Stocks stumbled into the weekend, with the Nasdaq selling off for 1.5% on Friday. The S&P 500 lost 1.2%, and the Dow outperformed with only a 0.8% loss. The small-cap Russell 2K matched the Nasdaq's 1.2% sell-off. Today, futures are in the red again. S&P 500 contracts are down by a half-point in early premarket trading. This 40-cent Stock Could be a Huge Winner Uranium just blew past decade highs, and it's going higher still. Small-cap stock in this sector could be headed for the stratosphere. The bulls are lining up for the windfall of a lifetime. The last time we saw something like this, uranium prices roared all the way to $140. First movers could see 10X, 20X and even 30X gains. Get all the Details on this Promising Stock Here 📈 10-Year Treasury Yield Tops 5%The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield has soared above 5%, a level not seen since July 2007. What's behind the move? The Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hikes to tackle inflation, and a ballooning U.S. government debt. Zooming In: Yields and bond prices are like a seesaw; when one goes up, the other goes down. This yield sets the stage for everything from mortgage to student loan rates. If it holds, we're looking at a major financial milestone. The Bottom Line: Yields crashed to a low of 0.5% at the height of the pandemic and have been climbing ever since, thanks to Fed actions and increased U.S. borrowing. If it closes the day above 5%, it could signal a turning point for borrowing costs across the board. What's Next? Keep a close watch on those yields, especially if you have loans or are planning on borrowing. A sustained yield above 5% could have ripple effects throughout the economy. Renting Looks Like a Bargain in this MarketIf you thought stepping onto the property ladder was tough, the numbers are here to prove it. Buying a home today? Your monthly mortgage payment could be 52% higher than average apartment rent. If you're keeping track, that's the most extreme this figure has been since 1996. Why It Matters Buy or rent, that's the eternal question. Turns out, neither is a walk in the park right now. The cost gap between these options is only widening. A 30-year mortgage on a $430,000 home with a 10% down payment now requires about $3,200 in monthly payments. That's 60% more than what you'd have paid just three years ago. On the flip side, rents have also shot up by 22% in the same time frame. What's Driving This? Blame it on rising debt costs and a pandemic-induced housing boom. Interest rates on a 30-year mortgage have hit 8%, and high demand for domestic space is pushing home prices through the roof. Most homeowners are sitting tight with mortgage rates locked in at under 5%, making it tough for first-time buyers to find available properties. Final Thoughts While rising home prices might give current owners a reason to smile, they're a thorn in the side for first-time buyers and renters alike. If you're in the market for a new home, brace yourself for a wild ride. |