Trusted third parties are security holeshttps://t.co/6wqt37BoIQDarkSideOfTheMoon (@darkside2030):Ok folks. JP Morgan Chase finally closed my accounts as part of their debanking scheme. One catch - They sent me a check for the remaining $725.00 in my checking account but found a way to miscalculate the check amount and leave me with a negative $.05 balance. Then proceeded ...

Core Viewpoint - The discussion highlights five stock picks for February, emphasizing a mix of growth and value stocks, all of which are components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, suggesting a focus on diversification in investment strategies [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Picks - Microsoft has seen a significant decline, down 23% from its recent high, making it an attractive buy opportunity [3][5]. - Merck is identified as a healthcare value play that has recently broken out of a downtrend, presenting a potential investment opportunity [5][6]. - Honeywell is noted as a solid name with good dividend payouts, although investors should be strategic about entry points based on chart analysis [7][8]. - Procter & Gamble, despite a poor one-year trend, is suggested as a defensive investment in a potentially anxious market environment [10][11]. - JP Morgan, down about 5% in January, is considered a best-in-class bank, with the potential for investors to initiate positions as it is viewed as a strong investment [12][13]. Group 2: Market Outlook - The market is expected to experience a pullback of 10-15% due to midterm election uncertainties, which could create opportunities for strategic investments [16][17]. - The first half of the year may see turbulence, but there is optimism for a recovery and overall market growth in the latter half [23][24]. - The S&P 500 is projected to return 10-12%, while the NASDAQ may outperform with returns in the high teens, around 15-18% [26][27]. - Small and mid-cap stocks are already showing strong performance, up about 9% in the first month, indicating a favorable outlook for these segments [25].

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is among banks that have begun selling down a highly anticipated $20 billion debt financing backing the acquisition of Electronic Arts Inc., the biggest leveraged buyout on record. https://t.co/IG4OKLX8nK ...

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights a significant and unprecedented drop in silver prices, driven by emotional reactions and leveraged positions rather than fundamental market collapse [2] - The initial cause of the sell-off was attributed to institutional investors, referred to as "smart money," who began to reduce their long positions in silver as prices peaked above $110, leading to a rapid decline in prices [5] - Major financial institutions like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs reduced their net long positions significantly, with JPMorgan decreasing by 12,000 contracts and Goldman Sachs by 8,000 contracts, resulting in a combined reduction of 62.5% of the total sell-off [5] Group 2 - The ETF market experienced a massive outflow of funds, with global silver ETFs seeing a net outflow of $2.87 billion, marking the largest single-day outflow in history [6] - The report indicated that the speculative positions in silver reached an unprecedented 260,000 contracts, with many investors using high leverage, leading to widespread liquidations and further downward pressure on prices [9] - A significant number of retail investors faced forced liquidations, with 155,000 retail traders being liquidated, resulting in an average loss of $4,470 per person [9] Group 3 - The article discusses the panic selling among retail investors, with a reported 12,300 contracts reduced in domestic silver futures, primarily due to fear-driven selling [11] - Institutional investors shifted from a bullish to a bearish stance, with a notable increase in short positions by 28,000 contracts, indicating a market shift from bullish to bearish sentiment [17] - The article emphasizes the impact of external factors, such as the potential appointment of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair, which has led to a stronger dollar and increased opportunity costs for holding silver [26][28] Group 4 - Regulatory tightening in response to speculative trading has also contributed to the market's decline, with exchanges raising margin requirements and limiting positions, leading to a significant drop in trading volume [31] - The CFTC's increased scrutiny on silver futures has resulted in a 22.3% decrease in institutional holdings since the peak on January 23 [34] - The combination of these factors has created a perfect storm for silver prices, leading to a dramatic and historic decline in the market [35]

Company Overview - JPMorgan Chase is a leading financial institution with a strong track record, delivering a total return of 156% over the past five years [2] - The bank operates in various sectors, including investment banking, capital markets, consumer banking, and asset management [2] Financial Performance - JPMorgan's stock is currently priced at $306.42, reflecting a 1.88% increase or $5.65 [4] - The stock has fluctuated between $302.22 and $306.82 today, with a market capitalization of approximately $834.16 billion [4] - Over the past year, the stock reached a high of $337.25 and a low of $202.16 [4] Valuation Metrics - JPMorgan's price-to-book (P/B) ratio is 2.4, which is 33% higher than its five-year average and 75% more expensive than Bank of America [2] Future Projections - JPMorgan projects its net interest income (NII) for 2026 to reach approximately $103 billion, marking a 7% increase from the previous year [3][5] - This growth is expected despite anticipated rate cuts, as the bank relies on increased loan volumes, revolving card balances, and deposit gains [3]

Core Viewpoint - JPMorgan now expects the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to begin raising the official cash rate starting in September, with an anticipated increase of 100 basis points by mid-2027, a shift from the previous forecast of the first rate hike in Q1 2027 [1] Summary by Relevant Categories - **Interest Rate Projections** - JPMorgan forecasts the official cash rate to rise from 2.25% at the end of 2026 to 2.75% [1] - By mid-2027, the rate is expected to reach 3.25% [1]

Core Insights - The renewed interest in international markets is driven by geopolitical tensions, currency flows, and a weakening dollar, leading to a diversification from US-centric portfolios [1][5][24] - Active management in ETFs is gaining traction, with a significant increase in flows and new fund launches, particularly in international markets [20][23][48] ETF Market Trends - 2025 has been a record-breaking year for ETFs, with over 1,000 new ETFs launched, 83% of which are actively managed [3][20] - US trading volume reached $58 trillion, surpassing previous records, with strong flows into ETFs continuing from the previous year [3][4] International Market Performance - International markets have outperformed the US by approximately 16% over the past 14 months, indicating a performance catch-up after years of underperformance [6][8] - The dollar's weakening has contributed to increased flows into international markets, with over $216 billion in flows last year, marking a 100% increase [4][5] Investment Opportunities - There is a growing interest in European and emerging markets, driven by lower interest rates and a shift in market dynamics [24][25] - Specific sectors such as technology, particularly in Asia, and commodities in Latin America are highlighted as key areas for investment [30][40] Active Management in ETFs - Active ETF flows in the US reached $470 billion, a 60% increase from the previous year, indicating a shift towards actively managed portfolios [20][48] - Funds focusing on international value and emerging markets are seeing significant net flows, reflecting investor interest in these areas [21][22] Geopolitical and Economic Factors - Geopolitical developments, such as trade agreements and shifts in global economic dynamics, are influencing investment strategies and market allocations [16][45] - The trend of deregulation in Europe is seen as a powerful driver for investment opportunities, enhancing the attractiveness of international markets [14][46]

Core Viewpoint - JPMorgan Chase has shown significant stock performance with a total return of 156% over the past five years, but its high valuation may lead investors to consider alternatives like Nu Holdings [1] Group 1: JPMorgan Chase Overview - JPMorgan Chase operates across various sectors including investment banking, capital markets, consumer banking, and asset management [1] - The stock trades at a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 2.4, which is 33% higher than its five-year average and 75% higher than Bank of America [3] - The company reported a 7% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4 2025 and a net profit margin of 31% last year, indicating strong financial health and effective risk management [4] Group 2: Nu Holdings Overview - Nu Holdings is a digital bank with a strong foothold in Brazil, serving 110 million customers, which is 60% of the adult population in the country [5] - The company reported a remarkable 42% year-over-year revenue growth in Q3, capitalizing on the developing financial market in Latin America [6] - Although Nu's Q3 net margin of 19% is lower than JPMorgan Chase's, analysts project a 178% growth in earnings per share from 2024 to 2027, indicating strong future potential [7]

Core Viewpoint - International markets are expected to continue their outperformance, driven by factors beyond just dollar weakness, indicating a shift towards more fundamental investing changes [1][2]. Group 1: International Market Performance - The dollar is projected to decline by approximately 1% annually over the next decade, contributing to the outperformance of international markets [2]. - International equities currently trade at a 32% discount to US equities, compared to an average discount of 19% over the past 20 years, highlighting strong valuation opportunities [3]. Group 2: Investment Opportunities - There are compelling investment opportunities in sectors such as financials, energy, materials, and select industries within the international market [3]. - The international value fund, ticker JIVE J, is highlighted as a top-performing fund with about $1 billion in inflows last year, indicating strong investor interest [4].

Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan give their bosses a raise as the rival firms battle for M&A dominance. https://t.co/xyrSZuUQRj ...