Together with CaskX 

Good morning investors! We’ll start having big names announce earnings from today, including Infosys. Moreover, the inflation report expected today could challenge the market outlook for big Fed rate cuts.

Today we cover:

• Office vacancy rates are high.

• Bitcoin ETF is now a reality.

• The cost of bringing up children.

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📊 Economy and News 

Office vacancy rates are at a new high

More office space is currently sitting empty in the United States than at any point since 1979. The scale stands at a record-breaking 19.6%. That’s the largest quarterly increase since the first quarter of 2021, and larger than the 19.3% level reached twice in 40 years.

The average pre-pandemic office vacancy rate was around 16.8%.

Why? Because companies are getting rid of workers. Big names like Meta, Twitch, and Microsoft are firing workers, reducing the need for office space. Plus, a large number of workers are now looking for flexible jobs or remote work, leaving offices empty and forcing companies to move to smaller offices.

Does it matter? A high rate can impact several industries, including real estate. New construction is already at its lowest level since 2012. More empty space means high supply and low demand, which pushes rent lower.

Silver lining: There, however, is still demand for modern buildings in good locations with great amenities. Furthermore, suburban offices tend to be doing better than typical office spaces due to being closer to communities.

Global hits:

• China claims it has cracked Apple AirDrop’s encryption to identify senders.

• Starbucks sued for alleged deceptive marketing of its ‘100% ethically’ sourced coffee.

• German rail strikes and farmers’ protests cause disruption in Europe’s biggest economy.

• Global shipping rates set to jump as carriers avoid the Red Sea amid Houthi attacks.

📈 Stocks

S&P 500 4,783.45 (+0.57%)
DJIA 37,695.73 (+0.45%)
NASDAQ 16,793.04 (+0.69%)
BRENT CRUDE 76.80 (-1.02%)
* Prices as of Jan 11th, 12:20 AM UTC

Meta about to reach a new all time high

Positive commentary from Mizuho Securities analysts helped Meta jump 3.65% to close at $370.47.

Mizuho has given the company a new target of $470, up $70 from $400, mainly due to increased revenue from WhatsApp driven by the use of AI to automate customer service.

The company is now closer to its all-time high of $382.18 that it achieved on September 07, 2021.

Meta was among the most sluggish Magnificent Seven companies; however, it has done tremendously well in the last few months and is up 178.78% since January 2023. That's higher than the likes of Tesla (89.86%), Boeing (9.52%), and Microsoft (62.35%), but behind Nvidia (239.67&).

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🔐 Crypto

Bitcoin $47,243 (+1.37%)
Ethereum $2,592 (+10.67%)
Total market cap $1.67T (-%) (+3.44%)
* Prices as of Jan 11th, 12:20 AM UTC

SEF has approved Bitcoin ETF

The Securities and Exchange Commission has given its approval for some investment companies to offer “spot Bitcoin” exchange-traded funds.

This will make it easier and more affordable to invest in BTC. The SEC, however, remains wary and added that it does not “approve or endorse Bitcoin.”

The decision will likely lead to the conversion of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, which holds about $29 billion of the cryptocurrency, into an ETF.

Traditional asset managers including BlackRock and Fidelity are also poised to launch bitcoin funds.

Also check: After yesterday’s false alarm, the FBI is currently investigating the SEC hack.

💵 Personal Finance

How much does it cost to raise a child?

Planning to start a family and not sure if you can afford it? It is important to be aware of the cost of raising a child so that you are prepared for it.

Firstly, the question can be a little complicated to answer because the cost depends on a lot of variable factors, including the age of your child, the number of children you have, the lifestyle you have, and the city or country you live in.

For the purpose of this guide, we’ll talk about the US. The cost, in your country, however, may largely differ, but this will give you a basic idea.

The average middle-income family with two children will spend $310,605 to raise a child born in 2015 up to age 17.

Here are some of the largest contributors:

Food

Food is a major contributor even if you make your own. A typical family of four spends about $11,500 per year on food at home. It goes up to $18,500 for some families, i.e.: 27% of the average household income of $67,521.

If you only look at the cost of feeding a child, it stands at about $900 per year.

Tip: Avoid eating out and prepare food at home to save food costs.

Housing

This might come as a surprise to some… after all, you probably already live in a house, then how is it an added expense? This is because you may have to move to a bigger house when you have a child. Also, if moving abroad, some countries, such as Austria, require people to have a specific number of rooms if they want to move in with the family.

According to data from the USDA, lower-income families spend about 8.7% of their income on housing a child. For middle-income families, it’s 4.5%, and for higher-income families it’s 2.9%.

Tip: It might be a good idea to move to an affordable city, or even a different country, to save money.

Childcare

Childcare costs anywhere from $5,436 to $24,243 annually. The cost depends largely on your location as daycare in cities like New York and Washington is more expensive than daycare in cities like Jackson and Oxford, Mississippi. Moreover, the amount includes education.

Tip: Consider government facilities and ask for discounts.

This isn’t it, there’s more we want to talk about, so wait for the next edition of this newsletter for more on the cost of raising a child. We will cover more about the financial aspect of bringing up a child and highlight the right time to have a kid so you can stay financially strong while having a good time with your family.

Check this video for more insights:

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👩🏽‍⚖️ Legal Stuff
Nothing in this newsletter is financial advice. Always do your own research and think for yourself.