MONEY MASTER

  Apple Faces Margin Pressure From Tariffs, But BofA Sees Recovery Ahead Tariff Impact:  $Apple (AAPL.US)$ is absorbing ~$900M in tariff-related costs in fiscal Q3, with another  $1B expected in the September quarter , according to BofA Securities. Margins:  BofA says fiscal Q4 could mark the  trough  for gross margins, with recovery expected afterward on a stronger product mix. Drivers for Improvement: New Product Cycle:  A rumored slim iPhone  Air  (priced  $100 above the Plus model ) could boost replacement rates. Mac & iPad refresh:  New MacBook Airs and iPad Pros are expected to support sales momentum. Geographic strength:  Better iPhone demand in China and steady growth in services revenue. Outlook: BofA expects Apple to deliver  in-line Q3 results  and a slight beat on September quarter revenue. Rating:  Buy Price Target:   $235 📌  Key note:  Despite near-term tariff headwinds, BofA vie...

Singapore’s central bank is likely to  keep its monetary policy unchanged  this week, taking a cautious stance as it monitors the impact of looming U.S. tariffs on growth. Survey Forecasts 14 of 19 economists  in a Bloomberg poll expect the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to hold policy steady. 5 analysts , including Goldman Sachs and Bank of America, predict another easing. The MAS, which manages policy via the exchange rate instead of interest rates, eased twice earlier this year to cushion against global tariff shocks. Why Hold Policy Now? Economic Resilience:  Preliminary data showed Singapore avoided a technical recession in Q2, with growth driven by manufacturing, services exports, and construction. Core Inflation:  At 0.6% in June, price pressures remain subdued, supporting a wait-and-see approach. Stable Outlook:  Economists like Maybank’s Chua Hak Bin expect no further moves this year, citing a resilient economy and “benign but stabilising” i...

Volatility is the only constant. Since President Trump’s second term began, the markets have been on a rollercoaster. Just look at the  VIX  — Wall Street’s fear gauge — which surged above 65 this week, its highest since last August. That’s a major spike, and it signals traders are bracing for more chaos. Some say that when the VIX peaks, it’s a good time to buy stocks. The problem is — how do you know when it’s peaked? Should You Buy the VIX? In theory, yes. In practice, not so fast. You  can’t buy the VIX index directly . You’d need to invest in VIX ETFs or ETNs. These are not simple or safe — they carry credit risk and don’t always track the VIX well. Case in point: in 2018, one VIX ETN imploded during a spike in volatility, wiping out  $2 billion  in investor assets. That moment was nicknamed  "Volmageddon." Also, these ETFs and ETNs come in different flavors (short-, mid-, long-term), and their performance often  diverges from the VIX itself . Eve...