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☆ The year is half over. Here are three considerations to make sure your portfolio is on track
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Rebalance your portfolio Tech's remarkable bounce in 2023 could result in a significant portfolio tilt toward that sector — and an overconcentration that could hurt in the event there's a downturn. That means it's time to trim down a few of those oversized positions and make sure your asset allocation is properly reflecting your goals. Check in with cash Cash is another asset that requires your attention, especially in an era when investors have a host of options of where keep those funds. Cash you don't need for many years can go right back into your stock portfolio so you can keep ahead of inflation, Pearce said. "Make sure you have an appropriate amount of cash, and make sure you're not sitting on an enormous pile of cash that's doing nothing," he added.

Persons: Jorrell Bland, Josh Brown, Tony Roth, haven't, Wilmington Trust's Roth, Roth, Cash, Jerrod Pearce, Goldman Sachs, Marcus, Pearce, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Mitlin, Ritholtz Wealth Management, Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors, JPMorgan Equity, Wilmington, Creative Planning, Bread, Bread Financial, Citizens Financial, Treasury Locations: Wilmington, Treasurys

Gains across most-active CBOT futures in the week ended June 6 were as follows: corn 2.4%, soybeans 4.4%, wheat 6.2%, soymeal 1% and soyoil 10.2%. They also trimmed their net short in CBOT corn futures and options to 44,492 contracts from 51,065 in the prior week. Managed money net position in CBOT corn futures and optionsCommodity funds in mid-March established a net short in CBOT corn for the first time since August 2020, but they have not held a net short in soybeans since April 2020. Funds slashed their net short to 16,173 futures and options contracts from a record 31,110 a week earlier. Most-active soybean oil featured the biggest gains at 7.2%, and corn was the biggest loser with December down 1.9% and most-active corn down 0.6%, mostly on weekend rain expectations for the U.S. Corn Belt.

Persons: soymeal, Karen Braun, Diane Craft Organizations: Funds, Wednesday, U.S, Reuters, Thomson Locations: NAPERVILLE , Illinois, Chicago, CBOT soyoil, Midwest

NEW YORK, June 6 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Sequoia is blazing another new trail in venture capital. As one of Silicon Valley’s pioneers, Sequoia Capital has backed everything from Apple (AAPL.O) to Zoom Video Communications (ZM.O) over the past half-century, and many others in between, including Instagram, 23andMe (ME.O) and DoorDash (DASH.N). The world has changed, however – and changed yet again – since Sequoia opened its doors. Valentine named Sequoia after a tree that lives thousands of years, signifying a plan to survive and grow through any sort of climate. Follow @thereallsl on TwitterFollow @anshumandaga on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSVenture capital firm Sequoia Capital said on June 6 that it would separate its China, India and Southeast Asia, and U.S. and European arms into three businesses.

Persons: Don Valentine, – Roelof Botha, Neil Shen, Shailendra Singh –, Valentine, Sequoia, ByteDance, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Sequoia Capital, Apple, Video Communications, Investments, HK, Sequoia, Venture, Thomson Locations: China, India, U.S, Sequoia, Southeast Asia, United States, Mumbai, Shanghai

☆ 'The haves and have-nots market': 2023 trends for the ETF investor
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kevin Schmidt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Among global recessionary fears, interest rate uncertainty and a drawn-out debt ceiling debate, safe haven strategies have been at the forefront for investors in 2023. "If I'm defining 2023, I see three big trends," John Davi, chief investment officer at Astoria Portfolio Advisors, told Seema Mody on CNBC's "ETF Edge" on Wednesday. Davi said that bond ETFs have taken in $82 billion this year, compared with $55 billion flowing into equity funds. "The international markets are much further behind the interest rate cycle and the inflation cycle. The iShares MSCI Spain ETF (EWP) is up nearly 14% this year, while the iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG) has gained 15%.

Persons: there's, John Davi, Seema Mody, you've, Davi, Dave Mazza, Mazza Organizations: Astoria, Finance, NASDAQ, Roundhill Investments Locations: U.S, Spain, Germany

Refinitiv data shows foreigners sold $1.71 billion worth of mainland shares this month via Stock Connect, a key cross-border link between the mainland and Hong Kong exchanges, after selling $659 million in April. Despite outflows in February, April and May, foreigners' net purchases of mainland shares still stood at $25.05 billion for the first five months of this year, compared with net buying of about $6.36 billion worth over the whole of 2022. "Foreigners seem to have been selling because of the underwhelming near-term economic data points and, perhaps, because of the opportunities available to investors with a broader (pan-Asia or global) mandate," Pershad said. "We presume other investors have re-allocated some capital from China to those markets (and others) this year." Reporting By Patturaja Murugaboopathy and Gaurav Dogra in Bengaluru; Editing by Vidya Ranganathan & Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pruksa Iamthongthong, Refinitiv, Alexander Davey, Vikas Pershad, Pershad, Patturaja Murugaboopathy, Gaurav Dogra, Vidya Ranganathan, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Stock Connect, Reuters, National Bureau of Statistics, P Global, PMI, Morningstar, Allianz All China Equity WT, HK, HSBC Asset Management, U.S . Federal Reserve, G Investments, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, Morningstar ,, Taiwan, Shanghai, Asia, Bengaluru

☆ What is a 529 plan? How you can score a tax break while saving for future college expenses
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

And what better time to think about a college savings account than 529 College Savings Day? Unlike college costs, however, your 529 plan funds can only go toward tuition for primary and high school. On top of tax-free growth, some states allow taxpayers to deduct or get a credit for 529 plan contributions on their taxes. Drawbacks of 529 savings plansOne of the main drawbacks of saving in a 529 plan is that you owe a penalty if you use the funds for an ineligible expense. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) does take 529 plan savings into account when determining your expected family contribution (EFC), but not at face value.

Most-active CBOT soybean futures shed 3.6% through May 16, and funds added gross shorts for a sixth consecutive week. That could mean money managers at Friday's close were net short soybean futures and options for the first time since April 2020. They have not held a net short for two or more consecutive weeks since March 2020. Money managers' all-time soybean net short of 168,835 futures and options contracts was set on May 14, 2019. CBOT wheat futures had been rallying mid-month due to uncertainty over the Black Sea grain deal, though Russia on Wednesday agreed to a two-month extension, allowing Ukraine to continue exports by sea.

☆ How to invest in the S&P 500 — a guide to the funds that mimic the influential index's makeup and moves
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Martin Daks | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

After tracking the S&P 500 from 1965 to 2021, Berkshire Hathaway found the compound annual gain in the S&P 500 was 10.5%. In the case of S&P 500 index funds, the stocks are those of the companies listed in the S&P 500. With 500+ stocks in their portfolio, S&P 500 funds are especially diversified, their securities representing a range of industries. With 500+ stocks in their portfolio, S&P 500 funds are especially diversified, their securities representing a range of industries. The diversified, passive approach of S&P 500 funds — like most index funds — means an investor's downside is generally limited.

"Our commitment to Juventus is unchanged and no meetings have taken place," a spokesperson for Exor said when asked to comment by Reuters on Friday. Juventus also faces potential new penalties, including further points deductions, in a separate case over alleged irregularities in payments to players. The Agnelli family has owned the club, which it listed in 2001, almost uninterrupted since 1923. New potential co-investors could include Middle Eastern or Asian sovereign wealth funds, or U.S. funds or family offices, two sources said. Juventus ranked 11th in Deloitte's European Money League published in January, based on its annual revenue of 400 million euros in 2021/22.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed 0.4% higher, with banks higher by 0.8% and oil and gas stocks gaining 1.5%. European stock markets closed higher Friday despite a downbeat week, as investors assessed the state of play across first-quarter earnings and economic data. France's Societe Generale beat first-quarter earnings estimates, as its shares climbed as much as 2%. Shares of the financial services provider closed 0.5% higher. Asia-Pacific markets closed mixed on Friday, while U.S. stocks were flat by the European close.

☆ ChatGPT can pick stocks better than your fund manager
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —A basket of stocks selected by ChatGPT, a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence (AI), has far outperformed some of the most popular investment funds in the United Kingdom. It wouldn’t “be long until large numbers of consumers try to use [ChatGPT] for financial gain,” Jon Ostler, Finder’s CEO, said in a statement earlier this week. A typical investment fund pulls together money from multiple investors, and is overseen by a fund manager who decides how to invest that money. A survey of 2,000 UK adults conducted by Finder last week showed that 8% had already used ChatGPT for financial advice, while 19% said they would consider doing so. Nevertheless, “the democratization of AI seems to be something that will disrupt and revolutionize financial industries,” Ostler said.

☆ 4 of the world's elite investors agree on the biggest risks that will cause the next recession. Here's how they're each protecting clients with over half a trillion in combined assets.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( William Edwards | Akin Oyedele | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Below, we've their quotes on the subjects, along with how they said they're protecting their clients' money. I think it is a good chance, more than a little bit, that there will be a conflict, an invasion of Taiwan. Where to invest now: Roeper said he's bullish on aerospace companies because they're having a "pretty solid recovery" right now. The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) offers exposure to different areas of the bond market. Where to invest now: Blake said he likes hybrid bonds, investment-grade bonds over a six-12 month duration, and private credit.

☆ Stock Funds Rise, but Outlook Is Iffy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( William Power | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

It was a positive month for many stock funds, despite several challenges. Illustration: Giacomo BagnaraIt’s not much but investors will take it. Despite bank-sector turmoil, the stock market notched another positive month in April, thanks in part to strong earnings from several large companies. The average U.S.-stock fund rose a bare 0.03% in April, according to Refinitiv Lipper data, to leave the year-to-date gain at 5.6%. Funds focusing on large-cap stocks did better than most, with gains of more than 1% in the month.

CBOT December corn futures’ high so far in 2023 was printed Jan. 3, the first trading day of the year. New-crop corn made May highs in 2021 and 2022, and it made April highs twice, most recently in 2014.CBOT December corn months of highsSAME SETUP? New-crop corn futures bounced in early May 2013 on slow U.S. corn planting, but a new low was eventually set later that month. December corn futures in 2014 lost 38% between the April high and October low, more than the 32% decline in 2013. Money managers' net position in CBOT corn futures and optionsFOOD FOR THOUGHTExceptionally bearish quarterly stock reports in March and September plagued corn futures in 2013, but while the market was likely misjudging U.S. corn demand, so was the Department of Agriculture.

☆ Afghanistan aid donors struggle with crackdown on women, less money
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Last month the Taliban began enforcing the ban on Afghan women working for the U.N. after stopping most women working for aid groups in December. So far the United States has given the most money to the 2023 U.N. appeal: $75 million. When asked if Gulf countries could do more to help Afghanistan, Power said: "That would be one obvious potential set of partners." The United Nations has been trying to carve out exemptions in some areas for women to deliver aid, particularly in health and education. For the year ending April 5, 2024 it has pledged nearly $180 million in aid funding for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

☆ What is ESG investing? A beginner's guide to choosing a sustainable fund
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

So-called ESG investing is a big deal. In other words, 1 in every 8 U.S. investor dollars is in a sustainable fund. The growing prominence of and demand for ESG investments has attracted the attention of politicians and regulators. ESG has become a catch-all acronym for what asset management industry pros would call sustainable investing — strategies that seek to deliver a financial return while providing for societal good. ESG funds This is where conflating ESG funds and "boycotting" the energy industry gets a little spurious.

☆ Did you buy alternative investments and big-yielding assets last year? Your tax return could get a little messy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Tax Day is upon us – but investors who have complicated tax returns may find themselves asking for an extension. April 18 is the filing deadline for your 2022 return, and on that day, you must pay any federal income taxes you owe. Last year, an estimated 19 million taxpayers asked for an extension to turn in their 2021 tax return, according to the IRS. That's because while the MLPs themselves aren't subject to federal income taxes, the limited partners who receive income distributions are responsible for taxes. You need this form in order to file your income tax return, but partnerships may not send these details until mid-March, which could lead to investors going on extension.

☆ Explainer: Why European money market funds inflows are lagging behind the U.S. torrent?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Harry Robertson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] U.S. dollar and Euro bank notes are photographed in Frankfurt, Germany, in this illustration picture taken May 7, 2017. In Europe, investors put 17.7 billion euros ($19.35 billion) into euro-denominated money market funds in March, Refinitiv Lipper data shows, when the Credit Suisse crisis rocked markets. Other analysts said it was due to the fact that euro money market funds are underdeveloped relative to U.S. funds and are focused more on private sector, particularly bank, debt. WHAT IS A MONEY MARKET FUND? The European money market fund sector is far smaller than in the United States.

☆ Gold and mining ETFs are surging as the precious metal flirts with a record high
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Over the past month, the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD) has pulled in more than $1 billion of new money, according to FactSet. The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) , SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM) , Abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) and Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) have pulled in more than $400 million combined. Funds comprised of gold mining stocks have also been popular, with the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) pulling in about $200 million. GDX YTD mountain Gold mining ETFs are rallying in 2023. The gold mining funds from Sprott ( SGDM ) and iShares ( RING ) have seen similarly strong performance.

Macro and trend-following hedge funds dropped 3.2% this month through March 29, while algorithmic commodity trading advisor funds (CTAs) dove 6.8%. Hedge fund strategies based around macroeconomic ideas like those run by Rokos, DG Parters and EDL Capital fund posted negative performances in March, sources and bank data said. Trend-following hedge funds, which trade on systematically programmed ideas, also posted big losses. The bank decided not to change clients' borrowing limits, but it has increased diligence oversight on the hedge fund exposure, including new clients, the broker said. Trend-following funds tend to bail quickly on trades that stop working, said a pension fund director who invests in hedge funds.

☆ Global IPO market continues slump in 2023 as companies hold out on inflation, banking crisis and other challenges
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“Through just one quarter of 2023, it was more of the same for the stuttering global IPO market,” the firm said in a statement Thursday. In Mainland China, for example, there are some “800 companies in the pipeline,” according to Choi, citing public filings. Choi predicted the global market would recover in the second half of 2023, in part because he believed it had already hit the bottom. “Once there is evidence of a more stable market with higher certainty, investor confidence should return,” EY said in its statement. The firm indicated that “prominent companies that had postponed IPO plans may restart, albeit at more modest valuations.”

ABLE accounts provide those with disabilities an opportunity save enough to purchase a house without putting their benefits at risk. Can ABLE account funds be used for a down payment on a house? Tim Elliot, another ABLE account owner and ABLE NRC ambassador, found out about these accounts through an internet search. Home-related expenses an ABLE account can coverOne of the more popular uses of an ABLE account for hopeful homeowners is saving for a down payment. How to open an ABLE account and start saving to buy a homeTo open an ABLE account, you'll need to choose a state program to participate in.

☆ A credit crunch could worsen the bank turmoil and commercial real estate could be next domino to fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Odds are, commercial real estate is the next shoe to drop for the banking sector after this month's unrest. "Commercial real estate [is] widely seen as next shoe to drop as lending standards for CRE loans to tighten further," BofA's Michael Hartnett said. Regional banks have enormous exposure to commercial real estate loans. But this time around, it is commercial rather than residential real estate that may be in trouble. Are you worried about the impact of commercial real estate on the banking sector and the economy?

In the week ended March 21, money managers reduced their net long position in CBOT soybean futures and options to 110,786 contracts from 127,661 a week earlier. In the week ended March 21, most-active CBOT soybean futures fell 1.8%, new-crop November soybeans shed 3.2%, soymeal lost 4.3% but soyoil added 0.1%. GRAINSMoney managers were modest buyers of CBOT corn futures and options in the week ended March 21 after selling nearly 300,000 contracts over the previous four weeks. Managed money net position in CBOT corn futures and optionsIn CBOT wheat, money managers cut their net short for a second consecutive week, to 86,500 futures and options contracts from 95,257 a week earlier. In the week ended March 21, most-active CBOT corn futures rose 1.5% but CBOT wheat fell 1.9%.

Representative Tim Burchett, a Republican member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, asked Blinken why U.S. funds are going to pay pensions in Ukraine when there is talk about funding for the Medicare government health insurance system. Blinken acknowledged the "generosity of American taxpayers," but said the burden had been shared by more than 50 other countries. The United States has committed $32 billion of security assistance for Ukraine, but $22 billion has been committed by other countries. And Washington has sent $2 billion in humanitarian assistance, but other countries have sent $3.5 billion, Blinken said. "If we pulled the plug on that, either ourselves or allies and partners, it would have disastrous consequences for Ukraine," Blinken said.

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