Oil prices rise following Hamas attack on Israel (3 min read)

Global oil prices surged as Brent crude climbed to $86.83 a barrel amid heightened tensions in the Middle East due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Although Israel and Palestinian territories aren't major oil producers, the region contributes significantly to global supply. The conflict's potential impact on nearby major oil-producing nations like Iran and Saudi Arabia has raised concerns, causing the spike in oil prices.

Israel sells $30 billion in foreign reserves after shekel slides to seven-year low (2 min read)

The Bank of Israel plans to sell $30 billion in foreign reserves to stabilize its currency, the shekel, which weakened due to the recent Hamas incursion. The shekel hit a seven-year low, prompting the central bank to intervene to moderate exchange rate volatility. Additionally, the bank will provide $15 billion in market liquidity through SWAP mechanisms. Israel's economy, though strong, faces devaluation risks amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

Disney caught by surprise by the return of activist investor Nelson Peltz (2 min read)

Trian Fund Management's Nelson Peltz launched an activist attack on Disney, seeking multiple board seats, including one for himself, amid Disney's stock hitting a 52-week low. It was reported that Nelson caught the company off guard and now became one of Disney’s largest investors with a $2.5 billion stake. Nelson has long been a critic of Disney’s operation, leaving investors eager for updates and anxious about the company's future strategy.

4,000 more UAW workers on strike after rejecting deal with Mack Trucks (4 min read)

Nearly 4,000 members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) are on strike at Mack Trucks, a major US heavy-duty truck maker. It was initiated after 73% of UAW workers voted against the company’s proposed deal of a 10% pay raise and additional benefits. The strike is part of a broader wave of labor actions in the US and is the first time in UAW's history to strike at major automakers simultaneously.

Treasury Bond ETFs Are Sinking: Where to Turn (3 min read)

In the current market, both stocks and bonds are facing challenges. Bonds are experiencing negative returns while the S&P 500 has been stagnant, making it more complicated for investors to allocate in their portfolios. This article suggests a simpler strategy like the Mindful Conservative ETF (MFUL), which employs a risk-management mandate and holds a diversified portfolio of T-bills, equities, and bonds through other ETFs.

Investors Flee Natural Gas ETFs (2 min read)

Investors in natural gas ETFs are facing losses due to contango, a situation where the fund's futures contracts are more expensive than the current commodity price. Despite natural gas being down 26% this year, major ETFs like UNG and BOIL are down 50% and 82%, respectively for this reason. Critics suggest that investors bullish on commodities should consider stocks or direct ownership rather than relying on ETFs using derivatives for long-term bets.

Higher For Longer vs. the Stock Market (3 min read)

As the long-term US bond yields reached their highest in over a decade, this article looks at its correlation with the stock market. Historical data shows that the best stock market returns occurred in both very high and very low starting interest rate periods. Surprisingly, high inflation levels which are usually seen as negative, were also associated with strong future stock returns.

That's it for today! You can reply to this email if you have any comments or feedback.

If you are interested in reaching an audience of investors, entrepreneurs, and financial professionals, you may want to advertise with us.

Thanks,
Thomas

No longer want to receive these emails? Click here to unsubscribe.