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☆ Why the hottest commodity of 2024 could be in for a rude awakening
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Cocoa prices rose to a red-hot sizzle this Valentine's Day — but they could soon be due for a reckoning, according to Citi. Cocoa futures finished 25.5% higher in February, cinching their biggest monthly gain since November 2001, when they rose 31.66%. Cocoa supply might increase on one side of the equation, but Doshi cautioned that demand might also be weighed down by consumption risks. Even against this backdrop, Doshi highlighted that it might take some time before cocoa prices completely retreat off their record highs. "Our base case remains that cocoa terminal prices will enter a bear market by end-2024, off a historically rich nominal price area."

Persons: Aakash, Doshi, haven't, Chocolate, Hershey, — CNBC's Michael Bloom, Gina Francolla Organizations: Citi, Wall Street, Nestle Locations: …

☆ Bitcoin tries for a winning week as investor worries about GBTC sell pressure subside
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bitcoin pushed higher to end the week as investors took some comfort in the idea that outflows from the Grayscale Bitcoin ETF (GBTC) could be starting to taper off. It's on pace, however, to post a nearly 10% decline for the week. If premarket gains hold, Coinbase is is on pace to end the week up 1% for the week. It would mark for its first positive week in five. Bitcoin miner Riot Platforms is set to rise 9% this week and also post its first positive week in five.

Persons: Bitcoin, It's, John Todaro, Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, — CNBC's Gina Francolla Organizations: Metrics, JPMorgan, U.S, CNBC PRO Locations: GBTC

☆ Wharton's Jeremy Siegel says the U.S. economy is 'cooking'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Even as higher bond yields rattle equity markets, the U.S. economy remains strong overall, said economist and Wharton professor Jeremy Siegel. "I think this economy is cooking," Siegel told CNBC's " Squawk on the Street " on Monday. "I know economic surprises, some of them have been negative but on the whole, we have a strong economy." Siegel added that higher bond yields have been pressuring the equity market, and investors now view them differently in an inflationary environment. He also pointed out that the latest jobless claims data, which showed initial claims of 204,000 for the week ending Sept. 23, still suggests strength in the economy.

Persons: Jeremy Siegel, Siegel, CNBC's, Freddie Mac, That's, — CNBC's Gina Francolla Organizations: Treasury, Federal Reserve Locations: U.S

☆ The U.S. dollar just formed a 'golden cross,' which could cause trouble for the rest of the globe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. dollar crossed another key milestone after the Federal Reserve reiterated its commitment to higher rates, and that could create pressure elsewhere in the global economy. The dollar index hit its highest level since March 9 on Thursday, pushing its 50-day moving average above its 200-day counterpart. That milestone for the moving averages is known as a "golden cross," which typically leads to the dollar climbing further in the coming months, according to Bank of America. The latest leg higher for the dollar appears to be related to the Federal Reserve. A stronger dollar could be bad news for the global economy, where some countries have been struggling relative to the U.S. already.

Persons: Paul Ciana, Ciana, — CNBC's Gina Francolla Organizations: U.S, Federal Reserve, Bank of America Locations: U.S

☆ JPMorgan says interest in solar energy for homes remains high so buy these stocks for the long term
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

There could be better-than-expected uptake in residential solar energy — and that can mean good news for some stocks in the space, according to JPMorgan. "We believe the survey results signal that homeowner interest for adding residential solar systems is stronger than currently low investor sentiment and recent under performance of residential solar stocks indicates," he said. Long-term investors can find value in high-quality residential solar as the market gains favor over time, he said. He pointed to Sunrun , Sunnova , Enphase and Solaredge as good picks in the area. Ultimately, the survey showed that homeowners interested in solar will likely install it, but it may not be a near-term decision.

Persons: Mark Strouse, That's, Strouse, — CNBC's Gina Francolla, Michael Bloom Organizations: JPMorgan, Analysts, Technologies, Shoals Technologies

Aluminum ended July on a high note and there are several stocks that could benefit from the recent strength in the metal and prove opportunities for investors. Aluminum futures capped July with a 2.72% monthly gain, the most since January and their second-straight monthly advance. CNBC Pro found 11 stocks using data from Refinitiv that tend to move with aluminum prices. Each one is a member of the Russell 1000 and has a 50-day correlation coefficient of at least 0.4, which indicates at least a moderate correlation. Further down the list are stocks with more moderate correlations to aluminum: chipmaker Texas Instruments , Domino's Pizza , Align Technology and Korean e-commerce retailer Coupang .

Persons: Bill Peterson, Russell, It's, — CNBC's Michael Bloom, Gina Francolla Organizations: JPMorgan, CNBC Pro, Southern Copper Corporation, Air Products, Chemicals, Jefferies, Texas, Technology, Coupang, New York Stock Exchange, Intercontinental Exchange, Cboe, KKR Locations: China, Freeport, McMoRan, Korean

☆ Bitcoin is in the depths of the summer doldrums despite a wave of positive regulatory developments. Here's what to expect in August.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In the latest week, bitcoin closed lower by 1.9%. Coin Metrics measures a week in crypto, which trades 24 hours a day, from the 4:00 p.m. "August is a quiet month for traditional market investors and crypto is no different," said Greg Cipolaro, global head of research at NYDIG, the crypto subsidiary of Stone Ridge Asset Management. "Historically, mean returns have waned as we go into the summer months and that may play out again in August." But even with the latest downdraft, bitcoin is still up about 77% for the year, and investors are upbeat.

Persons: it's, Greg Cipolaro, Ric Edelman, Edelman, Bitcoin, —, Gina Francolla Organizations: bitcoin, Management, Digital Assets, Financial Professionals, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Binance, Innovation, Technology, Century, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Nasdaq Locations: NYDIG, Stone, Congress, BlackRock

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Markets care more about expectations than numbers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThis report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Prior to the start of the second-quarter earnings season, investor relations departments and analysts massaged expectations downwards. More than three quarters of S&P companies that have reported results have exceeded expectations, according to FactSet data. "Right now, short-term optimism is higher than we've seen since December 2021, right before the start of the 2022 bear market."

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Michael Nagle, Goldman, Darla Mercado, Gina Francolla, Tom De Luca, De Luca, we've Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, CNBC, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Vanguard Locations: New York

The S & P 500 is up nearly 14% year to date, putting it on track for its best first-half performance since 2021. In fact, three of the best-performing S & P 500 stocks in the first half rode the wave more than most: Nvidia , Meta Platforms and Tesla . All three stocks have at least doubled year to date, with Nvidia leading the way. The chipmaker is up more than 180% in 2023, while Meta and Tesla are up 137% and 107%, respectively. Nvidia has quickly become an AI darling on Wall Street, with many analysts calling it the best way to gain exposure to the burgeoning trend due to its chips.

Persons: it's, Tesla, Goldman Sachs, Toshiya Hari, Mark Zuckerberg, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Federal Reserve, Nvidia, Meta, Street Journal Locations: U.S, China, NVDA

☆ These are analysts' favorite S&P 500 stocks heading into the second half
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

It's been a stellar first half for the S & P 500 , and some stocks in the index may be poised for rallies in the back end of the year. The S & P 500 ended Tuesday's session at 4,378.41. The stocks are all S & P 500 members and have buy ratings from at least 65% of analysts. .SPX YTD mountain The S & P 500, year to date Targa Resources is the most-liked stock on the list, with just under 90% of analysts holding buy ratings. It's the only stock on this list with a positive year-to-date performance, though it has still notably underperformed the broad S & P 500 .

Persons: It's, Wells, Timothy Daley, Daley, Ron DeSantis, — CNBC's Michael Bloom, Fred Imbert, Gina Francolla Organizations: CNBC, CNBC Pro, Rad Laboratories, Rad, Resources, Florida Gov, Disney

The Nasdaq Composite has been on a tear this year and is poised to have its best first half in four decades. If it holds above a 27.31% gain before the week's end, it will be the best first half since 1983, when the Nasdaq added 37.13%. Here are the Nasdaq names that brought in the largest gains so far this year, all with market caps above $500 million. The stock has an average rating of buy, but 6% downside to the average analyst price target, according to FactSet. Applied Digital also has an average rating of buy, but there's about 44% upside to the average analyst price target, per FactSet.

Persons: ImmunoGen Organizations: Nasdaq, Tech, Federal Reserve, StreetAccount

More stocks left behind in the recent rally are starting to catch up to their peers. The S & P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite have reached their highest levels since April 2022, but that rally has mainly benefited tech stocks. Now, however, more stocks are starting to participate in the rally, including names that took a huge beating last year after the rise in interest rates dented their prospects. The online used car retailer skyrocketed 81% in June through Wednesday, and is higher by almost 400% this year. However, that's changing, with Peloton jumping 11% this year, though the stock remains 45% off its 52-week highs.

Persons: Tesla, Carvana, Russell, Wayfair, Ygal Arounian, Arounian, gymgoers, WeWork Organizations: Nasdaq, Microsoft, Apple, CNBC, Citi, Match, Nordstrom

☆ Bitcoin falls ahead of debt ceiling vote, heads for its first losing month of the year
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Bitcoin is track to post a 8% loss, which would be its worst month since November 2022. If it ends the day in the red, that will make May its worst month since December 2022. Bitcoin fell on Wednesday and was on track to post a down month as optimism around the debt ceiling rally fizzled. Crypto moved in line with the major stock averages, which were all lower as investors awaited the House vote on the tentative deal to raise the nation's debt ceiling and avoid a default on Wednesday. Crypto prices initially climbed over the weekend after House Republicans reached a tentative deal with the White House to address the debt ceiling.

Persons: Bitcoin, Crypto, Noelle Acheson, — CNBC's Gina Francolla Organizations: Metrics, House Republicans, White

☆ Bitcoin jumps 8% as First Republic pulls banking sector concerns back into focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Cryptocurrencies jumped on Wednesday as investor concerns about the U.S. banking sector began to swell again, with First Republic Bank fighting to avoid another collapse. "Crypto rallies during banking crises, and it looks like the banking crisis may not be over," Hougan said. "As First Republic is now on the verge of collapse, bitcoin represents both a safe haven versus uncertain bank deposits." As crypto rallied, the U.S. dollar index moved lower and was on pace for worst day since Apr. 12, when bitcoin traded at its highs of this year.

UnitedHealth has by far the biggest weighting in the Dow Jones Industrial Average . The 126-year-old blue-chip benchmark is price-weighted, meaning stocks with higher share prices are given the most weight. The health-care stock closed Wednesday at $520.97, while the stock with the second-highest impact on the 30-stock Dow, Goldman Sachs , stood at $327.37, nearly $200 less than UnitedHealth. While almost all other equity indexes are weighted by market capitalization, including the S & P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite , that doesn't mean UnitedHealth's power is diminished. The insurer is so large, with a $486 billion market cap, it ranks as the ninth-biggest company in the S & P 500.

The NYSE FANG+ index is headed for its best week in one year. Semiconductor maker AMD is up 17.8% week to date, headed for its best week since July 24, 2020, when AMD jumped 26.1%. Facebook-parent Meta advanced 12.3% this week, on pace for its best week since Feb. 3, when the social media stock gained 22.9%. AMD 5D mountain AMD shares 5-day Microsoft shares are 11.4% higher week to date, headed for its best week since Nov 11, 2022 when the Xbox maker jumped 11.6%. Amazon shares are up 10% this week, headed for its best week since Jan. 13, when AMZN soared 14%.

☆ These bond ETFs are having their best day in 2023 as investors seek safety
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A pair of exchange-traded bond funds popped Wednesday as investors flee stocks in search of safety. The Vanguard Total Bond ETF (BND) and the iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) each leapt by as much as 1.4% Wednesday morning. Investors sought safety in Treasurys , with yields dropping as traders bought up the issues. Corporate issues in BND include Amazon , AbbVie and Alphabet , while AGG holds bonds from Morgan Stanley , Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase .

☆ Inflation gauge increased 0.4% in February, as expected and up 6% from a year ago
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Excluding volatile food and energy prices, core CPI increased 0.5% in February and 5.5% on a 12-month basis. The consumer price index increased 0.4% for the month, putting the annual inflation rate at 6%, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. Inflation rose in February but was in line with expectations, likely keeping the Federal Reserve on track for another interest rate hike next week despite recent banking industry turmoil. Food prices rose 0.4% and 9.5% respectively. That entails core services inflation minus housing, cohort that increased 0.2% in February and 3.7% from a year ago, according to CNBC calculations.

☆ Want a risk-free 5% return? How to buy a 3-month Treasury
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The yield on the 3-month Treasury touched a high of 5.015% on Tuesday, the highest level since 2007. First, they can purchase Treasurys directly from the U.S. government via TreasuryDirect.gov. Another way for investors to buy Treasurys is through a brokerage firm. The issue is that you may be subject to fees and minimum purchase requirements if you buy Treasurys through a brokerage account. Consider that you can buy Treasurys directly from the government with a minimum purchase amount of $100, but a brokerage firm can charge you for broker-assisted trades.

☆ These 5 stocks started trading in 2022, and analysts expect strong gains from them in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Fred Imbert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Virtually every corner of the stock market had a horrible 2022, including initial public offerings. The Renaissance IPO ETF (IPO) , which tracks the performance of newly-public companies, plunged 57% in 2022, notching its biggest one-year decline on record. Total proceeds from new companies going public dropped more than $7 billion in 2022, reaching their lowest level since at least 2013, Renaissance data showed. Despite a sluggish year for IPOs, analysts see big gains ahead for some stocks that started trading in 2022. CNBC Pro combed through the 2022 IPOs for companies covered by at least seven analysts, with the average price target implying upside of at least 15%.

☆ Precious metal platinum set for best quarter since 2008 on supply concerns
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Platinum rose another 5% Thursday to trade at $1,054.86 per troy ounce Friday, up around 22% compared to the start of the quarter. The price of platinum is up over 20% since late September, and the metal is set to experience its best quarter since 2009. The Council anticipates a platinum deficit in 2023, with demand growing by 19% while supply increasing by just 2%. Demand for platinum in the automotive industry will also continue to grow next year, while jewelry-based demand for platinum is forecasted to remain constant throughout 2023. The platinum market posted a deficit in 2020 after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic brought industry to a standstill.

☆ S&P 500's best performers are on track for gains of 50% or more this quarter
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

It has been a strong fourth quarter for the S & P 500 — and its leading stocks are poised for even larger gains. The S & P 500 is on pace to end the quarter up 6.2%, through Thursday's market open. As a result, the benchmark S & P 500 index will see its first quarterly advance this year, limiting the full-year loss to a little less than 20%. CNBC Pro looked at the 10 best performing stocks in the index this quarter, using data from FactSet through Wednesday's close. But the average analyst expects the price to be little changed over the coming year.

☆ Stocks are headed for their worst year since 2008, but some names doubled or more in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Stocks may be careening toward their worst year since 2008, but some names are completing a remarkable run after doubling or more in 2022. In 2022, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has lost 8.4%, while the S & P 500 shed 19.2%. These stocks are up more than 100% this year, and include tankers for petroleum products, energy companies such as coal firms, and biotech and pharmaceutical names, according to CNBC. Ardmore Shipping and Scorpio Tankers were the top tanker stocks, both up about 316% for the year. Energy companies came out on top in 2022 following a surge in oil and gas prices — which market participants say will remain elevated given expectations of tight supply ahead.

☆ Oil prices lower as outlook grows bearish. Traders fear weak China demand more than impact of Russian sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Patti Domm | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Oil prices were volatile Monday as traders considered the possibility of weakening Chinese demand and a growing view that world could have sufficient supplies even with a European ban on Russian oil. The firm cited China's Covid restrictions and a lack of clarity on G-7 price caps on Russian crude for the new outlook. The European Union's ban on seaborne Russian oil starts Dec. 5. "Every fundamental signal in the crude market right now is bearish," she said. At least for now, the market expects there will be sufficient supplies even with Russian sanctions, Babin said.

☆ Bitcoin drops 5% to its lowest level in 3 months as risk assets continue to get crushed
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Bitcoin fell to its lowest level in three months on Monday as investors dumped risk assets amid expectations of higher interest rates. The world's largest cryptocurrency dropped 5% to an intraday low of $18,276, reaching its lowest level since June 19. Bitcoin is down 7.2% this month and on pace for the second straight negative month after plunging 15% in August. Ether is down a similar 5% to $1,281 apiece Monday, hitting its lowest level since July 15. Risk assets have been under massive pressure as the Federal Reserve is expected to stick to its aggressive tightening schedule.

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