What will the car of the future look like? It may not be long before we know. In early February, Ford announced that it will allocate a staggering $1 billion over the next five years to develop the first fully autonomous vehicle, and almost every global automaker is working feverishly to create the ultimate self-driving machine. The consensus is that people will soon be using “Jetsons-like” cars powered not by humans but by smart computers. But policymakers and businesses interested in the car of the future should look beyond the traditional industry hubs in Detroit, Frankfurt, and Tokyo to a place that might appear to be an unlik...
Just a quick update on Valeant Pharma, which apparently Bill Ackman has nearly 12,000,000 shares of (at much, much higher prices) – – major trendline break means basically there is no limit to how low this can go (excepting for $0.00). The good news for everyone is that those Wall Street analysts once again totally earned their seven-figure salaries by helping investors near and far avoid this debacle with their spot-on “short every share you can get!” rating. Oh, wait……...
We discuss Politicians on both sides of the aisle and the propensity for overpromising and under delivering, and what this means for the stock market longer term. Paper Profits do not count for much in the end. You can buy Stocks at all-time highs, but then you are stuck with Dogshit Stocks at all-time highs in your portfolio. That usually ends well for investors! Video Length: 00:11:57...
A number of Wall Street analysts has issued upbeat opinions on Weatherford’s (WFT) decision to hire former Halliburton (HAL) CFO Mark McCollum as its CEO, effective next month. Capital One responded to the news by upgrading Weatherford, while research firm Gabelli wrote that the appointment increases the chances of Halliburton eventually acquiring Weatherford. NEWS: Weatherford last night announced that it had hired Halliburton CFO Mark McCollum as its president and CEO, effective late April. “McCollum is a proven executive with an impressive background spanning over 36 years in the energy sector,” Weatherford stated. UPGRAD...
While rising yields have dulled the appeal for dividend investing, stocks that consistently pay higher dividend are still in vogue. Dividend Growth in Focus Dividend growth stocks offer the best of both worlds –– potential for capital appreciation and rising income even in a volatile market. This is because these stocks belong to mature companies, which are less susceptible to large swings in the market, while simultaneously offer outsized payouts or sizable yields on a regular basis irrespective of the market direction. Additionally, these companies have a sustainable business model and enjoy competitive advantages, a long track of profi...
While rising yields have dulled the appeal for dividend investing, stocks that consistently pay higher dividend are still in vogue. Dividend Growth in Focus Dividend growth stocks offer the best of both worlds –– potential for capital appreciation and rising income even in a volatile market. This is because these stocks belong to mature companies, which are less susceptible to large swings in the market, while simultaneously offer outsized payouts or sizable yields on a regular basis irrespective of the market direction. Additionally, these companies have a sustainable business model and enjoy competitive advantages, a long track of profi...
When Joseph Whitworth was growing up in Stockport, the man who became the greatest mechanical engineer of the Victorian age witnessed a traumatic sight. In 1812, this unlovely industrial town on the outskirts of Manchester was overrun by Luddite rioters, all the more terrifying as they were wearing women’s clothes as they went on the rampage, smashing power looms and burning down textiles mills. Many of the Luddites were later hanged, their protest against new technology in vain. Today, the impact of new technology on jobs and social order is as burning a political and economic question as it was in the 19th century. In recent years, millio...
The GDPNow Model forecast for 1st quarter 2017 GDP plunged 0.5 percentage points to 1.3% following recent economic data. Today’s dismal trade data was not a factor. Advance trade data on February 28 showed the trade deficit in goods jumped 7.6% to $69.2 billion, and that data was already factored into the model. The reason for today’s plunge was light vehicle sales on March 2 and the factory orders data yesterday. Latest forecast: 1.3 percent — March 7, 2017 The GDPNow model forecast for real GDP growth (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the first quarter of 2017 is 1.3 percent on March 7, down from 1.8 percent on March 1. The forecas...
Ironic on a day when German macro data collapses, the DAX just closed on its bull market’s 8th birthday… for the first time ever. DAX is up 151% off its 2009 lows, S&P up 248%… h/t @Schuldensuehner And German 10Y Bund yields have collapsed from 3.00% to 32bps…...
Say what you will about exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they can help you be a better investor. Why? Because they’re barometers of market sentiment. You don’t need to subscribe to expensive advisory services to get early warnings of change ahead. Regard, for example, the relationship between the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE Arca: SPY) and the Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (NYSE Arca: RSP). SPY, being capitalization weighted, tend to reflect the momentum of large-cap growth stocks. The equal weighting scheme of the RSP fund allows smaller stocks to influence the index trajectory. You might say that RSP ...