US stocks have performed very well so far this year. The S&P 500 is up by about 18% year-to-date. Inflation, debt and other factors seem to hardly impact the markets adversely. Investors are focusing on the good news and ignoring the bad news. It remains to be seen how long this can last. From AI to EVs the hype is almost constant. With that said, below are a few interesting reads for the long weekend:

• The Generational Paradigm Shift Taking Over Markets, WSJ
• 61 Percent of US Workers Live Paycheck to Paycheck, 21 Percent Struggle With Bills, Mish
• Investors Beware—Earnings Forecasts Omit Stock Compensation, Alliance Bernstein
• 4 Steps That Can Help You Start Saving for a Successful Retirement, T.Rowe Price
• Italy fact of the day, Marginal Revolution
• Time to buy this media powerhouse?, MoneyWeek
• Four graphs that explain why elite investors love Nvidia, CityWire UK
• Learn how to navigate ETF premiums and discounts, Vanguard
• New Kids On The BRICS: What The Bloc’s Expansion Means For The Global Geopolitical And Economic Landscape, U.S. Global Investors
• Four share market volatility indicators to watch, Vanguard Australia
• Instead of saving for life with unprofitable insurance products, take stocks and ETFs + Meet Zurich, Tim Schafer (use Google Translate for English version)
• American Credit Card Debt Continues To Climb, Global Finance