Research and discuss the following issues assigned below.

Write about all 25 questions.

Short written answer, no less than one, and no more than three paragraphs each question, single spaced, and elaborate

Graded on organization, and application of course content.

**** Reports need to include "current" data to support answers.

1. Which Federal Reserve District enjoyed the highest and lowest economic growth in the previous quarter (3rd Quarter - 2024). How does Cleveland's district compare. 2. Based on current mortgage rates (residential and/or commercial), what advice would you provide to real estate agents and investors for the next six the eighteen months. 3. Who are the most influential women leading financial institutions today. Do you believe women in positions of influence are having an impact on the establishment. Explain. 4. What is the importance of a legal infrastructure to support financial markets. Do you believe in and support the idea of sanctity of property. How does this relate to our class... 5. Describe the "Magnificent Seven Stocks" and explain how the performance of these seven companies can distort expectations of major US stock market indexes 6. How large is the current US federal deficit and debt at this time. How would you contrast this to the other side of the balance sheet. What do we have to show for that debt. 7. Describe the state of energy markets in the world today. How do they effect financial markets. Which energy price is most concerning at this time. eia.gov/todayinenergy/prices 8. Describe US trade relations with China. Do the two economies appear to be de-coupling. How will this effect international financial markets. What about foreign exchange rates. 9. Name the central banks of Europe, Japan, England, China, and Canada and their leaders. How do their strategies differ from the Federal Reserve at this time. 10. What action do you expect the Federal Reserve Board's Open Market Committee (FOMC) to announce at it's next scheduled meetings in and December and January (2 meetings). 11. What is Fintech, Machine Learning and Regenerative AI (Artificial Intelligence). Are these the same things. How is it effecting financial markets and your career after college. 12. As interest rates appear to be falling, how will this impact the earnings of financial institutions. Be specific about how it is expected to impact different types of institutions. 13. Describe the current value of the US Dollar against a basket of world currencies. Is it relatively strong or weak. How does this benefit US consumers, exporters and importers. 14. How important is Ohio, and northeast Ohio in the development of bitcoin and blockchain. What opportunities are you seeing for this region, and your career. 15. What is household "Net Worth" in the United States. How wealthy are we as a country (see Federal Reserve - Financial Accounts of the United States Z.1). Are we fighting for scraps! 16. How are events in Eastern Europe or The Middle East (Ukraine and Israel/Palestine) effecting financial markets. What financial market indicators reflect the seriousness. 17. What is the difference between the University of Chicago and Harvard's economic theories. How do these approaches relate to the regulation of financial markets (any market). 18. Fed Chairperson Jerome Powell speaks frequently. Based on his most recent comments, how would you describe his opinion on interest rate policy and the US economy. 19. Based on the most recent election, how much influence should the White House have on interest rate policy. What are the dangers of a Fed that is not independent. 20. How has the COVID episode impacted financial markets and institutions as of today. Describe successful/failed Federal Reserve (monetary) and Government policies (fiscal). 21. Describe interest rate spreads. What do these spreads reflect. See: fred.stlouisfed.org/categories/33446 - do not confuse these spreads with bank profits (net interest spreads). 22. Describe how commercial property losses are affecting the banking system throughout the world, and how this can impact this US banking system? 23. Identify two "developed" countries experiencing the highest/lowest inflation rates in the world at this time. How does this compare to how inflation is being managed in the USA. 24. List the top five pension funds in the world and how big are they currently. What issues are these large pension funds most likely to support/oppose. 25. Financial institutions such as Vanguard have refused to allow bitcoin or crypto-related products to trade on their platforms (ETFs). Are you agreeable with their point of view.