If you’re unfamiliar with what stocks are, here’s a basic explanation: Stocks represent ownership claims in businesses. These claims are represented by securities that are listed on a public stock exchange. You can buy and sell stocks in many different ways. You may consider investing in stocks if you’re interested in making a profit.
The week of October 10 through 14 is packed with earnings reports and economic data. Pepsico and Walgreens Boots (NASDAQ: WBA) will kick off the week’s economic events. Other events include Federal Reserve Vice Chair Jerome Powel’s comments at the end of the trading day on October 10th.
Stock market volatility can impact the global economy. The Great Recession, the second-largest recession in history, illustrated how fragile our economy is and how devastating its fallout can be. While we can’t predict the future, we can at least be prepared for it by taking steps now to protect ourselves. The key is to stay calm and avoid panic and to invest in stable companies.
While stocks have soared from mid-June lows, they remain vulnerable to rising interest rates and inflation. To continue to sustain an uptrend in stocks, investors will need to see a downward trend in inflation and a shift away from aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Ultimately, the key is a “soft landing” from the Fed, which means moving rates high enough to cool economic activity but not enough to cause a recession.
