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Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Pennsylvania

financialnews1 on December 9, 2021

Nearly 2.8 million people in Pennsylvania are signed up for Medicare, making it the fifth-largest U.S. state for Medicare beneficiaries.

Medicare is the government health care program for people ages 65 and older. Medicare Advantage is a bundled alternative to Medicare that offers all the same benefits and usually some extras, such as cost savings on dental and vision coverage.

Medicare Advantage plans offer more benefits than Original Medicare, and they can be cheaper than paying for Medicare and a Medicare Supplement plan. However, they offer less flexibility since you’ll need to get care from within the plan’s network of providers. Weigh your options to determine which plan best suits your needs.

What to know about Medicare in Pennsylvania

About 1 in 5 people in Pennsylvania are 65 and older, and the state offers a variety of Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.

  • The average monthly premium in 2022 for a Medicare Advantage plan in Pennsylvania is $32.79. (It was $38.72 in 2021.)

  • There are 240 Medicare Advantage plans available in Pennsylvania in 2022. (This is down from 244 plans in 2021.)

  • All Medicare-eligible people in Pennsylvania have access to a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan.

Medicare Advantage providers in Pennsylvania

Top-rated Medicare Advantage plans in PA

Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, awards every Medicare Advantage plan a star rating on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being a top-rated plan. Below are plans that received top marks in Pennsylvania for the 2022 plan year. (Check out more information about Medicare star ratings.)

5-star plans

The plans below are rated 5 stars out of 5 by the CMS:

  • Community Blue Medicare HMO Prestige.

  • Community Blue Medicare HMO Signature.

  • Community Blue Medicare Plus PPO Distinct.

  • Community Blue Medicare Plus PPO Signature.

  • Community Blue Medicare PPO Distinct.

  • Community Blue Medicare PPO Signature.

  • Complete Blue PPO Distinct.

  • Complete Blue PPO Signature.

  • Freedom Blue PPO Basic.

  • Freedom Blue PPO Classic.

  • Freedom Blue PPO Deluxe.

  • Freedom Blue PPO Select.

  • Freedom Blue PPO Standard.

  • Freedom Blue PPO ValueRx.

  • Security Blue HMO-POS Basic.

  • Security Blue HMO-POS Deluxe.

  • Security Blue HMO-POS Standard.

  • Security Blue HMO-POS ValueRx.

4.5-star plans

The plans below are rated 4.5 stars out of 5 by the CMS:

  • Humana Gold Plus.

  • Humana Value Plus (select counties).

  • HumanaChoice (select counties).

This list doesn’t include special needs plans, which restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics, such as having a chronic illness or living in a nursing home.

How to choose a Medicare Advantage plan

It’s crucial to ask a few questions as you’re shopping for the right plan. Here’s a quick checklist to help you consider your options:

  • How much are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?

  • Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred doctor (or doctors) or hospital, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.

  • Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?

  • Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?

  • Are there extras? Does the plan offer any additional perks, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?

Medicare Advantage providers

Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.

If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).

Traders ran to these 2 assets during the recent crypto crash!

financialnews1 on December 9, 2021

Image source: Getty Images

The latest flash crash in the world of crypto has left a lot of investors shaken. Extreme volatility is the standard with digital assets, but big drops still take their toll.

During the downswing, it looks like traders were moving out of Bitcoin and putting their money elsewhere instead. Read on to find out where this money was flowing into, and what these movements signal about the cryptocurrency market right now.

Why did the crypto market and Bitcoin crash?

As always, there were a number of factors at play that led to the recent flash crash. But it appears the bulk of the downward pressure was due to wider economic fears and a stock market dip.

However, these big crypto corrections still come as a shock for many investors and traders in the space because they happen so quickly and with little warning.

There’s no slow build-up; it’s more like a match being held to petrol. One second it’s fine, and then – whoosh! – 20% of the whole market value goes up in flames.

What assets did crypto traders move their money into?

When these scary moments happen, it’s natural for some investors to try and make the best of the situation. Perhaps by stemming their losses or looking for gains elsewhere. This is especially true for traders who are more than happy to move in and out of assets at a rapid pace.

Whilst the crypto market was tanking over the weekend, it appears that, en masse, traders began moving funds out of Bitcoin (BTC) and into Gold and Ethereum (ETH).

Why did cryptocurrency make this move?

According to data from the European crypto platform Currency.com, trading volumes in BTC/USD have dropped by 90% since Friday 3 December. And over the same period, the number of traders in BTC/USD fell by more than 48%.

You might think these alternate choices are a bit of a strange move. Gold makes some sense as a commodity hedge against riskier investments. But why Ethereum? If the whole digital asset market is heading downwards, why move from one crypto to another?

Steve Gregory, US CEO at Currency.com explains the growing interest in Ethereum instead of Bitcoin: “It’s interesting to note how ETH has managed to hold its value relative to BTC in the sell-off.

“One reason why ETH has not sold-off as dramatically could be because of the value investors assign to ETH. It is more useful and many cryptocurrency applications are built on the ETH network, such as DeFi and the Metaverse.”

What could be in store for crypto markets?

There’s a lot of tech development happening in the cryptocurrency space at the moment. On top of this, NFTs continue to be a popular pick, and the DeFi (decentralised finance) ecosystem is also expanding.

However, market valuations may not necessarily reflect these advancements. In most cases, this technology is still in its infancy. So the bulk of the money floating around is highly speculative.

At least in the short term, cryptos are going to be greatly affected by what happens in the stock market. To get a sense of where digital assets will be moving, it makes sense to keep a keener eye on shares and the wider economy than the erratic movements of any single cryptocurrency.

Investing in Cryptocurrency is extremely high risk and complex. The Motley Fool has provided this article for the sole purpose of education and not to help you decide whether or not to invest in Cryptocurrency. Should you decide to invest in Cryptocurrency or in any other investment, you should always obtain appropriate financial advice and only invest what you can afford to lose.

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About the author

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George Sweeney (DipFA)

George is a writer and qualified financial adviser focused on educating others in personal finance & investing.


Some offers on The Motley Fool UK site are from our partners — it’s how we make money and keep this site going. But does that impact our ratings? Nope. Our commitment is to you. If a product isn’t any good, our rating will reflect that, or we won’t list it at all. Also, while we aim to feature the best products available, we do not review every product on the market. Learn more here. The statements above are The Motley Fool’s alone and have not been provided or endorsed by bank advertisers. John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays, Hargreaves Lansdown, HSBC Holdings, Lloyds Banking Group, Mastercard, and Tesco.

The Ratings Game: Mid-Cap banks healthy but eye downward pressure on overdraft fees

financialnews1 on December 9, 2021

Jefferies analysts said mid-cap banks look healthy heading into 2022, but the sector faces downward pressure on overdraft fees and the potential for increased scrutiny of M&A deals.

The group of banks including Cadence Bank
CADE,
+4.66%,
Commerce Bancshares Inc.
CBSH,
-0.50%,
Customers Bancorp Inc.
CUBI,
-1.57%,
Eastwest Bancorp Inc.
EWBC,
-0.28%,
Webster Financial Corp.
WBS,
-0.52%
and Wintrust Financial Corp.
WTFC,
-0.60%
offer solid fundamentals overall, said analysts Casey Haire, Tyler Marks and Ken Usdin.

“Despite emerging Omicron concerns, we sensed an upbeat tone on revenue outlook, with management teams generally constructive on loan growth forecasts,” analysts said Wednesday in their summary of the Jefferies Mid-Cap Bank Summit earlier this week. “Deposit growth appears to be moderating, which is a welcome development given the amount of excess liquidity currently bloating balance sheets”

On the risk side, banks highlighted a more stringent regulatory picture and inflation pressure as top risks, amid a wave of consolidation in the industry and moves by larger banks such as Capital One
COF,
-0.52%
to roll back overdraft fees.

See Also: ‘It’s a penalty for being poor’: Capital One slashed overdraft fees. Why haven’t other banks?

“On the regulatory front, we sensed a tougher approval process for M&A (especially larger deals) and greater focus on consumer protections,” Jefferies analysts said. “Overdraft policy was topical in several meetings…with most banks adopting a wait-and-see approach for now, but acknowledging that there is likely downside pressure longer term.”

Banks noted that hiring has become “extremely challenging” with employee-related expenses seen climbing above historical average pace in future years.

Jefferies reiterated buy ratings on Customers Bancorp; Eastwest Bancorp; the soon-to-be merged Wester Financial and Sterling Bancop
STL,
-0.44%
; Western Alliance Bancorporation
WAL,
-1.18%
; and Wintrust Financial.

Analysts maintained hold ratings on Bank of Hawaii Corp.
BOH,
-0.85%,
Cadence Bank and Commerce Bancshares.

The update on mid-cap banks comes in a strong year for bank stocks. The KBW Nasdaq Bank Index
BKX,
-0.74%
is up 36.7% so far this year, outpacing the rise of 25.2% by the S&P 500.

On the regulatory front, President Joe Biden has yet to name a pick for the new vice chair for supervision at the Federal Reserve. It’s the top position in the federal banking system to oversee banking regulations such as the annual stress tests.

See Also: Bank stocks jump as Biden keeps Powell, but decision on top Fed bank cop looms

Meanwhile, Saule Omarova, Biden’s pick to oversee the nation’s largest banks, withdrew her candidacy Tuesday amid bipartisan opposition to her views on banking regulation.

Inflation remains a concern by banks as flagged by Goldman Sachs
GS,
-0.39%
CEO David Solomon earlier this week.

My best places to buy a home for under £100K

financialnews1 on December 9, 2021

Image source: Getty Images

It is no secret that house prices have risen massively over the last year, with the average cost of property in the UK rising by 0.9% each month.

For this reason, prospective buyers are finding it increasingly difficult to afford a home and get onto the property ladder.

House price forecasts would have you believe that you need to fork out more than nine times your salary to afford a home in the UK! However, it is still possible to find property gems for under £100K. You just need to know where to look!

With all that in mind, here are my best places to buy a home for under £100K in the UK.

What kind of home could you buy for under £100K?

Before delving into where you can find sub-£100K housing, it’s important to understand what types of cheap property are available.

It probably comes as no surprise that sub-£100K homes have their quirks. This could mean that the property needs a lot of TLC or that it is fairly small. Furthermore, many homes priced at under £100K are in unusual locations or are rather imaginative dwellings that could see you living in a slightly ‘unusual’ set-up.

There are certainly many things to consider when buying a cheap home! However, if you’re prepared for some serious house hunting, there are a number of great properties on offer.

Where can you buy a home for under £100K?

While finding affordable property in the UK is a challenge, if you look in the right places and are prepared to compromise, there are some great options out there. Here are my top suggestions for under £100k.

The Isle Of Wight

The Isle Of Wight is best known for its seaside towns, countryside and iconic Red Funnel ferry service.

If you’ve never ventured onto the island before, it is just 19 miles from Southampton. This means that in good weather, it is a one-hour boat trip away.

It is because of this boat trip that homes on the Isle of Wight are considerably cheaper than those on the mainland. Therefore, you don’t have to look far to find property for sale that is less than £100K.

Just like the rest of the UK, some homes may need a bit of refurbishment. Nevertheless, there are a number of properties available that you could move into straight away!

West Sussex – houseboats

If you consider yourself to be a water baby, then perhaps the houseboat life is for you.

The beautiful county of West Sussex has a number of fantastic houseboats for sale that won’t cost you an arm and a leg! Many of the cheaper options have only one bedroom and are therefore better suited to couples or individual buyers.

Despite their small size, houseboats can be incredibly charming and come with added character that you won’t find in a regular home.

West Sussex is home to a selection of stunning seaside towns and villages. These include Brighton, Bognor Regis and the castle town of Arundel.

Sunderland

If you head north, then you can find a number of properties for less than £100K. Sunderland South is situated in North East England, and I think it’s a fantastic option for those looking for cheap housing without sacrificing a great area.

Properties in Sunderland South will place you just minutes away from a lively town, a beautiful river and a scenic seafront.

This area is ideal for families who want to buy cheap, with a number of two- or three-bed houses available for under £100K. Many of these houses are terraced or semi-detached but will provide you with everything that you need from a good home.

North London

It may come as a shock that you can buy a house for less than £100K in the capital. However, North London has plenty on offer when it comes to affordable apartments and flats.

Living in London comes with the perks of being right on the doorstep of a number of employment opportunities. The capital also isn’t shy of great things to do and is a great place for younger people to live.

If an apartment or flat isn’t what you’re looking for, you could use your £100K to buy land in the area and build your own property. Building from the ground up is a popular option and often works out cheaper than buying a house directly!

If you look in the right place, it is absolutely possible to buy a home for less than £100K!

Need help saving for a deposit? Here are five tips to help you get onto the property ladder! 

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Avatar for Ruby Layram

Ruby Layram

Ruby is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about all things personal finance. After embarking on her own side hustle journey three years ago, Ruby is passionate about helping others to learn about the ins and outs of persona… Read More


Some offers on The Motley Fool UK site are from our partners — it’s how we make money and keep this site going. But does that impact our ratings? Nope. Our commitment is to you. If a product isn’t any good, our rating will reflect that, or we won’t list it at all. Also, while we aim to feature the best products available, we do not review every product on the market. Learn more here. The statements above are The Motley Fool’s alone and have not been provided or endorsed by bank advertisers. John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays, Hargreaves Lansdown, HSBC Holdings, Lloyds Banking Group, Mastercard, and Tesco.

The Rolls-Royce share price continues to fall. Is now the time to take the plunge?

financialnews1 on December 9, 2021

Following today’s market update, the Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR) share price continued its recent downward trend. However, it still remains one of the most commonly traded shares on the Hargreaves Lansdown platform. It’s not hard to see why. Its competitive advantage is undoubtedly its engineering heritage. But when I am looking at potential companies to invest in, I try to remove emotion from the equation and look objectively at the prospects for the business in the future.

Rolls-Royce operates in an environment where there are significant barriers to new entrants – both in terms of capital and technical capability. After all, assembling engines for the aerospace industry or constructing power systems for industrial markets is not a feat that could be easily replicated by any potential new entrants.

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Although Rolls-Royce is a diversified business with significant operations in defence and power systems, the largest chunk of its revenues (41%) comes from the aerospace division, and in particular from its long-term servicing agreements (LTSA). It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the onset of the pandemic has ruthlessly exposed the risks inherent in such a business model.

Why I continue to remain cautious about Rolls-Royce

For the last 18 months, Rolls-Royce has been in survival mode. It has, and continues to, slash costs. Every time it updates the market, the same key themes keep recurring: restoring its battered balance sheet; improving its free cash flow position; disposing non-strategic assets to improve liquidity; and reducing employee headcount. All good you might say. But what I don’t see much evidence of is how Rolls-Royce will know when it has done restructuring.

Today’s update reinforces my belief that Rolls-Royce continues to view engine flying hours (EFH) as part of its core long-term strategy. But what if they are wrong? What if air travel (particularly long-haul) never returns to pre-pandemic levels? Does it continue to dispose of assets from the business in a desperate attempt to transition to a business model that is more reliant on original equipment sales than LTSAs? Will it need to tap investors for further funds or borrow more money?

Even if EFH do recover to pre-pandemic levels, I still see significant risk. In an attempt to survive through the pandemic, it has shed so many assets (both human and physical) that it is impossible for me to judge how much of this fat-stripping exercise has also carved away muscle too.

At some point, Rolls-Royce will need to transition from a business that is restructuring to one that is capable of reconceiving itself, of regenerating its core strategy. In short, of getting different. I see some evidence of this. The ‘Spirit of Innovation’, its all-electric aircraft, on a recent test-run reached a speed of 387mph. In conjunction with other parties, it is also designing small modular reactors in order to provide affordable, scalable and low-carbon power solutions. These reactors could be online as early as 2030s.

However, with the core of its business so inextricably linked to the aviation industry and with so much near-term uncertainty, I still remain to be convinced that it is a business worth investing in. For now, it remains on my watchlist.

Inflation Is Coming: 3 Shares To Try And Hedge Against Rising Prices

Make no mistake… inflation is coming.

Some people are running scared, but there’s one thing we believe we should avoid doing at all costs when inflation hits… and that’s doing nothing.

Money that just sits in the bank can often lose value each and every year. But to savvy savers and investors, where to consider putting their money is the million-dollar question.

That’s why we’ve put together a brand-new special report that uncovers 3 of our top UK and US share ideas to try and best hedge against inflation…

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Andrew Mackie has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Hargreaves Lansdown. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

The Wall Street Journal: American Airlines to cut international flights due to Boeing Dreamliner delays

financialnews1 on December 9, 2021

American Airlines Group Inc. is planning to trim international flights next summer because of Boeing Co.’s delays in delivering new 787 Dreamliners, according to people familiar with the matter and a draft internal airline memo.

A schedule cut by the world’s largest carrier by passenger traffic
AAL,
+1.90%
is the latest sign of broader fallout for Boeing’s
BA,
+1.05%
prolonged Dreamliner production problems that have largely prevented it from handing over the popular wide-body jets to airlines for more than a year.

Also read: Boeing deals with new defect on 787 Dreamliner amid production problems.

“Without these wide-bodies, we simply won’t be able to fly as much internationally as we had planned next summer, or as we did in summer 2019,” Vasu Raja, American’s chief revenue officer, wrote in the draft internal memo.

A Boeing spokesman said the plane maker deeply regrets “the impact to our customers as we work through the process to resume deliveries of new 787s.” Deliveries are expected to resume by April 1, 2022, at the earliest, later than previously anticipated, according to people familiar with the matter.

An expanded version of this report appears at WSJ.com.

More popular stories on WSJ.com:

Pfizer says booster neutralized omicron but variant may elude two doses.

Amazon outage disrupts lives, surprising people about their cloud dependency.

Economic Report: Jobless claims sink to 184,000 and hit lowest level since 1969 – but there’s a big catch

financialnews1 on December 9, 2021

The numbers: New applications for unemployment benefits sank to a 52-year low of 184,000 in the week after Thanksgiving, reflecting great reluctance by companies to lay off workers during the biggest labor shortage in decades.

New filings tumbled by 43,000 in the seven days ended Dec. 4 from a revised 227,000 in the prior week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Yet the surprisingly low number — it’s the lowest since September 1969 — appeared to stem largely from holiday-related quirks. The government’s method of adjusting jobless claims for changes in seasonal employment patterns often produces big swings around the holidays.

The raw or actual number of claims, for instance, rose sharply to 280,665 in early December from 216,985 two weeks ago.

Jekyll-and-Hyde U.S. jobs report not as ugly as it looks

Big picture: Jobless claims can be jumpy from Thanksgiving to the New Year’s holiday because of all the temporary hiring. Companies add lots of workers in the last few months of the year and let them go after Christmas.

What’s more, the pandemic has further skewed the government’s process for seasonal adjustments. That’s what happened last week.

Yet the number of people applying for benefits is still extremely low and likely to fall even further with the economy growing rapidly.

Companies don’t want to lay off any workers unless as a last resort because they might not be able to find replacements. They have a near-record 11 million jobs but not nearly enough people to fill them.

‘The Great Resignation’ slowed in October, but 4.2 million Americans still quit jobs

Key details: New jobless claims fell the most in the states of Virginia and North Carolina. They rose the most in California, New York and Texas.

The number of people already collecting state jobless benefits, known as continuing claims, rose by 38,000 to 1.95 million. They are still near pre-pandemic lows, however.

Market reaction: The Dow Jones Industrial Average
DJIA,
+0.10%
and S&P 500
SPX,
+0.31%
were set to open slightly lower in Thursday trades.

Revealed! How first-time buyers receive £30k towards buying a home

financialnews1 on December 9, 2021

New research reveals that many first-time buyers are overcoming record house prices thanks to one of the UK’s biggest mortgage lenders – the Bank of Mum and Dad.

So, what else did the research reveal? And how can you get support towards buying a home if you don’t have access to parental help? Let’s explore.

How much help are first-time buyers getting?

According to Zoopla, 64% of parents say they have given financial assistance to help their children get on the property ladder. The average contribution is £32,440, though some parents go much further than this.

The survey shows that 14% have awarded their adult children over £50,000 towards buying their first home, while 4% of parents have bought their adult children a property outright. 

While these figures may seem staggering, it’s important to put these contributions into context. Right now, first-time buyers are facing the highest house prices in history. 

According to the ONS, average house prices now stand at an eye-watering £270,000. This means the typical contribution from the Bank of Mum and Dad equates to just 12% of the average house price. While this is nothing to be sniffed at, the price of an average home has increased by almost £30,000 in 2021 alone. 

This fact, coupled with soaring rents and stagnating wages in recent years, means buying a home is now harder than ever. 

What else does the survey reveal?

The survey also reveals that 24% of first-time buyers believe buying a house would be impossible without help from Mum and Dad. In light of this, 18% of parents say any financial assistance given was a result of ‘guilt or sympathy.’

The survey also reveals that many parents give their offspring help towards other housing costs. For example, 17% of respondents say they currently help their children with mortgage or rent payments. Meanwhile, 8% even say they’ve always made a monthly contribution.

According to Daniel Copley, content manager at Zoopla, those who don’t receive any parental help are now in the minority. He explains, “While it is accepted that many parents give their children help to get on the property ladder, these new figures reveal just how high a proportion of young adults who own homes today have had financial support from their family.

“When looking at the data, it is very clear that average house prices in the UK have increased at a greater rate than salaries over recent decades, reinforcing the notion that it is harder for young adults to get on the property ladder today than it was for previous generations.”

Copley adds that the Bank of Mum and Dad will continue to play a huge part in helping first-time buyers get on the property ladder.

He explains, “Putting more money towards the purchase of a home can help reduce mortgage payments and in turn can unlock lower interest rates, so it’s clear that, when it comes to property, the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ will be in business for a long time to come.”

What help is available for those without access to the Bank of Mum and Dad?

For those unable to access the generous Bank of Mum and Dad, buying a house may seem an impossible task.  

While the government has implemented a number of policies to support the housing market, such as the recent Stamp Duty holiday and the introduction of 95% mortgages, many feel that these support schemes simply help to inflate current prices. 

Despite this, if you’re a first-time buyer looking for help, then it is worth exploring the Lifetime ISA. This is a savings product that allows you to save for a deposit tax free. You can save a maximum of £4,000 per year, and the government adds a 25% bonus to your savings. The total maximum bonus available is £32,000 which is just a smidgen less than the typical Bank of Mum and Dad contribution!

To learn more, see The Motley Fool’s Lifetime ISA guide. 

Please note that tax treatment depends on your personal circumstances and may be subject to change in the future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.

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Avatar for Karl Talbot

Karl Talbot

Karl is a writer specialising in investing and personal finance content. He regularly contributes articles on savings, bank accounts, mortgages, and loans. He was previously a Personal Finance Writer for MoneySavingExpert.


Some offers on The Motley Fool UK site are from our partners — it’s how we make money and keep this site going. But does that impact our ratings? Nope. Our commitment is to you. If a product isn’t any good, our rating will reflect that, or we won’t list it at all. Also, while we aim to feature the best products available, we do not review every product on the market. Learn more here. The statements above are The Motley Fool’s alone and have not been provided or endorsed by bank advertisers. John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays, Hargreaves Lansdown, HSBC Holdings, Lloyds Banking Group, Mastercard, and Tesco.

Metals Stocks: Gold stumbles lower Thursday as dollar strengthens

financialnews1 on December 9, 2021

Gold futures on Thursday were headed lower, as the U.S. dollar picked up steam, weighing on the precious commodity.

February gold
GCG22,
-0.48%

GC00,
-0.48%
was trading $9.30, or 0.5%, lower at $1,776.20 an ounce, following a gain of less than 0.1% on Wednesday. Bullion’s slight gain a day ago helped it notch its first back-to-back advance of the month, thus far.

However, a perkier dollar was weighing on the commodity complex, early Thursday. The U.S. dollar was up 0.3% at 96.147, as measured by the ICE U.S. Dollar Index
DXY,
+0.21%,
a gauge of the buck against a half-dozen rivals.

“There is moderate price pressure on the metals coming from the key outside markets being in bearish daily postures—weaker crude oil prices and a higher U.S. dollar index,” wrote Jim Wyckoff, senior analyst at Kitco.com, in a Thursday note. 

A downgrade of China property company China Evergrande by Fitch Ratings was blamed for some of the downbeat action in financial markets, with the dollar drawing haven bids and undercutting appetite for other assets that are perceived as havens.

“The downgrade may trigger cross defaults on the developer’s $19.2 billion of dollar debt,” Wyckoff wrote.  

Evergrande has been at the center of concerns about the Chinese economy, the second largest in the world, and its overleveraged property market.

Beijing is one of the world’s biggest importers of commodities including gold; so anything that could deliver an economic hit to activity may also weigh on demand estimates for assets such as gold and silver.

Meanwhile, March silver
SIH22,
-2.10%
was trading 50 cents, or 2.2%, lower at around $21.94 an ounce, following a 0.4% decline on Wednesday.

1 FTSE 100 stock to buy in 2022 and hold for a long time

financialnews1 on December 9, 2021

Good results continue to roll in. Never mind the Omicron variant, inflationary concerns or even a slow recovery. I think this bodes well for the FTSE 100 index, which has regained its mojo over the last couple of sessions after dipping in the immediate weeks preceding them. I would go so far as to say that some companies might even support it over the long term, like the packaging provider DS Smith (LSE: SMDS).

DS Smith reports robust results

The company reported continued strong results for the half-year ending 31 October. Its revenue increased by 22% from the corresponding six months of 2020 on a constant currency basis, which is robust enough. But the real highlight of its earnings report is the massive 88% rise in its post-tax profits. 

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Dividend increase for the FTSE 100 stock

With this big increase in earnings, the company has also upped its dividends. Its interim dividend is up 4.8p , an increase of 20%. As a result, its dividend yield is now at 3.4%, which is just a bit below the FTSE 100 average of 3.5%. I have said earlier that at this point, I am most interested in stocks that have a minimum dividend yield of 4%. This is because UK inflation is forecast to be 4% in 2022. So, I want my real returns to be at least that much, and I certainly do not wish to lose money. 

However, in this case, I am willing to make an exception. The company has grown its dividends quite a bit over time. So, chances are that if I am ready to hold the stock for the long term, the dividend yield on my investments in the stock would eventually look much higher than they do if I were to buy the stock today. My estimates suggest that if I had invested in the stock some 10 years ago, my dividend yield would be 6.3%.

Long-term structural drivers

In my view, this is indeed a stock for me to buy for the long term. The reason is simple. There has been a structural shift in its favour. It services the thriving e-commerce sector, which has received an unexpected boost during the past year. And it is quite likely that this uptrend will continue. For the relatively short term, this assessment is backed by the company’s forecasts as well. It expects “significant improvement in profitability during the second half of this year”. 

Risks to the stock

I do think, however, that there could be some risks to the forecast going by the rise in inflation that has been happening. So far, DS Smith has been able to mitigate the cost challenge by passing on higher prices to end customers, hedging energy costs and entering into long-term agreements with suppliers. And this may well serve the company going forward as well. But still, I think as a potential investor in the stock I want to keep a watch on this particular aspect. 

However, I do believe that this is a good stock for me to buy for the long term. It is on my list of stocks to invest in during 2022, if not before that. 

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Manika Premsingh has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended DS Smith. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

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