Good morning. Investors were treated to a happy surprise over the weekend as the Trump Administration announced a delay in the implementation of a 50% tariff on goods from the European Union (“EU”). Of course, it is only a delay but there is hope that this will bring both sides to the bargaining table and the result won’t be as draconian as it first appeared. Stocks, this morning, are on the rise as a result. To support this is the Bloomberg-reported boost in Consumer Confidence, where the claim is the “truce” is the catalyst behind the largest jump in four years. I had a bit of a shock yesterday as I felt a bit lazy and, not in the mood to cook, ordered a burger from a local tavern. $16 for a basic burger … nothing out of the ordinary … with chips on the side (as fries are extra) … and another $16 for 9 chicken wings. Total bill (including 2 salads and tip): $80. At first, I thought it was because I was forced to order online using Toast or one of those sites that adds a ridiculous “convenience fee,” but that was only $1 more expensive than sitting down at the restaurant and ordering there. And yes, I picked it up. By the way … to have it “delivered?” Over $100 … as the food has a 20% surcharge even before some extra delivery fees. This is crazy. Like many, I have long loved flying Southwest Airlines. Not only have I found the staff to be “customer focused,” and the seating strategy sensible … but the free luggage check-in was quite attractive. Well, this is ending tomorrow … which kind of puts a dent into Southwest’s “uniqueness.” Oh well. It was good while it lasted. There are a couple of interesting articles below dealing with health in a sense … as one item points out a sedentary life is basically robbing you of years. Not only is diet important (duh!) but so is mobility. It takes just a little bit of focus each day … which should be thought of as a habit, not a chore … to help. The thought of exercise leads to a related article on Denmark, where life expectancy is about 3 years longer than that in the U.S. Well, if you ever go to Denmark, one of the most noticeable things is how people seem to bicycle almost everywhere … even in their main cities. And the country made one recent move that others might copy … raising their retirement age to 70. Meanwhile, I often plan to exercise more … and now that I am done streaming “Sirens” (a great show on Netflix), maybe I’ll get out more. Bicycling? Not that … the roads here are not built for it. But there is no excuse to miss out on taking a few minutes out of each day to exercise. Minutes might lead to years. I’ll mercifully end this note here, pointing out that I do practice what I preach. In fact, I just did some stretching exercises … as I remembered my wife keeps chocolate bars hidden on the top shelf. Have a great day, Joseph G. Witthohn, CFA Have any questions? Please contact info@teamemerald.com
|
Call Us: +1 (800) 722-4123 
Back