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Companies are having their best earnings season in nearly 2 years

Net profit margins are pacing for 11.7% growth in the first quarter, above the five-year average of 11.5% growth and higher than the same period a year ago, per FactSet.

Largely, this has been driven by cost-cutting, not rising revenues. In 2023, investors cheered Big Tech's cost-cutting efforts that led to significant earnings growth. In 2024, companies outside the tech sector have tapped a similar playbook, setting up the rest of the index for earnings growth through the rest of the year.

Companies are having their best earnings season in nearly 2 yearshttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/companies-are-having-their-best-earnings-season-in-nearly-2-years-170339652.htmlOpen linkView original on lemm.ee

Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting

Buffett, along with Berkshire vice chairs Greg Abel and Ajit Jain, took several hours of questions from shareholders.

As for the company's growing pile of cash and Treasury holdings, Buffett said it is likely the value of these holdings will exceed $200 billion during the current quarter, noting he's "quite satisfied" with the position.

Buffett has recommended most investors put most of their money in index funds that track the broader market. And that includes family.

Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meetinghttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/berkshire-hathaway-annual-shareholders-meeting-warren-buffett-talks-apple-ai-paramount-and-more-201145199.htmlOpen linkView original on lemm.ee

Fed meeting recap: Powell pretty much rules out a hike as the central bank’s next move

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said it was unlikely that the central bank’s next move will be a rate hike. The comment spurred a rally for the three major averages, with the Dow surging more than 500 points in its session high. Central bank policymakers kept rates steady at the conclusion of their May meeting, holding at a range of 5.25% to 5.5%.

Fed meeting recap: Powell pretty much rules out a hike as the central bank’s next movehttps://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/01/fed-meeting-today-live-updates-on-may-fed-rate-decision.htmlOpen linkView original on lemm.ee

Fed to Signal Delay of Interest-Rate Cuts

The Federal Open Market Committee will hold the target range for its benchmark rate at 5.25% to 5.5% — a two-decade high first reached in July — at the conclusion of its two-day policy meeting Wednesday. The rate decision, and possibly an announcement on the pace of its balance-sheet reduction program, will be released at 2 p.m. in Washington. Chair Jerome Powell will hold a press conference 30 minutes later.

Policymakers are reluctant to begin lowering borrowing costs until they’re certain inflation is closing in on 2%, the rate they see as appropriate for a healthy economy. While they had penciled in three 2024 rate cuts as recently as March, Powell is likely to indicate those plans are on hold and will depend on an improvement in inflation.

Fed to Signal Delay of Interest-Rate Cutshttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/fed-signal-delay-interest-rate-230000896.htmlOpen linkView original on lemm.ee

Treasury ETFs: What They Are and How They Work

You can benefit from high interest rates by investing in Treasury Bills using these ETFs. Shorter term Treasuries, like those in this one (https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/BIL), are around 5% now.

This is not financial advice. It is an opinion, on social media. Don't rely on it to be correct or applicable to your own situation. Please inform yourself and base your financial decisions on your own opinions.

Treasury ETFs: What They Are and How They Workhttps://www.investopedia.com/treasury-exchange-traded-funds-8536147Open linkView original on lemm.ee
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