Mar 20, 2020

Reading List for March 20-22

Dealing with our new reality—here are articles that you may find helpful.

  • USA Today came up with this article to help kids come to terms with what is going on.
  • The food supply is secure. No need to hoard groceries. While there will be shortages of some products as adjustments are made, like food that was going to restaurants will find its way to grocery channels, if anything, production is gearing up. (NYT)
  • Jean Chatsky has been on NBC news affiliates today with her financial advice for these turbulent times. While I couldn’t yet find that video, here is another related to investment, Easy Branches and here is a list of important resources of all types from her website to help folks dealing with financial issues during this crisis. (HerMoney)
  • It is interesting to see which companies are profiting from the crisis? How about Blue Apron? After a REVERSE stock split, it has seen a huge resurgence. (TechCrunch) 

Taxes

  • If you owe taxes, it is now official: filing and paying deadline has been moved to July 15. (Yahoo Finance)

 

Economics

  • This one won’t make you feel better, but here is an economic outlook incorporating the impacts of the pandemic as of today (Yahoo Finance)
  • Unemployment will rise, and as waves of folks file for their unemployment benefits, systems are taxed and crashing already. (NYT)
  • Goldman Sachs estimates there will be 2.25 million unemployment claims this week. (CNN)
  • Here is what the Federal Reserve Bank decided in its Emergency FOMC meeting Sunday. (Magnify Money)
  • The Fed does more than set target interest rates. Yahoo Finance explains moves to make credit available and keep cash flowing during the crisis.

 

Investing

  • Of Dollars and Data looks at the VIX (Volatility Index) as a signal of when it is a good time to buy stocks.
  • We talk about the average return to the stock market over time. The Evidence Investor demonstrates just how rare it is to have an “average” year.
  • Dow had its worst week since 2008. (CNBC) Here is a graph to summarize the market movements (DJIA) this week. 

Paying for College/Student Loans

  • This could be good for a remote debate/essay assignment: should the government take over student loan payments for a few months (partial forgiveness), or suspend payments without penalty (just tacking on a number of months on the back end of the loan.)? (Inside Higher Ed)
  • A week after student loan borrowers were told the government would waive interest during the crisis, there seems to be much confusion on how it will be implemented. (CNBC)
  • What happens to US colleges and universities if foreign students can no longer attend them. (CNBC)

 

Gen Z and Millennial Money Habits

  • “A new TransUnion study found that 50% of Gen Z has a credit card and prime or above credit scores, surpassing millennials when they were the same age.” (CNBC)
  • The Money Journal this week focused on the financial behaviors of three generations. This first link will get you to all of the articles (WSJ-subscription). Here is one of them that discusses the events that influenced the behavior of the three generations (Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers). (economic indicators)

 

 

 

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