FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - June (BATS: QJUN)

FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - June (BATS:QJUN), Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest substantially all of its assets in FLexible EXchange Options (FLEX Options) that reference the price performance of the Invesco QQQ Trust

FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - June

FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - June

Millions of Americans face tougher times managing their bills as inflation bites. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 40% of consumers say it&#8217;s getting &#8220;somewhat&#8221; to &#8220;very difficult&#8221; to cover their monthly expenses.&nbsp;
This struggle is set to deepen with the return of student loan payments, which paused for years during the pandemic. Add to that the cost of summer child care and vacations and it's no wonder many are feeling the heat. But there's one payment you can't afford to put on the back burner: your student loans.
Don't Miss:
<ul>
<li>The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement —<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/money/smartasset"> How do you compare</a>?</li>
<li>Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/red-ventures"> The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>
<li>This billion-dollar fund has invested in the next big real estate boom,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/fundrise-flagship-fund"> here's how you can join for $10.</a></li>
</ul>
Financial expert <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40304035/suze-orman-says-ignoring-this-will-ruin-your-investment-future-heres-what-you-must-do-now-to-sec">Suze Orman</a>, host of the popular &#8220;Women &amp; Money&#8221; podcast, warns that skipping student loan payments is not an option. "It should be a priority," she said.
Pushing student loans aside with everything else on your plate might be tempting, but ignoring them could land you in hot water. The restart of these payments in fall 2023 has forced many people to figure out how to squeeze them back into already-tight budgets. However, Orman stresses that this is one bill you can't sweep under the rug.
Trending: Founder of Personal Capital and ex-CEO of PayPal<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/evergreen-money"> re-engineers traditional banking with this new high-yield account — start saving better today.</a>
Orman offers practical advice for those overwhelmed: &#8220;Make a plan or a budget that works so you can pay [your student loans] each month.&#8221; Her suggestion? Start by trimming the fat from your spending.&nbsp;
&#8220;Give up eating out or other unnecessary expenses so you can start making your payments,&#8221; she advises. Cutting back on indulgences can free up the cash needed to keep up with loan payments and it's a simple step toward regaining control over your finances.
Trending: Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are bullish on one city that could dethrone New York and become the new financial capital of the US.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/miami-take-new-yorks-place-financial-capital"> Investing in its booming real estate market has never been more accessible.</a>
The silver lining is that the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40879305/the-22-6-trillion-crisis-neither-harris-nor-trump-mentioned-but-its-the-top-concern-for-millions">Biden </a>administration has rolled out a new income-driven repayment (IDR) plan called the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. This plan could offer significant relief to borrowers, especially those on the lower end of the income scale.
According to the Department of Education, single borrowers earning $32,800 or less and families of four earning $67,500 or less won't need to make any payments at all. Even those earning more will see some savings – at least $1,000 annually compared to older IDR plans.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/irs-finalizes-10-year-rule-adv">IRS Finalizes 10-Year Rule For Retirement Withdrawals, Making Things &#8216;Even More Insanely Complicated&#8217;</a>
"With the new guidelines, many people's payments will be cut in half," Orman explained. This makes it much more manageable to stay on top of those monthly payments, reducing the risk of falling behind. For borrowers feeling stretched thin, this adjustment might just be their lifeline.
There's no sugarcoating it – budgeting for loan payments can feel like a juggling act. But as Orman points out, it's a necessity. &#8220;People need to remember not to put off paying your student loans. It's not going away; it should be the first monthly bill you pay. You can't bankrupt your student loan.&#8221;
Read Next:
<ul>
<li>Unlock the hidden potential of commercial real estate —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/marcus-millichap-backed-platform-makes-it-easy-to-invest-in-real-estate"> This platform allows individuals to invest in commercial real estate offering a 12% target yield with a bonus 1% return boost today!</a></li>
<li>These five entrepreneurs are worth $223 billion –<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/arrived-homes-private-credit-fund"> they all believe in one platform that offers a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends</a></li>
</ul>

Personal Finance

Suze Orman Says Missing This One Crucial Monthly Payment Could Cost You Big – Here's The First Bill You Should Never Ignore

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Portland Gen Electric (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $48.

News

Price Target

Initiation

Analyst Ratings

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Portland Gen Electric with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $48

Jefferies analyst Paul Zimbardo initiates coverage on Dominion Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/D#NYSE">D</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $58.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Dominion Energy with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $58

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on American Electric Power (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $107.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On American Electric Power with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $107

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Southern (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SO#NYSE">SO</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $94.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Southern with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $94

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Idacorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IDA#NYSE">IDA</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $110.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Idacorp with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $110

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on WEC Energy Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEC#NYSE">WEC</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $102.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On WEC Energy Group with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $102

The head-to-head matchup between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris could come down to how several swing states fall in the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/2024-election"> 2024 presidential election.</a>
A new poll shows which candidate is making up ground in the key seven states.
What Happened: Harris has been trending up <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/09/40910999/trump-in-trouble-vice-president-harris-has-record-6-point-lead-in-2024-election-poll-after-debat">in 2024 election polls</a> of nationally registered voters, posting her largest lead in the weekly Morning Consult poll this week in the head-to-head matchup.
A new poll of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/swing-states">swing state</a> voters, which covers seven key battleground states, could show a different picture.
Here are the results from the September Emerson College swing state <a href="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/september-2024-swing-state-polls-trump-and-harris-locked-in-tight-presidential-race/">polls </a>with the results from August in parentheses:
<ul>
<li>Arizona: Trump 49% (50%), Harris 48% (47%)</li>
<li>Georgia: Trump 50% (48%), Harris 47% (49%)</li>
<li>Michigan: Harris 49% (50%), Trump 47% (47%)</li>
<li>Nevada: Trump 48% (48%), Harris 48% (49%)</li>
<li>North Carolina: Harris 49% (48%), Trump 48% (49%)</li>
<li>Pennsylvania: Trump 48% (48%), Harris 47% (48%)</li>
<li>Wisconsin: Trump 49% (49%), Harris 48% (48%)</li>
</ul>
The results show that Trump leads Harris in four of the seven states and is tied with the vice president in one state. Harris leads Trump in two states. Each candidate led three states in the August poll.
Trump gained support in one state and lost support in two states, with four states remaining the same from August. Harris gained support in two states and lost support in four states.
"There has been marginal movement in the presidential election since the late August Emerson swing state polls before the presidential debate," Emerson College Polling executive director Spencer Kimball said. 
Did You Know?
<ul>
<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent091924">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
Why It's Important: The seven swing states in question together represent 93 electoral votes in the 2024 election. Six of the seven states above were won by Biden in the 2020 election with Trump winning North Carolina. Several of the states were flipped from Trump's win in the 2016 election.
A Marist poll recently found how swing state voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin would vote in the 2024 election if it were held today. The race for Pennsylvania and Wisconsin was close with Trump and Harris tied in Pennsylvania and Harris leading by one point in Wisconsin.
In the state of Michigan, Harris had a five-point lead over Trump.
The three states together represent 44 electoral votes and could prove important in the 2024 election. Trump was the first Republican presidential candidate to sweep the three states since Ronald Reagan in 1984, <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/09/19/us-news/trump-harris-neck-and-neck-among-likely-voters-in-pennsylvania-and-wisconsin-veep-up-5-in-michigan-polls/">according </a>to the New York Post. Biden won all three of the states in the 2020 election.
All seven swing states see voters pick the economy as the top issue ahead of the election. Immigration, threats to democracy and housing affordability are also top voter issues in swing states.
With less than two months until the 2024 election, the race between Harris and Trump remains close and swing states continue to be one of the most monitored polling items given their importance.
Check This Out:
<ul>
<li>Lawmakers Made Huge Investments This Year. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent091924">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Harris In Trouble? New Swing State Poll Shows Trump Gains Ground In Key Battleground Areas For 2024 Election

Jefferies analyst Paul Zimbardo initiates coverage on Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XEL#NASDAQ">XEL</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $70.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Xcel Energy with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $70

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Alliant Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LNT#NASDAQ">LNT</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $67.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Alliant Energy with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $67

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on OGE Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OGE#NYSE">OGE</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $46.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On OGE Energy with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $46

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Ameren (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEE#NYSE">AEE</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $97.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Ameren with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $97

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Evergy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVRG#NASDAQ">EVRG</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $70.

EVRG

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Evergy with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $70

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Pinnacle West Capital (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNW#NYSE">PNW</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $104.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Pinnacle West Capital with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $104

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Exelon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXC#NASDAQ">EXC</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $46.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Exelon with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $46

Jefferies analyst Paul Zimbardo initiates coverage on PPL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPL#NYSE">PPL</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $38.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On PPL with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $38

Mortgage rates continue to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40921345/mortgage-rates-drop-to-2-year-low-refinancing-hits-fastest-pace-since-2022-rocket-lendingtree-among">fall toward 6%</a> as the housing market absorbs the Federal Reserve&#8217;s 0.5% rate cut on Wednesday, raising demand for refinancing and buying, stated Freddie Mac.
The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 6.09% on Thursday, down from 6.2% a week ago and 7.19% a year earlier, according to Freddie Mac&#8217;s Primary Market Mortgage Survey.
The rate for a 15-year fixed mortgage declined to 5.15%, down from 5.27% a week ago and 6.54% a year earlier.
"Mortgage rates continued declining towards the six percent mark, reviving purchase and refinance demand for many consumers," said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's chief economist.
Read Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/09/40923657/single-family-housing-starts-are-up-as-mortgage-rates-decline-fed-eyes-lower-rates"> Single-Family Housing Starts Are Up As Mortgage Rates Decline, Fed Eyes Lower Rates</a>
"While mortgage rates do not directly follow moves by the Federal Reserve, this first cut in over four years will have an impact on the housing market. Declining mortgage rates over the last several weeks indicate this cut was mostly baked in, but we expect rates to fall further, sparking more housing activity."
Exchange-traded funds that hold mortgage stocks are sensitive to mortgage rates because they primarily invest in mortgage-backed securities (MBS) or mortgage-related assets, which are directly impacted by changes in interest rates.
<ul>
<li>IShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REM#BATS">REM</a>) rose 0.82%</li>
<li>VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MORT#NYSE">MORT</a>) went up 0.74%</li>
<li>IShares MBS ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBB#NASDAQ">MBB</a>) ticked up 0.06%</li>
</ul>
IShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF holds 15.2% of the REIT, Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NLY#NYSE">NLY</a>), while VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF holds 11.1%.
Read Now:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/09/40817001/mortgage-rates-fall-to-lowest-level-since-february-2023">Mortgage Rates Fall To Lowest Level Since February 2023</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

REIT

ETFs

Real Estate

FMCC

MORT

iShares FTSE NAREIT Mortgage PLUS Capped Index Fund

Mortgage Rates Near 6%, Demand Increases For Refinancing, Purchases

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on Duke Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUK#NYSE">DUK</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $138.

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On Duke Energy with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $138

Morgan Stanley analyst Jeffrey Hung upgrades Centessa Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNTA#NASDAQ">CNTA</a>) from Equal-Weight to Overweight and raises the price target from $11 to $26.

Upgrades

CNTA

Morgan Stanley Upgrades Centessa Pharmaceuticals to Overweight, Raises Price Target to $26

South Korean gaming giant Krafton's recent acquisition of Microsoft Corp.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) Tango Gameworks, known for titles like The Evil Within and Hi-Fi Rush, marked a significant move in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming">gaming sector.</a>
The deal, announced on Aug. 13, was driven more by a commitment to preserving creative talent than by financial incentives.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/08/40320631/krafton-saves-tango-gameworks-acquires-hi-fi-rush-ip-from-xbox">Krafton Saves Tango Gameworks: Acquires Hi-Fi Rush IP From Xbox</a>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Commitment Over Profit</h1>
&#8220;We don't think Hi-Fi Rush 2 is going to make us money, to be frank,&#8221; CEO Changhan Kim revealed in <a href="https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-we-don-t-think-hi-fi-rush-2-is-going-to-make-us-money-krafton-ceo-says-tango-gameworks-acquisition-is-about-legacy">dialogue </a>with Game Developer. 
&#8220;We wanted to maintain their legacy,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Although they did not have a big success in their games, we saw many creatives worth pursuing. That&#8217;s why we wanted to work with that organization.&#8221;
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Strategic Focus On Hi-Fi Rush</h1>
The acquisition focused specifically on the Hi-Fi Rush intellectual property. 
&#8220;Because Hi-Fi Rush fans really want to see sequels, we negotiated with Tango Gameworks' parent company to acquire that IP as well,&#8221; Kim explained. 
This move was intended to streamline the acquisition process and ensure the game's legacy continued without unnecessary delays.
Kim also addressed the practical aspects of the deal. "If we were to acquire all IPs, I think it's going to complicate the deal too much," he noted. 
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Staff Transition, Future Plans</h1>
The acquisition involved around 50 of Tango Gameworks&#8217; 100 employees, with the remaining staff not joining Krafton. 
Kim reassured that Krafton had no plans to reduce the new studio's staff and hinted at potential expansion.
&#8220;Krafton is a pretty big company, but Microsoft is very complicated,&#8221; Kim said. &#8220;We wanted to help the team continue developing their games, but especially Hi-Fi Rush.&#8221;
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/05/38791690/xbox-exec-sarah-bond-addresses-microsofts-studio-closures-its-always-extraordinarily-hard-to-make-">Xbox Exec Sarah Bond Addresses Microsoft&#8217;s Studio Closures: &#8216;It&#8217;s Always Extraordinarily Hard To Make Decisions Like That&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Courtesy of Tango Gameworks.

Get Our Top Trade Ideas Delivered Daily - 65% Off Now

Get Our Top Trade Ideas Delivered Daily - 65% Off Now

Comments

FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - June

Overview

FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - June (BATS:QJUN), Quote.Headers.trade-ideas