STOCK MARKET WATCH -- Friday, 4 August 2023

[Tansy_Gold]

STOCK MARKET WATCH, Friday, 4 August 2023

Previous SMW:
SMW for 3 August 2023



AT THE CLOSING BELL ON 3 August 2023


Dow Jones 35,215.89 -66.63 (0.19%)
S&P 500 4,501.89 -11.50 (0.25%)
Nasdaq 13,959.72 -13.73 (0.098%)

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Market Conditions During Trading Hours:

Google Finance
MarketWatch
Bloomberg
Stocktwits

(click on links for latest updates)

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Currencies:













Gold & Silver:






Petroleum:

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DU Economics Group Contributor Megathreads:

Progree's Economic Statistics (with links!)
mahatmakanejeeves' Rail Safety Megathread
mahatmakanejeeves' Oil Train Safety Megathread

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Quote for the Day:

Higher education is fundamentally different from other civil rights arenas. Civil rights policies are usually challenged by institutions that are being forced to pursue racial goals they oppose. Most affirmative admissions and aid policies, on the other hand, are purely voluntary efforts to achieve goals the colleges themselves support. Outside the South, colleges have not faced court orders or federal sanctions to force them to admit minority students; even in the South, there has been little such enforcement. The great majority of colleges want to maintain their civil rights policies. But white students and right-wing legal action groups trying to impose a change on these institutions are asking federal courts to prohibit these voluntary efforts and prescribe different admissions policies.

Gary Orfield. "Campus Desegregation and Its Alternatives" in Chilling Admissions: The Affirmative Action Crisis and the Search for Alternatives. Gary Orfield and Edward Miller, editors. The Civil Rights Project: Harvard College. © 1998.

This thread contains opinions and observations. Individuals may post their experiences, inferences and opinions on this thread. However, it should not be construed as advice. It is unethical (and probably illegal) for financial recommendations to be given here.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Consumerism life is ending

I went shopping this week. Place I've gone to for 50 years. The mall is emptying out as the leases expire. Parts of the parking lot sold for new retail and new housing. The stores are stocked with leftovers. There are no bargains. We don't shop retail any more. We go online, and I really hate that. Shopping was a big event. A day out, often with the family when younger, lunch or dinner, purchases to be proud of and enjoyed. It's all kaput.

Half the stores are independent retreads given discounted space. Stuff you'd find on eBay. Costumes, jewelry, smoothies. Vending machines where you deposit money, like when I was 5 years old. I went to a thrift store. Picked over. Just buy and toss the junk, some sucker will pick it up. Best Buy is running slim. Didn't see a discount laptop, like on their website. In fact compared to 3 years ago when I went there the place is sparse. But you can buy a $7,000 Super HDTV. There are so many streaming services hooked up to various brands I can't name any of them. And there are $3,000 refrigerators. For your McMansion I guess. I don't think I've ever been in a house larger than about 2400 sq feet. Surely not. Most of what I own they don't make parts for anymore. Good on me I don't need anything. You can only wear one pair of pants at a time.

[Tansy_Gold]

2. We're dinosaurs . . . .

. . . .just waiting for the meteorite.

I haven't turned my 20+ year old TV on since election night 2020; watched the 2022 returns online. My toaster was a wedding gift in 1969. Ditto on the Corningware I still use, and most of my tableware. I do a lot of sewing, make my own clothes so I only buy ready-made jeans, shorts, and undies. And I wear everything until it wears out far beyond donation to anyone. It's how I live comfortably on a modest income.

Some people, I guess, derive happiness just from buying "stuff." That's another of those things I don't understand.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. I can relate to the 20 year TV

though mine is about 2010 vintage. I never use it. Disconnected cable 2012, use the internet for TV. I can get Tubi on smart phone. Not that I recognize 1% of the programming.

Today's toasters would never last 50 years. Modern shoes can barely hold up 3 years.

[DemReadingDU]

3. Agree with both of you

Mid-70s and now we are in doctor loops. We're not supposed to get old, lol!