US job openings unexpectedly grew in August (2 min read)

According to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), US job openings unexpectedly surged in August to approximately 9.61 million, much higher than the 8.8 million estimated. It also highlighted an increase in new hires, a rise in workers quitting their jobs, and steady layoffs. This indicates ongoing strength in the US labor market and suggests that a soft landing may be possible. All eyes are on the official job report on Friday for confirmation.

The US housing market is set to cool this fall, Zillow says (2 min read)

Zillow, a tech US real-estate marketplace company, believes that the US housing market will be cooling this fall. There was an increase in sellers accepting lower prices in September, with 9.2% of home listings experiencing price cuts, the highest since 2019. This, coupled with a rise in new listings in August, indicates a possible end to the listings shortage. However, a substantial improvement in affordability will still depend on a reduction in mortgage rates.

Tesla Sales Drop Brings BYD Closest Ever to Global EV Crown (3 min read)

BYD, the Chinese automaker, is on track to surpass Tesla as the world's largest seller of EVs. The company sold 431,603 electric vehicles in Q3 2023, up 23% from Q2. Tesla shipped 435,059 cars globally in the same quarter, with the gap between the two narrowing to 3,456 vehicles. Many analysts predict that BYD will catch up and sell more vehicles than Tesla by Q4.

Stock Market Winners and Losers as Student Loan Payments Restart (4 min read)

As student loan repayments resume after a long moratorium, fintech companies like SoFi and discount retailers like Walmart or Costco may benefit. These companies are likely to gain traction as borrowers repay their loans. Consumer discretionary/tech companies, and trading platform that targets young users like Robinhood might face some challenges as disposable income get reduced. More on the analysis are available in the article.

Ether futures ETFs hit the market as SEC mulls next steps on bitcoin fund (3 min read)

Earlier this week, a handful of new crypto ETFs were launched in the US market. BitWise, ProShares, and VanEck introduced a mix of Ethereum and Bitcoin strategy that uses futures contracts to gain exposure. This comes as the SEC is considering the first spot-Bitcoin ETF in the US and many in the industry are currently optimistic about the approval.

Investors All In on TLT Over GLD (2 min read)

Recession-hedge ETFs like iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) and SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) both took a huge hit from the rapid rate hikes, but their demand has diverged notably this year. TLT nearly doubled its AUM this year while GLD only saw a small fraction of that flow. The discrepancy may be due to TLT's yield advantage (nearly 5%), making it more appealing than GLD, which offers no yield and high opportunity costs amid higher rates.

Forget About ‘Timing the Market': Schwab Research Reveals the Optimal Way to Invest (6 min read)

Schwab's recent study reveals market timing is nearly impossible. However, it shows that using dollar-cost averaging can actually yield significant results, closely trailing perfect timing. Not attempting market timing at all can still earn 92% as much as perfect timing. This study further supports the difficulty of consistent market prediction and that long-term, patient strategies like buy-and-hold remain optimal for most investors.

You Can't Control Recessions, but You Can Control What You Do About It (3 min read)

This article shares three simple tips for investors to navigate recessions with sound portfolios and position themselves for gains in subsequent bull markets. The first is to avoid irrational, fear-driven decisions during market downturns. Second, consider adding savings if possible to capitalize on potential opportunities. And finally, concentrate on quality investments with proven profitability and strong fundamentals.

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Thomas

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