Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen opened her statement in today’s press conference announcing “no change” to the federal funds rate, despite of a positive outlook on the US economy, based on reported improvements in the labor market, specifically an average of 230,000 new jobs in the last three months, along with growing household spending and positive consumer sentiment.

A positive outlook was announced despite of stalled wage growth, a growing number of part time employees seeking full time employment, weak business investment, downward outlook on GDP, soft net exports and weak global economic conditions.

Economic expansion and growth is expected to continue, pushing towards a 2% inflation target within 2-3 years, as well as a gradual “tightening” of monetary policy towards a target federal funds rate in the range of 3% by 2018, further increasing in the longer run.

However, Yellen goes on to say that despite of the positive outlook and current assessments of appropriate monetary policy, they will remain “accommodative” due to elevated uncertainty and the Fed is prepared to soften policy with the ability to lower interest rates down to zero to offset possible global economic pressure. Further rate increases are said to be determined on a “live” basis as new data is reported and April’s rate considerations are to be considered at that time.

Yellen was asked whether “negative” interest rates have been considered. Yellen responded by saying that it has not been a focus of discussion due to a positive economic outlook.

A downward forecast in global growth was reported, citing downward pressure from the weight of low oil prices in many countries, specifically mentioning our neighbors to the North and South, Canada and Mexico. Japan reported negative growth in the 4th quarter of 2015.

Oil is expected to stabilize due to market decline in drilling. Current consumer spending is said to be aided by current low oil prices, benefiting households by approximately $1,000 in savings per year, although, current spending was said not to be as strong as “could be”. In increase in oil prices was said to have low significance in monetary policy.

Consumer sentiment was observed to be in “solid territory” as households have been helped by low oil and stronger labor market. Yellen stated that almost all demographic groups have seen improved labor market conditions, despite inequalities existing since the 1980’s.

The FOMC meeting will be shedding light on whether the Fed plans to raise federal deposit rates, although, market consensus seems to expect little or no upward movement on near term rates due to world financial market volatility, including the European Central Bank’s recent move towards looser monetary policy and renewed quantitative easing.

The future price of gold is greatly debated between those who are bear or bull on the precious metal. On February 16th, Goldman Sachs analyst stated that it expects the Fed to rates to increase, bringing the 12 month gold price target down to $1,000. In the other hand, those tagged with being “doom & gloomers” have been bullish on gold, pointing out a near term rush to safe-haven investments in the event of a bursting world economic bubble.

The Bank for International Settlements stated in a March 4th publication that “The Federal Reserve’s interest rate lift-off in December did little to disturb the uneasy calm that had reigned in financial markets in late 2015.” and warned of the deterioration of global growth prospects.

Contrary reports highlighting positive economic growth and stability, including a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reported 242,000 new jobs created in February 2016.

The coming Fed announcements should settle some near term debate, but may raise new questions moving forward.

Among Ford (NYSE: F)’s latest invention is the F-series pickup. It received a positive response from the customers on its website and has been the best-selling truck in America for over 37 years. This brings the question to mind that with such positive stats instead of rounding off prices at the higher scale, why is Ford (NYSE: F) offering discounts on it and as a result hindering the company’s profit for sure. The current Ford (NYSE: F) deal on F-150, offers 5 years of 0 percent financing along with a $1,500 bonus for trade in of selected items. If however the Federal Reserve shifts the interest rates, the company could suffer losses or possibly a greater margin.

Looking at the competitive environment all around, it has been concluded that maybe the F-series discount was less of an offer but a respond to the competition. The biggest competitors in the market for Ford (NYSE: F) are the General Motors Co (NYSE:GM)’s Chevy Silverado and Chrysler’s Dodge Ram. The F-series sales fell by 4.2 percent last year which means a total of 68,109 in the month of August. However if we look at the last eight months the percentage drop is around 0.4 which means a total of around 467,174 cars. Contrarily Silverado sales have risen by around 12.8 percent in August, selling around 49,201 units and the percentage increase is around 1.1 percent if we consider the last eight months with a total sales figure 331,977.

Ram on the other hand, hasn’t posed any direct threat to the pickup sales of Ford (NYSE: F) but it has steadily taken away a huge portion of the market share in 2014 and at this stage seems likely it will eventually cross Silverado’s sales by 2015. Ram was nominated the 5^th best automobile in America this August. Its sales rose by 32.6 percent to 43,775 units and remained at a high of 20.7% through out to 283,256.

Even though the F series is to date the market leader but threats from multiple companies has started which is the reason why Ford (NYSE: F) has started offering incentives and other attractive offers with its sales. These are tactics necessary to maintain and increase Fords market share because Dodge seems to be threatening sales. But the question that arises now is that could this deal end up costing the company more?

Bluebird Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE) is also running its tests and research on another of its drug, ‘Starbeam’. Starbeam is currently undergoing Phase 1 and 2 of its clinical trials. This drug has been designed for CCALD, which is caused by ABCD1 gene. CCALD is a terminal childhood disease, which results in long fatty acids’ accumulation in the body. Results for the clinical trials of this drug will be released in the upcoming year.

Bluebird Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE) has started its phase 1 study trials for sickle cell anemia as well: sickle cell anemia causes the blood cells to mutate. No effective therapy for this disease is available in the market right now. The company will start its study on sickle cell anemia this summer, and the company will have a blockbuster if it remains successful in designing an effective therapy for this disease. Additionally, Bluebird is in a preclinical phase for its cancer drugs. It is pertinent to note here that the company is in a partnership with Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ:CELG) to design and develop an effective cancer drug.

The company’s shares are currently down by 30 percent, mainly due to the secondary offering by the company to gather funds of $100 million. Another reason for this downfall is the Federal Chair’s testimony that the stocks of relatively smaller biotech companies are overly stretched. At present, the company has almost 26 million outstanding shares with a market capitalization of $800 million.

If Bluebird’s study results of Lentiglobin B-thal come out positive, the stock prices of the company can multiply several times, as there are almost 15,000 people suffering from this disease in the regions of Europe and North America; the company can gain a market share of $6 billion. Moreover, if the company remains successful in designing and developing an effective therapy for CCALD, it can seize another $300 million.

Bluebird Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE) revenues will be sky-high if the company successfully derives an effective drug for sickle cell anemia, for the number of people suffering from this genetic disorder is in millions all over the world. If Bluebird successfully develops a drug for sickle cell disease, it is going to be the biggest-selling drug for the company, for all time to come.

On the last trade day, the company started its stocks at a price of $30.68 and closed at a price of $33.91. The company’s intraday was recorded to be from $30.50 to $34 whereas its 52 week range is $17.03 to $41.75. Bluebird Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE) has an EPS of -$3.17 and a beta of 0.6.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) had to pay $650 million to American International Group for a settlement. Moreover, the bank reserved some money for the Department of Justice in lieu of the anticipated settlement. The Bank will pay around $50 billion for its settlement over disagreements that resulted in 2008, following the market crisis. After this decrease in the Bank of America’s profits, the shares fell down by 1.9 percent and reached the figures of $15.50.

The second quarter’s legal costs are way more than the costs that Bank had to pay in the second quarter a year back: the total legal expenses were recorded to be at $471 million for last year’s second quarter. However, the positive point is that these litigation costs for second quarter of 2014 are less than the first quarter’s legal expenses; for the first quarter of 2014, the Bank had to pay a total of $6 billion.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC)’s retail banking earnings jumped up by 28.5 percent and reached the figures of $1.79 billion. Similarly, the investment and commercial profits increased by 4.3 percent and the figures were at $13.5 billion. Moreover, the Banks’ trading and Sales earnings rose by 14.44 percent and reached the figures of $1.1 billion. However, the legal costs that the Bank had to pay eclipsed the increased earnings and higher profits.

Bill Smead, CIO of Smead Capital Management, a firm that has 2.6 million Bank of America’s shares, said that the bank was facing consequences of what it did and what it had been doing for a period of seven years. However, Bill Smead was of the opinion that the future of Bank of America looked bright

Coming to the EPS of the Bank, common stock earnings fell down to 19 cents per share for the second quarter of the year 2014. The earnings were better last year: 32 cents per share. According to a report released by Thomson Reuters, the analyst firms were expecting an EPS of 29 cents for the most recent quarter.

The bank is currently negotiating with the Department of Justice over the investigations on Bank’s driven sales of mortgage bonds. Sources have it that the Department of Justice is asking for $17 billion in settlement, however, the bank is willing to pay a total of $12 billion.

Coming to the current stock situation of Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), the shares on the last trading day, July 16, started at a price of $15.66 and ended at a price of $15.51. Bank’s intraday range was recorded to be from $15.43 to $15.66. It has a market capitalization of $163.1 billion and a price earnings ratio of 20.59. As far as the 52 week high and low figures are concerned, the numbers are reported to be around $18.03 and $13.60 respectively.

Research and Development Vice President at La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company, James Rolke, said that NASH occurs in those people who do not drink or if they do, they consume very little amount of alcohol. According to James Rolke, NASH disease is similar to that of liver disease, which alcoholic suffers from. He further stated that LJPC-1010 was a GCS-100’s tailored form and it was the only effective way to treat the disease of NASH.

In the last trading session, La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (NASDAQ:LJPC) opened its stocks at $13.06 and closed at $12.09. The intraday range for the company was recorded to be from $11.70 to $13.51. As far as the 52 week high and low figures are concerned, the numbers are reported to be around $19.50 and $2.78 respectively. La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company has a market capitalization of $95.11 million with a 34 percent institutional ownership.

Coming to Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN), on June 12, the company announced that U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has lifted off the hold on Myelofibrosis IST’ clinical trials. In March, FDA put a partial hold on Myelofibrosis IST trials, due to the safety concerns raised by hepatotoxicity’s identification in the pre-clinical trials. To get the hold lifted off, Dr. Ayalew Tefferi provided reports and information to reverse hepatotoxicity in all the patients who received a dose of imestelstat during the trials. After reviewing the reports, FDA lifted off the hold from Myelofibrosis IST trials.

During the last trading day, Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN) started its shares at a price of $3.02 and closed at a price of $2.88, after hitting the highest figures of $3.09. The company has a market capitalization of $457.98 million and a beta of 2.49.

The shares of Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA) dropped by 0.97 percent and reached the price of $5.09. On July 10, the company announced that its 200 new contracts of Metabolic Business Unit’s sales representatives of Eisai Inc. have been completed. This completion of BELVIQ® contracts has increased the company’s sales by 50 percent. According to the latest news, the completion of these 200 sales contracts will increase Eisai Inc.’s reach to almost 92,000 physicians in the U.S.

Coming to the stocks, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA), on the last trade day, started its stocks at a price of $5.17 and closed at a price of $4.92, after hitting the highest figures of $5.32. As far as the 52 week high and 52 week low of the company’s stocks are concerned, the figures are reported to be around $7.97 and $4.05 respectively. The company has a total market capitalization of $1.08 billion and its recorded beta is 0.76.