* China plans a new military training facility in Cuba–90 miles off US coast
* China cuts key lending rate for loans and mortgages to shore up slowing growth
* Bipartisan group of US lawmakers will urge US automakers to cut China ties
* China imports of Russian oil rise to highest level since Ukraine invasion
* Fed Chairman Powell will explain rate pause in Congress this week
* US homebuilder sentiment continues rebounding in June to 11-month high:

Treasury Inflation Protected Securities ladder funds don’t exist, but they should, writes Morningstar’s John Rekenthaler. “Recently, though, financial planner (and author) Allan Roth suggested a truly useful fund innovation: a portfolio that holds a ladder of Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities. Such a creation would be triply attractive.”

First, TIPS ladders are unique. No current fund behaves similarly. In a fund world dominated by me-too products, being different is valuable.
Second, TIPS ladders aren’t just distinctive—they’re distinctive and useful. True inflation hedges are rare. With enough time, stocks usually do the job, but as 2022 demonstrated, they offer no guarantees. Nor did most other presumed inflation hedges prosper last year, aside from commodities. Gold was flat, cryptocurrencies were worse than flat, and TIPS outside of ladders were disappointing. But TIPS ladders delivered on their promises.
Third, TIPS ladders are laborious for retail investors to construct. Although publicly available software eases the process, building a TIPS ladder nevertheless requires as many as 30 separate purchases. The endeavor is not only time-consuming, but imprecise for those without large budgets. For such tasks were professionally managed funds created.