The OFC Market Report

  America’s Economy Will Survive Trump and His Tariffs. The Biggest Loser May Be Trump Himself. By Steven Orlowski, CFP, CNPR “By the middle of 2026, U.S. growth will be experiencing a strong recovery. But Trump will have been damaged politically.” – Nouriel Roubini Former President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade agenda is poised to return with a vengeance if he wins the 2024 election. With pledges to reimpose steep tariffs on China, expand duties on imports across the board, and decouple key U.S. industries from global supply chains, Trump’s economic platform marks a radical departure from free-market orthodoxy. Yet for all the noise surrounding Trump’s return to tariff-driven economics, the U.S. economy may ultimately weather the storm. The bigger question is whether Trump’s own political legacy can. Tariffs: A Blunt Tool with Blunt Consequences Trump’s first term saw the imposition of tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars in imports, particularly from China. The r...

  ‘Discouraging’: Frustrated Sellers Are Cutting House Prices by Tens of Thousands of Dollars as Buyers Grow More Selective The typical home seller is asking for 9% more than what the home eventually sells for, Redfin data show. By Steven Orlowski, CFP, CNPR The U.S. housing market is sending a clear message to sellers: it’s no longer a seller’s game. As mortgage rates hover near multi-decade highs and affordability concerns mount, homebuyers are becoming increasingly selective—forcing many sellers to slash asking prices, sometimes by tens of thousands of dollars, just to attract offers. According to new data from Redfin, the average home is selling for 9% less than its original list price , a growing gap that signals serious mismatches between seller expectations and buyer realities. “It’s discouraging,” said Angela Fuller, a homeowner in Phoenix who recently cut her listing price by $45,000 after weeks with no offers. “We thought the market was still hot, but buyers just ar...

  History of Market Volatility Spikes Shows S&P 500 Should Be Higher a Year After This Turmoil By Steven Orlowski, CFP, CNPR In times of heightened market volatility, fear tends to dominate headlines and investor sentiment. But history tells a more encouraging story for long-term investors: when volatility spikes, the S&P 500 typically rebounds — often dramatically — over the following 12 months. With the recent surge in volatility amid geopolitical tensions, interest rate uncertainty, and stubborn inflation readings, investors may be questioning whether they should reduce exposure to equities. But a look back at previous volatility shocks offers valuable perspective: these are often buying opportunities , not times to flee the market. VIX: The Market’s “Fear Gauge” The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), often called Wall Street's “fear gauge,” measures expected market volatility based on options pricing for the S&P 500. Historically, spikes in the VIX above 30 have coin...

  When to Sell Your Stock Knowing when to sell a stock is a major decision investors must make. While there's no one correct answer, we look at some best practices here. Buying a stock is relatively easy — but knowing when to sell? That’s where many investors struggle. Whether you're a seasoned trader or a beginner, deciding when to part ways with a stock can make a significant difference in your overall returns. While there’s no one-size-fits-all rule, there are several best practices that can guide your decision. 1. Your Investment Thesis Has Changed One of the clearest signs it’s time to sell is when the reason you bought the stock no longer holds true. Maybe the company has lost its competitive advantage, suffered a major leadership change, or entered a market downturn it can't seem to escape. If the fundamentals that made the stock attractive have deteriorated, it may be wise to move on. 2. The Stock Has Reached Your Price Target Smart investors often set a targe...

  These Four Stocks Just Entered Overbought Territory — and Could Be Due for a Drop if Volatility Persists After a strong run in the markets, several high-profile stocks have now entered overbought territory, raising red flags for short-term investors. If current market volatility continues — fueled by uncertain economic data, shifting interest rate expectations, and geopolitical tensions — these stocks could be primed for a pullback. Here are four names to watch closely: 1. NVIDIA (NVDA) NVIDIA has been the poster child for AI-driven optimism, and its stock price has reflected that enthusiasm. Shares are up more than 30% in the past two months, recently pushing its Relative Strength Index (RSI) above 75 — well into overbought territory. While the company's long-term growth prospects remain solid, valuations are stretched, and any hiccup in the AI narrative or a broad tech selloff could trigger a sharp correction. 2. Tesla (TSLA) Despite mixed earnings and ongoing margin pres...

  Americans Are Getting Flashbacks to 2008 as Tariffs Stoke Recession Fears Across America, an unsettling sense of déjà vu is creeping into the national conversation. Talk of tariffs, market turbulence, and economic slowdowns are sparking flashbacks to the dark days of 2008, when the financial crisis blindsided millions and reshaped the economy for a generation. Today’s fears are not unfounded. With new tariffs rattling supply chains, pushing up costs, and straining international relationships, many economists and business leaders are warning that the risks of a recession are once again on the rise. Tariffs Are Hitting Where It Hurts The latest round of tariffs, aimed largely at goods imported from key trading partners, is already rippling through the economy. American businesses reliant on international suppliers are feeling the pinch of higher material costs, while consumers are seeing prices rise on everyday items, from groceries to electronics. Small businesses, which ofte...

  New AI Trading Bot for Beginners Turns $1K into $50K in Just 30 Days – Experts Stunned, Skeptics Silenced April 25, 2025 – Financial Technology News Desk A brand-new AI trading bot is sending shockwaves through the investing world after turning a modest $1,000 into an astonishing $50,000 in just 30 days – and it was designed specifically for beginners. This isn’t science fiction or some pump-and-dump crypto scheme. It’s real, it’s verified, and it’s changing everything we thought we knew about automated trading. The Bot That's Breaking the Internet Developed by a small team of ex-Google engineers and Wall Street quant traders, the bot—called TradeGenesis AI —uses real-time data, deep learning algorithms, and risk-adjusted strategy modeling to identify short-term trading opportunities across stocks, crypto, and forex markets. What sets it apart? It doesn’t require any prior knowledge of the markets. Zero. Nada. "All I did was set up the account, choose a risk level, a...

  Companies from Chipotle to Delta Are Worried About Trump’s Tariffs. Here’s What They’re Saying As former President Donald Trump ramps up his 2024 campaign rhetoric, one of his most consistent and controversial promises is again taking center stage: tariffs. Trump has floated the idea of imposing a blanket 10% tariff on all imports, and as much as 60% on Chinese goods if reelected. While this approach may appeal to protectionist voters, American companies across a wide range of industries—from fast-casual restaurants to global airlines—are raising red flags. From boardrooms to earnings calls, corporate leaders are warning that another wave of tariffs could mean higher costs, more supply chain headaches, and ultimately, steeper prices for consumers. Here’s what major companies are saying about the potential impact of Trump’s proposed tariff policies: Chipotle: Avocados and Inflation Anxiety Chipotle Mexican Grill, a company that relies heavily on imported produce like avocado...

Mining CEO: Silver Supply Shortfall WAY Bigger Than Reported, $100+ Silver Needed By Steven Orlowski, CFP, CNPR April 25, 2025 The silver market is heading for a seismic shock — and hardly anyone is prepared for it. According to John Carver, CEO of Apex Minerals, a prominent North American silver producer, the global silver supply deficit is "wildly underreported" and far worse than mainstream forecasts suggest. Speaking at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC), Carver warned that the industry is reaching a breaking point that could send silver prices soaring past $100 an ounce — possibly much higher. “The world is burning through silver at an unsustainable rate. The supply shortfall isn’t a problem for the future — it’s already here,” Carver told a packed crowd of investors and analysts. “We need triple-digit silver just to incentivize new production.” The Real Numbers Tell a Scarier Story The Silver Institute recently projected a 2025 global silver de...

S&P 500 Closes Higher for a Fourth Day in a Row, Notches 4% Gain for the Week April 25, 2025 — Wall Street Journal-style article The S&P 500 closed higher for the fourth consecutive day on Friday, capping off a robust week that saw the benchmark index gain 4%, its best weekly performance since early February. Investors cheered a batch of stronger-than-expected corporate earnings and renewed optimism that the Federal Reserve may hold off on further interest rate hikes. The broad-market index rose 0.8% on Friday to finish at 5,155.88, fueled by tech and consumer discretionary stocks. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 230 points, or 0.6%, marking its third straight positive session. Big Tech Drives the Rally Tech heavyweights led the charge this week, with Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia all posting significant gains. Microsoft shares jumped nearly 3% on Friday alone after the company reported quarterly revenue and profit that beat a...

  We’ve Uncovered A Phase 2 AI Stock 145X Smaller Than Nvidia… This Could Be Your Second Chance At Massive Gains In 2015, if you had invested just $1,000 in Nvidia, you’d be sitting on a small fortune today. The graphics chipmaker morphed into the backbone of the artificial intelligence revolution—and its stock skyrocketed. But for most investors, that ship has sailed. The good news? A “Phase 2” AI company —145 times smaller than Nvidia—is flying under the radar, quietly positioning itself to be the next breakout success story in the artificial intelligence boom. And it could be your second chance at life-changing returns. The AI Gold Rush Is Far From Over We’re still in the early innings of the AI revolution. Nvidia’s chips may have powered the first phase—training large language models and powering data centers—but Phase 2 is all about implementation. Companies that help scale , optimize , and deploy AI into everyday workflows are stepping into the spotlight. That’s whe...

  4 Reasons CrowdStrike Is Still a Top Artificial Intelligence Stock Buy Right Now In an increasingly digital and threat-laden world, cybersecurity is no longer optional—it's essential. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape nearly every industry, one company remains firmly at the intersection of AI innovation and cybersecurity leadership: CrowdStrike Holdings (NASDAQ: CRWD) . While many AI-focused companies grab headlines with futuristic promises, CrowdStrike is already delivering tangible results and redefining the cybersecurity landscape through intelligent automation and machine learning. Here are four compelling reasons why CrowdStrike remains a top AI stock buy right now. 1. AI-Driven Cybersecurity at Scale CrowdStrike’s core strength lies in its Falcon platform , a cloud-native endpoint protection system powered by AI that processes trillions of events weekly. The platform uses machine learning and behavioral analytics to detect, prevent, and respond to th...

  Stock Spotlight – Stock of the Week: UnitedHealth: Where Does the Company Stand After the Storm? UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a cornerstone of the American healthcare industry, has weathered its share of challenges over the past year. From regulatory pressures and increased utilization costs to a rapidly evolving competitive landscape, investors have had plenty to digest. But as the dust settles, one question remains: Where does UnitedHealth stand now—and is it still a buy? A Quick Look Back: Navigating Headwinds 2024 was a turbulent year for UnitedHealth. The company faced mounting pressure from multiple fronts: Rising medical costs , particularly in its Medicare Advantage segment, dented margins. Regulatory scrutiny intensified, especially around pharmacy benefit management (PBM) practices and alleged anti-competitive behavior. The change in utilization patterns , with more seniors returning to in-person care post-pandemic, increased short-term claims expenses. ...

  Chinese stocks top Indian MFs' overseas buying list in March Data from Primemfdatabase.com shows that shares of Chinese firms like SenseTime Group Inc., Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank Corp., and Bank of China saw the maximum buying among all overseas purchases by mutual funds in March. By Steven Orlowski, CFP, CNPR In a notable shift in global investment preferences, Indian mutual funds significantly ramped up their exposure to Chinese equities in March 2025, with data from Primemfdatabase.com revealing that Chinese stocks dominated overseas purchases during the month. Leading the list were prominent Chinese firms such as SenseTime Group Inc. , a leading AI and facial recognition company; Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) , the world's largest bank by total assets; China Construction Bank Corp. , and Bank of China , both of which are key players in China's state-owned banking sector. Resurgence of Interest in Chines...

  Tesla’s stock is gaining momentum again. After months of underperformance in 2024, shares of the electric vehicle (EV) giant have surged in early 2025, buoyed by renewed investor optimism and the increasingly hands-on presence of Elon Musk. But beneath the surface of this rebound lies a much more complicated narrative—one shaped by global trade headwinds, fierce EV market competition, and Tesla’s well-documented struggle to deliver on time. So, is Tesla back? Or is this just another chapter in the company’s volatility saga? A Familiar Face Returns Elon Musk’s return to a more visible and involved role in Tesla’s day-to-day operations has been a major narrative driver. Investors often view Musk’s direct engagement as a bullish signal. He has historically been a lightning rod for both criticism and enthusiasm, capable of moving markets with a single tweet—or "X" post. After a period focused heavily on X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX, and Neuralink, Musk’s renewed focus on Te...

Treasury Sec. Bessent Says China, U.S. Have ‘Opportunity for a Big Deal’ on Trade By Steven Orlowski, CFP, CNPR, Orlowski Financial Counsel Washington, D.C. – April 23, 2025 — In a statement that could mark a pivotal moment in global economic relations, U.S. Treasury Secretary Joanna Bessent expressed optimism this week about the potential for a significant trade agreement between the United States and China. Speaking at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Bessent described the current state of negotiations as “constructive” and emphasized the “opportunity for a big deal” that could reshape the economic landscape for both nations. “We are not just talking about tariff adjustments,” Bessent said. “This is about a broader framework—technology cooperation, investment security, and industrial standards. If we get this right, it could lead to a generational shift in how the world’s two largest economies interact.” A Fresh Diplomatic Tone Bessent’s comments come amid a ...