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Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Investors see risks for market as Powell walks tightrope at Jackson Hole
By Davide Barbuscia NEW YORK (Reuters) -Investors are bracing for volatility as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell walks a fine line between curbing inflation and supporting the labor market, with thin August trading poised to magnify any market moves from his Jackson Hole speech on Friday. Wall Street largely expects Powell will signal an imminent easing in monetary policy, but concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs could reignite price pressures may force him to tread carefully. Meanwhile, Powell faces relentless pressure from the Trump administration to cut interest rates, turning his final address as Fed boss at the Jackson Hole economic symposium into a test of Fed independence. "There is a market tightrope here from a macroeconomic perspective between the inflation data and what's happening in the employment market," said Tony Rodriguez, head of fixed income strategy at Nuveen. "And now you combine that with the political tightrope that's not usually there that he has to navigate. It makes for an incredibly difficult, tricky situation," he said. Adding to the drama, Trump on Wednesday urged Fed Governor Lisa Cook to resign over mortgage allegations raised by one of his political allies, intensifying his effort to gain influence over the U.S. central bank. Cook said she had "no intention of being bullied" out of her post. "This (Jackson Hole) would be a good opportunity for Powell to speak about the importance of independence," said Idanna Appio, portfolio manager at First Eagle Investments, noting that the pressure could eventually lead to a more dovish rate-setting Fed board. A soft July jobs report and hefty downward revisions to earlier job figures fueled bets the U.S. central bank would cut interest rates from the current 4.25%-4.5% range later this year. But a surge in wholesale prices in July dimmed investor hopes for a half-point move at the Fed's next rate-setting meeting in September, leaving markets braced for about two 25 basis point cuts for the rest of the year. So far, consumers have been spared a sharp jump in prices despite Trump's escalating import tariffs, but doubts linger over how much of those duties will filter through to households in the months ahead. "I expect that Powell will signal a change in monetary policy that suggests that we'll resume the rate-cutting cycle on September 17, and markets will welcome that news," said Michael Arone, chief investment strategist at State Street Investment Management. "But I think he'll be reluctant to give too much transparency on the future path of rate cuts, because he knows what he doesn't know," Arone said, referring to the inflationary impact of tariffs. 'EXPECT VOLATILITY' Investors see any pushback from Powell against an imminent shift to monetary policy easing as the biggest risk heading into the Jackson Hole, Wyoming, event, with poor liquidity in summer trading expected to exacerbate the market reaction. "It's next to the last week of August, it's Friday, markets might be a little more susceptible to some volatility as a result of a little bit less liquidity ... (this) might lead to something of an unexpected move," said Rodriguez at Nuveen. Powell's speech comes amid market concerns of stagflation, a dreaded mix of sluggish growth and sticky inflation that could limit the Fed's ability to ride to Wall Street's rescue, just as a tech stock selloff this week highlighted long-standing worries over steep stock valuations. "Stagflation is a risk," said James Ragan, co-chief investment officer and director of investment management research at D.A. Davidson. "If Powell pulls back on the expectation for a rate cut in September, I think stocks would fall in that scenario and you obviously would see probably bond yields rise at least at the short end," he said. To be sure, Powell's address may ultimately be underwhelming for markets. Hot producer prices data in July removed the possibility that the Fed could deliver a jumbo-sized cut in September, limiting the scope for resistance from an inflation-focused Powell against those expectations. At the Jackson Hole conference in 2022, Powell echoed late Fed chair Paul Volcker with a hardline vow to crush inflation. This time, with inflation about 1 percentage point above the Fed's 2% target and a softening but still healthy job market, a subtler balance could be in the cards. Still, a balanced message could be perceived as hawkish, sparking price fluctuations in stocks and bonds over the next few weeks, said Shannon Saccocia, chief investment officer for wealth management at Neuberger Berman. "Our advice to clients has been to expect volatility," she said.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Did I just father a meme coin? Well, accidentally…
Did I just father a meme coin? Well, accidentally… originally appeared on TheStreet. Okay, I'll tell you what happened. Last month, I was writing an article about Pudgy Penguins — the NFT collection turned Walmart toy success story, known across crypto circles. It was a pretty normal day. The piece was supposed to highlight how Pudgy Penguins, against all logic, had outperformed Bitcoin that week in sheer price action. But instead of calling it "Pudgy Penguins" throughout, I used the phrase 'Walmart toy coin.' Why? Because you can literally walk into Walmart, buy a Pudgy Penguin toy, scan a QR code, and unlock an NFT. It felt accurate. It felt fun. It was just one line. That was it — the line that started it all. Apparently, calling something a Walmart toy coin is meme gold. Within hours, an X (formerly Twitter) community popped up. Someone forked a coin. They actually called it 'Walmart Toy Coin.' And no — this isn't a shill. This is just a first-hand account of what happens when the crypto trenches take a throwaway joke and run with it. To be clear: I didn't launch it. I didn't fund it. I didn't promote it. In fact, we never editorialized that phrase in follow-ups because we knew how wild things can get. But still, it happened. On that day, the newly minted "Walmart Toy Coin" was up 50%, data from DEXScreener showed. Market cap hit half a million dollars at its peak. As of writing this, it's back down to $38,000, as most meme coins go. But the community? Still hanging on. Memes are still flying. So... did I just father a meme coin? This is the kind of weird stuff only crypto can make happen. The speed, the spontaneity, the utter chaos of it all. It's funny, but also kind of telling. Anything—anything—can become a coin. A passing phrase. A tweet. A typo. If enough people think it's funny, or relatable, or ironic, they'll ape in. The coin isn't the product. The vibe is the product. We're in an age where making a coin is easier than ever. With platforms like you can launch a Solana-based token in a few clicks. No code needed. According to CoinGecko, of the nearly 7 million cryptocurrencies listed since 2021, 3.7 million have since stopped trading and are considered failed. It means over 50% of all cryptocurrencies have failed. But a handful spark. And when they do, they take on a life of their own. Communities form. Telegrams explode. Memes multiply. And suddenly you're staring at a microculture that didn't exist a day ago. And while Ethereum meme coins have been on a tear lately, it's worth noting that the success rate is still vanishingly low. For every $PEPE or $DOGE, there are 10,000 coins that never even see a chart. What makes one catch on? No one really knows. A good name helps. A good joke helps more. But timing, virality, and tribal momentum? That's the secret sauce. Walmart Toy Coin is a perfect example. It was never meant to exist. It was a throwaway line in a fun market recap. But that's the crypto internet for you — everything's remixable. Your analysis might be someone else's next Ponzi. Your joke might be someone else's LP. It's chaotic, it's dumb, and it's also a case study in how memes move markets. Honestly, the entire experience gave me a bit of insight into how meme culture works in the trenches. It's not about fundamentals. It's about being first, being funny, and being fast. Communities don't wait for permission. If they like the vibe, they'll mint the coin. And if it pumps, even for a day, that's enough. So yeah. I might have accidentally fathered a meme coin. No roadmap. No team. No utility. Just a phrase, a story, and a whole lot of copy-paste culture. The coin's probably headed to zero. But the memes? They'll live forever. That's just crypto. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheStreet or its affiliates. This piece is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. As mentioned above, our team didn't create, launch, fund, or promote the "Walmart Toy Coin." Did I just father a meme coin? Well, accidentally… first appeared on TheStreet on Aug 21, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Aug 21, 2025, where it first appeared. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Nearly 25% of Gen X workers who've been laid off in the last 10 years are still looking for work — here's why
Getting laid off later in life can undermine retirement security, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of Boston College's 2012 to 2022 Retirement Study. Of Americans aged 50 to 65 — many of whom would be Gen X, born between 1965 and 1980 — 14% were laid off once in the previous 10 years, according to the study. And nearly a quarter of those (24%) weren't able to find a new job. And older workers who do manage to find a new job? They may have to accept a low-ball offer to stay employed — especially during a period of economic instability and jobs cuts related to AI and automation. Kevin Cahill, an economist at FTI Consulting, told WSJ that, based on a forthcoming study he co-wrote, older workers who find new jobs take, on average, an 11% wage cut. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it What's going on with Gen X? There's a perfect storm of factors that's making it harder for Gen X to move ahead in what should be the most successful and highest-paying years of their career. Boomers aren't the only ones facing ageism. An AARP study found that 64% of workers over age 50 had witnessed or experienced age discrimination in the workplace. For example, 33% of respondents said there's an assumption in their workplace that older workers aren't as tech savvy as their younger counterparts, whether that's accurate or not. Another challenge — and one highlighted by the 11% wage cut — is that some employers may simply be unwilling to meet their salary expectations. It's a common lament by Gen Xers that they're 'overqualified' for a position, yet there aren't as many senior-level positions available that they would be qualified for. At the same time, they're passed over for leadership roles because they're considered too old. As a recent article in Fortune points out, instead of passing the baton onto the next generation, 'baby boomers are skipping over Gen X in favor of promoting younger talent into their spots.' Sometimes they're even paid less than their younger (and less qualified) counterparts. In a Resume Now survey of workers aged 40 or older, 49% said they earn less money than younger colleagues who do the same job. Another one in five (22%) said older workers are passed over for challenging assignments, while 16% say they have an employer that 'engages in a pattern of passing over older workers for promotions in favor of younger workers with fewer qualifications.' Another assumption is that older workers are close to retirement, so there's no point in hiring them. But many Gen Xers have to — or choose to — work well into their so-called golden years. Read more: Do you own rental properties in the US? The unique financial pressures faced by Gen X At the same time, almost three in five (58%) retirees say they left the workforce sooner than planned, according to a 2024 Transamerica survey. Of those, 43% cited job loss, organizational changes or retirement buyouts as the cause. Some Gen Xers may be forced to retire earlier than planned or take a pay cut to stay in the workforce. Either way, it impacts their retirement plans. Either they have less money to set aside for retirement — at a time when they should be at the height of their earning power — or, if they're forced to retire, they have to stretch their retirement savings over a longer period of time. Even if they wait to start withdrawing funds from their retirement savings, they'll miss out on making additional 401(k) or IRA contributions — including catch-up contributions available to workers 50+. Plus, they may have to claim Social Security earlier than planned, resulting in a lifetime of lower benefit checks (the earlier you claim your benefit before your full retirement age, the smaller your check). While Gen X is often called the 'forgotten generation,' squeezed in between boomers and millennials, they're also the 'sandwich generation,' often caring for children and their aging parents at the same time. 'Many Gen X workers are facing intense financial pressure — from rising costs to juggling the responsibilities of caring for both children and aging relatives, all while managing the highest average debt of any generation in the U.S.,' Silvija Martincevic, CEO of workforce management platform Deputy, told Fortune. For Gen X, they're literally between a rock and a hard place. But it doesn't mean they're completely out of luck. Craig Copeland, director of wealth benefits research at Employee Benefit Research Institute, told WSJ that older workers can reach out to contacts and stay active in industry-related associations. They can also take on gig work, take courses in AI or even pivot to a new career. It could also mean delaying retirement or taking up gig work in semi-retirement. Fortunately, if there's one thing that Gen X excels at, it's adaptability. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now The biggest myth in real estate investing? That you need big money. Here are 5 ways to grow your wealth — starting with just $10 This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchase. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
