http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick? The Retired Investor/@theMarket Sat, 12 Sep 2026 16:05:04 EDT en-us http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4678 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4678 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:58:00 EDT While the stock market has declined only a few percentage points from its all-time highs, bond markets worldwide are reacting differently to higher oil prices, inflation, and government debt.   Japan's 10-year sovereign bond yield is almost at 3 percent, and the 30-year is above... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4677 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4677 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:06:00 EDT This month, the U.S. Treasury plans to triple its U.S. bond purchases from $2 billion to $6 billion from Sept. 4 through Nov. 4. Given that the market value of the Treasury market is about $30 trillion, that is a drop in the bucket if the intent is to cap yields on the long end of the yield... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4676 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4676 Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:19:00 EDT The continued concerns over oil prices, inflation, debt/deficit, and renewed hostilities in the Middle East kept a lid on equities in these last days of summer. Despite all the fear and loathing over higher long-term bond yields in the last week or two, the markets are only down a few percentage... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4675 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4675 Fri, 04 Sep 2026 09:31:00 EDT It was to be expected. Financial markets almost always confront a new Fed chair. That may still be true, but Kevin Warsh isn't the one in the firing line. It is the U.S. Treasury Secretary Scot Bessent.   The bond vigilantes have had their way in the bond market recently. When... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4674 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4674 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:32:00 EDT It was a lovefest, as strong quarterly results from Nvidia, the linchpin of all things AI, once again wowed investors. Not even Kevin Warsh's hawkish speech at Jackson Hole could make much of a dent in investors' enthusiasm.   But looks can be deceiving. Yes, all three... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4673 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4673 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:30:00 EDT The Trump administration’s ongoing effort to help low- and moderate-income taxpayers save towards retirement took another step forward last week. The new program will impact millions of Americans who have struggled to save in an economy where they can barely make ends meet. In a... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4672 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4672 Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:01:00 EDT Investors turned their attention to the bond market this week as yields on long-dated U.S. Treasury bonds hit multi-year highs. The government needed to step in to curb what looked like a rout in both stocks and bonds.   Mid-week, the 30-year Treasury bond, as well as the benchmark... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4670 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4670 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:12:00 EDT The U.S. and Mexico are the only countries out of 19 other OECD countries where a substantial portion of the population lacks any form of health insurance. In the U.S., about 8 percent of the population, or 27 million people, are uninsured. That number is about to grow... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4671 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4671 Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:17:00 EDT It wasn't difficult to predict that this week's July inflation data would be cooler. Last month, oil declined on the unfounded hopes of peace in the Middle East. That showed up in the numbers, but what about next month and beyond?   Oil is trading at $80-$82 a barrel. That... http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4669 http://www.iberkshires.com/blogs/Bill_Schmick?bid=4669 Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:24:00 EDT In an effort to reduce the growing expense of our nation's healthcare, Congress and the administration have cut or reduced benefits in program after program over the last year. The question they fail to answer is an important one. If health benefits are reduced, who ends up paying for all...