📈 Dollar Up, Stocks Down!

Good morning!

US stocks took a hit today, with concerns about higher interest rates and speculation about todays jobs report being the main culprits. On the bright side, the US dollar is on track for it's biggest weekly gain since September.

We've also got some unusual picks from Berkshire Hathaway that might be worth a closer look, and we'll be taking a look at a portfolio that's been beating Wall Street for 50 years straight.

Happy Investing!

Markets

Stocks fall after strong labor market data (4 minute read)It was a rough day for the stock market, with the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq all seeing significant drops of 1.2%, 1% and 1.5% respectively due to concerns about higher interest rates and speculation of tomorrow's jobs report. However, the ADP National Employment report showed a strong increase in private payrolls for December, so there may be some hope on the horizon - private payrolls grew by 235,000 according to the ADP National Employment report, against Bloomberg's prediction of 150,000.

Dollar higher; U.S. jobs report to show healthy labor market (3 minute read)The U.S. dollar, on the other hand, is having a good day! It's trading near a one-month high after some positive employment data hinted at a strong labor market. As of 02:55 ET, the Dollar Index (which tracks the greenback against other currencies) had risen 0.2% to 105.075, and it's on track for a weekly gain of over 1.6%. That's the largest gain since September, if you're keeping track.

European stocks mixed; German factory orders weigh ahead of Eurozone CPI (5 minute read) Over the pond, European stock markets had a subdued Friday due to mixed economic data from Germany and anticipation of key Eurozone inflation numbers. The DAX in Germany saw a small 0.2% drop, the CAC 40 in France remained flat, and the FTSE 100 in the UK had a slight 0.2% climb. Earlier this week, the European Central Bank received a boost from a larger-than-expected drop in German consumer price increases, giving hope for a potential slowdown in aggressive interest rate hikes."

Investing

2 Top Warren Buffett Stocks to Buy Right Now (4 minute read)Berkshire Hathaway and its CEO Warren Buffett have been dominating the investing world for decades. Their value-oriented approach has helped them consistently beat the market. While the company's portfolio is filled with well-known names like Apple, Bank of America, and Coca-Cola, there are also some more unusual picks that could be worth considering as good investments right now - like Snowflake (SNOW) and Activision Blizzard (ATVI).

This ‘crazy’ retirement portfolio has just beaten Wall Street for 50 years (5 minute read)Not many traders know about this super simple portfolio that anyone can follow in their retirement account, and it's been beating the traditional Wall Street portfolio of 60% stocks and 40% bonds for 50 years. Not only did it outperform by 7% last year, but it's been crushing it for half a century. It's called the 'All Asset No Authority' (AANA) portfolio, and it's simple to follow - just split your investments into 7 equal parts and put them into a mix of stocks, gold, commodities, REITs, and bonds. Marketwatch columnist, Brett Arends, talks through it in this article.

Alternative Investments: The Case for Real Estate (6 minute read)It looks like central banks around the world are raising interest rates to try and tackle rising inflation, which is causing both bond and equity values to drop at the same time. That's where alternative investments come in - things like real estate. These types of investments have the potential to provide higher returns, higher income, less volatility, and better diversification compared to traditional investments. They can be used to boost growth, income, defense, or to protect against inflation. Advisor Perspectives explores this topic.

The One True Secret to Successful Investing (7 minute read)There's no such thing as a free lunch. We all know that higher returns come with higher risks, but somehow we still seem to forget this basic rule when there's a bull market frenzy. So, just remember: if you're investing in anything other than a super safe bond, you're taking on some level of risk. And if you're going for higher returns than the market as a whole, you've also got to be prepared for the possibility of bigger losses.

Money

7 Best States to Retire with $500,000 in 2023 (5 minute read)If you've saved up $500,000 for retirement, you might want to consider settling down in one of these top states for a comfortable lifestyle in 2023. Florida is a popular choice for retirees - about 20% of the state's residents are retired. Alabama also has tax breaks for retirees. When deciding where to spend your golden years, you'll want to think about factors like the weather, proximity to your loved ones, and how far your savings will go.

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