Short takes: Investment ideas

By Dian Vujovich

There’s no way of knowing which way the markets will swing after the opening bells ring. But there are tidbits of information that might help investors decide where to invest their dollars.

In no particular order, here’s an eclectic look at a few of them:

• “#17. If you come to realize you are too afraid of the stock market to invest in it then you need to be prepared to save a lot more or work a lot longer.” Brett Arends, (From “25 Things I Wish I Learned Before I Opened My First Brokerage Account”)

• Up in smoke? According to Convergex, a global brokerage firm, since June 2014, the average price of an 1/8th ounce of recreational cannabis has dropped from $50-$70 to $30-$45. Now an ounce now sells for between $250 and $300 on average compared to $300-$400 last year. Even so, more people are buying and stores are expected to gross 50 percent more, to $480 million, year-over-year. (Bloomberg.com)

• Cost of health law repeal. From Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News staff writer:” Repealing the federal health law would add an additional 19 million to the ranks of the uninsured in 2016 and increase the federal deficit over the next decade, the Congressional Budget Office said Friday.” (Kaiser Health News)

• Bond anticipation. With interest rates expected to increase this year, investors have pulled $1.44 billion out of fixed-income funds since May 31, according to Bloomberg data. Treasuries have fallen almost 1 percent since the end of May. (InvestmentNews.com)

• Hedge funds still hot. A record number of hedge funds—10,149 — were in play during first quarter 2015. Even though hundreds closed their doors during that same time frame, 264 new funds were launched. (WealthManagement.com)