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  • Finance 0

    Here We Go Again – Swell Numbers Which Aren’t

    According to the financial press we have had some swell economic numbers in the last two days—so it’s giddy-up-and-go time for the stock market again. Thursday’s industrial production number was allegedly gangbusters and today’s housing start figure for October was described as a “boom” by the incorrigible headline writers at MarketWatch: The Commerce Department on Friday said October housing starts surged, rising 13.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.29 million. Obviously, “surge” is a very different thing than “flat” or “punk”, but those latter terms ...
    On November 17, 2017 / By
  • Finance 0

    Bonfire Of The Absurdities

    “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” – Ecclesiastes 1:2, King James Version (attributed to King Solomon in his old age) This week’s letter will take a look at the growing number of ridiculous, inane, and otherwise nonsensical absurdities that fill the daily economic headlines. I have gone from the occasional smile to scratching my head now and then to “WTF” moments several times a week. Wondering if it was just me, I recently sent an appeal to a what became a large number of my friends and fellow writers and analysts, asking for their graphic examples of this paranormal economic activity. Su...
    On November 17, 2017 / By
  • Finance 0

    USD/JPY – How Far Will It Fall?

    Over the past few weeks, the U.S. dollar has struggled despite progress on tax reform and the prospect of a Federal Reserve rate hike next month. The market may be convinced that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in December, but the most recent economic reports have been far from encouraging. At the same time, while the House voted to pass its tax bill this past week, the Senate is where the real battle will take place. The full Senate is not expected to vote on the bill until after the Thanksgiving holiday so there may be little reason for investors to be long dollars during the holiday week. Last minute changes that tie in the ...
    On November 17, 2017 / By
  • Finance 0

    The Social Security Inflation Lag Calendar – Partial Indexing

    There is a lot of advice out there about Social Security – most of which is based on Social Security being fully inflation indexed. However, as we will establish in this first in a series of analyses, Social Security is only partially inflation indexed. As a matter of design, it does not fully keep up with inflation. Sound like an obscure difference? “Partial inflation indexing” is little understood by the general public, but it could transform your standard of living – along with the quality of life of millions of others – in the years and decades to come. Indeed, partial inflation indexing can mean effectivel...
    On November 17, 2017 / By
  • Finance 0

    Abercrombie (ANF) Beats On Q3 Earnings & Sales, Stock Up

    Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ANF reported robust third-quarter fiscal 2017, wherein both its earnings and sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improved year over year. Notably, this was the company’s second straight positive earnings surprise and the third consecutive sales beat. Results gained from significant progress on its strategic initiatives and strength in Hollister as well as direct-to-customer business, amid a highly promotional retail backdrop. Consequently, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock surged 25.5% in the pre-market trading hours. Additionally, the company’s initiatives like strategic capital investments,...
    On November 17, 2017 / By
  • Finance 0

    6 Winning U.S. Mutual Funds To Buy On Trumpiversary

    U.S. mutual funds have witnessed steady growth in assets under management during President Donald Trump’s first year in office. Despite persistent doubts over the President’s ability to pass key political reforms, U.S. equity funds have registered strong inflows. Moreover, optimism over Trump’s infrastructure development and tax reform policies, indications from the Fed about an imminent rate hike and an encouraging earnings season are expected to attract investors toward U.S. stock funds for a considerable time. Following these recent gains, the addition of domestic equity mutual funds to one’s portfolio might prove one of the most s...
    On November 17, 2017 / By
  • Finance 0

    42 Firms Going Ex-Dividend Next Week, Including Valero, Discover And Hershey Company

    There are several well known large cap stocks going ex-dividend next week including the following five Top 100 Dividend Stocks: Valero, Discover Financial Services, L Brands, Magna, and National Grid. Ex-dividend dates are important to dividend investors because one must own a stock on its ex-dividend date in order to be eligible to receive its next dividend. Any stock ranked by our team as a Top 100 Dividend Stock is tagged. Stock Symbol Company Name Ex-Div Date Pay Date Div Payout Stock Price Yield Market Cap Alaska Air Group, Inc. ALK 11/20/2017 12/7/2017 0.3 $65.87 1.82% 8.2 Apollo Global Management LLC APO 11/20/2017 11/30/2017 0.39 ...
    On November 17, 2017 / By
  • Finance 0

    Uranium, The Bond Market, And USD Comments

    (Audio length 00:09:14) Doc joins me today to look at the charts of Uranium, TLT, and the US Dollar. We address some technical factors as well as touching on the fundamentals that are the long-term drivers. Also of note gold is starting to breakout. This happened after we recorded but is of note at $1,293 currently....
    On November 17, 2017 / By
  • Finance 0

    Housing Starts And Completions Surge

    Housing starts rose 13.7 percent from September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 1.290 million. This is the fastest pace since October 2016. The number of units is 2.9% below the 1.328 million estimate a year ago. Housing Starts 1960-Present The 13% jump is a huge surge but from hurricane depressed levels. It’s not all hurricane related. Starts in the West actually declined as this Census Bureau chart shows.  Regional Variances The South is the largest region, constituting 48% of the total this month. So while this report is not all hurricane related, there is a noticeable hurricane impact. The next largest region is th...
    On November 17, 2017 / By
  • Finance 0

    Corn Just Hit Rock Bottom. Get Set To Profit

    All prices are set by how investors feel. Buying and selling shares or futures is an inherently inexact thing. Whether you are using supply/demand data or just a gut feeling, buying shares is a bet on what will happen in the future. That’s why sentiment indicators are useful … but only in the extremes. When sentiment gets too high, it indicates a bad time to buy. When sentiment gets too low, it tells us that it’s a good time to buy. For example, back in late 2008 to early 2009, sentiment toward stocks was terrible. No one wanted to buy stocks. Everyone was terrified to the extreme. But if you bought the S&P 500 back then, when it ...
    On November 17, 2017 / By