Since its launch, WhatsApp has gradually built its reputation as a reliable messaging platform. But now, with AI and creative features accelerating its evolution, it’s no longer just about sending messages it’s about enhancing experience. Here’s a look at several recent advancements that combine utility, fun, and privacy.

Animated Emojis, Stickers & Chat Style

WhatsApp has introduced animated emojis that move or bounce, offering more expressive ways to react. There’s also a new sticker maker that lets users convert short video clips into stickers, and avatar‑based social stickers in one‑on‑one chats. These features serve to make conversations more lively and personalized. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Customization: Themes, Wallpapers, and More

Customizing chats now goes beyond just background images. WhatsApp provides vibrant new themes, dozens of wallpapers, and full control over how chats look. For many users, personalization adds comfort and identity to the messaging experience. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Notifications & Filters Upgraded

To reduce overwhelm, WhatsApp added unread‑chat counters in filters, along with clearer control over chat notifications (for example turning off those tiny dots). These changes help users manage message overload and prioritize what’s important. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Video Tools: Playback Speed, Backgrounds, Filters

Some major improvements in media handling: users can now change video playback speeds (1.5×, 2×), adjust backgrounds in video calls using AI‑generated images, and apply filters/effects. These features allow more flexibility & fun especially when consuming or producing video content. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Smart AI Features: Writing Help & Message Summaries

As noted earlier, WhatsApp’s AI tools also help in writing messages (tone/style suggestions) and summarizing unread chats. These are especially helpful when you’re busy or want to ensure your words land correctly. The AI operates with privacy in mind via Private Processing. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Balancing Innovation and Privacy

Every time WhatsApp adds more capability, the privacy question comes up. Meta is trying to keep a balance by giving users control (for example ability to disable certain AI features), ensuring encryption, and processing some AI tasks on device. Still, researchers are watching closely for security vulnerabilities, like those in WhatsApp’s encryption handshake mechanisms. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Implications for Users & What to Expect

These updates mean users can expect more powerful tools not just for messaging, but also content creation, customization, and managing information. The friction is lower: fewer steps, more intuitive UI. But also, users will need to adapt, decide what to enable/disable, and stay aware of privacy settings. Future directions may include deeper AI memory/context, voice models, more seamless integration across devices, and perhaps augmented reality or immersive features. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Conclusion

WhatsApp’s trajectory makes it clear: it’s not just catching up with technology trends, it’s helping set them. The mix of expressive, intelligent, and private enhancements shows the platform wants to be both fun and functional. For many, this is welcome; for some, it’s cause to be cautious. Either way, the role of AI in WhatsApp is here to stay, and likely to grow.

WhatsApp, the ubiquitous messaging app used by over 2 billion people worldwide, has moved well beyond simple text and voice messages. In recent years, Meta has injected powerful artificial intelligence (AI) tools that are transforming how we communicate, increasing productivity, and reshaping user expectations. From writing assistance to summarizing messages, here’s how AI is now central to WhatsApp’s evolution.

1. AI‑Powered Writing Help: Tone, Style, and Clarity

One of the standout features is Writing Help, which uses AI to assist users in refining their messages before sending. If you’re unsure whether something sounds professional, friendly, or supportive, the tool suggests adjustments. Importantly, this works *on‑device* using Meta’s “Private Processing” technology, which means message content does not leave your phone for processing. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

2. Summarizing Unread Messages

For users overwhelmed by unread chats, WhatsApp now offers AI‑generated summaries. Rather than reading every unread message, you can see a bulleted summary, letting you catch up quickly. Initially launched in the U.S. in English, WhatsApp plans to roll this out to more countries and languages. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

3. AI Generated Backgrounds for Video Calls

Video calls are getting a facelift. WhatsApp added the ability to use Meta AI to generate backgrounds for your video calls: type in a prompt, and the AI creates a backdrop. This adds creativity, personalization, and a touch of fun. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

4. More Expressive Chats: Stickers, Emojis, Animated Elements

Beyond just utility, WhatsApp is adding emotional richness. Animated emojis, avatar stickers, custom video‑based stickers, and effects are making conversations more engaging. Simple gestures like reacting to messages or using animated stickers make interactions feel more alive. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

5. Privacy and Security in the AI Era

All these AI enhancements raise valid questions about privacy. Meta tries to address them via Private Processing: the AI‑powered features (like Writing Help) occur on your device rather than in the cloud, minimizing data exposure. Moreover, WhatsApp continues to use end‑to‑end encryption for messages. But technical analyses, like ones on handshake mechanisms, show there are always new challenges in ensuring full privacy. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

6. What This Means for Users & Future Trends

For users, these features mean more convenience, better efficiency, and modes of self‑expression. For example, summarization means less time catching up; tone adjustment helps in professional contexts. On the flip side, there’s a growing expectation for always more AI integration—some welcome it, some resist it, especially when they feel features are intrusive or unwanted. Future trends likely include smarter memory/contextual AI (so the app remembers past chats to better assist), more voice/visual‑AI features, and even augmented or virtual reality extensions. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Conclusion

WhatsApp isn’t just a messaging app any more it’s becoming a hybrid communication tool powered by artificial intelligence. While Meta aims to maintain privacy and security, the trade‑offs and user acceptance will be key to how successful these changes become. If you’re a WhatsApp user, the now‑and‑coming AI features will likely touch almost every part of your use, whether you’re composing messages, catching up on chats, or making video calls.

Table of ContentsBest Ways To Start Online Marketing With Little Money6 Things IMers Need to Know About Your Marketing Campaign

Marketing Campaigns Don’t Come Free… or do they?

Free Marketing Tools… Yes!

Don’t Underestimate Social Media

Tell Your Story – It Matters

How to Start Online Marketing with Zero Experience

Don’t Just Walk Away

Best Ways To Start Online Marketing With Little MoneyAnyone who has ever started a marketing campaign can tell you that marketing is a very tricky business. However, the days when marketing was simply about throwing up a few fliers and sending out some snail mail are long gone. Today, most marketing campaigns are done on the Internet, and that is a whole other ballgame. With that being said, read on below for a few of the top things you need to know about your marketing campaign.If you want to make sure that you are giving your IM business the best chance at success, then you are going to have to invest some time and a little bit of money into online marketing. This is vital if you want to make sure that you are keeping up with your competition. If all of your competitors are making use of proper marketing techniques and you are not, it is only a matter of time before things for your business start to dwindle and you want to prevent that from ever happening.There are 6 Things IMers Need to Know About Your Marketing Campaign if you want to build a successful Internet Marketing business online.However, First Things First… You want to get it out of your head that you have to have a lot of money in order to properly market your company. In fact, some of the best online marketing tools and techniques do not require a ton of money. They might need a little bit of money, but mostly, they require time and effort. If you have that – then you can make it work with no problem.To help you with this, you will want to make sure that you are taking the time to make use of the following tips.6 Things IMers Need to Know About Your Marketing Campaign1. Marketing Campaigns Don’t Come Free… or do they?This is a MUST for anyone who hopes to have even a remote chance of succeeding with an online business as an Internet Marketer (IMer). There are plenty of programs available that will provide you with the ability to build your own “free” site. However, you want to be very careful as to what exactly “free” allows for and doesn’t.Your initial attempts at internet marketing, until you acquire the necessary skills and know-how, should always be with programs that are “free” (or at minimum offer free trials of at least 30 days). This will allow you some time to become more knowledgeable prior to engaging in any paid internet marketing system or promotional campaigns.Nonetheless, whether free or paid, you want to have some specific requirements that must be met if you are to have any chance of success in your journey as an IMer. They are simple and should include (but not be limited to):

Free hosting (for at least 6 months)

Offer ease of use

Provide reliable support and last but never least

Be reasonably priced (stay within what you can comfortably afford)

You can easily obtain most, if not all, of this information online by checking reviews. – Be Sure To Do That!Do your due diligence and you WILL find “Exactly” what you are looking for and need.”Your Website Should Earn You Money… NOT Just Cost You Money.”While launching a marketing campaign certainly isn’t easy or completely free, it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Remember, there is nothing more revealing than a well-placed YouTube video or taking a chance on social media. Get your feet wet free of charge, sign up for a social media page for your business (if you haven’t, yet). With this in mind, you want to make sure that you start planning to set aside a budget (even a modest one) for your marketing campaign if it is to be effective.2. Free Marketing Tools… Yes!You need to start understanding the online marketing tools that are offered to you free of charge. After all, your IM business will financially benefit if you make sure you are using them correctly. Then, with the extra money that you have earned from those techniques, you will be able to move on to bigger and better online marketing strategies.So what kind of online marketing tool is free of charge?Social media – that’s what! Sure, you might have thought that social media pages are for people to keep in contact with their family and to show off vacation pictures to all of their friends. However, while it is that, it is also so much more. You can create a nice business page on a social media website, update it as needed with valuable information, and interact with people who you hope to turn into customers one day.3. Don’t Underestimate Social MediaAs much as you might hate to, marketing on social media is where it’s at. By getting yourself out there and showing the world what your business has to offer, you will find that you will be much better off! Social Media are used 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and nothing gets the word out there like social media can.4. Tell Your Story – It MattersIn the marketing world, your product isn’t the only thing that matters. When you start a marketing campaign, you automatically become a piece of media. No one wants to watch an advertisement for a product that is boring, no matter how sensational that product may be. These days, you have to sell your brand, not just your product. The best way to do this is by making the customer feel what the product can do for them. Telling a story matters, if you want your product to sell and your brand to succeed.5. How to Start Online Marketing With Zero ExperienceDo not make the mistake of falling into the trap where you assume that you have to have a ton of internet marketing experience in order to make it work for you. This is nonsense because someone who has absolutely zero experience with internet marketing can become very successful with it. And the best part? It might not take as long as you think! This is because there are a lot of easy ways to get started. Since there are multiple ways to make use of internet marketing, you will find that there is always something you can do to make this an easier thing for you to accomplish.Remember, one of the first things you can do, and with little experience if any, is to assure that you are setting up some social media accounts for your business. You will then want to make sure that you are spending enough time throughout the week interacting with the people that like your page. Utilize your time wisely, not for simple SM chit-chat. This is a time consuming but much-needed process, particularly if your budget is low – Let’s call this Time-Equity.6. Don’t Just Walk AwaySimply setting up the page and walking away is not going to cut it because people will forget about you. They are also not likely to view you as an authority figure in the field that you are in. If you are tight on time, you can always have a friend or family member help you with your social media pages throughout the week. Since we are only talking maybe an hour or two of work a week, this should not be a hard thing to do.Your Website & ContentThere are also resources available that, for a fee (very small in some cases), will write content for you to publish on your site and SM pages. You want to ensure that your content is 100% unique and of the highest quality related to your niche so be sure to discuss your requirements clearly, if you are to source out your content writing.Whether you set up the website on your own or you get help with it – it is all about keeping it up to date with fresh evergreen/unique, high-quality content. Show your potential clients or customers that you are the person to go to when they need a little help. Even a whiff of knowledge and sharing that knowledge can really go a long way!RecapThese are but a few of the things you need to know before you launch a marketing campaign. Make sure that you don’t forget them and your campaign should be a roaring success. Marketing has come a long way, get on board for the success you have always wanted to achieve today.It is important to make sure that you are doing everything that you can in order to get the name of your IM business out there. This way, you will be able to help more people than ever before. You will also be able to find that you are making more money than ever before. So, how can this be accomplished? One way to achieve this is to pay diligent attention to the things you need to know about your business and its marketing campaign.Become laser-focused on internet marketing best practices for your IM business. This might seem a bit intimidating, especially if you have never given internet marketing a try, but it’s really not difficult to achieve.Sign up for a social media page for your business right away, if you haven’t already. This is absolutely free and in today’s world, probably one of the best online marketing tools out there. This is because so many people find themselves spending a great deal of their free time online social media websites. It simply is not something that you want to pass up on.Then What?Of course, you are going to have to take it a step further; don’t just setting up the business social media page and walking away. You are going to have to make sure that you are being interactive with the people who visit your page. Post updates on your SM pages; Link articles/posts/blogs from your site to your SM pages; Offer free advice.Do anything you can in order to gain the trust of your future customers.Become very familiar with the things you need to know about your Internet Marketing business. Learn about and invest in some online marketing strategies whenever possible. Do not be surprised when this, and this alone, starts to give you some cushioning in your profit margins; which will come in very handy when you decide to venture and expand your market even further.

Step One: Bridge the Technology DivideThe reality is that overall women tend to have less experience with technology than their male counterparts, whether we are talking about computer technology or auto technology. Instructors who are successful in retaining female students recognize that they need to start with the basics during the beginning of the semester so that the less experienced students get the basic building blocks needed to be successful (this is helpful to male students missing those basics too). So that might mean an introduction to tool identification and use or the basics of navigating the Internet. Instructors should also provide open lab time for students in need of additional hands-on experience. If possible, staff the lab with a senior female student, women are often more comfortable asking questions of other women in a male-dominated field. For some best practice case study examples that illustrate these concepts look at the Cisco Gender Initiative’s Best Practice Case Studies developed by the Institute for Women in Trades, Technology and Science (IWITTS) (1).Step Two: Collaborative Learning in the Technology ClassroomMany female students lack confidence in the classroom and this negatively impacts their learning ability. There are several reasons for this: first, overall, male students have more experience with technology, especially hands-on labs; second, male students tend to boast of their accomplishments while females tend to think that they are doing poorly even when they are doing well; third, male students tend to dominate in classroom discussions and lab activities.Technology instructors can overcome these factors by using collaborative group methods in the classroom designed to increase student learning, interaction and support of each other. Some examples of these group methods are: 1) grade students in teams as well as individually; 2) put female students in positions of leadership in the classroom; 3) assign students to teams or pairs rather than leaving it up to them to pick their partners; 4) have female students work together in labs during the beginning of the semester; 5) enlist the help of whiz kids with the teaching of their fellow students, providing them with a constructive outlet for their talents.Step Three: Contextual LearningThe recent adage that women are from Mars and men are from Venus is alive and well in the technology classroom — women and men have different learning styles when it comes to technology. Most men are excited by the technology itself — how fast it is, the number of gigabytes, the size of the engine. Most women are engaged by how the technology will be used — how quickly the network will run, how much information can be stored, how far the vehicle can go without refueling. These Mars and Venus differences have implications for the class curriculum: female students will better understand technical concepts in the classroom when they understand the context for them. Don’t front load your computer programming classes with writing computer code with no context for this if you want to retain most of your female students. For more information on this subject including off-the-shelf curriculums for teaching contextual technology read IWITTS’s Making Math and Technology Courses User Friendly to Women and Minorities: An Annotated Bibliography (2).Step Four: The Math FactorMost technology courses require an understanding of applied math. Many women and girls are fearful of math and have had negative experiences in the math classroom. This phenomenon is so common that courses and curriculum on math anxiety for women are in place around the country. The key to success in teaching most females math is — like technology — contextual and group learning. Fortunately many off-the-shelf curriculums exist for teaching math contextually, see IWITTS’s bibliography linked above. Many technology courses at the two-year college level have math prerequisites that are unrelated to the technology coursework and omit the applied math that will be needed. Technology courses should only require math that is relevant to their courses and/or develop contextual math modules to add to their curriculum.Step Five: Connect the Women in Your Classes with Other WomenA female mentor or peer support network can help your students stay the course when they are feeling discouraged and can provide helpful tips for succeeding in a predominantly male environment. There are many on-line and real-time associations for women in technology, connect your female students to them. See the Career Links on WomenTechWorld.org for a list of some of these networks. Also, WomenTechTalk on WomenTechWorld.org — a free listserv for women in technology and students — provides a combination of support and expert career panels to it’s over 200 members from across the U.S.

Over the years I have had many parents ask, “How can I get entertainment jobs for my kids?” I realize parents are proud of their children and want to see them excel, but we have to keep things in perspective. Kids are dabbling in balloons, magic, and juggling just for fun. They are not looking for work; they are just playing. As a child develops their entertainment skills, it might become a hobby. Hobbies, if you’re lucky, can turn into a career; and if you’re really lucky, it may become a successful career! Parents shouldn’t worry about how to get their child a job, they should ensure the child has fun playing with their new found skill.Children, even teenagers, are restricted by law on the number of hours they can work. Companies can not and will not enter into a contract with minors, especially with the liability issues that can arise from hiring a minor. These two reasons alone make it difficult for kids to get entertainment jobs. Many parents will argue that it’s only a picnic or just a birthday party, they are not sending their child to work in a factory. However, if the child was sent to a factory it would have strict rules protecting the child, their rights, and a secure work environment. Working for themselves, children and their parents have to use common sense to determine what is hazardous and what is safe, not only for their health, but for the audience safety.Imagine that your child is a juggler and does a small fire act. They have practiced it many times in the past for family and friends and are now doing it for a crowd of people at the local church picnic. It’s been a long, hot, dry summer and the grass is a nice crispy golden brown. During the show the crowd is slowly moving closer and closer. Kids move closer as parents push their little ones up to the front so they can see and hear better. As the performer soaks the fire torch in lighter fluid they accidentally tip over the bucket, and lighter fluid is absorbed into the drought-ridden turf. Trying to be professional the child picks up the torch and begins his or her routine, and because of the spill is now standing in dried grass, covered with lighter fluid.If a torch drops, will a fire start? How quickly will it spread? Are kids sitting to close? Are animals in the audience? How windy is it? These are things that need to be considered, prior to even beginning a torch act. You may think this would not happen, but I know of a performer who almost started a fire station on fire. This performer was extremely embarrassed, along with receiving a stern lecture by the fire chief and a couple of parents who thought that he was careless. The performer was 23 years old, performed this routine 5 times before in public, and though it was the coolest part of his act. Accidents like this do happen. From then on, the performer had strict rules, made sure a fire extinguisher was available, and would not do the routine if the environment was not safe for the audience. In addition, he went out and bought liability insurance. A hundred-dollar job is not worth injuring a child or the hundred-thousand-dollar lawsuit by the parent of an injured child.Encourage your child to learn all aspects of entertaining and not just the mechanics. Children can acquire the mechanics of a routine, but lack the communication skills to really sell the routine. These communication skills will come as confidence grows and as the child matures. Often, kids are great when communicating with family and friends, but lack the social communication skills required to work with a group of unknown adults. Public speaking is one of the biggest fears among adults so don’t assume that kids don’t have the same fear.Children of professional entertainers understand that multiple skills are required to be a successful entertainer and try to acquire these skills prior to entertaining in public. A professional singer’s child may start singing with mom and dad at very early age; their parents work with professionals, give advice, train, and develop their child from experiences that they have learned over their professional career. Individuals or parents who do not entertain are under the impression that just because their child is achieving the basics that the child is now qualified to perform in public. These children may be talented but lack background knowledge and thus are not fully ready to perform.At a restaurant I frequently entertained at, I would have a mom who would always tell me how great her son’s magic was and how she wants him to do show, birthday parties, restaurants and fairs. Her son was 12, a good looking kid, shy, but overall seemed really interested in magic. Just recently, I was working the restaurant and saw this boy, now a 17 year old with some friends. I walked over to the table to entertain the group and just goofing around pulled out a deck of cards. As I did the card trick, (TV Magic Deck) the young 17 year old mentioned he did magic. “Yes, you used to come with your mom and brother.” I said. “Yep, that was me,” he replied. “My magic is nowhere as good as yours.” This was the boy who according to his mother, was going to grow up to be the next David Copperfield. In reality it was a child who was fascinated by magic, took an interest in it and went on with is life. He was not looking for a career, but just an fun outlet.If your child is really serious about becoming an entertainer then here are some tips to help your child succeed in the entertainment business.

Parents let your child enjoy the activity. If they want to perform, it is best to let it come from the child seeking it, not the parent.
Get the child involved in clubs related to that field and supervise their activity. Clubs are not babysitters, parent need to be there!
Go to local libraries and check out books on the topic. Encourage the child to research what it takes to become good.
Let the child work at their pace. This is not a career yet; it’s just a fun hobby.
Don’t be surprised if in 6 to 8 months the child’s interest changes. School, friends, and age all affect the child’s interests. What was so important then is not necessarily going to be now.
When meeting performers, ask if they have any professional tips to pass on. Don’t let your ego (parents) get the best of you and start bragging about your child. Just tell the performer your child has an interest in their art. Let the child do the talking, it’s their hobby.
Remember the child is just starting out and only needs the basic supplies. Don’t go over board buying everything. As the young entertainer grows, so will their equipment needs.
Parents read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey or How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie – they talk about how to deal with people. If your child is going to be successful they are going to need to understand how to communicate with others and how to negotiate. Consider picking up a book on negotiating. Good negotiating skills can improve your child’s chances of getting good paying jobs. Not only in the entertainment field, but in other careers choices later in life.
Do not become obsessed with learning everything, take it in small steps. This will prevent the child from becoming burned out to quickly.
Keep it fun! Let the child develop into their own entertainer.

Entertainment is about fun, but there is a business end and the work can quickly take away the fun. Let the child enjoy their youth and when they are old like us can look back and remember the fun time they had learning and sharing with their parents. Make it fun, not a career.

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).

X
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.