Understanding Recessions for Investors and Traders: A Rookie's Guide Paid Members Public
What Is a Recession? A recession is a significant, widespread, and prolonged downturn in economic activity. While the technical definition often cited is "two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth," economists actually look at a broader set of factors including employment, industrial production, retail sales, and income. Think
Understanding Deflation for Investors and Traders: A Rookie's Guide Paid Members Public
What Is Deflation? Deflation is a general decline in prices across the economy over a sustained period. While this might sound like good news at first—who doesn't like lower prices?—deflation is actually considered a dangerous economic condition that can trigger a vicious downward spiral. Think of
Understanding Inflation for Investors and Traders: A Rookie's Guide Paid Members Public
Understanding Inflation for Investors and Traders: A Rookie's Guide What Is Inflation? Inflation is the general rise in prices of goods and services throughout an economy over time, which reduces the purchasing power of your money. Think of inflation as a silent thief that gradually steals the value
Understanding the VIX (Volatility Index) for Investors and Traders: A Rookie's Guide Paid Members Public
What Is the VIX? The VIX, officially known as the CBOE Volatility Index, is a real-time market index that measures the market's expectation of volatility over the next 30 days. Think of it as Wall Street's "fear gauge" or "anxiety meter." Rather
Understanding Volatility for Investors and Traders: A Rookie's Guide Paid Members Public
What Is Volatility? Volatility is the measure of how much an investment's price changes over time. Think of it as the financial world's equivalent of a mood swing—how dramatically prices move up and down. Some investments are like calm lakes with gentle ripples (low volatility)
Understanding Monetary Policy Statements for Investors and Traders: A Rookie's Guide Paid Members Public
What Is a Monetary Policy Statement? A Monetary Policy Statement is an official announcement from the Federal Reserve (the U.S. central bank, often called "the Fed") that explains their decisions about interest rates and other monetary tools, their assessment of current economic conditions, and their outlook for
Understanding Interest Rate Cuts for Investors and Traders: A Rookie's Guide Paid Members Public
What Is an Interest Rate Cut? An interest rate cut occurs when the Federal Reserve (the U.S. central bank, often called "the Fed") deliberately lowers its benchmark interest rate—the Federal Funds Rate—to stimulate economic activity. Think of it as the Fed stepping on the economic
Understanding Interest Rate Hikes for Investors and Traders: A Rookie's Guide Paid Members Public
What Is an Interest Rate Hike? An interest rate hike occurs when the Federal Reserve (the U.S. central bank, often called "the Fed") deliberately increases its benchmark interest rate—the Federal Funds Rate—to achieve specific economic goals, primarily controlling inflation. Think of it as the Fed
