Microsoft has said it will contest a U.S. tax authority’s request to pay an additional $28.9 billion (£23.5 billion) in back taxes for the years 2004 to 2013.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been auditing how the firm allocates profits among countries and jurisdictions. Microsoft reportedly said, ‘the issues raised by the IRS are relevant to the past but not to our current practices‘.
Creative accounting?
There have long been concerns that the biggest corporations do not pay enough tax in developed nations. Big tech’ giants have been criticised for reporting lower profits in high-tax countries and higher profits in lower-tax jurisdictions to minimise their tax burden.
Microsoft reportedly said the IRS was seeking an additional tax payment of $28.9 billion plus penalties and interest. The company said it had ‘always followed the IRS’s rules and paid the taxes we owe in the U.S. and around the world‘. It said it believed that any taxes owed after the audit would be reduced by up to $10 billion based on tax laws passed by the former U.S. President.
Scrutiny
This year, Microsoft has also come under scrutiny from other U.S. authorities. In June, it agreed to pay $20m to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after the company was found to have illegally collected data on children who had started Xbox accounts.
Other American tech’ firms such as Amazon and Facebook have also faced similar calls to pay more taxes.
Microsoft’s $69 billion revised offer to buy Call of Duty-maker Activision Blizzard has been approved by UK regulators.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the deal addressed its concerns, after the watchdog blocked the original $69bn (£59bn) bid in April 2023. The green light marks the culmination of a near two-year fight to secure the gaming industry’s biggest-ever takeover.
CMA criticised Microsoft’s conduct.
After the competition watchdog blocked the takeover earlier this year, Microsoft’s president hit out at the CMA’s decision which it said was ‘bad for Britain’.
The CMA chief executive reportedly said: ‘Businesses and their advisors should be in no doubt that the tactics employed by Microsoft are no way to engage with the CMA. Microsoft had the chance to restructure during our initial investigation but instead continued to insist on a package of measures that we told them simply wouldn’t work. Dragging out proceedings in this way only wastes time and money’.
The CMA also said the revised deal would ‘preserve competitive prices’ in the gaming industry and provide more choice and better services.
Prior to the approval, the deal, which makes Microsoft the owner of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Overwatch and Candy Crush, could not be finalised globally.
Under the restructured transaction, Microsoft will not acquire cloud rights for existing Activision PC and console games, or for new games released by Activision during the next 15 years. Instead, these rights will be divested to Ubisoft Entertainment before Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision, according to the CMA.
Vice Chair and President, Brad Smith seem happy after saying it would be ‘bad for Britain.
‘We’re grateful for the CMA’s thorough review and decision today. We have now crossed the final regulatory hurdle to close this acquisition, which we believe will benefit players and the gaming industry worldwide’.
The interest the government pays on national debt has reached a 20-year high as the rate on 30-year bonds touches 5.05%.
A rise in the cost of borrowing comes at a difficult time for the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, as he prepares for the autumn statement on 22nd November 2023. The chancellor has already made clear that tax cuts will not be announced in the autumn statement.
National debt £2,590,000,000,000
The total amount the UK government owes is called the national debt and it is currently about £2.59 trillion – £2,590,000,000,000.
The government borrows money by selling financial products called bonds. A bond is a promise to pay money in the future. Most require the borrower to make regular interest payments over the bond’s lifetime.
UK government bonds – known as ‘gilts’ – are normally considered very safe, with little risk the money will not be repaid. Gilts are mainly bought by financial institutions in the UK and abroad, such as pension funds, investment funds, banks and insurance companies.
QE
The Bank of England (BoE) has also bought hundreds of billions of pounds’ worth of government bonds in the past to support the economy, through a process called quantitative easing or QE.
A higher rate of interest on government debt will mean the chancellor will have to set aside more cash, to the tune of £23 billion to meet interest payments to the owners of bonds. This in-turn means the UK government may choose to spend less money on public services like healthcare and schools at a time when workers in key industries are demanding pay rises to match the cost of living.
Double debt
The current level of debt is more than double what was seen from the 1980s through to the financial crisis of 2008. The combination of the financial crash in 2007/8 and the Covid pandemic pushed the UK’s debt up from those historic lows to where it stands now. However, in relation to the size of the economy, today’s debt is still low compared with much of the last century.
UK debt £2,590,000,000,000
The U.S, German and Italian borrowing costs also hit their highest levels for more than a decade as markets adjusted to the prospect of a long period of high interest rates and the need for governments around the world to borrow.
It follows an indication from global central banks, including the United States Federal Reserve and the Bank of England (BoE), that interest rates will stay ‘higher for longer’ to continue their jobs of bringing down inflation.
£111billion on debt interest in a year
During the last financial year, the government spent £111 billion on debt interest – more than it spent on education. Some economists fear the government is borrowing too much, at too great a cost. Others argue extra borrowing helps the economy grow faster – generating more tax revenue in the long run.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), has warned that public debt could soar as the population ages and tax income falls. In an ageing population, the proportion of people of working age drops, meaning the government takes less in tax while paying out more in pensions, welfare and healthcare services.
Services output was the main contributor to growth in August 2023, adding 0.4% on the month to offset a fall in production output of 0.7% and a decline in construction output by 0.5%.
This data shows early signs of a cooldown in the labour market and thus, lower inflation further down the economic road.
Bank outlook
The data and outlook for the Bank of England (BoE) suggests that Bank rate increases do not have much upside from here and will most likely remain at current levels, but for a longer period.
The UK economy returning to growth in August 2023 has re-kindled expectations that interest rates will be left unchanged again in Novemeber 2023.
The economy grew marginally by 0.2% in August following a sharp fall in July 2023.
Wholesale U.S. prices rose more than expected in September 2023, according to latest data released indicating that inflation remains a problem for the U.S. economy.
The producer price index(PPI), which measures costs for finished goods that producers pay, increased 0.5% for the month, higher than estimated for a 0.3% rise, the U.S. Labor Department reported Wednesday 11th October 2023.
Excluding food and energy, core PPI was up 0.3%, versus the forecast for 0.2%.
Warren Buffet is one of the most successful investors and business owners in the world, and he has shared many of his insights and wisdom on money and investing.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization that monitors the health of the global economy and provides financial assistance to countries in need.
UK interest rate warning from the IMF
The IMF has warned that the UK faces another five years of high interest rates to stem rising prices, which have been falling but remain stubbornly above target.
The IMF expects the UK to have the highest inflation and slowest growth next year of any G7 economies, which includes the US, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and Japan.
The IMF says the UK’s immediate prospects are being weighed down by the need to keep interest rates high to control inflation, which is partly caused by the terms-of-trade shock from high energy prices, the aftereffects of the global pandemic, Brexit fallout and the Russia/Ukraine war.
Peak at 6%!
The IMF believes Bank of England rates will peak at 6% and stay around 5% until 2028. Rates are currently 5.25%.
Buying the dip means purchasing an asset, usually a stock, when its price has dropped. The expectation is that the drop is a short-term anomaly, and the asset’s price will soon go back up. It is a strategy that some traders and investors use to take advantage of price fluctuations and profit from market rebounds.
However, buying the dip can also be risky, as there is no guarantee that the price will recover or that the asset is not in a long-term downtrend. Therefore, it is important to do your research, use indicators, and have a risk management plan before buying the dip.
Current market situation and general ‘readout’
The S&P 500 is still ‘buy the dip’ for the next six months,’ some analysts suggest.
In some reports, it is expected that the profit cycle will be positive over the next six months and for data to improve before a consumer-spending led downturn leads to a selloff in U.S. stocks! That’s the ‘general’ readout.
Corporate profit expectations are behind much of that forecast for stocks. Analysts expect profit growth to accelerate over the next two quarters and see the S&P 500 in a range of 4,050 to 4,750. A mild recession in early or middle 2024 should lead to a higher risk premium, pushing the S&P 500 back close to 3,800. This is all conjecture.
Other analysts doubt the earnings uplift potential and anticipate stocks to fall back sooner as PE ratios sit at an already high level.
Take your pick
My view, for what it’s worth, is for stocks to climb for the time being through into the New Year and then to face pullback.
Truth is, no one knows. We can all make educated guesses.
Just watch the markets and be ready for the fall – that is coming for sure!
Bitstamp has reportedly disclosed its ongoing discussions with a number of European banks about assisting them in launching cryptocurrency services. These discussions are expected to come to fruition in early 2024.
Bitstamp’s Negotiations with Top European Banks
Bitstamp’s negotiations underscore the growing acceptance of digital assets within the European financial sector.
This news comes at a time when the European Union is actively advancing its regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, known as Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA).
It aims at facilitating the entry of traditional financial institutions into the digital asset space.
Cybersecurity is a very important and relevant topic in today’s world. It refers to the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks that can harm individuals and organizations.
Cyberattacks will all have malicious intent, such as accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information; extorting money from users via ransomware; or interrupting normal business processes.
Cybersecurity aims to prevent or mitigate these attacks by using various technologies, measures, and practices.
There are many types of cybersecurity, depending on the domain or layer of IT infrastructure that needs to be protected.
Critical infrastructure security
This protects the computer systems, applications, networks, data and digital assets that a society depends on for national security, economic health and public safety. For example, the power grid, the water supply, the transportation system, the health care system, etc.
In the United States, there are some guidelines and frameworks for IT providers in this area, such as the NIST cybersecurity framework and the CISA guidance.
Network security
This prevents unauthorized access to network resources and detects and stops cyberattacks and network security breaches in progress. For example, firewalls, antivirus software, encryption, VPNs, etc. Network security also ensures that authorized users have secure access to the network resources they need, when they need them.
Application security
This protects applications from cyberattacks by ensuring that they are designed, developed, tested, and maintained with security in mind. For example, code reviews, vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, secure coding practices, etc. Application security also involves educating users about safe and responsible use of applications.
Cyberattacks will all have malicious intent, such as accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information; extorting money from users via ransomware; or interrupting normal business processes.
There are many more types of cybersecurity, such as cloud security, endpoint security, data security, identity and access management (IAM), etc. Each type of cybersecurity has its own challenges and solutions.
Companies to watch
Cybersecurity companies such as CrowdStrike, Okta, Zscaler and Palo Alto Networks are valuable assets with businesses willing to pay good money to protect against hackers.
Utterly shocking eye watering covid fraud related losses incurred through government incompetence.
The UK covid fraud amount is not a single figure, but rather a sum of various losses due to fraud and error across different government schemes and programmes.
List of government failures and waste
£21bn of public money lost in fraud since COVID pandemic began and most will never be recovered.
£34.5m stolen in pandemic scams by more than 6,000 cases of Covid-related fraud and cyber-crime.
£16bn lost due to fraud and error in Covid loans schemes.
£4.5bn in Covid-19 support lost to error and fraud since 2020.
Breathtaking incompetence
These figures are based on the reports and audits by the National Audit Office, the Action Fraud team, the HMRC, and other sources. However, they may not reflect the full extent of the problem, as some fraud cases may not be reported or detected.
The UK government has taken some measures to tackle fraud and recover the losses, such as creating the Public Sector Fraud Authority, the taxpayer protection taskforce, and the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit.
The incompetence shown by the UK government is utterly breathtaking.
Stocks rallied Friday 6th October 2023 even after the release of stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs data and an increase in Treasury yields.
The U.S. economy added 336,000 jobs in September 2023, the Labour Department said. Economists expected 170,000 jobs.
Confused?
Stocks posted a surprise turnaround on Friday, 6th October 2023 after initially falling on a hotter-than-expected jobs report. At its session low, the Dow had fallen some 270 points, then surged by more than 400 points at in intraday trading. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 also lost ground too only but then quickly recovered the losses.
Unclear
Traders were unclear as to the reason for the intraday reversal. Some noted it could be the softer wage number in the jobs report that made investors rethink their earlier bearish stance. Others noted the pullback in yields from the day’s highs.
Rally
The rally may just be because the market had been extremely oversold with the S&P 500 at one point in the week down more than 8% from its high earlier this year.
Yields initially surged after the report, with the 10-year Treasury rate trading near its highest level in 16 years. The benchmark rate later eased from those levels, but was still up around 6 basis points at 4.78%.
Extreme market movements maybe here for a while yet.
The latest U.S. jobs report for September 2023 was released on Friday, October 6, 2023.
The U.S. economy added 336,000 jobs last month, much more than expected, despite the Federal Reserve’s struggle to cool the world’s largest economy.
The unemployment rate was 3.8%, in line with August 2023. The data lifted hopes that the central bank will manage to guide the U.S. economy to a ‘soft landing’, where a recession is avoided. Bear in mind the Fed were late in dealing with the initial rise in inflation – so this battle has become harder and prolonged.
The job gains were the largest monthly rise since January 2023, and almost twice what economists had anticipated. Government and healthcare added the most jobs. The labour market still appears solid.
However, not all indicators were positive. The ADP’s national employment report showed that private-sector employers added only 89,000 jobs in September, far fewer than expected. Some factors outside the Fed’s control, such as the autoworker strike and the threat of a government shutdown, could yet damage the U.S. economy.
The labour force participation rate also remained low at 63.2%, indicating that many workers have yet to return to the labour market since the Covid19 pandemic of 2020.
The stock market is influenced by many factors, such as economic data, earnings reports, geopolitical events, investor sentiment, and technical indicators.
Some analysts have suggested that the recent sell-off in the market may have created some oversold conditions that could lead to a relief rally or a bounce back in the near future.
Stochastics oscillation
One of the technical indicators that some traders use to identify buy and sell signals is the stochastics oscillator, which measures the momentum of price movements. The stochastics oscillator consists of two lines: the %K line and the %D line.
The %K line shows the current position of the price relative to its high and low range over a certain period of time, usually 14 days. The %D line is a moving average of the %K line, usually a three-day average. When the %K line crosses above the %D line, it is considered a bullish signal, indicating that the price may be reversing from a downtrend to an uptrend.
When the %K line crosses below the %D line, it is considered a bearish signal, indicating that the price may be reversing from an uptrend to a downtrend.
80/20 analysis
The stochastics oscillator also has two levels: 20 and 80. When the %K line falls below 20, it means that the price is oversold, meaning that it has fallen too much and may be due for a rebound. When the %K line rises above 80, it means that the price is overbought, meaning that it has risen too much and may be due for a pullback.
Careful research before buying is paramount to successful trade
The FTSE 100 index, which tracks the performance of 100 large companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, has recently fallen below 20 on the stochastics oscillator, indicating that it may be oversold and ready for a bounce back.
No guarantee
However, this is not a guarantee, as other factors may also affect the market direction. Therefore, it is advisable to use stochastics in conjunction with other tools, such as trend lines, support and resistance levels, moving averages, and other technical indicators.
Additionally, some traders use different settings for the stochastics oscillator, such as changing the time period or the smoothing factor, to suit their own trading style and preferences. Always though, long term investing produces far better results over time as it smooths out the ‘ups and downs’.
In summary, there is no definitive answer to whether the stock market is building up to a major buy signal again right now, as different traders will have different opinions and strategies and views. But one possible way to gauge the market sentiment and momentum is to use the stochastics oscillator, which can provide some clues about potential reversals and opportunities in the market.
Note
This indicator should not be used in isolation, but rather in combination with other tools and analysis – it is just that, a tool. Good well-established companies that have good track records over many many years are a good place to look for long term returns. But even then, do your thorough research first.
So, what next?
The interest-rate/inflation correlation is crucial, because nominal company earnings grow faster when inflation is higher. That does not mean investors should welcome inflation, since higher inflation also means that future years’ earnings must be discounted at a higher rate.
But for many behavioural reasons, investors place greater weight on the negative impact of the greater discount rate than on the higher nominal earnings-growth rate that typically accompanies higher inflation.
Inflation illusion
Economists refer to this investor error as ‘inflation illusion’. Perhaps the seminal study documenting how this error impacts the stock market was conducted by Jay Ritter of the University of Florida and Richard Warr of North Carolina State University. They found that investors systematically undervalue stocks in the presence of high inflation.
Investors will make the same error, in reverse, when inflation and interest rates start to come down. That’s why the foundation of a likely big buy signal is currently being built.
Maybe the buy signal is about to go green for a quick buying opportunity. But be careful, in this environment it can switch again very quickly.
Remember, always do your own research carefully before buying.
The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 7.72% on Tuesday 3rd October 2023, according to latest data
Mortgage rates follow loosely the yield on the 10-year Treasury, which has been climbing this week following strong economic data. Rates have not been this high since the end of 2000.
At the beginning of this year, the 30-year fixed rate dropped mortgage to around 6%, creating a short-lived burst of activity in the spring 2023. But it began rising steadily again over the summer months, causing sales to drop, despite strong demand. The current trend appears to be even higher, with the possibility of rates reaching over 8%.
U.S. mortgage rates, which are close to 8% according to some sources. This is a very high level compared to the recent years, and it may have significant implications for the housing market and the economy.
Main points
Some experts believe that rates could reach 8% later by the end of October, and possibly stay at that level for the remainder of the year. Others, however, think that rates may stabilize or decline slightly if the economic growth slows down or inflation eases.
30 year fixed mortgage rate at 7.72%
The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 7.72% as of Oct. 3, according to Mortgage News Daily. This is the highest rate since 2000.
Rates are rising as more economic indicators point to a strong U.S. economy, which increases the likelihood of the Federal Reserve to hike rates further. The 10-year Treasury yield, which closely tracks the mortgage rates, reached 4.8% on Tuesday, the highest level since August 2007.
Hitting 8% will be like crossing a psychological barrier for many buyers, as it will increase their monthly payments and reduce their affordability. It may also dampen the demand for housing, which has already been affected by low inventory and high prices.
Some buyers are already seeing 8% mortgage rates, especially those who have high loan-to-value ratios, high balance-conforming loans, or non-qualified mortgage loans. These could also be borrowers with lower credit scores or non-prime borrowers.
The University of Exeter is offering a master’s degree in magic and occult science – (what is occult science?). Available from September 2024.
First course of its kind in the UK
The course is said to be one of the first of its kind in the UK and aims to explore the history and impact of witchcraft and magic around the world on society and science.
The course leader, Prof Emily Selove, reportedly said that the course was created following a recent surge in interest in magic and the occult, (worrying) – inside and outside of academia. She also said that the course would allow students to re-examine the assumption that the West is the place of rationalism and science, while the rest of the world is a place of magic and superstition.
Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
The course will be offered in the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies and will involve academics from various disciplines such as history, literature, philosophy, archaeology, sociology, psychology, drama, and religion.
Some of the modules that students can choose from include dragons in western literature and art, the legend of King Arthur, palaeography, Islamic thought, archaeological theory and practice and the depiction of women in the Middle Ages.
Preparing students for a ‘teaching’ career amongst other options
The university said that the course could prepare students for careers in teaching, counselling, mentoring, heritage and museum work, work in libraries, tourism, arts organisations or the publishing industry, among other areas of work.
And you get one of these too…
To be perfectly honest, I really do not know what to think. This is for real!
Bed bugs are small, blood-sucking insects that can infest homes, hotels, public transport, and other places where people sleep or rest. And Paris has its fair share at the moment.
They can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, and psychological distress to their hosts. Bed bugs are not known to transmit any diseases, but they can be hard to irradicate once they establish.
Paris outbreak
According to some news reports, Paris is facing a ‘widespread’ outbreak that has been increasing over the past few years.
Some factors that may contribute to the problem
Lack of awareness and prevention measures among the public and the authorities.
Reduced use of pesticides, such as DDT, that were effective against bed bugs but harmful to the environment and human health.
Increased globalisation, tourism, and immigration, which facilitate the spread of bed bugs through luggage, clothing, and furniture.
Social media amplification of the problem, which may create panic and stigma.
Challenge
The bed bug issue in Paris may pose a challenge for the city’s image and reputation, especially as it prepares to host the 2024 Olympic Games. However, there are some solutions that can help prevent and control bed bug infestations.
Methods to control outbreaks
Washing and drying your clothes and bedding at high temperatures after travelling or suspecting an exposure to bed bugs.
Checking for signs of bed bugs before staying in a hotel or renting an apartment, such as dark spots, blood stains, or live insects on the mattress, sheets, or furniture.
Sealing cracks or crevices where bed bugs may hide or enter your home.
Avoiding bringing second-hand furniture or clothing into your home without inspecting them first.
Calling a professional pest control service if you find bed bugs in your home or workplace.
Not just for Paris – probably coming to a city near you too… and soon.
This will take some time to fix.
Imaginative artwork: Bed bugs are small, blood-sucking insects that can infest homes, hotels, public transport, and other places where people sleep or rest.
Walt Disney was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film producer, he holds the record for most Academy Awards earned and nominations by an individual.
‘You can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it requires people to make the dream a reality.’
Metro Bank shares have plunged by 25% after reports emerged that the bank is urgently seeking to raise millions to bolster its finances.
The bank is in talks with investors about raising £250m in equity financing and £350m in debt, while asset sales are also being considered to strengthen the lender’s balance sheet.
The bank’s shares have already suffered substantial falls in September after regulators refused to approve a request to lower the capital, or cash, requirements attached to its mortgage business.
It has been reported that the Metro Bank share price has dropped by 70% so far this year.
As of now, it’s unclear whether the bank will be able to secure the funding it needs. As much as £600 million has been muted as need in in some reports.
Is this a worrying sign of worse to come, or just a one-off?
Cryptocurrency company Ripple said on Wednesday 4th October 2023 that it has obtained a full licence to operate in Singapore, its Asia-Pacific headquarters since 2017.
‘We have hired exceptional talent and local leadership, doubling headcount over the past year and plan to continue growing our presence in a progressive jurisdiction like Singapore,‘ CEO Brad Garlinghouse said in a statement.
The new development comes less than four months after the Monetary Authority of Singapore granted an ‘initial in-principle’ approval in June 2023. With the full licence, Ripple will continue to provide regulated crypto payment services in Singapore.
Over 90% of Ripple’s business is outside of the U.S., and Singapore – and to a larger degree Asia Pacific – is one of its fastest growing region.
XRP Ripple Crypto digital coin and cross border payment system
The XRP ripple crypto coin is a digital currency that is used to facilitate fast and low-cost cross-border payments on the Ripple network.
The Ripple network is a decentralized system of servers that connects banks, payment providers, digital asset exchanges, and corporates. The XRP coin acts as a bridge currency between different fiat currencies and other digital assets.
The XRP coin has a fixed supply of 100 billion units and is distributed by Ripple Labs, the company behind the Ripple network.
He was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955.
Great statesman
He is considered one of the best-known, and some say one of the greatest statesman of the 20th century. He was also a Nobel Prize winner in literature for his speeches and books.
He is famous for his inspiring quotes, such as ‘Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.‘
The Nikkei 225 index, is a stock market index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
The Nikkei 225 reached its all-time high on 29 December 1989, during the peak of the Japanese asset price bubble, when it reached an intra-day high of 38,957.44, before closing at 38,915.87. This was after a decade-long bull run throughout the 1980s, when the index grew sixfold.
Since then, the index has never surpassed this level, and has experienced several periods of decline and stagnation. As of October 4, 2023, the index closed at 30,526.88, down by 2.28% from the previous day and 8389 points off its all-time high.
Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow) performance on 3rd October 2023.
The Dow fell more than 400 points, turning negative for the year. The main reason for the drop was the surge in U.S. Treasury yields, which reached their highest levels in 16 years.
Higher yields mean higher borrowing costs for businesses and consumers, which could hurt the economic recovery and the housing market.
S&P 500 on 3rd October 2023
Nasdaq on 3rd October 2023
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained a 0.7% on October 3rd, 2023, as some investors saw an opportunity to buy some of the high-growth stocks that had been under pressure recently.
According to recent news and scientific reports, Einstein was right again about how antimatter responds to gravity.
Antimatter is the opposite of ordinary matter, and it is very rare in the natural universe. Scientists have created antimatter in the laboratory and observed its behaviour under controlled conditions.
Antihydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus (ALPHA)
One of the experiments that tested Einstein’s theory of general relativity was the Antihydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus (ALPHA) at CERN in Switzerland.
The researchers used antihydrogen, which is the antimatter counterpart of hydrogen, the lightest element. They showed that antihydrogen falls downward due to gravity, just like ordinary hydrogen.
This confirms that matter and antimatter react to gravity in a similar way, as predicted by Einstein more than a hundred years ago.
The stock market has been experiencing some volatility and uncertainty in September and October 2023, as investors fret about inflation, interest rates, and the possibility of a U.S. recession.
Main facts affecting the current stock market
The month of October has produced some severe stock market crashes over the past century, such as the Bank Panic of 1907, the Wall Street Crash of 1929, and Black Monday 1987.
October has also marked the start of several major long-term stock market rallies, such as Black Monday itself and the 2002 nadir of the Nasdaq-100 after the bursting of the dot-com bubble.
The S&P 500 dropped 4.5% in September 2023 and finished the third quarter in the red.
The U.S. Treasury yield curve has been inverted for months – which is a historically strong recession indicator.
The Fed maintained interest rates at the current target range of between 5.25% and 5.5% in September 2023, but signalled that it may need to raise rates again to combat inflation.
The consumer price index gained 3.7% year-over-year in August 2023, down from peak inflation levels of 9.1% in June 2022 but still well above the Fed’s 2% long-term target.
The bond market is currently pricing in an 81.7% chance the Fed will choose not to raise rates again on 1st November 2023.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down at 33002, Tuesday 3rd October 2023.
Stocks fell as investors pulled money from equities and moved it to the hot bond market.
International markets also faced significant turmoil, sending mini shockwaves through global financial centres, which reverberated in equities.
The dollar rose to the highest since December and is heading towards the twelfth positive week in a row.
Uncertainty
Uncertainty in the U.S. political system is having a major affect too. Especially with the ousting of the speaker and the real fear of a government shutdown looming large.
