The European Central Bank has continued cutting interest rates this year, while its American counterpart, the Federal Reserve, has held them steady.
The Fed has been reluctant to cut rates as President Donald Trump imposes tariffs on global trading partners, which could reignite high inflation.
European central bankers have been more concerned that the trade tensions with the U.S. could slow their countries’ economies.
In 2025, the European Central Bank and its American counterpart have taken starkly different approaches to monetary policy.
The ECB has continued to slash interest rates, while the Fed has held them steady. The diverging paths came into focus more sharply on Thursday when the ECB lowered its benchmark rate by a quarter point, the seventh decrease since June.
By contrast, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell made public comments the same day, suggesting U.S. central bankers are in no hurry to cut the key fed funds rate. The Fed has cut its rate by 1 percentage point from its peak last year, and held it steady since December, while the ECB has lowered its own by 1.75 percentage points.
Powell’s remarks elicited a response from President Donald Trump, who accused Powell of acting too slowly to cut rates, falling behind Europe in lowering borrowing costs and boosting the economy.
However, economists said the difference was mainly caused by Trump’s own policies, especially his sprawling and unpredictable campaign of tariffs on trading partners. In the years leading up to the tariffs, the two central banks largely moved in tandem, reacting to similar economic currents.
Forecasters and investors widely expect the tariffs to push up the cost of living, making Fed officials reluctant to cut interest rates for fear of reigniting inflation. European officials, meanwhile, are more concerned with an economic slowdown, especially since the tariffs could hurt exports to the U.S.
“Every central bank is dealing with the complications arising from the trade war, a six-sigma event,” wroteDouglas Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital Markets, in a note Thursday. “The response to the tariff uncertainty varies depending on how sensitive the economy is to U.S. trade, and the respective starting points for growth and inflation.”
Ernie Tedeschi, director of economics at the Budget Lab at Yale, emphasized the specific differences between the U.S. and its European counterparts in a post on social media platform X, referring to President Trump’s seeming resurrection of 19th-century-style mercantilist economic policies.
“Europe didn’t raise their tariffs to Gilded Age levels, so they’re not facing the price pressure the Fed is,” he said.
All eyes are on the stock market right now. And why wouldn’t they be? Over the past two months, the S&P 500 has crashed 20% in one of the sharpest selloffs in modern history. We’ve seen some of the worst days ever recorded on Wall Street – and even one of the best, too.
Stocks are ricocheting back and forth like they’re trapped in a pinball machine. The Nasdaq swings 4% up one day, 5% down the next. It’s enough to make investors melt down.
But here’s the thing nobody seems to be talking about: The stock market isn’t the real risk right now.The bond market is.
And if we don’t get some relief there soon, we’re staring down the barrel of a potentially apocalyptic economic scenario…
For example, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield is often called “the most important number in finance.” It’s not just a benchmark rate for Wall Street traders. It’s the foundation of nearly every major financing rate in America.
Mortgages, auto loans, student and personal loans, and credit cards are all tied to it.
Indeed, the entire U.S. consumer credit system leans on that number.
So, when the 10-year moves, everything does.
And over the first few weeks of April, the 10-year took off, spiking from 3.8% to 4.6% in just a few days – one of the most violent upward moves in modern market history.
That may sound abstract. But here’s what it really means:
Mortgage rates will surge above 8%.
Auto financing rates will punch past 9%.
Personal loan interest rates will spike into the double digits.
Credit card APRs will flirt with 30%.
All this in the middle of a slowing economy…
Why Surging Bond Yields Are a Huge Problem for the Economy
In every major recession, bond yields fall. That’s the natural cycle.
When things get bad, investors flock to safety. They buy U.S. Treasuries, which pushes yields down. Lower yields mean lower financing rates, which support consumer borrowing and help resuscitate demand.
For instance, during the 2008 financial crisis, the 10-year collapsed from 4.2% to 2%. And during 2020’s COVID Crash, it nosedived from 2% to 0.5%.
In both cases, the plunge in yields unlocked the economy’s natural shock absorbers – cheap mortgages, affordable car loans, and low-interest personal debt.
Consumer confidence is near a 50-year low. According to the University of Michigan’s latest survey, consumer sentiment plunged 11% this month to 50.8 – a 12-year low and the second-lowest level on record since 1952.
Retail sales are slowing, especially on a core basis. Though sales surged 1.4% in March, this uptick is likely temporary as consumers attempt to ‘frontload’ tariffs. In February, retail sales rose 0.2%, much lower than the 0.7% increase economists projected.
Business investment has stalled, down $130 billion from Q3 to Q4 of 2024.
The Dangerous Divergence Between the Economy and the Bond Market
We’re watching the economy fall off a cliff – and borrowing costs are going up.
That’s a deadly combo.
As we mentioned, the housing market is already frozen. Affordability is stretched to historic levels. If mortgage rates rise from 7.5% to 9%, that market could break completely. And when housing goes, the economy tends to go with it. See: 2008.
Similarly, the auto market is already in a funk. And credit card debt is already at all-time highs. Higher rates will crush household finances, cut spending, and choke growth.
If bond yields keep spiking while the economy keeps slowing, we’re not talking about a mild recession.
We’re talking about a potentially historic economic meltdown.
So, why are bond yields spiking when they’re supposed to be falling?
There are two main reasons. And neither is natural.
1. Tariff-Driven Inflation Fears
Investors are terrified that the new tariff regime will reignite inflation.
If tariffs spike the cost of goods, inflation rises. And if inflation rises, investors demand higher yields on long-term debt to compensate. Nobody wants to hold a 10-year bond yielding 4% if inflation is running at 5%. That’s a guaranteed loss.
So, bondholders are panicking. And yields are surging.
2. Foreign Selling Pressure
The U.S. isn’t the only one upset about this trade war.
China and Japan – two of the largest foreign holders of U.S. Treasuries – may be quietly dumping U.S. debt in retaliation. After all, why hold the IOUs of a country you’re currently in an economic battle with?
This foreign selling creates additional pressure, pushing bond prices lower and yields higher.
Bond Market Relief Could Be Coming: Here’s Why
Now, here’s the good news: This pain is not driven by a permanent fixture. It’s the result of an acute political problem.
And political problems can be solved.
If trade tensions ease, inflation expectations will normalize, and foreign holders will stop selling Treasuries… and then, guess what?
Bond yields will fall.
And if bond yields fall, financing rates drop. The consumer endures. The housing market breathes. The economy stabilizes, and stocks recover: crisis averted. Therefore, we’re not panicking.
We understand the bond market risk. It’s huge – but it is also fixable.
The signals are subtle, but they’re starting to stack up.
The White House knows what’s at stake. It may posture for headlines, but we think it’s also preparing for resolution.
Bond Market Turmoil: What It Means for Stocks, Housing, and the Economy
We are on the edge of something dangerous.
The bond market is ringing alarm bells. If yields don’t come back down soon, this trade war could destroy the foundation of the U.S. economy, starting with the housing market and then spreading like wildfire.
But we don’t think it will come to that.
The pressure is too intense. The pain is too real.
As such, we believe a trade war resolution is coming.
And when it does, the bond market will cool. Yields will fall. Financing rates will normalize. The recession risk will recede. And stocks will rebound.
If you’re looking to prepare for that market surge, consider buying AI 2.0 stocks on this recent dip.
We’re talking AI that can respond to real-world environments; embodied intelligence that can see, hear, walk, talk, lift, carry, organize, fix, learn…
After all, there’s a reason why every tech titan is suddenly obsessed with humanoid robots.
That’s where we believe the next trillion-dollar investment opportunities will be found. And we’ve found a compelling way to play that next phase of the AI Boom.
The first-quarter earnings season is off to a softish start by some measures, according to new research, but another quarter of year-on-year growth still looks likely.
Based on preliminary results—just 12% of S&P 500 companies have reported results so far, according to an analysis released late Thursday by FactSet—70% of reporting companies in the benchmark index have come in above Street estimates. That’s below the five- and 10-year averages, FactSet said.
Earnings have come in 6.1% above estimates, also below the five- and 10-year averages, according to FactSet. (The historical numbers are based on actual results for the full past quarters.)
The S&P 500’s first-quarter results are still projected to grow for a seventh consecutive quarter, according to FactSet, which said the “blended” earnings growth rate through Thursday—meaning a combination of the results already in and the estimates for those yet to arrive—was 7.2% so far.
Investor attention will likely turn in large part to some Magnificent Seven results due next week—Tesla (TSLA) and Google parent Alphabet (GOOG) are scheduled to report—but the earnings calendar will be busy with several other companies like Verizon (VZ), PepsiCo (PEP), Intel (INTC) and Boeing (BA) also set to announce their own numbers.
Rexas Finance (RXS), a rising crypto token, is gaining fast traction as a potential low-cost Binance Coin (BNB) killer. Investors view it as a clear standout with its strong real-world utility and fast-growing presale momentum. Backed by blockchain integration and tokenization of real assets, Rexas Finance could transform a $150 investment into $10,000 in 2025.
Rexas Finance (RXS) Bridges Real-World Assets and Blockchain
Rexas Finance allows users to tokenize and trade real-world assets like real estate, commodities, and artwork. This process connects traditional finance with blockchain, offering broader access and liquidity. Investors can own fractional shares of valuable assets with lower entry costs. Unlike speculative cryptocurrencies, Rexas Finance supports practical use cases that provide lasting value beyond market hype. As more platforms adopt RWA tokenization, Rexas positions itself to capitalize on the growing demand. Its core strength lies in simplifying asset ownership through a secure blockchain process. The platform eliminates barriers by allowing a global audience to easily invest in tokenized assets. With its real-world backing and long-term vision, RXS creates an appealing and accessible ecosystem. As more investors seek real utility, Rexas Finance offers both innovation and purpose.
Rexas Finance (RXS) Presale Performance and Market Excitement
Rexas Finance has shown significant growth through its presale, now in its 12th and final stage. The price increased from $0.03 to $0.20, showing more than 6x growth. Over 91% of presale tokens are already sold, totaling $47,106,276 raised. A confirmed listing price of $0.25 suggests immediate gains for early participants upon launch. Investors expect a surge in demand after the launch on June 19, 2025. As more buyers join, confidence grows in RXS as a strong alternative to high-cost tokens like BNB. Institutional and retail interest continues to increase due to RXS’s proven performance and forward-looking approach. As a result, the token gains momentum in conversations about long-term growth opportunities. Investors appreciate that Rexas offers affordability, reliability, and scalability in one package.
Community Engagement and Trust in Rexas Finance (RXS)
Trust and transparency have been central to Rexas Finance’s success so far. Its smart contract has passed a full audit by Certik, ensuring investor protection. This certification adds credibility and supports the platform’s commitment to security. The community-led growth strategy positions Rexas as a dependable project built for users. It supports long-term holders and rewards early contributors with real value. With rising trust and engagement, the ecosystem remains strong and prepared for future expansion.
Conclusion: Why Rexas Finance May Outperform in 2025
Rexas Finance leads the movement toward real-world asset tokenization, making blockchain investments more secure, usable, and widespread. It presents a rare opportunity for early investors to access high-growth potential with low capital. As a low-cost Binance Coin alternative, RXS could turn $150 into $10,000 within the next year. With a certified platform, growing community, and real-world value, Rexas Finance stands out in today’s crowded crypto market. Its strategic launch and solid presale performance make it a key token to watch.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions presented in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CoinCheckup. The content of this article should not be considered as investment advice. Always do your own research before deciding to buy, sell or transfer any crypto assets. Past returns do not always guarantee future profits.
A trade loophole known as the de minimis exemption is set to expire on May 2, 2025, possibly driving up the cost of packages for U.S. shoppers who purchase goods online from China.
The de minimis exemption is a rule that allows foreign companies to avoid paying tariffs and taxes on small packages shipped to the U.S. Shipments worth less than $800 qualify for the duty-free exemption, simplifying the customs procedures. This exemption was created by the U.S. Congress in 1938 to streamline purchases and shipping of inexpensive goods for small businesses and individual consumers.
The Trump administration is eliminating the de minimis exemption for packages arriving from China and Hong Kong. Those packages will be subject to three-figure tariffs on their value (or a per postal item fee of about $100 starting May 2 or $200 after June 1). Additionally, mail carriers will be required to provide information about the package to Customs and Border Protection.
Key Takeaways
The de minimis policy exempts packages worth less than $800 from China from U.S. taxes.
Starting on May 2, the policy will change.
Packages will be subject to a $100 tax per parcel beginning on May 2, and a $200 tax per parcel beginning on June 1.
Why Is The De Minimis Exemption Important?
E-commerce retailers—like Shein and Temu—take advantage of the de minimis exemption by directly shipping low-value packages to U.S. customers. Temu and Shein comprise nearly half of all de minimis shipments to the U.S. from China, according to a 2023 U.S. House Select Committee report.
However, some retailers have already taken steps to minimize the impact of these new changes on consumers. According to CNBC, Temu has promoted more products on its app that are shipped from U.S. warehouses instead of directly from China.
The number of Chinese exports subject to the de minimis exemption has skyrocketed in recent years. According to a Congressional Research report, in 2023, small-value Chinese exports were $66 billion, compared to just $5.3 billion in 2018.
This could be, in part, because the exemption increased from $200 to $800 in 2016, allowing more packages to qualify for it. The de minimis exemption was first proposed by the Tariff Act of 1930, also known as the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act.
The Trump administration has claimed that eliminating the de minimis exemption with China will help stem the flow of drugs from China into the U.S.
Fast Fact
This isn’t the first administration to take aim at the exemption. In 2024, the Biden administration proposed rules that would have made certain products ineligible for the exemption and required more specific data on de minimis packages.
However, some argue that getting rid of the exemption would harm lower-income consumers. In a recent NBER working paper, economists analyzed data from millions of international shipments to the U.S., finding that lower-income zip codes were more likely to receive de minimis exempt packages from China. According to the researchers, eliminating the exemption “would disproportionately hurt low-income and minority households.”
The Bottom Line
The de minimis exemption enables retailers in foreign countries to send packages worth less than $800, to U.S. consumers without paying tariffs, taxes, or duties. In the past few years, the number of packages subject to the exemption have increased substantially. However, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have sought to tighten the loophole.
If you purchase goods online from Chinese retailers in the coming months, you may notice a higher cost, as the Trump administration has eliminated the exemption for packages from China and Hong Kong.
Beginning May 2, those shipments will have a 120% tariff on the value of the package or a per postal item fee of $100. This fee will increase to $200 after June 1.
Tesla will report first-quarter earnings after the market closes on Tuesday as analysts remain divided on the electric vehicle maker.
Revenue and adjusted profits are expected to fall year-over-year as deliveries and production have disappointed.
The EV maker’s stock has suffered as the company has been the center of protests and controversy over CEO Elon Musk’s political efforts.
Tesla (TSLA) is scheduled to post its first-quarter earnings report after Tuesday’s bell. Analysts are divided on the electric vehicle maker leading up to the results.
Analysts tracked by Visible Alpha are split between 10 “buy” ratings, four “hold,” and four “sell” ratings. Ahead of last quarter’s report, the distribution was nine “buy,” six “hold,” and three “sell” ratings.
The mean price target, $314.41 per Visible Alpha data, represents about a 30% premium to its close on Thursday, the last trading day of a holiday-shortened week—but that average target is down nearly $50 from the average prior to last quarter’s earnings.
Tesla is expected to report a less than 1% decline in revenue to $21.18 billion, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) forecast to fall by nearly 8% year-over-year to $0.42. The revenue estimate has been cut by over 16%, while the adjusted EPS consensus has fallen by over 40% since last quarter’s report was released.
Deliveries, Production Fell Short Amid Political Concerns
Earlier this week, Reuters reported that the company has paused shipments of parts from China for its semi trucks and Cybercab autonomous taxi because of the Trump administration’s tariffs, potentially delaying production and release of the vehicles.
The company’s deliveries and production numbers fell short of estimates for the second straight quarter when they were released earlier this month. The EV maker has also been the center of protests and controversy regarding CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration. Sales have declined in several key markets so far this year.
Typically, before a cryptocurrency goes to the big exchanges, it is in a pre-sale. Towards the end of the stage, the tokens are offered directly to the public at much lower prices, in various rounds. Discounted rates for early participants encourage them to invest early before the token’s value has increased.
AurealOne and DexBoss are in the early stages. These two projects have well-formed tokenomics and people are seeing these as the most exciting projects in the crypto investment space currently.
AurealOne: Powering the Metaverse Through Blockchain
Purpose-Built for Gaming Ecosystems
AurealOne’s purpose is gaming and the metaverse. It addresses the core requirements of immersive digital interaction by being ultra-fast, with transaction speeds and minimal gas fees. Zero-Knowledge Rollups are used by it for scalability and security, both of which are absolutely necessary in developing the feeling of completeness in the gaming experience.
DLUME: The Heart of the Platform
With DLUME as the native token of AurealOne, it performs multiple functions. Staking, in-game purchases and participating in the platform governance are used for it. In addition to stimulating the ecosystem, DLUME keeps the community engaged as active users are rewarded for their efforts.
Pre-Sale Details of AurealOne
Currently, AurealOne is in a 21-round pre-sale of its DLUME token. Round 1 sees the price start at just $0.0005 and increases to $0.0045 in Round 21. This strategy provides the project with long-term capital and incentives for those who are willing to adopt it. The total fundraising goal is $50 million, and the generous token allocation is in the initial rounds.
Showcasing Utility Through Gaming
Clash of Tiles is one of AurelaOne’s prominent features. It is more than entertainment; it is a working demonstration of the platform’s blockchain gamingcapabilities. AurealOne proves its potential and willingness to go real world with this game launch.
User Experience and Community Engagement
AurealOne makes a point to be accessible and transparent, and one of its features is real-time balance updates on its website, and it does so via dedicated support channels. Its community-first mindset thereby focuses on building trust with its users and promoting sustained platform engagement.
DexBoss: A DeFi Platform That Delivers
Bringing Simplicity to DeFi
DexBoss aims to democratize access to decentralized finance. As a special tool, it aims to provide an interface to both beginners and more advanced users, with integrated sophisticated tools without making you overwhelmed. The power and simplicity balance makes it stand out from all of the crowded DeFi space.
Meet DEBO: The Utility and Governance Token
The utility and governance token of DexBoss is $DEBO and it lies at the core of it. Other than being a tradable asset, DEBO allows users to stake, vote on governance issues and earn rewards powered by liquidity pools constituting the core of its economy.
Pre-Sale Framework of DexBoss
DexBoss is also in its pre-sale round which currently is running across 17 rounds.$0.01 is the initial price of $DEBO and its value starts increasing till the last round to $0.0505. This pre-sale has a 50 million dollar target, getting to a total of 500 million dollar token supply, and half of the 1 billion total token supply is allocated towards this pre-sale to balance scarcity with broad participation.
Feature-Rich and User-Friendly
DexBoss delivers all elements of DeFi technology through an interface that provides users with simple access to liquidity pools, farming, and margin trading functions. The system allows users to immediately execute instant orders which lets them capitalise on market opportunities that happen rapidly.
Built-In Mechanisms for Long-Term Value
The buyback and burn model of DexBoss stands as its most appealing aspect because it reduces DEBO supply in circulation. This strategy lets the value grow over time because DEBO establishes itself as an investment-quality token with practical applications.
Why AurealOne and DexBoss Could Be Tomorrow’s Crypto Giants!
The distinguishing quality of AurealOne, along with DexBoss, stems from more than their marketing buzz since they offer concrete value to their users. The platforms demonstrate real user value along with well-designed pre-sale models despite their non-vague nature and flashy branding. AurealOne aims to target the booming blockchain game market yet DexBoss offers simplified DeFi solutions for every user.
The two projects serve expanding fields within the cryptocurrency domain and have established their foundations by sharing crypto tokens fairly while engaging their communities.
What Makes Them Different from the Rest
Numerous crypto projects exist within the crypto sphere yet many prove insufficient regarding everyday usability and user practicality. AurealOne, together with DexBoss, represents revolutionary platforms because they serve practical usecases while bypassing complicated system requirements.
The tech frameworks that AurealOne and DexBoss implement combine with their user-friendly interfaces to achieve a complete round-trip interaction that other platforms lack.
Closing Thoughts: Should You Keep an Eye on Them?
Both AurealOne and DexBoss ought to receive attention due to their transparentdevelopment approach alongside increasing communities together with valuable use cases. Through their ongoing pre-sales token buyers can gain access to potential token assets because they incorporate long-term market strategies beyond temporary marketing hype.
Success in fulfilling their stated goals could make AurealOne and DexBoss dominate their individual sectors and achieve a status comparable to Bitcoin in near future.
Any financial choices regarding crypto need to be supported by thorough investigation because the market is volatile.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions presented in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CoinCheckup. The content of this article should not be considered as investment advice. Always do your own research before deciding to buy, sell or transfer any crypto assets. Past returns do not always guarantee future profits.
Located along the western edge of Lake Erie in Ohio, Toledo is a vibrant city where retirees can enjoy a balance of urban benefits and affordable living. The largest city in Lucas County—home to nearly 430,000 people—is also big enough to offer modern conveniences but small enough to maintain a down-to-earth atmosphere.
Known as the Glass City for its glass manufacturing roots, Toledo offers much more than you might expect. From its nationally recognized art museum and historic neighborhoods to a thriving Metroparks system and seasonal festivals, the city also delivers a unique blend of culture, nature, and community. Let’s explore what makes it a top-ranked place to retire.
Key Takeaways
Toledo is a hidden gem for retirees looking to stretch their money, offering a blend of affordability, amenities, and outdoor adventure.
Toledo’s cost of living is well below the American national average, helping you stretch your retirement funds further.
With nearly 900 healthcare establishments in the county, including 81 hospitals, Toledo provides retirees excellent access to medical care.
Toledo is well-connected and easy to navigate thanks to its major highways, affordable local transportation, and proximity to an international airport.
A rich arts scene, scenic outdoor spaces, and frequent community events offer a fulfilling lifestyle for Toledo retirees.
Cost of Living in Toledo, Ohio
With many retirees looking to stretch a fixed income, affordability is typically one of the highest priorities when choosing a retirement destination. Toledo has a relatively low cost of living, making it an attractive choice. Retired residents can often maintain an enjoyable lifestyle without financial strain.
According to the most recent data, the median household income in Lucas County is $60,095, more than 25% lower than the national median of $80,610. Monthly costs are proportionately lower, too, including two of the most significant expenses for the average retired household: housing and food.
The median home value is just $155,200, a full $264,000 cheaper than the national median of $419,200. Through a recurring expenses lens, that translates to median monthly housing costs of $953 in Lucas County versus $1,338 for the typical American.
Similarly, a local two-person household’s average monthly food bill is just $600. That’s $232 below the national average of $832, which works out to a discount of roughly 28%. Despite the low costs, Toledo has a vibrant culinary scene, offering everything from local farm-to-table spots to international restaurants that reflect the city’s cultural diversity.
Note
Housing and food expenses constitute roughly 36% and 13% of the average retiree’s annual spending, so saving money in these areas can free up significant room in your budget.
Health Care and Accessibility
Since retirees often need more regular medical services than younger individuals, easy access to health care is another marker of an attractive retirement destination. That’s another area where Toledo stands out, providing a rare combination of plentiful medical establishments, affordable transportation, and proximity to a major airport.
There are a whopping 887 health care facilities in Lucas County, including 81 different hospitals. Since the county only has 339.7 square miles of land area, that works out to roughly 2.6 healthcare establishments per square mile, ensuring that retirees never need to travel too far for medical assistance.
Getting around the area is also relatively inexpensive. Despite being a major metropolitan area, typical monthly transportation costs in Lucas County are $1,132, within $50 of the national average of $1,098. There are plenty of transit options, including the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA), a curb-to-curb Call-a-Ride service, and a healthy Uber and Lyft presence.
Tip
If you ever need to travel long-distance, the Detroit Metropolitan Airport is only 48 miles from the center of Lucas County. That means residents are less than an hour’s drive down Interstate 75 from a major airport with domestic and international connections.
Lifestyle and Recreational Activities
Practical concerns like affordability and access to health care are critical when choosing a retirement destination, but they shouldn’t be the only factors you consider. It’s just as important to pick somewhere you can enjoy your day-to-day life. Whatever you like to do for fun, Toledo has a lot to offer, including a healthy mix of indoor and outdoor opportunities for entertainment and social connection.
For those with creative sensibilities, the city is home to 170 art establishments, including the Toledo Museum of Art, which offers a collection of world-class exhibitions and free general admission. History buffs can also explore the neighboring Glass Studio to explore the city’s rich legacy of glassmaking or walk through the historic Old West End.
Note
The National Register of Historic Places named Old West End a historic district in 1973 for being the largest collection of late Victorian and Edwardian architecture in the United States.
If you prefer outdoor adventures, the Maumee River flows through the city from Lake Erie, which borders Toledo’s northeastern edge. Combined with the Metroparks Toledo system—boasting 19 different parks—there are ample opportunities for activities like hiking, camping, boating, and birding.
Whatever you’re interested in, Toledo also offers plenty of chances to connect with the community through its many public events. The beloved Toledo Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday year-round, featuring local cultivators and craftspeople. Yearly festivals, like the award-winning Black Swamp Arts Festival—Ohio’s largest free live music festival—bring even more people together and showcase the area’s spirit.
The Bottom Line
Toledo, Ohio, is an attractive retirement destination for those who want to retain the benefits of an urban lifestyle without sacrificing affordability. Its proximity to Lake Erie means there’s no shortage of natural beauty or outdoor adventure, while frequent local events foster socialization and a strong sense of community. All these factors combined make Toledo a compelling, well-rounded place to enjoy your golden years.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 500 points Thursday, dramatically underperforming the other major U.S. stock indexes.
UnitedHealth Group, the Dow stock with the greatest weighting within the index, tumbled more than 22% after lowering its full-year profit outlook.
The Dow selection committee is sensitive to the index’s peculiar methodology, and thus tends to leave out stocks with unusually high stock prices.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 500 points, or 1.3%, on Thursday, and one stock bore most of the blame: UnitedHealth Group (UNH).
Shares of UnitedHealth plummeted more than 22% after the health insurer cut its full-year earnings forecast, citing higher-than-expected costs. Meanwhile, more than two-thirds of the 30 stocks in the blue-chip Dow, one of the most commonly cited measures of U.S. stock market performance, closed higher Thursday. The S&P 500 was up 0.13% at the same time and the Nasdaq Composite—usually much more volatile than the Dow due to its preponderance of growth stocks—was marginally lower after yesterday’s sell-off.
The Dow’s dramatic underperformance on Thursday was a clear reflection of the index’s unique methodology. The Dow is price-weighted, meaning the stocks with the highest share prices have the most influence on the index’s performance. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq, on the other hand, are capitalization-weighted indexes that are more influenced by the companies with the highest market values, not the highest share prices.
UnitedHealth Group, with a closing price of $585.04 yesterday, was the highest-priced stock in the Dow and thus its most influential component. Goldman Sachs (GS), which closed at $499.05 yesterday, is the only Dow stock with a share price within $100 of UnitedHealth’s. (With UnitedHealth’s losses on Thursday, Goldman could finish the week as the Dow’s heftiest stock.)
Apple (AAPL), with a closing price of $194.27 yesterday, has a fraction of UnitedHealth’s influence within the Dow. But the iPhone maker has 15 billion shares, and thus a market capitalization of nearly $3 trillion. UnitedHealth’s approximately 900 million shares put its market cap at Wednesday’s close at $535 billion, meaning Apple stock has more than 5 times the weight in the S&P 500.
To be sure, UnitedHealth, the S&P 500’s 14th-largest company heading into Thursday—still has a massive amount of influence within the S&P 500.
The selection committee that picks stocks for the Dow is cognizant of its peculiarities. Its price-weighted methodology, according to S&P Global, “has meant, over the years, that extremely high-priced stocks have not been included in The Dow.” Investors often speculate that companies with high share prices split their stock in part to increase their chances of joining the Dow. In recent years, Amazon (AMZN) and Nvidia (NVDA) have both been added to the Dow in relatively short order after splittingtheir stocks, which had been trading at more than $1,000 per share.
The Dow isn’t the only index susceptible to hazardous imbalance. Earlier this year, the Magnificent Seven—Apple, Microsoft (MSFT), Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet (GOOG), Meta (META), and Tesla (TSLA)—accounted for about one-third of the S&P 500, an extreme level of concentration that set off some investors’ alarm bells.
Update, April 17, 2025: This article has been updated to reflect stock and index changes at the market’s close.
The S&P 500 ticked 0.1% higher on Thursday, April 17, wrapping up a shortened week that focused on earnings and the Fed chair’s comments on likely tariff impacts.
Eli Lilly shares soared after the drugmaker touted positive results from a clinical trial of its oral weight-loss treatment.
UnitedHealth Group missed quarterly estimates and lowered its guidance, citing higher medical costs, and shares of the insurer tumbled.
Major U.S. equities indexes were mixed on the final day of an abbreviated trading week, with markets set to remain closed on Good Friday.
The S&P 500 ended Thursday’s session with a minor gain of 0.1%. The Dow slid 1.3%, dragged down by a steep decline for health insurance constituent UnitedHealth Group (UNH). After fluctuating for much of the day, the Nasdaq closed 0.1% lower.
Eli Lilly (LLY) shares notched the S&P 500’s top daily performance, surging 14.4% after the pharmaceutical giant released promising results from a clinical trial of its experimental oral weight-loss treatment. According to Lilly, the first in a series of Phase 3 trials revealed that orforglipron was more effective than a placebo at causing weight loss and reducing A1C, a long-term gauge of blood sugar levels. The company expects to seek Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval next year for orforglipron as a type 2 diabetes treatment.
Dollar Tree (DLTR) shares added 8.1% on Thursday. The stock trended higher in April, and analysts suggested that the discount retailer could be poised for strength amid the challenging macroeconomic backdrop. For instance, Citi upgraded Dollar Tree stock last week, suggesting that the company could emerge as an unlikely beneficiary of broadly applied tariffs, with flexibility to raise prices without deterring too many customers and a track record of success during previous downturns.
Crude oil futures prices pushed higher for the second straight day after the U.S. announced additional sanctions targeting Iran’s oil business. The uptick in oil prices helped lift a variety of oil and gas stocks. Shares of exploration and production firm Diamondback Energy (FANG) gained 5.7%, while shares of oilfield services provider Halliburton (HAL) advanced 5.1%.
Shares of UnitedHealth plummeted 22.4% after the insurance giant reported lower-than-expected sales and profits for the first quarter. It was the heaviest decline in the Dow and the S&P 500. The company also reduced its full-year profit guidance. Other health insurance stocks also lost ground, with shares of Humana (HUM) falling 7.4%.
Snap-On (SNA) shares sank 8.0% after the maker of hand tools and other professional equipment missed quarterly sales and profit estimates. The company noted that the macroeconomic environment weighed on its performance, with the uncertain outlook making customers more reluctant to purchase financed goods.
Global Payments (GPN) agreed to acquire rival payment processing firm Worldpay from current stakeholders Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) and private equity firm GTCR. Although Global Payments stressed the size and worldwide reach that will result from its combination with Worldpay, shares of the fintech firm plunged 17.4% on Thursday. FIS shares fared much better, jumping 8.7%.
