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Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong have major bones to pick with the release of the delayed CPE report and those that claimed today would be make of break for markets. Is 2% inflation still the right level to have? What will Netflix do with Warner Bros. movie studio and how do they handle HBO? Studios are already pushing back on Netflix's purchase of Warner Brothers. What you need to know when doing your portfolio year-end review.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss Meta changing course and now targeting areas dominated by Apple. Do we have another ridiculous name for the current state of the economy? Americans' affordability crisis isn't tariffs' fault — it's something much, much deeper. Should Walmart really be trading like a tech company? Paul LaMonica (Barron's) joins the show to chat about Waste Management.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss markets viewing weak jobs data as good news and why that's a problem. The stock market rode AI to record highs. What could knock it down? Marc Benioff makes interesting claims about how Salesforce is using AI. Bond investors warned US Treasury over picking Kevin Hassett as Fed Chair.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong explain why Friday is not a make or break day for the stock market. Ted Rossman (Bankrate) joins the show to share the results of a recent holiday tipping survey. Three year-end strategies that can cut your 2025 tax bill. Rising holiday scams to be aware of. Weight loss drugs for cats?
Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss the divided Fed can't agree the future of rate cuts. Why Kevin Hassett is winning the Fed Chair race before it has ended. Here's why everyone's talking about a ‘K-shaped' economy. Bitcoin rout picks up steam as investors fret over a new ‘Crypto Winter'. World economy surprisingly resilient to tariffs, OECD says. Costco files suit against Trump admin over tariffs.
Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti break down how diversified the S&P 500 really is. OpenAI declares ‘Code Red' as Google threatens AI lead. Washington must break its promise on Social Security. How sticky is US inflation? The end of the slop bowl era.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss American consumers losing patience with high car prices. Private credit 'hysteria' will get very real next year. People are ordering smaller pizzas with fewer toppings. Does this mean anything? Americans brace for a surge in healthcare costs. Do we need to Uberize the power grid for AI?
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss what to expect in markets this week. Why Wall Street says December may not deliver a Santa Claus rally. Shoppers, drawn by steep discounts, power through Black Friday. Gen Z shoppers aren't spending like retailers need them to. Fed's beige book shows K-Shaped split deepens among consumers. Trump says he has made his choice to lead the Fed.
Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane discuss retail sales finally land but uncovers some red flags. Don't trust American consumers when they say they are going to reign in spending. Powell's allies provide opening for December rate cut. Why Google's soaring stock is defying fears of an AI bubble. Poll finds Massachusetts voters are eager for a change in rent control.
Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane share the dumb story of the day...how the S&P 500 could hit 8,000 in 2026. Home sellers who set prices too high and paying the price. Cash can feel safe, but it doesn't grow your wealth, portfolio strategist says. Are you excited to buy a car on Amazon? Turkeys might be cheaper this Thanksgiving, but everything thing else on the table is more expensive.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the AI bubble causing an 'everything bubble'. Blue Owl is the sum of all investors fears. Is the real poverty line $140,000? How spouses retiring at different times can avoid money clashes. Trump claims California's $20 fast food minimum wage hurts businesses. Is that true? An AI toy bear speaks of sex, knives, and pills, a consumer group says.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the wild week of harsh volatility tests support levels across stocks. The AI boom is driving the economy. What happens if it falters? The Fed is fixated on AI, but not ready to make a Greenspan-size bet. US inflation traders to use untested fallbacks for missing CPI. Americans are on a year-end shopping spree. What do CEOs really think about tariffs?
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong dissect the wildest trading day since the tariff shock and how it is testing dip buyers nerves. Did Google just position itself at the head of the AI table? Big tech's debt binge raises risk in race to create an AI world. The AI boom has found another gear. Why can't people shake their worries? Amazon cuts thousands of engineers in its record layoffs. Is a global housing bubble about to burst?
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss global brokerages split on Fed's December rate decision. Treasury yields slide after Fed's Williams suggests Fed could cut again in December. Do comparisons to the dot com bubble hold any water? Bitcoin heads for its worst week since the crypto collapse of 2022. Paul LaMonica (Barron's) joins the show to chat about Deere and its wild ride this year.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the delayed September jobs report that beat expectations. After the shutdown, the Labor Dept. says some data is gone for good. Would the Fed push back its meeting by a week to possibly fit in a rate cut. Nvidia's strong results show AI fears are premature. Walmart reports strong sales growth and raises outlook. What are the best grocery stores in New England?
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the strongest buyer's housing market in over a decade. The American middle class is shrinking. Is that such a bad thing? Blue Owl money machine sputters in face of private credit cracks. Buffett's Alphabet blessing puts valuation paradox in focus. Teens seek mental-health help from Chatbots. Yikes!
Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss the market rout intensifying, sweeping up everything from tech to crypto to gold. Other than sentiment, what is driving the market sell off? Home Depot cuts outlook as home improvements slow down. Fed's Waller calls for December rate cut to bolster labor market. Americans could see a big sticker shock for turkeys this Thanksgiving.
Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss private credit's exposed cracks in the foundation. Blue Owl plunges to 2023 low after blocking exit from fund. US probes firms that borrowed $400M from private credit giant HPS. What happens when housing supply is driven by markets and not Main Street. Cheaper coffee and tomatoes won't fix the inflation problem. AI is making us rich and unhappy.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss what to expect in markets this week. Nvidia helped spark the AI rally. Its earnings could revive it. Those wishing for a drawn out bear market have forgotten how much pain comes with a bear market. Blue Owl private credit fund merger leaves some investors facing a 20% hit. You can't eliminate volatility, you can only transfer it.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong wonder if we will get the usual Santa Claus rally this year. The White House hunts for ways to lower the cost of living...they can't. Sarah Foster (Bankrate) joins the show to chat about the tale of two job markets. Disney and YouTube TV reach a deal, ending the 15-day standoff. Tim Cook could step down as Apple CEO next year. Forgotten 401(k) accounts are costing Americans billions. Layoff tactics keep changing, and the blunders keep coming.
Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane discuss investors dumping tech shares as shutdown relief evaporates. What is going to shift sentiment back in the positive direction? Are we headed for a repeat of the dot com era? Markets no longer view the December rate cut as a sure bet, with Fed officials casting doubts. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon to retire in January after nearly 12 years leading retailer. U.S. to cut tariffs on bananas, coffee and other goods from four countries. Nearly 900,000 new homeowners are underwater on their mortgages, signaling a troubling shift in the housing market. Amazon and Microsoft back effort that would restrict Nvidia's exports to China.
Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane explain what the 'K' shaped economy is, and why it is a problem. What does our Michael Burry obsession say about us? Fewer burritos, more bargains: Consumers flash holiday warning signs. Here are the new 401(k) and IRA contribution limits for 2026. Here's how Robinhood will deliver bags of cash to your doorstep safely. Paul LaMonica (Barron's) joins the show to chat about Circle and crypto's recent wild ride.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss Disney saying film studio expenses weigh on current quarter. Streaming prices are soaring, and consumers are still paying. The Nasdaq whale's Nvidia sale smells desperate. Sundar Pichai is Google's AI wartime CEO after all. Toyota doubles down on hybrids in the US. Michael Burry shuts down Scion.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss Trump signing the spending bill and ending the government shutdown. Is another shutdown on the horizon? There is no inflation data to report today. What are experts saying about inflation right now? The IRS announces 2026 401(k) contributions and savings cap. Boston Fed President advocates holding rates steady. There is a new phone scam targeting utility bills.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss AI valuation fears grip global investors as tech bubble concerns grow. Jim Blake, Regional Manager for Eastern Propane, joins the show to share his experience in the military, how he got involved with the DAV, and how Eastern Propane gives back to those that served. Flight-cancellation plans prompt scramble across travel industry. Bob Barlow, President and Owner of MBA Mortgage, joins the show to share his story of joining the military, getting involved with the DAV, and what MBA Mortgage does to help serve those who served. Mark Voner and Dan Stack stop by to explain how the DAV has changed their lives of those who have served this country, why Mark feels so deeply connected to the DAV, and how Mark made it his mission to save the DAV when it needed it most.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss what one bleak data point tells us about the labor market. Isaiah Moskowitz, Host Great American Heroes Podcast, stops by to share his experiences working with the DAV, why he feels so compelled supporting veterans, and why he started the Great American Heroes Podcast. Opendoor is an ‘AI company,' new CEO says. Garrett Barton, Circle K Franchise Business Consultant, joins the show to chat about his time in the Navy, how his injury led him to the DAV, and why Circle K has decided to donate to and partner with the DAV. Ford is considering scrapping the 150-EV.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong explain why you don't want tax payers backstopping the AI industry. UBS to liquidate funds with substantial exposure to First Brands. 'Jenga Tower' US economy teeters as middle class pulls back spending. Job cuts in October hit highest level for the month in 22 years. Paul LaMonica (Barron's) joins the show to chat about Robinhood.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss Jensen Huang's comments about China winning the AI race and why Chuck thinks that comment might have to pierced the AI bubble. Is China really going to win the AI race? US to reduce flight traffic by 10% at 40 airports due to the ongoing shutdown. Supreme Court's skepticism on Trump tariffs means uncertainty reigns. Builders are offering mortgage-rate discounts. Home buyers aren't biting.
Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss Michael Burry's short positions on Palantir and Nvidia. Wall Street CEOs flag high market valuations and pullback risks. Wall Street intensifies scrutiny of fraud after spate of loan losses. Have fraud cases highlighted systemic risks? Dan Griggs, OceanFirst Bank President, joins the show to share what he views is the biggest threat to the economy.
Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss how frequently 10% market pullback occurs. Third quarter earnings are indicating a divided economy. Federal Reserve signals December rate cut are not a foregone conclusion. Slump in cardboard sales is stoking fears of lackluster holiday shopping. Yum Brands will review strategic options for Pizza Hut, opening the door for a sale. First Brands' new management accuses founder Patrick James of fraud.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss this week's biggest economic events. Has the S&P 500 become to heavily weighted to the Magnificent Seven? Is the recent wave of layoffs a warning sign for the job market? USVI Gov Albert Bryan Jr joins the show to chat about how the islands are avoiding the wrath of tariffs. How the US economy defied doomsday predictions on tariffs.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss scarce chips are just the tip of big auto's disruption. Amazon agrees to massive deal with OpenAI. Is OpenAI becoming too big to fail? Risky loans from housing bust era is making a comeback. Are tariffs going to hammer shoppers this holiday season? Why the future of coffee doesn't belong to Starbucks.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss another big money fraud case coming out of the private credit world. Too much experience is hurting job candidates now? Todd Lutsky explains the benefits of gifting assets as a part of your estate plan. Cities across America are putting robots to work. Paul LaMonica (Barron's) joins the show to chat about Rithm Capital.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss Amazon shares jump on news of strong cloud sales. How long can the economy rely on AI-led investments to keep driving the economy? Apple expects a big December. Should we be more skeptical about AI's power needs? Why are more home sales falling through?
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the job market possibly being at a tipping point. Michael Santoli (CNBC) joins the show to chat about big tech earnings and Fed's rate cut decision. It's sample-sale season. Cue the professional line standers. Chipotle stock plunges as chain lowers sales forecast. How the potato became a coveted prize for trick-or-treaters.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss Trump's meeting with Xi and the declaration of immediate cuts to tariffs. Fed divisions reveal new caution over continued cuts. Google revenue soars to record as AI boom lifts cloud business. Big tech test investors' patience with $80B AI investment spree. Is a $100,000 salary enough to raise a family in Massachusetts?
Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane discuss the ongoing issues in the private-credit sector. Martha Gimbel (Yale Budget Lab - Executive Director) joins the show to chat about AI's impact on the labor market. PayPal reaches deal to put digital wallet into OpenAI's ChatGPT. This is how the AI stock boom plays out. Google and NextEra to revive major Iowa nuclear facility.
Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane discuss the good vibes being back on Wall Street. $100B stock swings expose 'fragility' beneath Wall Street rally. Amazon lays off 14,000 corporate workers. The Fed's $6.6T test. Americans face a retirement confidence paradox. UPS jumps after sweeping job cuts push profit above estimates.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss this week's massive earnings reports. Milei wins mandate for free-market revolution in Argentina's election. Latest US-China truce leaves fundamental issues unresolved. Why the Fed may lower rates slower than expected this year. More big companies bet they can still grow without hiring. Bill would limit number of self-checkout kiosks at Massachusetts grocery stores.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss AI spending boosting the economy but their are many companies are still in survival mode. Austin's housing bust is just what America needs. Ray Dalio says America is developing a 'dependency' on the top 1%. There's a reason electricty prices are rising. And it's not data centers.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the long delayed CPI report that showed inflation coming in lower than expected. Mike is tired of reading stories about companies shielding buyers from tariffs. Decent earnings satisfies investors starved for data. Why is Trump terminating trade talks with Canada? What's at stake as US and China trade negotiators meet ahead of Trump-Xi summit? Ford profit doubles. Target slashes corporate workforce.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss inflation expectations needing to come down. Has Argentina really learned their lesson? We'll find out soon. Beef! It's what might be no more dinner as prices rise rapidly. Intel surges after first earnings report post government investment. Paul LaMonica (Barron's) joins the show to chat about Microsoft's upcoming earnings.
Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss the sudden jump in oil prices on Trump's Russia sanctions. Tesla profit plunges as Musk turns focus to robot army. Argentina's make-or-break moment. The US struggles to break out from China's grip on rare earths.
Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss hotter CPI unlikely to deter rate cuts and the S&P 500 rally. Mark Hamrick (Bankrate) joins the show to chat about Social Security concerns. Fed lost access to private jobs data ahead of government shutdown. The maximun you can borrow from your 401(k) hasn't changed in 40 years. Should that change now?
Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss GM raising their outlook as strong truck demand dulls tariff pain. The day Amazon broke the internet for millions of Americans. US banks are hunting for collateral to back $20B Argentina bailout. If the economy is good, why do some Americans feel like everything is falling apart? Gold slumps most in four years as record-breaking rally cools.
Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti explain why you shouldn't trust a publication that has the answers to protecting your portfolio. Apple stock hits new record on report of strong iPhone sales. Understand required minimum distributions. Andrew Ross Sorkin (CNBC, NYTimes, and author of 1929) joins the show to chat about today's economic conditions vs those in the 1920s.
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the warning signs lurking beneath this record market. Where does this market stack up to the late 90's and late 2010's? AWS outage impacts hundreds of companies. Trump's demands for resumed trade talks with China. What is the killer combo slamming the auto industry?
Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss what US inflation data could show when it is finally released. Annemarie Conte (Wirecutter) joins the show to chat about navigating around tariffs for your holiday shopping. Companies are blaming AI for job cuts. Critics say it's a ‘good excuse'. When do Roth conversions make sense for older people? Restaurants are pitching water on fine dining menus. The best and worst months to buy a house — the difference could save you $23,000.
Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane discuss explain why people shouldn't bo overly surprised that markets have so far defied inflation and tariffs. Banks' strong earnings leave investors digging deeper for trouble spots. Small businesses are being crushed by Trump's tariffs and economists say it's a warning for the economy. Honda wants you to teach its new robot lawnmower. Paul LaMonica (Barron's) joins the show to chat about PayPal getting $300T worth of bad news from Paxos.