Investment Learning

  • January 15, 2025

Shelter inflation signals moderation as home prices 'calm down'

December's Consumer Price Index (CPI) print revealed that shelter inflation increased 0.3% month-over-month and 4.6% annually, showing a slight cooling from the previous month. Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Vice President of Research and Analysis Andy Walden shares his insights on housing market trends with Catalysts. Walden sees parallels between the CPI shelter data and broader home price trends: "You are seeing home price growth calm down." Looking ahead to 2025, Walden emphasizes that housing market growth will largely depend on interest rates and "what that does for demand." Current trends suggest home price growth ticked up in December 2024 and will moderate to around 3% in early 2025. For a full analysis of how Federal Reserve policy could impact housing markets and regional forecasts, watch Walden's full interview above. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Catalysts here. This post was written by Angel Smith

Read More
  • January 14, 2025

AI data center power demand to grow 160% by 2030 globally: Analyst

President Biden has signed an executive order allowing federal lands to be used for data center buildouts and supporting clean energy facilities. Brian Singer, Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research Global Head of GS Sustain, joins Catalysts to discuss the growing energy demand to power these artificial intelligence data centers. Singer projects AI data center power demand will grow 160% globally by 2030 compared to 2023 levels. "This is a significant expansion in the United States," he says, adding that "that's why we think this all-in approach that governments and corporates and hyperscalers and utilities are taking to try and ensure reliability... is going to be a significant investment theme going forward." According to Singer, the combination of data centers and increased power demands from non-AI sources, industrialization, reshoring, and electrification "is what's going to take power demand in the United States to levels that we haven't seen since the 1990s." Watch the full video above for insights on how the Trump administration's policies could impact this sector. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Catalysts here. This post was written by Angel Smith

Read More
  • January 14, 2025

Here's My Top AI ETF to Buy Right Now

When it comes to investing in artificial intelligence (AI) stocks, there are several great ETFs that will allow you to do that without much individual stock risk. This index fund provides exposure to large-cap AI stocks and more, and with investment fees less than half of most other AI ETFs. Here's a rundown of what the Invesco QQQ ETF is, why it could be a great AI ETF, and other important things to know.

Read More
  • January 12, 2025

Mortgage rates could fall to 5.8% by year's end: Serhant agent

Serhant Team Lead and Licensed Real Estate Agent Sean McPeak joins Wealth to discuss the housing market and share advice for home shoppers. McPeak forecasts mortgage rates dropping below 6% in the coming year, with the 30-year fixed rate likely reaching 5.8%. He notes that this decrease depends on the Federal Reserve continuing its interest rate-cutting cycle and proper market risk pricing. "Better conditions for buyers" are emerging across the market, McPeak explains, with cooling prices in various states and increasing inventory in urban and mid-country regions. "I do think conditions have improved; however, in markets like New York City, where there is a lot of regulation and a very high cost of labor, we are seeing less supply come into the market, which is also kind of keeping prices propped up." For prospective homebuyers, McPeak recommends targeting properties that have been listed for extended periods and limiting house tours to six per day, noting that "after a long day of shopping for houses, it all kinds of blends together." He also suggests maintaining a reference file for preferred properties. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Angel Smith

Read More
  • January 11, 2025

QQQ, SCHG, SCHD: 3 Great ETFs to Start Investing in 2025

Looking to get started on your investing journey in 2025? Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a great place to start, as they offer diversified exposure to a wide group of the market’s best stocks in one simple, convenient instrument. Here are three of the best ETFs to consider as you set out on your path as an investor – the Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG), the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD), and the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ). All three offer diversified exposure to great stocks, var

Read More
  • January 10, 2025

Can the 3 Best-Performing Stock Market Sectors in 2024 Crush the S&P 500 Again in 2025?

The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) rose 23.3% in 2024, marking the first time the index posted back-to-back years of 20% gains or higher since the 1990s. There are 11 stock market sectors, but only three beat the S&P 500 last year: communications, financials, and consumer discretionary. In fact, only 148 S&P 500 components beat the index last year, meaning over 70% of components underperformed the index.

Read More
  • January 8, 2025

Constellation Energy nearing $30B deal with Calpine: BBG

Energy company Constellation Energy (CEG) nears a deal worth $30 billion with major electricity generator Calpine, according to Bloomberg. Market Domination hosts Julie Hyman and Josh Lipton review what could be a major play in the energy sector. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Market Domination here. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

Read More
  • January 8, 2025

ETFs to watch for in next wave of AI growth in 2025

ETF inflows reached record inflows of $1 trillion in 2024, with many on Wall Street expecting this trend to continue well into 2025. Strategas Securities ETF and technical strategist Todd Sohn appears on Catalysts to highlight the AI trade as a key theme for ETF investing. “We like ETFs because they spread around the bets... As long as the ETF is not too overweight, one or two single names, you're going to get the benefit of whoever emerges from that pack," Sohn tells Seana Smith and Madison Mills.  Sohn underlines the VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF (NLR) as one of his preferred picks as nuclear energy providers become a key asset in expanding artificial intelligence infrastructures. "Single stock ETFs are a boom for issuers because of the high fees involved. They are trading vehicles for highly trained professionals who have a high conviction," Sohn explains. In the video above, Sohn discusses the optimism surrounding ETF inflows projected for 2025 while noting the risks expected for markets. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Catalysts here. This post was written by Josh Lynch

Read More