🪔 What to expect this week

Good morning investors! Extreme fear continues to rule the market as the global situation also worsens.

Today we cover:

• What to expect this week

• Stocks to buy

• Affordable big state

The majority of Americans say their savings are earning less than 3% interest, when you even have some accounts paying over 4.5% in the US. Make sure to research before you park your money in a savings account. We discuss savings accounts and more in Retirement Download, which you can join for FREE to get access to retirement guides and more.

📊 Economy and News 

Economic Data and Earnings Drive Investor Focus This Week

Major economic data and some earnings reports will be in discussion this week.

Economic Highlights

• Inflation: February PCE index (Friday) follows January’s 2.5% rate; Fed forecasts a 2025 rise despite recent cooling.

• Housing: S&P Case-Shiller index (Tuesday), new home sales (Tuesday), and pending sales (Thursday) signal affordability pressures.

• Consumer Sentiment: Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence (Tuesday) and Michigan’s final March index (Friday) follow recent declines.

• Other Data: PMI (Monday), GDP revision (Thursday), durable goods (Wednesday), jobless claims (Thursday).

• Fed Speakers: John Williams (Tuesday), Tom Barkin (Thursday), Raphael Bostic (Friday).

Key Earnings

• Monday: KB Home (up 17% in deliveries), Oklo.

• Tuesday: GameStop (profit amid revenue drop, crypto buzz), McCormick, Core & Main, Smithfield Foods, Pony.ai, Rumble.

• Wednesday: Dollar Tree (strong discount retail trend), Chewy (losing customers), Cintas, Paychex, Jefferies, SailPoint.

• Thursday: Lululemon (lifted guidance post-holidays), TD Synnex, Braze, AAR.

• Friday: Zspace.

Global hits:

• UK government plans to cut civil servant numbers by 10,000.

• India’s GDP doubles in a decade, poised to overtake Japan in 2025, Germany by 2027.

• Turkey faces protests, investor flight after opposition leader’s arrest.

Something about tariffs: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted at possible negotiations to avoid the trade taxes. Moreover, analysts at Raymond James doubt all tariffs will take effect as planned, citing legal and logistical hurdles, and predict a narrower focus on countries like China, the EU, and Mexico, with sector-specific tariffs possibly delayed by trade investigations.

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📈 Stocks

S&P 500 5,667.56 (+0.082%)
DJIA 41,985.35 (+0.075%)
NASDAQ 17,784.05 (+0.52%)
BRENT CRUDE 72.16 (-0.01%)
* Prices as of Mar 23rd, 12:20 AM UTC

Stocks That Are Likely to Climb Higher

Bank of America has pinpointed several tech stocks as buy-the-dip candidates, arguing that the recent sell-off has gone too far for companies with strong fundamentals and growth potential. Here are the top picks analysts are betting on for upside in the months ahead:

• Analog Devices: Despite a 4.6% year-to-date decline, this semiconductor firm is viewed as a defensive tech play with growth prospects. Analysts highlight its minimal exposure to tariff risks and optimism for a late-2025 recovery in automotive and industrial markets, positioning it as a top pick with upside potential.

• Nvidia: A leader in the AI ecosystem, Nvidia remains a favorite despite broader tech weakness. Its dominance in a trillion-dollar infrastructure and services market, coupled with innovative product announcements, suggests it could rebound strongly as investor sentiment stabilizes.

• Broadcom: With diversified exposure across smartphones, cloud data centers, and enterprise storage, Broadcom’s high profitability—boasting over 45% EBITDA margins—makes it a compelling choice. Analysts see it as well-positioned for secular growth cycles ahead.

• Marvell Technology: Down 37% this year, Marvell is a contrarian bet with significant upside. Its data center opportunities are expanding, and an anticipated analyst day in June could lift its growth forecast, potentially driving shares higher.

• AppLovin: This mobile app tech firm, down nearly 5% in 2025, is undervalued according to analysts. Its first-mover advantage in digital spending trends and resilience against short-seller critiques make it a sleeper hit for growth-focused investors.

Look at this: Tesla cars have been having a tough time finding buyers. Also, Microsoft rallied in last 10 minutes of trading on Friday to avoid first eight-week losing streak since 2008.

💵 Personal Finance

Affordable Places: Salary You Need to Live In These States

Urban living has its perks—more career options, better wages, and, in some places, improved health outcomes. Cities also tend to be walkable, with entertainment just steps away. But those advantages often come with a steep price tag. In hubs like New York or Los Angeles, high salaries can still leave you scrambling to cover sky-high living expenses.

Fortunately, you don’t need to shell out big-city bucks to enjoy urban life. Smaller cities across the U.S. deliver many of the same benefits at a fraction of the cost.

SmartAsset created a list that highlights such states. SmartAsset’s numbers lean on the MIT Living Wage Calculator for baseline costs, then apply the 50/30/20 budgeting rule: 50% for needs, 30% for wants, 20% for savings and debt.

Here’s a rundown:

1. Indianapolis, Indiana
   Salary needed: $85,197
   Median income: $66,629

2. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
   Salary needed: $85,446
   Median income: $67,015

3. Tulsa, Oklahoma
   Salary needed: $85,571
   Median income: $56,821

4. New Orleans, Louisiana
   Salary needed: $86,445
   Median income: $55,580

5. Albuquerque, New Mexico
   Salary needed: $86,611
   Median income: $67,907

6. San Antonio, Texas
   Salary needed: $86,694
   Median income: $62,322

7. Tucson, Arizona (tie)
   Salary needed: $86,736
   Median income: $55,708

8. Winston-Salem, North Carolina (tie)
   Salary needed: $86,736
   Median income: $59,189

9. Spokane, Washington
   Salary needed: $87,818
   Median income: $65,016

10. Baltimore, Maryland
    Salary needed: $87,984
    Median income: $59,579

The 50/30/20 Rule Under Pressure

That tidy budgeting formula is getting harder to follow. Rent in February 2025 was up 27% from 2020, and groceries have tracked a similar climb. Housing, often the budget’s heavyweight, is tough to cut—especially solo. For many, spending might skew closer to 75% on needs, 15% on wants, and 10% on savings. Experts say that’s fine; even small steps toward saving beat none at all.

To stretch your dollars, focus on what moves the needle—housing or income—not daily lattes. Skipping coffee might save $2,000 yearly, but halving a $2,000 rent with a roommate nets $12,000. That’s real impact. Boosting your income works too—negotiate a raise or start a side gig. You can only cut so much, but there’s no cap on what you can earn.

💰 Be a Better Investor

Resources:

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• Make Money in Retirement

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

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