Trumping bouts of volatility and several crashes, the technology sector has been riding high and is an investors’ darling this year. In fact, it is so far the best performing sector of 2015, just behind consumer discretionary. Notably, the S&P 500 Information Technology Sector Index is up nearly 6% versus the gain of 10.10% for…
On June 29, 2006, the Fed did something it would not do again for (at least) nine and a half years: it hiked rates by 25 basis points, its 17th consecutive rate hike. Everyone knows what happened after. On December 16, 2015, the Fed is expected to do something it hasn’t done for 3,457 days: hike…
EUR/USD: Having followed through higher the past week, EUR/USD retains its bullish bias but with caution. However, the immediate risk is the resistance located at the 1.1086/96 zone. While that region caps, we are likely to see pullback early in the week. On the upside, resistance is comes at 1.1150 level with a cut through…
The stock market ended the week with a dreary performance as the S&P 500 (SPY) fell below its 100-day moving average, dropping 1.9 percent to 2,012.37 at 4 p.m. in New York and posting its worst performance since August. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA) sank 309.54 points or 1.8 percent to 17,265.21 and the…
Welcome to edition 286 of Insider Weekends. Insider buying increased significantly last week with insiders buying $596.73 million of stock compared to $45.92 million in the week prior. Selling on the other hand decreased with insiders selling $767.16 million of stock last week compared to $1.15 billion in the week prior. The big spike in purchases this week was…
With an almost certain increase in the Fed funds rate for this Wednesday, it is time to look ahead into the stocks that will outperform in a higher rate environment. These six stocks fit the bill and can offer investors both stable high yields and strong share price appreciation in the year to come. As…
I was having breakfast with one of the biggest hedge fund managers. He was telling me his latest ideas. Then he stopped chewing and said, “you know what. You’re a remora.” I didn’t know what that was. The food was practically spitting in my face. “A remora is a fish that is a blood-sucking leech”….
Last week’s stock results were poor for nearly all funds and sectors. Will this continue? Until Wednesday, we can expect a continuing focus on the Fed. After that announcement we may see a change in tone: Pundits will be asking: Is it finally time for the Santa Claus Rally? Prior Theme Recap In my last…
1. Activity increased during the Commitment of Traders reporting week ending 8 December. There were four significant (10k+ contracts) gross currency adjustments by speculators. Given that this period covers the second largest gain in the euro’s history, it is surprising that it did not meet the threshold. It is astounding that only that speculators added…
The Federal Reserve has kept its zero interest rate policy (‘ZIRP’) for several years (and much longer than originally anticipated) whilst the European Central Bank seems to be getting serious about doing ‘better’ and has now reduced the deposit rate at the ECB to -0.30%. It’s already remarkable a central bank doesn’t seem to have any problem…
