It’s a myth that the summer break is an anachronism of our agrarian roots. In fact, the summer break, created by 19th century reformers to standardize the school calendar, is rooted in pre-air conditioned urban schools, which made the summer months the most sensible period for taking a break. What is a not a myth, however, is the “summer slide” in academics … and studies show this.
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Many investors are attracted to thematic investing because it allows them to invest in strongly held convictions about the future (e.g., artificial intelligence) or according to their values (e.g., decarbonization). In a March 2021 survey, investors reported holding 28% of their portfolios in thematic instruments or strategies, with that share expected to grow to 35% in the 18 months following.
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Inflation is a tax that hurts all income earners. For lower income workers, higher costs mean very difficult tradeoffs that have an impact on everyday living. For higher income earners, it may have less of an impact of their standard of living, but higher expenses can erode the ability to save sufficiently for future goals, like retirement. There are a number of ways individuals and families can respond to rising prices and mitigate their harmful impact.
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China took a different path in response to the global outbreak of COVID-19, pursuing a policy of zero tolerance for COVID infections, which meant meeting any signs of virus infection with lockdowns and isolation to prevent its spread. While the approach seemed to work well early on, China has been undergoing rolling lockdowns throughout the country, including port cities. The economic impact has been significant.
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Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States, a celebration of the freedom granted to African-Americans that is focused on education and achievement. As with most federal holidays, the stock and bond markets will be closed in observance of the holiday, and since it falls on a Sunday this year, markets will be closed on Monday, June 20th.
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