The American consumer has returned in full force. Consumer spending has climbed 0.6 percent in the last two months, according to figures from the U.S. Commerce Department. Households have splurged on major appliances, 4×4’s, televisions and clothing, boosting the economy at the fastest pace in 11 years. According to Michael Gapen, the New York-based chief…
It must be nearly impossible for an objective investor to follow global financial activities. For example, India’s official reports indicate an enormous amount gold and silver imports for November. This news is hard to find unless you know how and where to look for it. Do a Google search and you will see sparse reports by bullion sites and alternative…
After decades of decline, one major U.S. industry is making a comeback. Electric utilities are rebounding, in large part due to one factor – the shale gas boom. Abundant shale gas means cheap fuel costs for heavy industry. That has caused a number of industries to expand or even re-shore their business in the United…
I don’t know about you but some of the most heated investing discussions happen after a company (say, like, Apple) announces earnings. Investors pore over earnings filings in pursuit for valuable information to support — or refute — an investment thesis. You’re going to want to check out Two Margins, a new site that allows investors…
Blue Line 4 Week Average The market was expecting the weekly initial unemployment claims at 280,000 to 294,000 (consensus 290,000) vs the 280,000 reported. The more important (because of the volatility in the weekly reported claims and seasonality errors in adjusting the data) 4 week moving average moved from 298,750 (reported last week as 298,750) to…
Plummeting oil prices, global economic weakness, and the Republicans’ win in the US midterms have delivered a triple-whammy to clean energy stocks over the last few months. Many of the stock declines are justified more by headlines than fundamentals. My 10 Clean Energy Stocks for 2014 model portfolio has suffered, especially the riskier growth stocks. The strong…
It ain’t so much the things we know that get us into trouble. It’s the things we know that just ain’t so. — Attributed to several American writers The most important events in 2014 were not anticipated. At the end of 2013 and early 2014, parallels between 1914 and 2014 were focused on the disputes in the South China Sea, not Russia seeking to…
Written by Gary Premarkets were up +0.2% this morning before starting a short session that closes at 1 pm today and the markets will be closed tomorrow the 25th for Christmas Holiday. Markets opened up and generally sea-sawed sideways with the DOW reaching up for a new high on low volume. Our medium term indicators are…
When markets are passing through choppy waters, investors often rely on the healthcare sector to safeguard their investments. This is because the demand for healthcare services does not vary with market conditions, making them a safe haven during difficult times. Many pharma companies also generate regular dividends, which go a long way in softening the…
As the year approaches its finale, money managers are celebrating their triumphs (and minimizing any failures). The good news is that there’s ample opportunity for emphasizing the former. Barring a year-end surprise, US stocks and bonds in particular are on track to end 2014 with solid gains. Wall Street won’t be shy in taking most…
