Investing

AI and semiconductor stocks have been on a run. Two kinds of critics show up when that happens. The first group reaches for the P/E ratio. They compare it to the S&P 500’s long-run historical average of around 16, a number derived from data going back to the early 1900s and blended across two world wars, the Great Depression, and the postwar boom. “We’re being disciplined,” they explain. What they skip is that the S&P 500 hasn’t actually traded near 16 in any sustained way for decades. Over the last 25 years it has averaged closer to 22 to 25 in normal years and currently sits around 32. The 16 baseline isn’t modern market context. It’s a century-long average that makes today’s multiples look more extreme than they are. ...

If you’ve ever picked up a sterling silver spoon, bracelet, or candlestick and wondered, “What is this actually worth?” you’re not alone. Luckily, there’s a straightforward way to estimate the melt value of any sterling silver item. All you need is the current silver spot price, a kitchen scale, and one simple formula. The Formula The approximate melt value of sterling silver can be calculated with this formula: (Silver Spot Price) × (Weight in Avoirdupois Ounces) × 0.911 × 0.925 ...

When gold jumps, a lot of people instantly start talking like the metal itself just had a spiritual awakening. Suddenly gold is “surging,” “sending a signal,” or “proving” something deep about the future. Sometimes that is true. Sometimes gold really is being bid up for gold-specific reasons. But sometimes nothing dramatic happened to gold at all. The dollar just got worse. That distinction is the whole point of this piece, and a lot of otherwise smart people still miss it. They see a higher gold price and assume gold got stronger. Quite often the uglier, simpler explanation is that the measuring stick got weaker. ...