Money Worries
Christmas is a wonderful time of year for so many people. We get to spend time with family and friends, share stories, moments, food, and love.

But for a great number of people, the festive season also brings with it worry, stress and uncertainty. I’m talking of course about the financial struggle Christmas can impose.

Almost every year since 2008 the American consumer has increased spending on holiday gifts.

And according to a study by the National Retail Federation, Americans were projected to spend more money on gifts in 2019 than they ever have before.

Keeping up with this need to spend such a large amount of money for the Christmas holidays is totally unsustainable for some. And not only that, but the stress and anxiety to ‘fit in’ with the popular trend are deeply concerning.

So is the answer more borrowing and more debt?

Or is there a better way to solve your Christmas Financial worries?

Mindset Shift
One of the easiest ways to avoid this dramatic overspending is to fundamentally shift the way you think about Christmas. The festive period can be thought of as more than just an abhorrent first world splurge on consumer goods.

Remember the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place and what it actually means for your family. It’s time to come together and reflect on the year that has passed. Lavish gifts are not required to get the full joy of this experience.

It is more difficult to implement this tectonic shift in thinking when you have children. Of course, you need to be mindful of their expectations, their friendship groups, and the limited number of years they have to enjoy the magic of the holiday from a child’s perspective.

But you can still achieve all of this by spending more frugally and making a conscious effort to not drain your savings.

Recommended article: 12 Days Of Spectacular Frugal Christmas Tips

Plan Ahead
Personal finances can be managed much more effectively with more time. Therefore, planning your Christmas and the gifts you buy is a great way to avoid excessive spending. The earlier you begin this process, the better you are able to spend within the framework of your budget.

And more often than not, with the use of tools such as cashback, the more money you are able to save. And saving money is the key to well managed personal finances. It is when we go beyond our budget that we run into problems.

I suggest you start thinking about a specific Christmas budget months before the event. Also, start segregating your savings so that you know you can afford what you need to spend.

After all, everyone wants to be able to enjoy the holidays as much as is feasibly possible. But under no circumstances should you splurge and think paying back at a later date is a good idea.

Recommended article: 13 Wonderfully Awesome Christmas Gift Ideas For Men

Long Term Plan
With long term planning in place and a new mindset instilled, your Christmas personal finances should be on the right path for years to come.

Christmas can be an amazing reflective experience and many people I know actually forgo gift-giving altogether. They use their time to help those less fortunate.

if we could all adopt this sort of mentality when thinking about Christmas, it would alleviate the financial pressures on everybody. This is not something that will happen overnight, but the change is already beginning to occur.

Being on this side of the Christmas financial equation could save you a fortune over the years, and make your Christmas experience less stressful and far more altruistic.

Americans spend a lot of time on their phones. The quality of their online experiences is largely defined by what applications they use, which has created a unique niche market. Developers have already created millions of apps, but there’s always room for innovation and improvement.

Interested in becoming a developer? Making waves in competitive markets can be tough. Follow these tips to maximize the chances of creating the next big cell phone app.

Start by Identifying Unmet Needs

The average entrepreneur getting into app development isn’t going to be able to compete with established industry giants that are already providing valuable services. Instead, he or she will need to identify other Internet users’ needs that are currently going unmet.

Recommended article: 7 Steps of App Development

Start by doing some brainstorming and market research. Keep the focus not on existing apps that are already popular but on ways a new app could fill in the gaps.

Focus, Focus, Focus

Once entrepreneurs have developed a stellar idea, it’s time to focus and refine it. It’s much easier and more effective to develop an app that focuses on simplifying one aspect of users’ lives or online experiences in a specific niche.

If the app is successful, entrepreneurs can switch their focus to adding features and content later. In the early phases, the app should do one thing exceptionally well instead of losing focus and creating unnecessary clutter.

Incorporate Free Content

The best way to get users to try out a new app is to provide basic access for free. If the app offers some value in its basic, free form, users will be less likely to balk at paying for more advanced features or services.

Many successful apps offer both free versions and paid subscriptions. Developers make money on the free versions by relying on ads, then make the paid subscription services ad-free. It’s a winning strategy for everyone from app developers to advertisers and, most importantly, end-users.

Develop for Both Android and iOS

To achieve maximum success, new apps must be able to reach as many potential users as possible. Designing for the two most popular operating systems, Android and iOS ensures that the app will be available to the vast majority of consumers.

Designing for both operating systems requires implementing a cross-platform development framework. Experienced developers know just what it takes to design apps that are perfectly streamlined for both Android and iOS. They also know that cross-platform design will cut back on costs later once the app becomes more popular.

Integrate Offline Functions

The Internet may be more or less ubiquitous in 2021, but that doesn’t mean users won’t appreciate offline functionality. Many users appreciate being able to access their apps’ most valuable features and contents offline. Since positive user experience defines an app’s success, entrepreneurs should plan to meet this expectation from the beginning.

Perform Extensive Testing

Pre-launch app testing is a crucial step in the development process, so don’t cut corners. Experienced developers can work with entrepreneurs to develop a testing strategy that’s appropriate for their apps’ unique contexts and applications. The plan will likely involve not just pre-launch testing, but also beta testing with customer feedback.

Laboratory testing can only offer so much insight into an app’s effectiveness and user-friendliness. Making the app available to beta testers prior to the official launch helps developers determine actual vs intended use. It also helps to ensure that the app will perform as intended in a real-world environment.

Welcome User Feedback

Before end-users get access to the app, developers should ensure that they have an easy channel for offering feedback. In-app communication is key. The app’s customer service channels should be intuitive and easy to access, connecting users to the right types of automated or personalized assistance, and making it easier to submit ratings, reviews, and feedback.

Creating an effective customer communications channel accomplishes three goals:

It motivates users to communicate problems directly to the development team instead of placing the app’s shortcomings in the public spotlight.

It minimizes the chances of users having bad experiences that could cause them to turn to competing apps, boosting app retention.

It gives developers an idea of what steps they could take to further improve the app’s design or service provisions in future updates.

Create an Effective Marketing Plan

Even a flawless app won’t perform well if no one knows about it. Coming up with an effective marketing plan during the development stages can be incredibly helpful. Assume that any successful marketing plan will involve pre-launch and post-launch campaigns.

Effective app marketing plans need to be more dynamic than some entrepreneurs may expect. If, for example, beta testing or initial customer responses post-launch indicate that the app’s actual audience is narrower, broader, or just plain different from its expected audience, the marketing plan will need to change to accommodate new potential users.

As with feature development, marketing plans should be focused. Don’t try to get everyone on-board at once. Remember, even Facebook started out as a highly targeted platform designed with students pursuing advanced educations in mind. It wasn’t until the platform established itself as an industry leader and began to attract attention from additional audiences that it expanded to target other key markets.

Trust the Experts

There’s a reason entrepreneurs hire development companies during the earliest stages of creating new apps. These industry pros know the ins and outs of everything required to create a stellar new product, so don’t be afraid to take advantage of their expertise.

If a professional developer recommends making certain changes, there are good reasons he or she has made that recommendation. Consider it carefully and work with the team to implement appropriate upgrades or alterations.

Ready to Get Started?

Already have an amazing idea for the world’s next big mobile app? The best way to get the development process started is to contact a company that can help. The online world changes fast, so don’t put off making the leap until someone else comes up with a similar idea. Take action and reach out now to discuss the first steps in the development process.

According to a survey conducted in March 2020 and recently published by InterNations, an expat organisation with around three and half million members, the Spanish city of Valencia is the best city in which to live as an expat. The survey assimilated answers from 15,000 respondents on five areas of experience: cost of living, finance and housing, quality of urban living, getting settled and urban work life. Alicante was in second place and Lisbon third, Malaga was in sixth place and Madrid ninth, meaning that five of the top ten cities were in the Iberian Peninsula. Interestingly, out of the 66 cities included in the survey, those top tourist destinations, Paris and Rome, came in the bottom ten. A fact that perhaps tells us more about the type of lifestyle sought by expats than it does about the quality of life in those cities.

Recommended article: The Best (& Worst) Cities for Expats

Around 15% of the Spanish population are foreigners and the twin attractions are clearly, plenty of sunshine and a low cost of living. So, what is it that makes Valencia the expat’s favourite? Spain’s third largest city is situated on the south eastern coast and its location means that it enjoys a climate described by the World Health Organization as ’ideal’. Its 300 days of sunshine per year lift the spirits with weather, which is never too hot, too dry or too wet and a cooling sea keeps the air fresh and clean. Like much of Spain, accommodation is inexpensive, and food and drink are cheap and of outstanding quality.

Recommended article: The Cost of Living in Spain

What makes Valencia exceptional is the quality of urban living which the city has to offer, quite simply, there is just so much to do. Valencia is beautiful and it is beautifully diverse. Its centre is medieval, its cobbled streets dominated by the cathedral with its blend of Baroque, Romanesque and Gothic. Here you’ll find ancient buildings, like the Silk Exchange, ornate churches, the biggest fresh market in Europe and delightful cafes and restaurants by the score. There are thirty-four museums, most of them free or very cheap and fine examples of Rococo, Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture. By contrast, ‘The City of Arts and Sciences’, designed by the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava is science fiction fantasy that looks like it’s come straight from the cover of a vintage copy of Astounding Stories. The scientific and cultural leisure complex is set in the dried-up bed of the river Turia and contains Europe’s largest aquarium, a 3D cinema, a science museum, an opera house and the Terraza Mya gardens. As if all that weren’t enough, there are the 20k of beaches, 6 within the city itself and a further 6 easily accessible by public transport. A further 10k beyond the city is the glorious Albufera National park. The inhabitants of Valencia certainly have good reason to count their blessings and just to top it off, Valencia is the home of Paella.

Travel a little further down the coast and you’ll reach the port-city of Alicante. For many the city is simply the location of an airport, but those who rush straight onward to their destinations are missing out on one of Spain’s great cities. Alicante shares many of the delights on offer in Valencia. The narrow streets of its old town are dominated by the medieval Castillo de Santa Barbara, which looms over the town. There are wonderful cafes and restaurants to be enjoyed, delightful parks and gardens, ancient monuments and historic buildings. Nearby there are fabulous beaches and world class golf courses and like Valencia, accommodation within the city is attractively affordable.

The capital city which features third highest in the survey is Lisbon, Portugal’s hilly coastal capital. Most capital cities are prohibitively expensive places in which to live but despite a property boom in recent years, rental accommodation in Lisbon remains affordable. Portugal also has one of the lowest costs of living in Europe and is rated the third safest country in the world. Once the heart of a great empire, Lisbon is a city full of wonderful architecture and its seven hills afford unexpected vistas at every turn. Lisbon has all the pleasures on offer that one would expect from a capital city: outstanding cuisine, vibrant nightlife, a rich cultural life, museums, galleries and world class shopping. It is an hour from the glorious beaches of the Algarve, enjoys year long sunshine and has an international airport linked to 120 destinations. You can see the attraction.

While living in a place sprinkled with history may sound exciting and appealing to many people, actually appreciating the historical site that might be located across the street from where you live might require an extra second of consideration. The importance of historical events, historical constructions, or historical places might dwindle if you see them every day, but taking a spare moment to acknowledge them will make you feel a sense of wonder, humility, and appreciation. That is what the residents of San Antonio, Texas, experience every day as they walk past the most important historical site of Texas, also known as the heart of Texas, the Alamo.

Like many other historical cities, the city of San Antonio, Texas, began from one structure. One structure that had a mission and managed to attract people to the region. While in the old world in Europe, you might encounter fortresses that stood the test of centuries passing by, in Texas, there is the Alamo. Built May 1, 1718 by Father Antonio de Olivares, the Payaya, and the Pastia Indians, the Mission San Antonio de Valero, known today as the Alamo, is a historic Spanish mission and fortress compound meant to bring education and Christianity to the local American Indians.

Suggested article: The Most Historic Cities in the U.S.

By 1793, Mision San Antonio de Valero was secularized, meaning that its purpose was cast aside, and the dissociation from religion took place. However, the structure remained. Decades went by, and history reshaped it, but the Alamo maintains its appeal for visitors from all over the country. From its stone front to the stories they whisper, this Shrine of Texas Liberty can share its story one more time. If you’re interested in living in the shadows of Texan history, go ahead and contact the local real estate agents in San Antonio TX. You might even discover some new things about the city from them.

Suggested article: Real estate agents in San Antonio TX

The Mission
At the start of the 18th century, the Spanish settlers and their government established several Roman Catholic missions in the Eastern side of Texas. As the distance between the missions was too large, the need for a waystation to simplify supply access resulted in the new mission, San Antonio de Valero, being built in 1718 near the San Antonio River. The leader of this mission was Father Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares, and it started with three to five converted American Indians from Mission San Francisco Solano. Close by, the governor of Spanish Texas founded San Antonio de Bexar, the first civilian community in Texas, the present-day city of San Antonio.

As the first settlement was considered a risk area for flooding, they moved the mission on the river’s west bank within a year. It expanded to 3 acres, and the permanent buildings were erected. The number of mission Indians grew to 300 by 1744, and the mission was self-sufficient with 2,000 head of cattle and 1,300 sheep. The farmland surrounding the mission was covered in crops of corn, beans, and cotton. Aside from the church that was never completed, around 30 adobe buildings were constructed for storerooms, workrooms, and residential quarters for the Indian residents.

The mission walls could withstand raids from Apache and Comanche attackers, and in 1745 around 100 mission Indians drove off 300 Apache raiders, saving the mission and the town from destruction. As a precaution and response to attacks on other missions, walls were built to enclose the convent, church, Indian homes, and cannons placed near the main gate. Because of their increased liability, the missions were stripped of their influence, Apache tribes stole the horses, and the Alamo lost its ability to support a large number of converts. With only 12 mission Indians left, by 1793, the mission was secularized.

The Battle
A nickname like the Alamo might make one wonder about its origins. Nowadays, the Alamo stands for the structure that began the foundation of the city of San Antonio, the original name is still used but it is less known. Still, the name actually started during the 19th century from either the Spanish word for cottonwood trees or from the “Alamo Company” of San Carlos de Parras. The source isn’t clear.

The Alamo saw the first conflicts during the Mexican War of Independence as Mexico fought to secure its independence from Spain. The regional struggles transformed parts of the mission in the political prison and hospital between 1806 and 1812. From 1821 to 1835, the Alamo was under Mexican control until the Texan Revolution came. According to historians, there was a siege at the San Antonio de Bexar that lasted nearly two months after which the garrison was surrendered by the Mexicans to the Texian forces. The victory was deceiving. While General Cos assumed command of 100 Texian and Tejano soldiers, he requested 200 more men from the Texian government, fearing the garrison might not withstand an attack. While the government denied the request and sent only 60 more men, fortification began, and cannons were installed to help defend the Alamo.

Mexican attack started with 1,500 men and the siege lasted for 13 days. The Texian army had limited chances of victory against such numbers. William Travis, co-commander of the Alamo, wrote a letter “To the People of Texas & All Americans around the World”, pleading for reinforcements under the patriotic vow “victory or death”. The result was that 300 men started the Alamo journey, but only 100 reached their destination. The Mexican reinforcements increased their numbers by 1,000. The courage to stand their ground and not cower in the face of such power, even if they knew that death awaited them, lives on to this day in the spirit of San Antonio. Almost all Texian defenders of the Alamo died in battle, and a third of the Mexican forces were killed.

While the Mexican President-General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna saw this victory as a tool to strike fear into the hearts of the Texian soldiers and assumed that it would end their resistance, the opposite happened. The Mexican army was defeated at San Jacinto Battle, and Santa Anna was captured, resulting in the retreat of the Mexican army and the end of the Texas Revolution. This year, the Fiesta San Antonio, the city’s biggest festival that commemorates the Battle of the Alamo was postponed due to COVID on June 17-27, having usually been planned during April.

The Legacy
After the Battle of the Alamo, views of Santa Anna alternated between the national hero who conquered the Alamo and the pariah. With his defeat and capture at the Battle of San Jacinto, disgrace followed his memory, with many Mexican accounts written by outspoken critics of the former President-General Santa Anna. Historical facts from the Battle of the Alamo were overshadowed in Mexican history by the importance of the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848.

The Alamo remained known by the largely Tejano population for its decades of assistance as either a mission, a hospital, or a military post. However, the growing English-speaking population knew it best for the Battle of the Alamo. Determining which of the two sides had more reason and justification for their view is up to you. Still, the growing English-speaking population was heard, and the Alamo imagery of Texian resistance grew. This led to a discrepancy between the two people living in the area, Texians and Tejanos, a drawn line with long-lasting effects until the early 20th century. Social differences divided the inhabitants, and this could also be seen in Mexico. Newspapers were either glorifying Santa Anna as the “Illustrious General” with his “Invincible Army” until his defeat or questioning the Battle of the Alamo’s logic that came at a great cost.

In the United States, the Alamo was remembered and used as a parallel to the Vietnam War. Rationalizing the need to send more troops to Southeast Asia, US President Lyndon Johnson remarked, “Just like the Alamo, somebody damn well needed to go to their aid” when speaking of the soldiers already on the front who were struggling. The backlash came from the public and the media (newspapers), with New York Times underlining the need to remember the Alamo for the “gallant men [who] died needlessly … To persevere is folly. To dare to retreat from error can be the highest form of courage.” The Alamo was the foundation for many anti-war protests during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Alamo inspired historians to write it down, directors to film it, and songwriters to sing it. Its legacy lives on through the books The Fall of the Alamo by Reuben Potter, The Alamo by John Myers Myers, the movies The Immortal Alamo by Gaston Melies (1911), The Alamo by John Wayne (1960), The Alamo by John Lee Hancock (2004) and several ballads like The Ballad of Davy Crockett by Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Ballad of the Alamo by Marty Robbins, or Remember the Alamo by Johnny Cash.

Conclusion
The cry “Remember the Alamo!” was heard first during the battle of San Jacinto when 800 Texans defeated the 1,500 men of the Mexican army. The same cry was revived during the Mexican-American War as the two armies fought during 1846-1848. The most exciting thing about history is that it allows us the time to see how lessons can be learned from it. However, the most important thing is not to forget history because then we are destined to repeat it.

The stories of the Alamo can still be felt, seen, and experienced in the city of San Antonio, Texas. Some might be known by many, some by few, and we are curious to learn more about what happened there. Many long-time residents, possible descendants of survivors of the battle, might have some uncovered histories to share, but you can try to learn more from them.

Suggested article: The city of San Antonio, Texas

Let us know in the comments section below if the history of a place influences your relocation decision. It might make a difference for some and none for others. We’re only asking because we know that this country was forged on the backbone of many small or large battles, and this was just one of them. This was the Heart and Shrine of Texas Liberty. Like & Share this article with friends and family as these little pieces of national history should be remembered and treasured by all.

Arriving and staying in the city of Mumbai is a very rewarding experience for the people especially if they are planning their stay in a very good quality hotel. There is no need to worry because Mumbai is a city that is inclusive of different kinds of hotels that are ultimately successful in terms of providing the people be top-notch quality facilities and features and one such great hotel is Taj Mahal Tower Mumbai. Staying into Taj Mahal Hotel is a dream of many people because of multiple reasons and some of those reasons why people prefer this particular hotel are mentioned as follows:

Suggested article: Taj Mahal Tower Mumbai Hotel Price, Address & Reviews

The hotel comes with a worry-free experience for the guests: In case the people have to choose everything about the trip on their own for example transportation, stay and several other kinds of things then it can be a very tiring experience. But whenever one will go with the option of allowing the hotels to choose and arrange the transportation then one can enjoy a very worry-free trip very easily. The moment when the people will be walking outside they will find the hotel the person of hotel staff holding the placard and they will escort to the transportation being arranged by them. The hotel is very much successful in terms of enhancing the experience for the people so that all the guests can have a worry-free experience because this particular hotel always pays proper attention to the demands of the guests.
The welcoming experience is too good: The moment when the people will walk through the door of the hotel they will be witnessing one of the finest and largest hotel companies of India as well as Asia. Staying in this particular hotel is a very good experience and the people will be greeted with chilled towels, the tastiest non-alcoholic welcome drink, and the flower lei.
It comes with a high-quality museum and art collection: The hotel also pays proper serious attention to the best quality art collection and everywhere people will be looking there will be a masterpiece in the form of painting, sculpture, or artifact and the best part is that everything has been created by the Indians only. There are more than 300 pieces in this particular hotel and along with all these kinds of things; the hotel is itself no less than a tourist destination. Hence, whenever people will plan their stay in this particular hotel they will be availing multiple advantages in the long run.
The rooms are amazing: Every room comes with beautiful new interiors and there are different kinds of categories of rooms and each one of them is ridiculously beautiful. Every room has been designed differently so that people have a top-notch quality experience all the time. The architecture has been paid proper attention and the interior design provided by the hotels is amazing. Hence, whenever the individuals are interested in avail the advantages of best quality interior designing they must go with the option of staying into this particular hotel so that they can enjoy on the trip.
The food is breathtaking: The hotel comes with 11 restaurants and 24 hours of room service for the people. The on-site restaurants are many and they help in providing the people with different kinds of cuisine options, for example, Arabic, Japanese, Mediterranean, western dishes, Indian, Chinese, French, Italian and several other options so that taste buds of every guest are perfectly satisfied and there is no issue to any of the guests in the form of food items. Hence, the variety and flexibility provided by these kinds of cuisine options are top-notch.
The hotel comes with the best service in the industry: Taj hotels are well-known across the globe for the hospitality and services provided by them and Taj Mahal Tower Mumbai is also a very important member of this list. This particular hotel treats their entire staff very well and most of them have been working here for many years and are very much happy. The waiters serve the breakfast perfectly to the people and one will get everything which one normally expects at a five-star international hotel breakfast buffet. Hence whenever the people are interested to take the best possible advantage of top-notch quality hospitality and different kinds of services then depending upon staying into this particular hotel is very much important. To have proper access to delicious and authentic Indian dishes you must plan your stay in the Taj Mahal Tower Mumbai.
The hotel comes with a very good pool: Whenever the individuals are interested to relax and enjoy a good time with them then they can take complete advantage of the pool and several other kinds of facilities provided by the Taj hotel. Taking a dip in the pool is very much relaxing and the best part is that people can even go to the gym after it. Hence, this point is very much successful in terms of making the vacation the best possible experience for the people.
Everybody prefers to stay here: Another very important reason why you should plan your trip to stay in this particular hotel only because this hotel is the first preference of all the celebrities and heads of the states and many of them have already stayed over there. The list is very long and includes President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, John Lennon, Oprah Winfrey, and several other famous personalities. Hence, witnessing great interior and architecture is a great idea with the help of this concept and you must always fulfill your overall dream of staying it to a very lovely place by booking a room in Taj Mahal Tower Mumbai.
The location of the hotel is too good: The Taj Mahal Palace is located at the most famous landmark of the city which is the Gateway of India and everything else worth checking in Mumbai is only 10-15 minutes taxi ride from here hence, the prime location of the hotel is a great reason why you should prefer booking a room here.
Hence, for your next trip if you are planning to visit Mumbai then you must book a room in Taj Mahal Tower Mumbai to avail of all the above-mentioned advantages.

Summary
SPDN is not the largest or oldest way to short the S&P 500, but it’s a solid choice.
This ETF uses a variety of financial instruments to target a return opposite that of the S&P 500 Index.
SPDN’s 0.49% Expense Ratio is nearly half that of the larger, longer-tenured -1x Inverse S&P 500 ETF.
Details aside, the potential continuation of the equity bear market makes single-inverse ETFs an investment segment investor should be familiar with.
We rate SPDN a Strong Buy because we believe the risks of a continued bear market greatly outweigh the possibility of a quick return to a bull market.
Put a gear stick into R position, (Reverse).
Birdlkportfolio

By Rob Isbitts

Summary
The S&P 500 is in a bear market, and we don’t see a quick-fix. Many investors assume the only way to navigate a potentially long-term bear market is to hide in cash, day-trade or “just hang in there” while the bear takes their retirement nest egg.

The Direxion Daily S&P 500® Bear 1X ETF (NYSEARCA:SPDN) is one of a class of single-inverse ETFs that allow investors to profit from down moves in the stock market.

SPDN is an unleveraged, liquid, low-cost way to either try to hedge an equity portfolio, profit from a decline in the S&P 500, or both. We rate it a Strong Buy, given our concern about the intermediate-term outlook for the global equity market.

Strategy
SPDN keeps it simple. If the S&P 500 goes up by X%, it should go down by X%. The opposite is also expected.

Proprietary ETF Grades
Offense/Defense: Defense

Segment: Inverse Equity

Sub-Segment: Inverse S&P 500

Correlation (vs. S&P 500): Very High (inverse)

Expected Volatility (vs. S&P 500): Similar (but opposite)

Holding Analysis
SPDN does not rely on shorting individual stocks in the S&P 500. Instead, the managers typically use a combination of futures, swaps and other derivative instruments to create a portfolio that consistently aims to deliver the opposite of what the S&P 500 does.

Strengths
SPDN is a fairly “no-frills” way to do what many investors probably wished they could do during the first 9 months of 2022 and in past bear markets: find something that goes up when the “market” goes down. After all, bonds are not the answer they used to be, commodities like gold have, shall we say, lost their luster. And moving to cash creates the issue of making two correct timing decisions, when to get in and when to get out. SPDN and its single-inverse ETF brethren offer a liquid tool to use in a variety of ways, depending on what a particular investor wants to achieve.

Weaknesses
The weakness of any inverse ETF is that it does the opposite of what the market does, when the market goes up. So, even in bear markets when the broader market trend is down, sharp bear market rallies (or any rallies for that matter) in the S&P 500 will cause SPDN to drop as much as the market goes up.

Opportunities
While inverse ETFs have a reputation in some circles as nothing more than day-trading vehicles, our own experience with them is, pardon the pun, exactly the opposite! We encourage investors to try to better-understand single inverse ETFs like SPDN. While traders tend to gravitate to leveraged inverse ETFs (which actually are day-trading tools), we believe that in an extended bear market, SPDN and its ilk could be a game-saver for many portfolios.

Threats
SPDN and most other single inverse ETFs are vulnerable to a sustained rise in the price of the index it aims to deliver the inverse of. But that threat of loss in a rising market means that when an investor considers SPDN, they should also have a game plan for how and when they will deploy this unique portfolio weapon.

Proprietary Technical Ratings
Short-Term Rating (next 3 months): Strong Buy

Long-Term Rating (next 12 months): Buy

Conclusions
ETF Quality Opinion
SPDN does what it aims to do, and has done so for over 6 years now. For a while, it was largely-ignored, given the existence of a similar ETF that has been around much longer. But the more tenured SPDN has become, the more attractive it looks as an alternative.

ETF Investment Opinion

SPDN is rated Strong Buy because the S&P 500 continues to look as vulnerable to further decline. And, while the market bottomed in mid-June, rallied, then waffled since that time, our proprietary macro market indicators all point to much greater risk of a major decline from this level than a fast return to bull market glory. Thus, SPDN is at best a way to exploit and attack the bear, and at worst a hedge on an otherwise equity-laden portfolio.

Your stocks to watch for the week ahead are Cheniere Energy (LNG), S&P 500 biotech giant Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), Cardinal Health (CAH), Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Genuine Parts (GPC).

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While the market remains in correction, with analysts and investors wary of an economic downturn, these five stocks are worth adding to watchlists. S&P 500 medical giants Vertex and Cardinal Health have been holding up, as health-care related plays tend to do well in down markets.

Steel Dynamics and Genuine Parts are both coming off strong earnings as both the steel and auto parts industries report optimistic outlooks. Meanwhile, Cheniere Energy saw sales boom in the second quarter as demand in Europe for natural gas continues to grow.

Major indexes have been making rally attempts with the Dow Jones and S&P 500 testing weekly support on Friday. With market uncertainty, investors should be ready for follow-through day breakouts and keep an eye on these stocks.

Cheniere Energy, Cardinal Health and VRTX stock are all on IBD Leaderboard.

Cheniere Energy Stock
LNG shares rose 1.1% to 175.79 during Friday’s market trading. On the week, the stock advanced 3.1%, not from highs, bouncing from its 21-day and 10-week lines earlier in the week.

Cheniere Energy has been consolidating since mid-September, but needs another week to forge a proper base, with a potential 182.72 buy point formed on Aug. 10.

Houston-based Cheniere Energy was IBD Stock Of The Day on Thursday, as the largest U.S. producer of liquefied natural gas eyes strong demand in Europe.

Even though natural gas prices are plunging in the U.S. and Europe, investors still see strong LNG demand for Cheniere and others.

The U.K. government confirmed last week that it is in talks for an LNG purchase agreement with a number of companies, including Cheniere.

In the first half of 2021, less than 40% of Cheniere’s cargoes of LNG landed in Europe. That jumped to more than 70% through this year’s second quarter, even as the company ramped up new export capacity. The urgency of Europe’s natural gas shortage only intensified last month. That is when an explosion disabled the Nord Stream 1 pipeline from Russia that had once supplied 40% of the European Union’s natural gas.

In Q2, sales increased 165% to $8 billion and LNG earned $2.90 per share, up from a net loss of $1.30 per share in Q2 2021. The company will report Q3 earnings Nov. 3, with investors seeing booming profits for the next few quarters.

Cheniere Energy has a Composite Rating of 84. It has a 98 Relative Strength Rating, an exclusive IBD Stock Checkup gauge for share price movement with a 1 to 99 score. The rating shows how a stock’s performance over the last 52 weeks holds up against all the other stocks in IBD’s database. The EPS rating is 41.

Vertex Stock
VRTX stock jumped 3.4% to 300 on Friday, rebounding from a test of its 50-day moving average. Shares climbed 2.2% for the week. Vertex stock has formed a tight flat base with an official buy point of 306.05, according to MarketSmith analysis.

The stock has remained consistent over recent weeks, while the relative strength line has trended higher. The RS line tracks a stock’s performance vs. the S&P 500 index.

Vertex Q3 earnings are on due Oct. 27. Analysts see EPS edging up 1% to $3.61 per share with sales increasing 16% to $2.2 billion, according to FactSet.

The Boston-based global biotech company dominates the cystic fibrosis treatment market. Vertex also has other products in late-stage clinical development that target sickle cell disease, Type 1 diabetes and certain genetically caused kidney diseases. That includes a gene-editing partnership with Crispr Therapeutics (CRSP).

In early August, Vertex reported better-than-expected second-quarter results and raised full-year sales targets.

S&P 500 stock Vertex ranks second in the Medical-Biomed/Biotech industry group. VRTX has a 99 Composite Rating. Its Relative Strength Rating is 94 and its EPS Rating is 99.

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Cardinal Health Stock
CAH stock advanced 3.2% to 73.03 Friday, clearing a 71.22 buy point from a shallow cup-with-handle base and hitting a record high. But volume was light on the breakout. CAH stock leapt 7.3% for the week.

Cardinal Health stock’s relative strength line has also been trending up for months.

The cup-with-handle base is part of a base-on-base pattern, forming just above a cup base cleared on Aug. 11.

Cardinal Health, based in Dublin, Ohio, offers a wide assortment of health care services and medical supplies to hospitals, labs, pharmacies and long-term care facilities. The company reports that it serves around 90% of hospitals and 60,000 pharmacies in the U.S.

S&P 500 stock Cardinal Health will report Q1 2023 earnings on Nov. 4. Analysts forecast earnings falling 26% to 96 cents per share. Sales are expected to increase 10% to $48.3 billion, according to FactSet.

Cardinal Health stock ranks first in the Medical-Wholesale Drug/Supplies industry group, ahead of McKesson (MCK), which is also showing positive action. CAH stock has a 94 Composite Rating out of 99. It has a 97 Relative Strength Rating and an EPS rating of 73.

Steel Dynamics Stock
STLD shares shot up 8.5% to 92.92 on Friday and soared 19% on the week, coming off a Steel Dynamics earnings beat Wednesday night.

Shares blasted above an 88.72 consolidation buy point Friday after clearing a trendline Thursday. STLD stock is 17% above its 50-day line, definitely extended from that key average.

Steel Dynamics’ latest consolidation could be seen as part of a larger base going back six months.

Steel Dynamics topped Q3 earnings views with EPS rising 10% to $5.46 while revenue grew 11% to $5.65 billion. The steel producer’s outlook is optimistic despite weaker flat rolled steel pricing. STLD reports its order activity and backlogs remain solid.

The Fort Wayne, Indiana-based company is among the largest producers of carbon steel products in the U.S. It engages in metal recycling operations along with steel fabrication and produces myriad steel products.

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STLD stock ranks first in the Steel-Producers industry group. STLD stock has a 96 Composite Rating out of 99. It has a 90 Relative Strength Rating, an exclusive IBD Stock Checkup gauge for share-price movement that tops at 99. The rating shows how a stock’s performance over the last 52 weeks holds up against all the other stocks in IBD’s database. The EPS rating is 98.

Genuine Parts Stock
GPC stock gained 2.8% to 162.35 Friday after the company topped earnings views with its Q3 results on Thursday. For the week GPC advanced 5.1% as the stock held its 50-day line and is in a flat base.

GPC has an official 165.09 flat-base buy point after a three-week rally, according to MarketSmith analysis.

The relative strength line for Genuine Parts stock has rallied sharply to highs over the past several months.

On Thursday, the Atlanta-based auto parts company raised its full-year guidance on growth across its automotive and industrial sales.

Genuine Parts earnings per share advanced 19% to $2.23 and revenue grew 18% to $5.675 billion in Q3. GPC’s full-year guidance is now calling for EPS of $8.05-$8.15, up from $7.80-$7.95. The company now forecasts revenue growth of 15%-16%, up from the earlier 12%-14%.

During the Covid pandemic, supply chain constraints caused a major upheaval in the auto industry, sending prices for new and used cars to record levels. This has made consumers more likely to hang on to their existing vehicles for longer, driving mileage higher and boosting demand for auto replacement parts.

Fellow auto stocks O’Reilly Auto Parts (ORLY) and AutoZone (AZO) have also rallied near buy points amid the struggling market. O’Reilly reports on Oct. 26.

IBD ranks Genuine Parts first in the Retail/Wholesale-Auto Parts industry group. GPC stock has a 96 Composite Rating. Its Relative Strength Rating is 94 and it has an EPS Rating of 89.

US Markets were trading in the green on Friday with Dow 30 trading at 30,678.80, up by 1.14%. While S&P 500 was trading at 3,701.66, up by 0.98% and Nasdaq Composite 10,690.60 was also up by 0.71 per cent

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US Markets in green on Friday; Dow 30 up over 345 points, Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500 up nearly 1%
Earlier today, Indian stock markets ended the week on a winning note. It was the sixth straight gains for equity markets. Source: Reuters
US Markets were trading in the green on Friday with Dow 30 trading at 30,678.80, up by 345.25 points or1.14 per cent. While S&P 500 was trading at 3,701.66, up by 35.88 points or 0.98 per cent and Nasdaq Composite 10,690.60 was also up 75.75 points or 0.71 per cent. A Reuters report said that today’s strength was on the back of a report which said the Federal Reserve will likely debate on signaling plans for a smaller interest rate hike in December, reversing declines set off by social media firms after Snap Inc’s ad warning.

Source: Comex

Nasdaq Top Gainers and Losers

Source: Nasdaq

Earlier today, Indian stock markets ended the week on a winning note. It was the sixth straight gains for equity markets. The BSE Sensex ended at 59,307.15, up by 104.25 points or 0.18 per cent from the Thursday closing level. Meanwhile, the Nifty50 index closed at 17,590.00, higher by 26.05 points or 0.15 per cent. In the 30-share Sensex, 13 stocks gained while the remaining 17 ended on the losing side. In the 50-stock Nifty50, 21 stocks advanced while 29 declined.