Paul R. La Monica

Nov 21, 2024 | barrons.com | Paul R. La Monica

Good luck finding many sports or music enthusiasts who like Live Nation Entertainment—the concert promoter and venue owner that is also the parent company of Ticketmaster. The list of consumer grievances is long: the litany of fees, complaints about ticket resale prices on the platform, and the glitches that have made it difficult (if not impossible) to purchase seats for in-demand events on the day they go on sale. In short, Live Nation is an easy target for criticism.

Nov 5, 2024 | barrons.com | Paul R. La Monica

Investors are on edge as Americans head to the polls. A popular barometer for market volatility that is often dubbed Wall Street’s “fear gauge” was at a higher than usual level just before Election Day, a sign of just how anxious traders are regarding the outcome of a presidential race that appears too close to call. The Cboe Volatility Index, or VIX, ended Monday at a level of around 22.

Oct 3, 2024 | barrons.com | Paul R. La Monica

Oil prices shot up again Thursday as all eyes remain on Israel and Iran. Energy stocks have also gotten a boost due to the escalation of tension in the Middle East. Big Oil stocks rallied Thursday, even as the broader market fell. Chevron was the third-best performer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average while Valero Energy and Diamondback Energy were among the bigger gainers in the S&P 500. Exxon Mobil , meanwhile, rose about 1%, and was close to an all-time intraday high.

Sep 21, 2024 | barrons.com | Paul R. La Monica

Intel shares got a boost late Friday after the The Wall Street Journal reported that rival Qualcomm had approached the struggling semiconductor company about a takeover. But one fund manager is skeptical that a deal will happen…or that it would even make sense for Qualcomm. “Qualcomm will inherit all Intel’s challenges. There is nothing unique about Qualcomm that can significantly help address those,” said Hendi Susanto, a portfolio manager with Gabelli Funds, in an email.

Sep 18, 2024 | barrons.com | Paul R. La Monica

The Federal Reserve finally cut interest rates, by a half-point instead of just a quarter-point. That leaves investors to wonder if the big move was a late bid designed to keep the economy out of recession or if the central bank is prudently trying to ensure that financial conditions remain solid for a lot longer. Wall Street’s knee-jerk reaction was to initially cheer the news. Stocks rallied Wednesday afternoon shortly after the Fed decision. But the euphoria was short-lived.