The Executive Review #5

This article was written on April 21st, 2024. Things may have changed by the time you read this. For more information on stocks and the stock market, go to Trading View. 

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Independent Companies & Government

So here’s what’s going down: President Trump officially kicked off his plan to raise tariffs, which are taxes on products—that’s basically a tax on items we buy from other countries like China, Mexico, and Canada. The idea is to help American businesses compete, but it’s also making prices go up on everyday things like goods, clothes, and tech. China didn’t just sit back either—they fired back with their own tariffs, especially on stuff we export like farm goods and electronics.

Meanwhile, over in tech land, Apple just launched the iPhone 17. It’s got some wild AI features, like real-time translation and visual recognition through the camera. Microsoft and Google are also going big on AI right now, trying to make smarter tools for businesses and regular users.

And get this: Elon Musk’s app X (formerly Twitter) banned a few political accounts for spreading misinformation. Some people say it’s a good moderation, while others think Musk is going too far. Either way, it’s a big deal for social media.

Stocks & Economy

The stock market had a decent start to the year, but recently it’s taken a hit. A big reason: The new tariffs from President Trump. Investors are worried these trade tensions could make good products more expensive and slow down business growth. Since the tariffs hit, we’ve seen stocks dip, especially in industries that rely on global trade.

The S&P 500 is still up 4.2% for the year, but it's down from last month. The Dow Jones is up 3.6%, and the Nasdaq, which has a lot of tech companies, is up 6.9%, though tech’s momentum has slowed a little.

Inflation (how fast prices are rising) is still taking place—up 3.6% compared to last year. Rent, health insurance, and car costs are hitting wallets hard. But people are still spending. Retail sales went up nearly 2% in the past month, which shows folks aren’t cutting back too much.

Jobs are solid—only 3.8% of people are unemployed, which is low. Businesses are still hiring, though pay raises are slowing down. The housing market is split: prices in big cities are rising again, but suburbs are cooling off because mortgage rates are still super high, currently hovering at around 7%.

Bitcoin’s still riding at about $102,000 per piece, and gold prices are up too, which means investors are still a little nervous about where things are going.

Stock Picks for May

If you’re thinking about investing or just curious about the stock world, here are a few names people are watching heading into May:

Palantir (PLTR): These guys are big in AI data. They’ve got solid government contracts and are growing fast. Their tech is used in everything from defense to health data.

Apple (AAPL): The new iPhone is doing great, and people are excited about Apple’s push into AI. Plus, they’ve got a ton of money saved up, so they’re super stable.

Chevron (CVX): Oil and gas prices are rising, and Chevron’s cashing in. They’re also investing in clean energy, so they’re thinking ahead.

Meta (META): Facebook’s parent company is still a giant. Their ad business is strong, and their new VR headset is getting attention. Love them or hate them, they’re making money.

Costco (COST): When times get tough, people go to Costco for good deals. Their stores are busy, and they’ve still got a strong membership base.

2025 is looking like a mix of progress and problems. AI is changing everything, prices are still rising, and politics are getting heated again. But as long as you keep learning and watching what’s going on, you’ll be ahead of the game.

Catch you next time!