy’s throwing a few curveballs.
STOCKS TO WATCH
↗️ Domino’s Pizza: Shares surged premarket following news that Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway acquired a stake in the pizza giant.
↗️ Palantir: The tech firm announced a move to Nasdaq from the NYSE, anticipating eligibility for the Nasdaq-100 index. Shares climbed ahead of the opening bell.
↘️ AST SpaceMobile: The space-based cellular network company saw shares plummet over 10% premarket after reporting widened losses due to increased satellite launch activity.
↘️ Ulta Beauty: Shares dropped over 5% premarket after Berkshire Hathaway disclosed it had reduced its position in the cosmetics retailer.
↘️ GSK, AstraZeneca, and Sanofi: European pharma giants mirrored U.S. vaccine makers’ decline, impacted by the selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS secretary.
🔎 Alibaba: U.S.-listed Chinese e-commerce company set to report earnings before the market opens.
This Day in the Markets
📉 On this day in 2008, the U.S. Department of Labor reported a 1% decline in the Consumer Price Index for October, the steepest monthly drop since 1947. This reflected plummeting energy costs and weakening consumer demand amid the global financial crisis.
STOCK PICK OF THE WEEK
Weiss Research
Jeff Bezos Didn’t Become a Billionaire by Accident
He turned Amazon from a basement startup into a $600-billion-per-year monster.
That takes a lot more than just luck.
So, when Bezos makes a move, we need to sit up and take notice.
And right now, he’s all-in on one very big sector: Artificial Intelligence.
That’s right! According to FINTRX, a private wealth intelligence platform, every single investment made by Bezos Expeditions (Jeff’s family office) this year has been in AI.
And it’s not just Bezos …
The UBS Global Family Office Report reveals that AI is the #1 investment category for family offices worldwide right now.
The message is clear: AI is where nearly all the smart money is going.
But which AI stocks should YOU invest in? That’s the million-dollar question.
We’ve identified 3 stocks that could be your best bet to cash in.
Here’s why …
These 3 small companies are set to play a HUGE role in Nvidia’s game-changing AI pivot, reaping substantial returns in the process.
Want to learn more about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
Watch my urgent presentation for the full details!
ECONOMY
Inflation Creeps Up, but the Fed’s December Rate Cut Is Still on the Table
Well, inflation ticked up to 2.6% in October, which was totally expected—but hey, let’s act like it’s breaking news.
Investors are thrilled because this means the Fed is still on track to cut interest rates in December.
Trump’s probably grinning ear to ear since he’s been hollering for lower rates for years.
Meanwhile, inflation under Biden sent prices skyrocketing 20%, but now we’re supposed to cheer because it’s cooling off? Sure.
The Fed is cautiously patting itself on the back for “progress” while keeping one eye on consumer spending and the other on Trump’s potential tariffs.
Bottom line: inflation’s going down, but not without some bumps—kind of like Biden’s approval ratings.
ECONOMY HEADLINES
💵 Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signals that with inflation easing and the economy holding steady, the Fed can cautiously approach future rate cuts, even as markets anticipate another reduction by year-end.
🌍 Global markets are gearing up for a crucial week with key data releases, including U.S., European, and U.K. PMI surveys, Canadian inflation, eurozone growth figures, and monetary policy decisions from Hungary to South Africa, all expected to influence FX and bond markets.
🚨 The eurozone’s growth forecast for 2025 has been revised downward to 1.3%, with looming U.S.-EU trade tensions, high debt levels, and Germany’s industrial slowdown posing significant risks to the region’s economic stability.
🏡 Despite U.S. homeowners amassing a record $35 trillion in equity, rising mortgage rates are making it difficult to tap into that wealth, locking current homeowners in place and sidelining many prospective buyers, particularly younger ones.
🇨🇳 If trade tensions with the U.S. escalate under another Trump administration, China’s already fragile economy may be forced to pivot from its reliance on exports to domestic consumption, though major shifts remain unlikely due to Xi’s focus on tech and manufacturing.
BUSINESS
Temu: Gen Z’s New Favorite Playground
Turns out, Gen Z isn’t just making TikToks—they’re also turning Temu into the most downloaded app of 2024.
Nearly 42 million downloads in 10 months! Why? Dirt-cheap prices, flashy discounts, and gamified shopping that screams “buy it now or cry later.”
TikTok and Threads couldn’t even keep up.
Temu’s owner, PDD Holdings, is raking it in, while Amazon’s trying to play catch-up with its new discount store, Amazon Haul.
But hey, good luck competing with a generation that’s all about saving cash and leveling up their online carts.
RETIREMENT
No Kids? No Problem—Just Plan Your Estate Like a Pro
Estate planning without kids is like flying without a co-pilot—it gets tricky fast.
Who’s going to make your decisions or check in when you’re down for the count?
Experts say step one is locking in long-term-care insurance. It’s pricey, but at least it covers your care and might leave a little for your heirs.
Next, recruit trustworthy stand-ins—maybe a sharp friend, a helpful neighbor, or even a hired pro like a social worker—to handle your healthcare and finances.
And don’t forget to leave a roadmap: clear wills, power of attorney documents, even notes about your pets or funeral preferences.
Turns out, being child-free means you’ve got some extra homework.
Trivia
Which of the following industries experienced a boom in the U.S. during the Great Recession of 2008?
A. Real Estate
B. Luxury Goods
C. Fast Food
D. Organic Farming
E. Fitness Equipment
Scroll for the answer
TAXES
Beat the Tax Man: 5 Year-End Moves to Save Big
Trump’s tax plans are shaking things up, so if you want to keep more of your cash, now’s the time to act.
First, max out those 401(k) and IRA contributions—lower your taxable income now, and thank yourself later.
Second, make sure Uncle Sam isn’t short-changed on your withholdings unless you love surprise bills and penalties.
Got stock market gains? Offset them with tax-loss harvesting or donate appreciated stocks to charity for a double win.
If you’re eyeing solar panels or EV tax credits, lock them in before Trump gives those green perks the axe.
And don’t forget those Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)—the IRS sure won’t.
Answer
Which of the following industries experienced a boom in the U.S. during the Great Recession of 2008?
C. Fast Food
During economic downturns, many consumers trade down from more expensive dining options to fast food, which offers affordable and convenient meals.
This phenomenon was evident during the Great Recession, as major fast-food chains like McDonald’s and Taco Bell saw increased sales.
The fast-food industry thrives in tough times, showcasing how economic challenges influence consumer habits and spending priorities.
