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Health authorities in Europe, the U.S. and Australia are investigating a recent outbreak of monkeypox cases, a rare viral disease typically found in Africa.
Germany on Friday reported its first case of the virus, becoming the latest European country to identify an outbreak alongside the U.K., Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Sweden.
In the U.K. alone, cases have doubled since the first was identified on May 7. The country now has 20 confirmed cases, though concerns are building that more may be going undetected.

An image created during an investigation into an outbreak of monkeypox, which took place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1996 to 1997, shows the arms and torso of a patient with skin lesions due to monkeypox, in this undated image obtained by Reuters on May 18, 2022. CDC/Brian W.J. Mahy/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.
CDC | Brian W.J. Mahy | Reuters

Health authorities in Europe, the U.S. and Australia are investigating a recent outbreak of monkeypox cases, a rare viral disease typically confined to Africa.
Germany on Friday reported its first case of the virus, becoming the latest European country to identify an outbreak alongside the U.K., Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Sweden.

The U.S. and Australia this week also confirmed their first cases, as experts attempt to determine the root cause of the recent spike.
While some cases have been linked to travel from Africa, more recent infections are thought to have spread in the community, raising the risks of a wider outbreak.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and infection and the U.K.’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said they are investigating a range of cases including those among individuals who self-identify as men who have sex with men, and urged gay and bisexual men in particular to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions.
In the U.K. alone, cases have doubled since the first was identified on May 7. The country now has 20 confirmed cases of monkeypox, though there are concerns there may be many more undetected.
Individuals exhibiting symptoms of the virus — which include rashes and fever — are being urged to seek medical advice, contacting any clinic before visiting.

“These latest cases, together with reports of cases in countries across Europe, confirms our initial concerns that there could be spread of monkeypox within our communities,” Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UKHSA, said on Wednesday.

What is Monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus, part of the same family as smallpox, though typically less severe.
Generally occurring in remote parts of central and West Africa, the virus was first detected in captive monkeys in 1958. The first human case was recorded in 1970.

Monkeypox reemerged in Nigeria in 2017 after four decades without a single confirmed case. As of May 2022, 450 cases have been reported in the country.
The Washington Post | The Washington Post | Getty Images

There have since been sporadic cases reported across 10 African countries, including Nigeria, which in 2017 experienced the largest documented outbreak, with 172 suspected and 61 confirmed cases. Three-quarters were among male aged 21 to 40 years old.
Cases outside of Africa have historically been less common, and typically linked to international travel or imported animals. Previous cases have been reported in Israel, the U.K., Singapore and the U.S., which, in 2003, reported 81 cases linked to prairie dogs infected by imported animals.

How do you catch monkeypox?

Monkeypox spreads when someone comes into close contact with another person, animal or material infected with the virus.
The virus can enter the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract or through the eyes, nose and mouth.

In this 1971 Center For Disease Control handout photo, monkeypox-like lesions are shown on the arm and leg of a female child in Bondua, Liberia.
CDC | Getty Images

Human to human transmission most commonly occurs through respiratory droplets, though usually requires prolonged face-to-face contact. Animal to human transmission meanwhile may occur via a bite or scratch.
Monkeypox is not generally considered a sexually transmitted disease, though it can be passed on during sex.

What are the symptoms?

Initial symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headaches, muscle ache, swelling and backpain.
Patients typically develop a rash one to three days after the appearance of fever, often beginning on the face and spreading to other parts of the body, such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
The rash, which can cause severe itching, then goes through several stages before the legions scab and fall off.
The infection typically lasts two to four weeks and usually clears up on its own.

What is the treatment?

There are currently no proven, safe treatments for monkeypox, though most cases are mild.
People suspected of having the virus may be isolated in a negative pressure room — spaces used to isolate patients — and monitored by healthcare professionals using personal protective equipment.

The palms of a monkeypox case patient from Lodja, a city located within the Katako-Kombe Health Zone, are seen during a health investigation in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1997. 
CDC | Reuters

Smallpox vaccines have, however, proven largely effective in preventing the spread of the virus. Countries including the U.K. and Spain are now offering the vaccine to those who have been exposed to infections to help reduce symptoms and limit the spread.

How dangerous is it?

Monkeypox cases can occasionally be more severe, with some deaths having been reported in west Africa.
However, health authorities stress that we are not on the brink of a serious outbreak and the risks to the general public remain very low.
“While investigations remain ongoing to determine the source of infection, it is important to emphasize it does not spread easily between people and requires close personal contact with an infected symptomatic person,” Colin Brown, director of clinical and emerging infections at UKHSA, said Saturday.
Health authorities in the U.K., U.S. and Canada urged people who experience new rashes or are concerned about monkeypox to contact their healthcare provider.
The UKHSA added that they are reaching out and providing advice to any potential close contacts of cases and healthcare worker who may have come into contact with infected patients.

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Crypto-wallet company Exodus pays employees like Alyssa Howell in bitcoin. Howell’s managed to finance a house and save for retirement with her cryptocurrency earnings.
Financial advisors warn consumers and investors that cryptocurrencies do not provide the same protections that come with a traditional bank or brokerage account. 
“We’re trying to figure out as an advisor, and as a fiduciary, what is the best way for us to help our clients in this space,” said Catherine Valega, a certified financial planner with Green Bee Advisory.

Many people have bought and sold cryptocurrencies as an investment, yet trying to live on a salary paid in crypto is tricky. 
Alyssa Howell spent much of her career in the gold-mining industry before joining a crypto-wallet company last fall that pays all of its employees in bitcoin. The Denver-area resident said learning the ins and outs of the crypto industry — different types of virtual wallets, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and browser extensions — has been quite an education.

“It has been a very steep learning curve for me,” said Howell, 35, who works in investor relations for Exodus, a bitcoin and crypto wallet firm. “It is just a new industry, but also it’s very fast-moving.

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Here’s a look at more stories on how to manage, grow and protect your money for the years ahead.

“So there’s always something new within crypto that has evolved.”
Howell never owned digital currencies before taking this job. Now she is paid in bitcoin on the first of every month — based on her salary in U.S. dollars. 
“If bitcoin is $50,000 (per token) and I make $25,000 per month, I’ll receive half of a bitcoin,” said Howell. “Now on the first [of the month], our company sets the price, so at a certain time on the first of every month, they’ll say this is the exchange rate for bitcoin.” Employees can then convert their crypto paychecks into dollars, with the company covering the conversion fees.  
Yet, this single mother of two has gone all-in with crypto. She recently purchased a new home, but struggled with the first lender she tried not accepting her bitcoin income. 

Allysa Howell, left, works for a crypto-wallet company that pays all of its employees in bitcoin.

“I was disqualified from a mortgage, which made me really nervous,” said Howell as she reflected on the experience. “Luckily, that’s not the standard; the world is changing, the world is evolving.”
She found a lender to accept her bitcoin income and it was one that also let her make mortgage payments in cryptocurrency. However, the loan was recently sold and the new servicer will not take crypto payments.
“It was a huge disappointment for me,” said Howell, “I’ll have to buy fiat [U.S. dollars] to pay my mortgage, and I really try my best to live within the crypto space.”
Howell said she keeps 10% of her bitcoin pay for retirement savings and isn’t worried about the currency’s ups and downs. “I’m long-term cryptocurrency so I’m not watching the volatility on the day today,” she said. “I’m here for the next five years, the next decade, the next two decades.
“That’s where I really see the opportunity,” she added.
Exodus’ CEO JP Richardson said the company pays its employees in bitcoin to help make virtual currencies more mainstream. 

“By us backing the technology and by us embracing that technology and paying our employees with the technology, we are saying that we believe in this long-term,” Richardson said.
Richardson also lives much of his personal financial life using crypto and he keeps enough money in U.S. dollars to manage expenses, he said, “in case, God forbid, something were to happen to cryptocurrency.” 
Bitcoin prices have been a on a roller coaster. The price hit a high above $68,000 and has traded below $30,000 for the last two weeks.
Financial advisors caution investors to balance crypto investments with other financial goals. Before investing in crypto, make sure you have sufficient emergency savings and disability and life insurance and are saving enough for retirement.  
Yet advising clients can be tricky.

Ersinkisacik | Istock | Getty Images

“We’re trying to figure out as an advisor, and as a fiduciary, what is the best way for us to help our clients in this space,” said Catherine Valega, a certified financial planner and chartered alternative investment analyst with Green Bee Advisory, based in the Boston area.
Other considerations include fees incurred when exchanging bitcoin for dollars as well as tax implications. 
President Joe Biden issued an executive order in March for regulators to consider the risks and benefits of cryptocurrencies.
In the meantime, financial advisors warn consumers and investors that cryptocurrencies do not provide the same protections that come with a traditional bank or brokerage account. 
Still, Howell views cryptocurrency as the future and wants her children to learn its value.
“What’s important for me to teach them is that money has value,” she said. Even though you can’t see it or feel it, we ascribe value to it.
“I am really focused on raising them to be prudent and spend well.”  More

Michelle and Jeremy Warren’s recent trip to the Galapagos Islands was paid for, in part, by her company, FullContact.
Michelle Warren

When Michelle Warren traveled to the Galapagos Islands for 10 days this spring, her bosses helped foot the bill.
It’s one of the many benefits offered by her employer, Denver-based tech company FullContact.

Warren’s not alone. While paid vacation days are a sought-after benefit, some employers are taking it a step further and giving workers money to help offset the cost of their trips.
Warren, who traveled with her husband, father and stepmother, received $7,000 towards the cost of her vacation.
“It’s life changing, truly, to go to the Galapagos,” said Warren, 38.
More from Invest in You:85% of those who negotiated a job offer succeeded. How to do itYoung workers share salary info as pay transparency gains steamEmployers are taking an interest in workers’ financial well-being
She and her husband, Jeremy, wanted to do something big and celebratory after they both earned their master’s degrees.

“The bonus from FullContact meant that we could do that in a way that was super-meaningful for us as a family,” Warren said.
On each work anniversary, employees get a vacation bonus, the amount of which depends on each person’s tenure. It starts at $2,000 and maxes out at $7,000 by year three. The employee must also have a good performance record.
As the company’s vice president of global human resources, Warren knows the impact the perk has on both employees and the company.
“It creates engagement, motivation for the work and energy around knowing that they can fully disconnect,” she said.

“It’s about that true reenergizing, resting [and] relaxing, that then helps them come back in a positive way and continue all that work.”
Paid vacation days are part of an overall benefits package that includes unlimited vacation days and 26 company holidays. Warren believes those perks help the company in the war for talent, especially considering it has to compete against tech giants.
FullContact boasts an 85% retention rate, which Warren said is “amazing during the Great Resignation and particularly in the tech industry.”
In addition to FullContact, nine other remote-friendly companies were recently highlighted by career website FlexJobs as helping pay for employee vacations. Here’s the list:

Airbnb: Employees receive $2,000 in Airbnb travel credit each year. It’s distributed on a quarterly basis and can be used to book stays or experiences on the Airbnb platform.
BambooHR: The firm offers employees $2,000 each year towards vacation expenses, such as hotel rooms and airfare.
Calendly: The company grants every employee a $1,000 annual travel stipend, which can be used for hotels, flight, transportation or even staycation activities to help recharge locally during the pandemic.
Evernote: The company offers employees a $1,000 yearly vacation stipend.
Expedia: Employees are reimbursed for expenses related to travel and wellness, from $1,250 to $1,750 per year, depending on tenure. Workers can also receive additional funds in their reimbursement accounts based on certain employment milestones and may also be given travel awards in recognition for exceptional work. Plus, they receive discounts on retail and travel packages purchased through the brand’s sites.
FullContact: The company provides up $7,000 per year for employees to travel. The amount depends on tenure.
PulsePoint: Employees receive a $500 annual travel reimbursement for vacation.
Thirty Madison: Employees are eligible for an annual $750 vacation stipend on day one of hire. It can be redeemed once the employee has taken a vacation of five or more consecutive days.
TripAdvisor: TripAdvisor reimburses for personal travel, among other things, as part of its global lifestyle benefit. The amount paid out for the various eligible services and products is based on years of service and ranges from $1,250 to $1,750 a year.
United Airlines: Employees receive unlimited standby travel and discounted rates on airline tickets to anywhere United flies.

To land a job that gives you the perks you desire, such as money towards travel, first make a list of your values and what exactly you are looking for in an employer, said Toni Frana, a career services manager at FlexJobs.
Then, start researching companies that seem to fit the bill on websites such as FlexJobs or Glassdoor. Even check the companies’ websites, which may detail their benefits packages.
Rank the companies to help narrow down your targets and start networking.
“Connecting with people who work there can help you get in front of the right people,” Frana said. More

A document outlining the European Commission’s aims for the REPowerEU plan was published on Wednesday.
It highlighted the importance of energy savings, the diversification of energy imports and speeding up what it called “Europe’s clean energy transition.”
The EU’s desire to wean itself off Russian hydrocarbons means it will need to find oil and gas from other parts of the world to plug supply gaps.

A wind turbine and coal in Lower Saxony, Germany. The EU’s desire to wean itself off Russian hydrocarbons means it will need to find fossil fuels from other parts of the world to plug supply gaps.
Mia Bucher | Picture Alliance | Getty Images

The European Commission has fleshed out details of a plan to ramp up the EU’s renewable energy capacity and reduce its reliance on Russian fossil fuels, at the same time acknowledging that existing coal facilities may have to be used for “longer than initially expected.”
A document outlining the Commission’s aims for the REPowerEU plan was published on Wednesday, highlighting the importance of energy savings, the diversification of energy imports and speeding up what it called “Europe’s clean energy transition.”

In total, it envisages extra investment of 210 billion euros ($220.87 billion) between 2022 and 2027. When it comes to renewables’ share in the EU’s energy mix, the Commission has proposed that the current target of 40% by 2030 should be increased to 45%.
The Commission’s proposals came on the same day the governments of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium said they would aim for a combined target of at least 65 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030. By the middle of the century, they are aiming for 150 GW of capacity.

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On the fossil fuel front, the situation is a challenging one. Russia was the biggest supplier of both petroleum oils and natural gas to the EU last year, according to Eurostat.
The EU’s desire to wean itself off Russian hydrocarbons following the latter’s invasion of Ukraine means it will need to find oil and gas from other parts of the world to plug supply gaps.
The Commission said as much as 1.5 to 2 billion euros of investment would be needed to secure oil supply. To import enough liquefied natural gas and pipeline gas from other sources, an estimated 10 billion euros will be needed by 2030.

All the above comes at a time when the EU has said it wants to be carbon neutral by 2050. In the medium term, it wants net greenhouse gas emissions to be cut by at least 55% by 2030, which the EU calls its “Fit for 55” plan.
The Commission said REPowerEU could not work without what it called “a fast implementation of all Fit for 55 proposals and higher targets for renewables and energy efficiency.”
In this new reality, gas consumption in the EU would “reduce at a faster pace, limiting the role of gas as a transitional fuel,” the Commission said.
“However, shifting away from Russian fossil fuels will also require targeted investments for security of supply in gas infrastructure and very limited changes to oil infrastructure alongside large-scale investments in the electricity grid and an EU-wide hydrogen backbone,” it added.
“In parallel, some of the existing coal capacities might also be used longer than initially expected, with a role for nuclear power and domestic gas resources too,” the Commission said.

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During a press conference on Wednesday the EU’s climate chief, Frans Timmermans, admitted that using less natural gas in a transitional phase would mean “you might use coal a bit longer — that has a negative impact on your emissions.”
“But if at the same time, as we propose, you rapidly speed up the introduction of renewables — solar, wind, biomethane — you then have the opposite movement,” he said.
Timmermans, who is the European Commission’s executive vice president for the European Green Deal, went on to stress the importance of finding a middle ground.
“If we can actually do what I say — reduce our energy consumption in combination with a speedier introduction of renewables — we will bring down our emissions even quicker than before,” he said.
“And then, of course we will have slightly higher emissions if people stick a bit longer to coal, but we need to strike the balance so that, on balance, we do not increase our emissions — we hopefully even decrease them more.”
Coal has a substantial effect on the environment, with Greenpeace describing it as “the dirtiest, most polluting way of producing energy.”
Elsewhere, the U.S. Energy Information Administration lists a range of emissions from coal combustion, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulates and nitrogen oxides.
The European Commission announcement drew criticism from a number of environmental organizations.
“These plans are supposed to fast-track the clean energy transition — but the European Commission’s latest strategy gives with one hand and takes with the other,” Eilidh Robb, an anti-fossil fuels campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe, said.
“So-called REPowerEU contains useful and necessary strides towards renewable solutions but it simultaneously enables almost 50 fossil fuel infrastructure projects and expansions,” Robb said. More

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s independent experts overwhelmingly recommended a Pfizer booster dose for kids ages 5 to 11.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed off on the recommendation, giving health-care providers the green light to start administering the shots.
The recommendation comes as infections and hospitalizations are rising across the U.S.

Alden Lee, 6, gets first dose of Pfizer-BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine at Children’s Hospital Arcadia Speciality Care Center on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 in Arcadia, CA.
Irfan Khan | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday recommended a Pfizer Covid booster shot for children ages 5 to 11 at least five months after their primary vaccination series, as infections are on the rise across the country and immunity from the first two doses wanes off.
The CDC’s panel of independent vaccine experts voted overwhelmingly in favor of boosters for kids in the age group after reviewing and discussing the data during a five-hour public meeting. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed off on the recommendation later in the evening, giving pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and other health-care providers the green light to start administering the shots.

The CDC is rolling out boosters for 5- to 11-year-olds even though most of the kids haven’t received their first two doses yet, with only 29% of the age group fully vaccinated. Walensky, in a statement Thursday, sought to reassure parents that the shots are safe and encouraged them to get their kids vaccinated.
“Vaccination with a primary series among this age group has lagged behind other age groups leaving them vulnerable to serious illness,” Walensky said. “I encourage parents to keep their children up to date with CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.”
Though Covid is generally less severe in children than adults, more kids ages 5 to 11 have been hospitalized during the omicron wave than at any other point during the pandemic, according to CDC data. Since the start of the pandemic, more than 4.8 million kids in the age group have caught Covid, more than 15,000 have been hospitalized and more than 180 have died, according CDC data.
Public health officials are also concerned about children developing long-term health conditions such as long Covid and multisystem inflammatory syndrome, MIS-C for short, a serious condition associated with Covid infection that impacts multiple organ systems.
“The impact and severity of long haul Covid on kids is substantial, and while we might not see it in the medical care setting, it is absolutely affecting the lives of individuals who are impacted,” said Dr. Grace Lee, the committee chair and professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine.

More than 8,000 children have developed MIS-C since the start the pandemic, with kids ages 5 to 11 most commonly affected at 46% of reported cases, according to CDC data. Sixteen children in the age group have died from MIS-C, 23% of the 68 total reported fatalities across kids of all ages.
Dr. Keipp Talbot, the sole vote against the booster recommendation, said the U.S. needs to focus its resources on vaccinating the overwhelming majority of kids in the age group who have not received their first round of shots, rather than moving forward with a third dose.
“Very few have gotten the first two doses, and I think that’s incredibly important to focus on before we start boostering them,” said Talbot, an internist and infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University.
Currently, the U.S. is reporting more than 99,000 new infections a day on average as of Tuesday, a 22% increase over the week prior, according to CDC data. Hospitalizations have also increased 22% over the past week, with more than 3,000 people admitted with Covid a day on average, according to the data.
As cases increase, the immune protection provide by the vaccines against infection has waned off as more time has elapsed since people got their first two shots. Omicron and its subvariants are also adept at evading the antibodies that block infection.
In the 5 to 11 age group, Covid vaccination was 43% effective against infection 59 days after the second dose during the period when omicron became the dominant Covid variant, according to CDC data. However, vaccination was 74% effective at preventing hospitalization in 5 to 11-year-olds against all virus variants.
Pfizer presented data from a small group of 30 children ages 5 to 11 showing that a third dose boosted infection-blocking antibody levels against omicron 22 fold one month after administration compared to two doses. Dr. Charu Sabharwal, Pfizer’s director of vaccine clinical research, said the increased antibody levels should confer real-world protection against the omicron variant, though the company did not present efficacy data during Thursday’s meeting.
Sabharwal said most reactions to the third dose among a broader group of 401 kids were mild to moderate, with fatigue and headache the most common. The rate of fevers was low with none of the kids reporting a temperature great than 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or 40 degrees Celsius. There were no cases of myocarditis or pericarditis, or inflammation of the heart. Ten kids had swollen lymph nodes, but the cases were mild and resolved within a week after onset, according to Pfizer’s data.
More than 18 million Pfizer doses have been administered to 5 to 11-year-olds in the U.S. since the two-dose vaccination series was authorized for the age group in November. The overwhelming majority of reactions to the vaccine, 97%, were not serious, according to CDC data. The most common side effects from the shots were fever, vomiting, headache, dizziness and fatigue.
Myocarditis following the second Pfizer shot is rare in boys ages 5 to 11 with 2.7 cases reported per million doses administered, which is far lower than boys ages 12 to 15 who reported 48 myocarditis cases per million doses, according to data from the CDC’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.
Dr. Sara Oliver, a CDC official, said the rate of myocarditis in kids ages 5 to 11 would likely be even lower following a booster dose given that is the case with other age groups.
The CDC has verified 20 cases of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, in kids ages 5 to 11 as of April following Pfizer vaccination. The overwhelming majority of the myocarditis patients were boys, 17 were hospitalized and 1 died. The boy who died had no evidence of viral infection, developed a fever 12 days after dose 1 followed by stomach pain, vomiting and death on day 13.
The CDC, in a large study published in April, found that the risk of myocarditis is higher after Covid infection than vaccination with Pfizer and Moderna’s shots.

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CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Thursday told investors that he’s optimistic that stocks of “amazing businesses” will make a comeback once the stock market faces better conditions,.
“As much as I can recite the negatives about these five stocks in my sleep, I remain unshakable in my belief that after the smoke clears, they will be higher, not lower,” the “Mad Money” host said.

CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Thursday told investors that he’s optimistic that stocks of “amazing businesses” will make a comeback once the stock market faces better conditions, highlighting five names in particular.
“Over the long haul, I think the best way to make money is by believing, not disbelieving, by owning, not renting, by taking the pain and engaging. Not slamming the door and hiding in the bedroom. That’s why I’m here,” the “Mad Money” host said.

“In the end, as much as I can recite the negatives about these five stocks in my sleep, I remain unshakable in my belief that after the smoke clears, they will be higher, not lower,” he said.
Here is the list of five stocks:

Apple
Nvidia
Costco
AMD
Alphabet (Google)

“At times, these companies will not do well. But they’re amazing businesses with amazing management. I’ll give them another chance to have amazing stocks, too, because historically that’s been the right call,” Cramer said.
The major indices took smaller losses on Thursday than the day before, as investors continue to shed their holdings over concerns that a recession is pending due to the Federal Reserve’s upcoming interest rate hikes.
Such fears, along with other headwinds including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Covid shutdowns in China and more have left stocks across many industries battered. Disappointing quarters from companies including Target and Cisco this week have further spurned the market’s tailspin.

Still, Cramer maintained that he’s remaining optimistic about finding winners in the market – though he did warn investors against betting on false hope earlier this week.
“I can still see a way to make things work. I’m not ready to throw in the towel,” he said.
Disclosure: Cramer’s Charitable Trust owns shares of Apple, Nvidia, Costco, AMD and Alphabet.

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It’s that time again! “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer rings the lightning round bell, which means he’s giving his answers to callers’ stock questions at rapid speed.

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PLBY Group Inc: “This company’s losing money. … I don’t want to touch money losers.”

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DraftKings Holdings Inc: “I know if California and Florida come on, you’re going to say why not buy it at $14, but there’s a lot of capacity in that industry.”

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Cloudflare Inc: “The business is very good. … I am fine with Cloudflare.”

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CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Thursday that he’s bullish on the defense industry and has four stocks in mind that he believes are investable.
“The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a game-changer for the defense industry, and you’d really have to be clueless not to notice,” the “Mad Money” host said.

CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Thursday that he’s bullish on the defense industry and has four stocks in mind that he believes are investable.
“There’s at least one industry that’s booming right now, and it will keep booming regardless of what happens with the [Federal Reserve] in particular or U.S. economy in general. I’m talking about the defense industry, which is on fire,” the “Mad Money” host said.

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a game-changer for the defense industry, and you’d really have to be clueless not to notice,” he later added.
Here is Cramer’s list of four investable defense stocks:

Raytheon
Lockheed Martin
AeroVironment
Northrop Grumman

Cramer also noted that the iShares US Aerospace & Defense ETF and the Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF have year-to-date declines of around 4% and 5%, respectively, while the S&P 500 has plunged around 18%.
“This is just the beginning. If the defense contractors can hold up this well during the worst tape in years, I bet they can soar when the market gets a little less hostile,” he said.
He added that the United States and countries in Europe will likely look to invest more in defense. 

The U.S., which on Thursday passed a $40 billion security assistance package for Ukraine, will have to spend to replenish its own stockpiles of military equipment while continuing to send aid to the warring country, Cramer said.
Citing Sweden’s and Finland’s recently launched bids to join NATO, Cramer predicted that the two countries will have to increase their military spending.
“If Sweden and Finland do join, they’ll have to substantially boost their defense spending as part of their treaty obligations — but then again they’d probably do it anyway given that they live right next door to Russia,” he said.
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