How quickly the financial landscape can change in just one year! After 24 months of blissfully easy profits in the “Magnificent 7” tech stocks, 2025 is a year of financial limbo where many investors are still dazed and confused from the beating they took during April’s panic, then failed to profit from the market’s rebound that made up the losses quickly – a classic whipsaw! It is too soon to tell whether 2025 will be a flat year or just a brief, volatile interruption in a continuing bull market like what we saw in 2020’s powerful reversal. There have been…

Key News Asian equity markets cheered the readout from the US-China trade talks in London, as Taiwan and South Korea outperformed, while Singapore and Indonesia underperformed. The London talks re-implemented the Geneva agreement, marking a positive step that could pave the way for further negotiations to unwind the trade war. The big picture: the Chinese government’s release made clear that the recent phone conversation between President Trump and President Xi Jinping was critical in making a deal feasible. One could argue there have been more substantive discussions during Trump’s first six months than during the previous administration’s four years. The…

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) came in at 0.1% for May- lower than the expected 0.2%. This softer-than-expected reading was driven by notable declines in energy prices, used cars, transportation services, and apparel. However, the most promising takeaway lies beneath the surface. Shelter costs – which account for nearly one-third of the CPI and typically act as a lagging indicator – have not yet shown a meaningful slowdown. Despite falling real estate prices across major U.S. cities like San Francisco, Austin, Tampa, and Phoenix, shelter still posted a 0.3% month-over-month increase. This is significant: once this category begins reflecting broader…

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, is turning its back on long-term Treasuries—and that’s rattling the bond market. That, in turn, has the mainstream crowd turning its back on ALL bonds. Mainstream crowd turning its back? That’s all we need to hear! In a second, I’ll reveal a 9% “contrarians only” dividend that’s tailor-made for this critical time in Bond-land. First, let’s break down what the global investment titan is telling us here: In its weekly commentary, released June 2, BlackRock laid things out in stark terms (or at least as stark as a stuffy financial institution gets!): “Our strongest…

I first made Allison Transmission (ALSN) a Long Idea in June 2020 and most recently reiterated my thesis in August 2024. After the company beat on the bottom-line but missed top-line 1Q25 estimates, my thesis remains intact, and the stock looks poised to outperform further. ALSN still offers favorable Risk/Reward based on the company’s: diversified business model and end customers, long-term growth tailwinds across segments, strong track record of revenue and profit growth, high capital return backed by consistent cash flows, and undervalued stock price. What’s Working Diversified Business Portfolio Allison Transmission runs a well-diversified business, in terms of its…

A quietly steepening European yield curve signals opportunity while America’s remains stubbornly flat In the cacophony of market noise surrounding tariffs, AI valuations, and Federal Reserve policy, one of the most powerful signals for international equity allocation is being completely overlooked. The yield curve—that fundamental barometer of banking profitability and economic health—has been quietly transforming across the Atlantic, creating a compelling case for U.S. investors to pivot toward European markets. The Silent Revolution in European Curves While American investors obsess over the latest earnings from the Magnificent Seven, European stocks have surged roughly 9% over the past three months, handily…

When I talk to parents of young children, they are often touched by the generosity of their families and friends when it comes to gifts for their children. They often say they’re up to their ears in toys and don’t know what they’ll do when the next birthday or holiday comes around. Here are some gifts you can give to young children and teens in your life to set them up for financial success in the future. Young Children Young children have the advantage of time on their side but an inability to comprehend or manage money on their own.…

Nathan’s Famous today declared its first quarterly cash dividend for fiscal 2026 of $0.50 per share, which is payable on July 1, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 23, 2025. 10 Oversold Dividend Stocks » TJX today announced the declaration of a quarterly dividend on its common stock of $.425 per share payable September 4, 2025, to shareholders of record on August 14, 2025. The Board of Directors of Nucor declared the regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.55 per share on Nucor’s common stock. This cash dividend is payable on August 11, 2025 to…

Key News Asian equities were mostly higher overnight, with U.S.-China trade talks in London drawing significant attention, though few concrete details have emerged so far. Indonesia outperformed, along with Taiwan ahead of May sales data from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Several markets closed lower, including Hong Kong and Mainland China, which both declined in the afternoon as investors took profits. Pakistan’s market was closed for Eid al-Adha. The renminbi (CNY) was slightly weaker against the United States dollar, as investors tempered their optimism about a potential trade deal in the absence of any major announcements. Notably, Hong Kong saw 308…

The media is still obsessed with the “sell America” trade. That is, in a word, overblown. But there is something valuable here—especially for us income investors. Because even though the US has the world’s most diverse and dynamic economy, bar none, we do need to make sure we’re spreading at least some of our assets beyond a single country or asset class. For maximum safety (both for our portfolio value and our income streams) we also need exposure to alternative asset classes beyond US blue chips, such as global stocks, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and corporate bonds. But here’s…