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  • Finance 0

    A Bull’s Paradise Is A Market Looking For Reasons To Buy

    The secular bull market that began on March 9, 2009 in the wake of the Financial Crisis just passed its ninth anniversary last Friday, and as if to celebrate, stocks rallied big on the strong reports of jobs growth, total employment, and labor participation, while wage inflation remained modest. All in all, it was a lot of great news, but instead of selling off – as stocks have done in the past in a “good news means bad news” reaction, assuming the Fed would feel emboldened to raise rates more aggressively – stocks rallied strongly. This is a market of investors looking for reasons to buy rather than to sell, i.e., the bulls are still...
    On March 14, 2018 / By
  • Finance 0

    The Fed Is Behind The Market On Rates

    “Davidson” submits: Fed well behind T-Bill rates. Fed will need 0.5% rise in Fed Funds to normalize spread to T-Bill rate which is now 0.3% above FFunds. The Fed adjusting FFunds rate is has no economic impact because T-Bill rates have already shifted reflecting market forces.  ...
    On March 14, 2018 / By
  • Finance 0

    Have You Considered Preferred Stocks?

    We’ve written a few times before about U.S. preferred stocks. These are different from the stocks that make up what we usually think of as the ‘stock market’. The stock market is made up of ‘common stocks’. Each of the two kinds of stocks has its place, and you might very well want to invest some money in both. With common stocks near all-time highs, it is important to consider investment alternatives, as you may not want to commit more money to the stock market at these nosebleed levels. The ‘preferred’ in ‘preferred stock’ refers to the fact that preferred shareholders have certain rights to the company’s assets, and the...
    On March 14, 2018 / By
  • Finance 0

    Longtime Bear Morgan Stanley Says Finally Time To Buy Ford

    Shares of Ford (F) are on the rise after Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas double upgraded the stock to Overweight from Underweight as he believes a “window of opportunity” has opened up, with consensus bottoming and the stock having reached attractive valuation levels amid low sentiment. The analyst believes restructuring and strategic redeployment could halt years of underperformance. BUY FORD: In a research note this morning, Morgan Stanley’s Jonas upgraded Ford to Overweight from Underweight, where he has had his rating since 2014. The analyst told investors that sentiment on Ford has reached a cyclical low, with the ske...
    On March 14, 2018 / By
  • Finance 0

    Confidence? Retail Sales Down Third Month

    Citing “consumer confidence”, economists expected retail sales to bounce 0.4%. Instead, sales fell for the 3rd month. The word of the day is “down”. The Advance Retail Sales report shows a decline for the third month. A revision took away a small bit of the sting as the December 2017 to January 2018 percent change was revised from down 0.3 percent to down 0.1 percent. However, the numbers, led by autos, are not pretty. Sales by Business Hurricane Impact Vanished Except for building materials, the hurricane impact is history. Last autumn I stated there would be a hurricane boost with a payback in the first quarter. He...
    On March 14, 2018 / By
  • Finance 0

    Signet Beats On Q4 Earnings & Sales Estimates

    Signet Jewelers Limited (SIG – Free Report), retailer of diamond jewelry, watches, and other products came out with its fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein adjusted earnings came in at $4.28 per share and outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.26. Management envisions adjusted earnings per share in the range of $3.75-$4.25 for fiscal 2019. Earnings Estimate Revision: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2019 has witnessed downward revisions over the past 30 days. In the trailing four quarters (excluding the quarter under review), the company underperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 4.1%. Signet Je...
    On March 14, 2018 / By
  • Finance 0

    Stocks Slide, Breakevens Tumble After White House Confirms $100BN China Deficit Target

    Could Dennis Gartman be right? For the third day in a row, stocks have burst higher out of the gate, only to be met with a wave of selling which has promptly pushed the S&P to session lows.   While there has been no specific news catalyzing the move, traders are attributing the move to a sudden drop in 10Y breakevens – with 10Y real rates unchanged – as long-term inflation pressures are suddenly looking far less pressing…   … which in turn has pushed Breakevens back levels not seen in one month as real 10Y yields remain rangebound.   One potential factor spooking risk may be a Reuters headline, which confirms ...
    On March 14, 2018 / By
  • Finance 0

    Sayonara Abenomics? Not So Fast

    Japan’s political stability in general, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s strong grip on power in particular, have been the centerpiece of the “bullish Japan thesis” for many investors. “Team Abe” has had a fundamental pro-growth and pro-business bias and, in the final analysis, has had a good track record of getting things done. Unfortunately, in recent days, the “Moritomo affair” has evolved in a way that could force an end to Abe’s undisputed premiership. While we do think Abe is more likely to survive than not, the threat is serious enough to force us to think about possible post-Abe Japan scenarios. First, the good news....
    On March 14, 2018 / By
  • Finance 0

    Bull Of The Day: Regeneron

    Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN  – Free Report) shares have been on an odyssey in the past year, soaring from $360 last April up to $540 by June and then entering their own private bear market since last autumn to dip below $320 this year. But with EPS estimates rising since January, the stock became a Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy again last month and savvy Biotech investors are thinking they be witnessing the start of an important bottom in shares below $350. Full-year 2018 profit projections have risen 11% from $16.82 to $18.67, representing 14.4% growth this year. And next year’s estimates rose 6.4% from $20.29 to $21.58, repres...
    On March 14, 2018 / By
  • Finance 0

    Crude Oil – Wednesday, March 14

    CL balancing on the uptrend line that started last September. source: INVESTING.com...
    On March 14, 2018 / By