Economic and Investment News Bits
- A recent study by Goldman Sachs suggests that millenials (the generation born between 1980 and 2000) are different from boomers in four ways. First, they tend to be renters, not buyers. This is true for homes, cars, vacation homes, and music listening. Second, they have a different definition of health, which they define as a daily, active pursuit. They are exercising more, eating smarter and smoking less than previous generations. Third, they tend to have a lot of college debt, but much lower income than they expected. And fourth, millenials are digital natives, which affects how they refer others to buy, or avoid, products and services.
- Referring to the expected Fed increase in short-term rates, Empirical Research suggests we are in the digestion phase, where the market treads water until there are tangible results from the expected increase. “The uptrend in equities remains well intact, with stocks still cheap relative to bonds.”
- “China’s growth is at a 25-year low, though in fairness, it should be noted that its economy has gotten so big even growth at 7% or a bit less should still be considered more of a stimulant than a deterrent for the global economy,” (Source: Federated Investors).
- Mexico and Indonesia will displace Russia and Italy among the top ten economies over the next 10-15 years, with China, the U.S. and India taking the top three slots, according to forecasts by the Economist Intelligence Unit. China will also overtake the U.S. as early as 2026 in GDP in dollar terms. China and India will each be richer than the next five nations combined – Indonesia, Germany, Japan, Brazil, and the U.K.
- The most recent study by Alumni Factor in ranking college based on alumni success has Washington & Lee at the top, followed by Yale, Princeton, Rice, Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Middlebury, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and Stanford.
- The top ten NHL hockey arenas, as ranked by fans, are those for Minnesota, Detroit, Montreal, New York Rangers, Chicago, Columbus, Boston, Toronto, Calgary, and Boston.
Thought for the week
“Man cannot live by bread alone; he must have peanut butter.”
James Garfield, American president (1831-1881)
A Little Perspective
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent census says that Ohio continues to grow agriculturally. The Buckeye state is a large contributor of corn, soybeans, winter wheat, milk, hogs, poultry, floriculture, and nursery. The latter two may come as a surprise to many. Ohio ranks 6th nationally in floriculture, and 7th in nursery sales. In total number of farms, Ohio ranks 7th. On the demographics side, the average age of Ohio farmers is 56.8 years, below the national average. 7% of farms are operated by persons under the age of 35, and women are the principal operators on more than 11% of Ohio farms.
Chart of the Week (CLICK TO ENLARGE)
Greece’s down-to-the-wire talks with creditors once again has investors asking which is worse for the euro, a Greek exit, or a deal that keeps Greece in the euro but involves big concessions by creditors. In fact, the euro’s biggest drop of the week came on Tuesday, when prospects of a deal appeared brightest. It seems betting money from other euro countries favors a Greek exit, as a kind of “don’t let the door hit your behind as you exit” attitude.
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