Boomers' Investments Are Now Obsolete

Market Sizzle: Youthful Investments, Retail Struggles, Cautious Hedge Funds, Condo Costs Soar ͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­͏   ­ Forwarded this email? [Subscribe here]() for more [Boomers' Investments Are Now Obsolete]( Market Sizzle: Youthful Investments, Retail Struggles, Cautious Hedge Funds, Condo Costs Soar [Josh Belanger](joshbelanger) Jun 18 joshbelanger   [READ IN APP](   Did you hear? The US is on track to welcome 3,800 new millionaires from overseas in 2024, making it the second biggest recipient after the UAE. Henley & Partners reports that the greatest numbers are leaving the UK and China. Guess the American Dream still has some serious sparkle! Young Wealth Revolution Young investors are ditching old tactics for crypto and collectibles. A Bank of America survey shows 94% of Gen Z and Millennials love collecting watches, rare cars, and sneakers. Only 57% of Baby Boomers feel the same. Younger investors think stocks and bonds can't deliver big returns. They prefer crypto and digital assets, and investing in personal brands. Both young and old see real estate as a top investment. But younger folks favor alternative assets more. Social media is their main source of financial news, unlike older investors who trust traditional outlets. Despite the shift, over half of wealthy young Americans rate the US economy as "very good" or "excellent," double the rate of older generations. Retail Apocalypse Looming US retail sales in May barely rose. They went up just 0.1% after dropping 0.2% the month before. Gas prices fell and furniture stores offered Memorial Day deals. Five out of 13 tracked categories showed declines. Spending is slowing down as inflation stays high and jobs cool. Paul Ashworth from Capital Economics said consumers aren't as immune to higher rates as thought. Despite some price drops, the Fed thinks the economy can handle steady interest rates. Treasury yields fell as the report hinted at economic softening. "Control-group" sales, which impact GDP, rose 0.4% in May but had dropped 0.5% before. Economists see slower GDP growth. Restaurant and bar spending fell 0.4%, showing tighter budgets. Industrial production rose in May, but manufacturing still faces challenges like high costs and inconsistent demand. Hedge Funds Flee S&P 500 Wall Street strategists are optimistic about the S&P 500, but hedge funds are wary. Hedge funds lowered their exposure to the market, showing caution. They sold US equities last week, especially index funds and ETFs. However, they bought single stocks for the first time in six weeks. Goldman Sachs noted this selective buying trend. The S&P 500 rose 14% in the first half of 2024, nearing an all-time high. Some strategists raised their year-end targets for the S&P. Yet, hedge funds are skeptical due to the Fed's reluctance to cut rates and soft economic data. Big tech stocks are driving gains, while other stocks lag. This narrow market breadth worries experts, increasing market fragility. Condo Insurance Crisis Condo associations are facing huge insurance hikes. Some saw premiums rise over 300%, driven by natural disasters and higher rebuild costs. In California, wildfire risks make insurers cautious. One community saw a fourfold increase to over $170,000. Coverage includes $70.9 million but only $2 million for wildfire damage. Rising insurance costs are forcing higher condo fees. Dues rose 20% between 2022 and 2024. Homeowners' dues can reach $474 a month. This makes selling harder and homeownership more costly. Nationwide, 91% of communities reported higher premiums. Many condo owners plan to sell due to high fees. Aging buildings and maintenance issues add to the problem. Some communities had to raise dues or get special assessments to cover insurance. Rising costs are pushing owners to sell their units. Quick Sizzles: - Apple’s Battery Boost: TDK’s new batteries promise 100x more power for Apple gadgets, making devices last longer. - Record Trade with China: Australia’s trade with China hits a record A$219bn, boosting the economy despite past tensions. - AI Warning: IMF says AI could widen job inequality and urges governments to protect workers. - Biden’s Oil Plan: Biden ready to use oil reserves to lower gas prices and fight inflation before the election. That's a wrap for today's Market Sizzle! You're currently a free subscriber to [Josh Belanger](. For the full experience, [upgrade your subscription.]( [Upgrade to paid](   [Like]( [Comment]( [Restack](   © 2024 Josh Belanger 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104 [Unsubscribe]() [Get the app]( writing]()