<Click on chart for larger image> CNBC – Gasoline: Bottoming or the next black swan? The unexpected disruption in the oil market has been called a “black swan” event by some, and now there’s a chance it could be gasoline’s turn. The oil price collapse has created a boon for consumers, but it could get… Continue reading Are Low Gas Prices A “Black Swan” Event?
Bloomberg Businessweek – Will 2015 Be Any Better? Ten Numbers to Watch 5.8% U.S. unemployment rate in November. The obvious reason to care about this number in 2015? It tells us what share of the workforce can’t find jobs. The less obvious reason? It’s a key metric for the Federal Reserve, which will be deciding… Continue reading What To Watch As We Enter 2015
The Wall Street Journal – Debt Investors Looking to Profit From Oil Collapse The collapse of oil prices is uncovering a well of opportunities for corporate-bond investors looking ahead after a year of healthy returns and record-high debt sales. Fund managers are betting on companies that stand to benefit from lower energy costs, such as… Continue reading Corporate Bond Investors Look For Opportunities As Crude Falls
The Wall Street Journal – REITs Notch Biggest Gains in Nearly a Decade Real-estate investment trusts were among the hottest stocks of the year, propelled to their biggest gains in nearly a decade by low interest rates and an improving economy. REITs, which own properties as diverse as office buildings, apartments and warehouses, are sensitive… Continue reading REITS Have An Excellent Year
The Wall Street Journal – Jason Zweig: Lessons From a Year of Market Surprises Reviewing the Year in Markets In 2014, a number of experts predicted, bond prices would finally fall and interest rates would spike upward. Oil prices would rise. The stock-market stumble in September and October would turn into a rout. And the… Continue reading 2014 Surprises
Bloomberg.com – Buying on Dips Prevails in 2014 as S&P 500 Keeps Bouncing Don’t like the market? Wait a day and it’ll get better. That’s a stock strategy that worked in 2014 like no time in six years, with declines in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (SPX) averaging 1.5 days, data compiled by Bloomberg… Continue reading Buying The Dips Worked Well In 2014
The New York Times – Greek Patience With Austerity Nears Its Limit In the Jan. 25 general election, a majority center-right coalition government that has reluctantly stuck with austerity policies will face a charismatic left-wing challenger who says it is time for Greece to take its future into its own hands and do what it… Continue reading Greece
The Wall Street Journal – Dollar’s Surge Pummels Companies in Emerging Markets The soaring U.S. dollar is squeezing companies in emerging markets from Brazil to Thailand that now face higher costs on roughly $1 trillion in bonds sold to investors before the greenback’s surge. For 2014, the dollar is on track to gain more than… Continue reading The Soaring Dollar And Foreign Companies
Bloomberg.com – Greenspan Throws a Wet Blanket on Hopes for Growth Breakout Just when you thought the U.S. economy was roaring back to health, Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is here to tell you otherwise. “The United States is doing better than anybody else, but we’re still not doing all that well,” Greenspan, 88,… Continue reading Greenspan Speaks
Charts of the Week This week we assembled a collection of over 70 of our favorite long-term charts. Please enjoy. Topics Covered This Week Include: Long Term Interest Rates Back To 1790 Short Term Interest Rates Back to 1831 Long Term and Short Term Interest Rates Back to 1831 “Real” Long Term Interest Rates Back… Continue reading Charts of the Week
The Financial Times – Russian GDP falls for first time in five years Russia’s economy contracted last month for the first time in five years amid the sharp fall in oil prices and the collapse of the rouble. Gross domestic product shrank by 0.5 per cent in November compared to the same month last year,… Continue reading Russia In Recession