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Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. – Proverbs 24:3-4
The author of this proverb uses a metaphor of wisdom as the source of protection (a house being built and established) and blessings (being filled with precious and pleasant riches).
We cannot escape the importance of wisdom, as it thunders across the pages of scripture from the Old Testament to the New. From proverbs like this one to the accounts of sanctified sinners throughout biblical history and beyond, we see with clarity that wisdom brings blessing. Let us, therefore, ask for wisdom and seek wisdom as we would hidden treasure. And let us look to our ultimate example for wisdom from the wisest man who ever lived: Jesus Christ.
If you want to study the scriptures and learn more about the truth of the gospel, join our weekly Bible Study every Friday morning at 6:30 Eastern time, 5:30 Central time. Click here to learn how to join.
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FOR THE WEEK: All three Wall Street indexes scored weekly gains.
The DJIA gained 503.54 points, or 1.3%, to close at 39,131.53.
The Nasdaq rose 221.17 points, or 1.4%, ending at 15,996.82.
The S&P added 83.23 points, or 1.66%, closing at 5,088.80.
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 62.42 points, or 0.16%, to close at 39,131.53; the Nasdaq Composite dropped 44.80 points, or 0.28%, ending at 15,996.82; the S&P 500 added 1.77 points, or 0.03%, closing at 5,088.80.
U.S. stocks traded mixed toward the end of trading, with the Nasdaq Composite falling around 0.2% on Friday. The Dow traded up 0.23% to 39,158.52 while the NASDAQ fell 0.19% to 16,011.27. The S&P 500 also rose, gaining, 0.11% to 5,092.83.
Health care stocks rose late Friday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index adding 0.6% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) up 0.6%.
Tech stocks were lower late Friday afternoon, with the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) down 0.3% and the SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) falling 1.7%. The Philadelphia Semiconductor index fell 1.2%.
Financial stocks were higher in Friday afternoon trading with the NYSE Financial Index adding 0.3% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) up 0.6%.
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Consumer stocks were mixed Friday afternoon, with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) increasing 0.6% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) down 0.5%.
Energy stocks fell late Friday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index down 0.3% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) shedding 0.5%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index dropped 1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index rose 1%.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell to $76.66 a barrel, while the global benchmark Brent crude contract dropped to $81.73 a barrel. Henry Hub natural-gas futures fell 8% to $1.69 per 1 million BTU.
Gold closed with a gain on Friday as the dollar weakened and treasury yields were mixed. Gold for April delivery closed up $18.70 to settle at $2,049.40 per ounce. Platinum futures gained at $906.80, Palladium rose to $978.50. Silver was up 1% to $22.95, but was down 1.8% so far in the week.
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Nvidia (NVDA) briefly hit $2 trillion in market value on Friday, riding on an insatiable demand for its chips that made the Silicon Valley firm the pioneer of the generative artificial intelligence boom.
Three major brokerages expect the U.S. Federal Reserve to lower interest rates in June, months later than what markets were predicting earlier this year, as sticky inflation fanned concerns of cutting rates too soon.
U.S. Treasury yields fell from multi-month highs on Friday as investors consolidated positions after a week-long run-up, with the market having fully priced in the shift in the Federal Reserve's monetary policy outlook to a gradual easing path.
U.S. business activity cooled in February and there was encouraging news on inflation, with a measure of prices paid for inputs falling to the lowest level in nearly 3-1/2 years, which could allay fears that price pressures were picking up.
Chipmaker Nvidia is replacing Tesla as Wall Street's most traded stock by value, adding to its prominence after becoming the third-most valuable U.S. company and showing more evidence of how central AI-related bets have become to investors.
No single stock has embodied the U.S. market's artificial intelligence fervor as much as Nvidia Corp ( NVDA ), leaving Wall Street tied to the fluctuations of its volatile shares.
The U.S. Federal Reserve will cut the federal funds rate in June, according to a slim majority of economists polled by Reuters, who also said the greater risk was the first rate cut would come later than forecast rather than earlier.
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. fell by 0.4 percent in January 2024 to 102.7 (2016=100), following a 0.2 percent decline in December 2023.
Interest payments on the national debt are the fastest-growing part of the federal budget – and are poised to leapfrog both Medicare and defense spending in 2024, according to new projections published by the Congressional Budget Office.
The share of global fund managers who believe that a “systemic credit event” is the top risk to markets in February jumped about five percentage points from the previous month, according to a new Bank of America survey.
The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits fell to its lowest level in five weeks, even as more high-profile companies announce layoffs.
The S&P Global US Services PMI fell to 51.3 in February from 52.5 in January. Market expectations were 52. Results pointed to 13 straight months of expansion in the private services sector, albeit at a slower pace.
Existing-home sales increased 3.1% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4 million. Sales were 1.7% lower than the same period last year.
The ability to cover an unexpected medical bill or the cost of health care services tops U.S. adults' financial concerns, outranking worries over routine costs.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) said Thursday credit card companies' interest on loans was at an all-time high, costing customers about $25 billion extra each year.
U.S. new vehicle sales are expected to rise 1.4% in February from a year earlier, driven by robust demand and a better supply of vehicles, according to a joint report by industry consultants J.D. Power and GlobalData.
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JUST THE NEWS, GROUNDED IN TRUTH. | |
FISM NEWS is a conservative news source that approaches each story from a biblical worldview. Watch FISM News weekdays at 5pm ET 4pm CT on fism.tv/watch. | | |
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Theological stances vary among potential Trump running mates
As former President Donald Trump continues to mull his vice-presidential selection, both he and voters, particularly Christian voters, will have to appraise each potential running mate using a consistent rubric.
While there are myriad options available, the field of mass communication scholarship has an approach that should prove useful.
In the world of public relations, there are numerous methods for assessing one’s client or organization, but few are as ubiquitous as the SWOT analysis.
Read More
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Abortion Activists Embrace Satanism in Post-Roe America
Abortion is increasingly and unapologetically linked to Satanism by its advocates.
A Texas university’s display of a monument to abortion with satanic imagery has prompted outrage from pro-life groups and community members.
The 18-foot-tall golden statue on display at the University of Houston features a female figure with tentacle-like arms and braided hair twisted into the shape of goat horns, bearing a striking resemblance to “Baphomet,” a pagan deity tied to the occult. Artist Shahzia Sikander, the sculpture’s creator, said that the figure’s lace neck piece is a tribute to late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Read More
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Pence Launches $20M Initiative to Fight “Unprincipled Populism”
On Thursday, former Vice President Mike Pence announced a $20 million investment into his nonprofit organization to promote traditional conservative values, according to RealClearPolitics.
The news outlet reported that Pence’s “American Solutions Project,” the offshoot of his Advancing American Freedom nonprofit, is meant to define the conservative movement as “bigger than any one moment, election, or person” underlined by a warning against “unprincipled populism.” The latter was a key talking point in Pence’s brief 2024 presidential campaign, and it did not gain traction then.
Read More
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UAB Pauses IVF after Supreme Court Ruling
Alabama’s Supreme Court gave a historic ruling late last week that gave frozen embryos the same rights as children – and now the ripple effects have begun.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has paused in vitro fertilization procedures in light of the ruling, due to fear of criminal prosecution and lawsuits. The school released a statement in which it said, “We must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages.”
The court’s decision is receiving a ton of blowback. But not all are criticizing the decision.
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The FISM (Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries) is the home of the program Financial Issues which focuses on financial headlines, investing, politics and encourages people to be thoughtful stewards of the money God has entrusted to them. Financial Issues is a live call-in radio and TV program heard and watched internationally. | |
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Disclaimer: The information and data provided in this communication is meant for informational purposes only. It is the option of an individual and should not be regarded as an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy, or a recommendation of any security, or as an offer to provide financial planning or investment advice. You should consult with your Financial Planner, Adviser and your Tax Account to make sure of the suitability for you of any investment you make. Understand that ALL investments contain risk of loss of principal and that should always be considered before investing. The user bears the sole responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information obtained from Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries, Daniel J. Celia, or Shana Burt of Exodus Financial Services and GA Repple. Although the information provided is obtained or compiled from sources believed to be reliable, Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries, Daniel J. Celia and Shana Burt of Exodus Financial Services and GA Repple do not guarantee the reliability, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of any information or data made available to the recipient of this message for any particular purpose.
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