The S&P 500 closed out 2023 with a gain of more than 24% and the Dow finished near a record high, as easing inflation, a resilient economy and the prospect of lower interest rates buoyed investors, particularly in the last two months of the year.

StonehamBank’s education link

StonehamBank is offering free financial literacy education program to students and residents in Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk counties.

Students at 11 schools and the surrounding communities have free access to Banzai. Through the Banzai online courses, individuals try out managing a budget, saving for a goal,
and dealing with unexpected financial pitfalls. Teachers are able to easily monitor and grade
student progress remotely. Other resources, which include articles, calculators, and
personalized coaching sessions, explaining everything from the basics of filing your taxes to
how health insurance works. These resources are available at
stonehambank.teachbanzai.com/wellness.

Teachers interested in using Banzai can visit stonehambank.teachbanzai.com or
call 888-8-BANZAI.

Magnetic ball recall

A federal agency on Friday recalled toys sold at Walmart.com containing powerful magnetic balls that could pose a hazard to children if swallowed.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the balls, which are 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) in diameter, exceed federal standards for magnetic strength and could clump together to block parts of the digestive system when ingested.