Working Together, Brazil, Russia, China and India Increase Leverage
Ian Bremmer

In 2003, a report authored by Goldman Sachs economists popularized the term BRICs -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- to describe a whole new category of emerging-market powerhouse. The report argued that with sound political leadership and relative international stability, the BRIC economies would together outpace the original G6 industrialized nations in dollar terms by 2040 -- a fundamental shift in the global balance of power. Since then, these four countries have assumed ever-greater importance in the international investment community's collective imagination.

What Enron & WorldCom Can Teach Us About Goldman & AIG
Arianna Huffington

Newsweek's latest cover story declares that The Great Recession is over. A Merrill Lynch report concurs, saying, 'The recession is over... We are bullish on global equities.' Goldman Sachs is placing riskier bets on the market than it did before the financial meltdown (and setting aside huge amounts of money to pay its executives). The problem is ...

Smoke Billowing Out of Our Economic Mount Vesuvius
Arianna Huffington

There is currently plenty of alarming smoke pouring out of our economic Vesuvius, but it is being dismissed. Don't worry about economic tremors, we're told, our financial system is back on track, the bailout worked and we'll start our slow but steady climb to recovery. But warning signs are all around us ...

New Era For Stocks: Could be the end of a long, good run
Kirk Shinkle

With a little luck, the economy and the stock market should hit bottom sometime this year. In fact, there's a chance that both already have, although it certainly doesn't feel like it. It will be a pleasant moment when we begin to bid farewell to the housing and credit busts, the banking meltdown, and frightened consumers -- all sources of fear that kept Wall Street stomping on the "sell" button. What emerges next, however, is anything but certain.

Stock Market Roller Coaster Ride
M. Ryder)

Best Mutual Fund Families
By Katy Marquardt

In a recent survey, more than 3,000 financial advisers weighed in with their picks of the top fund families. Criteria included consistency, ethics, trustworthiness, sophistication, and social consciousness. The survey was commissioned by Horsesmouth, an online adviser community and kasina, a financial services consulting firm. But since straight rankings reveal only so much, We asked a handful of financial advisers which fund families they favor and why.

Separating Deals From Duds: Blindly buying stocks can be hazardous to portfolio

Despite the market's roaring rally over the past three months, some stocks--including those of well-known companies--still look cheap. So how do you separate the deals from the duds? Understand why the stock is cheap.

Basic Materials May Be Unexciting, Except As an Investment

Basic materials stocks sound about as exciting as freshly laid asphalt, but they've become a steaming-hot investment in 2009. This group was devastated last fall as hedge funds abandoned the then-dominant thesis that the world -- especially Asia -- needs to keep building, and summarily dumped the stocks. However, ambitious economic stimulus packages in the U.S. and abroad have revived the need for basic materials.

Emerging Markets Soar but Remain Risky

Emerging markets are like those giant slices of double-mud chocolate-brownie cake offered to you by restaurant servers at the end of your meal. You run the risk of a severe stomachache later, but they sound so good it's hard to resist.

The Case Against (Some) ETFs
By Kirk Shinkle

Touted as a revolution in transparency, cost, and access to exotic investments, ETFs are now being slammed for inefficiencies, hidden fees, and opaque structures. Some experts argue that ETFs are just the latest means for investment advisers to hoist flawed products on unsuspecting customers. ...

5 Funds That Are Off to a Fast Start in 2009
By Katy Marquardt

Categorywise, large growth, midsized growth, and small growth funds have fared the best so far this year (although small companies have led the rally over the past three months). But not all of the top performing funds fall into one of those categories. Here's a look at some of the front-runners among diversified U.S. stock funds ... But beware ...

Government Intervention & Economic Risk
by Ian Bremmer and Sean West

It's no secret that politics affects economic markets. But in response to a financial crisis or economic downturn, political risk impacts markets much more broadly than just isolated policies and individual stocks.

SEC Boss Mary L. Schapiro Discusses Executive Pay
Kathy Kristof

Mary L. Schapiro has been in the job just a few months, but the Obama administration's new top securities regulator already is pursuing an aggressive agenda that blends souped-up enforcement with new rules designed to give investors more power and...

 

Not Going to Be Economic Depression
Global Economic Viewpoint

Last week at the Milken Global Conference, three Noble Laureates in Economics sat down to discuss the global recession -- Gary Becker (Nobel Prize, 1992), Roger Myerson (Nobel Prize, 2007) and Myron Scholes (Nobel Prize 1997).

All three agreed that this is not going to be a depression and that the free-market economy is fundamentally healthy.

The Global Economy: Worse & Worser

Today's global economic debacle shares a disturbing number of similarities with the early stages of Japan's "lost decade" of the 1990s.

 

 

Despite Risks, Some See Opportunities in Speculative Areas of the Market

At a time when so many "sure" investments have let everyone down, speculative investing sounds like simply throwing money down the drain. Shell-shocked investors, wishing no medals for bravery, have contented themselves with safer, low-yield choices.

A Strategy for Stocks? Look Inward First
Kathy Kristof

Uncomfortable putting your hard-earned money in stocks -- even after the recent run-up that has helped recover a portion of the last year's losses?

Strength of Technology Stocks Surprises

Technology is the surprise investment leader this year.

Science and technology stock funds are up 13 percent this year, versus the 2 percent decline of the average diversified stock fund, according to Lipper Inc. Among the tech-firm royalty, Apple Inc. (AAPL) stock is up 40 percent this year, IBM Corp. (IBM) up 22 percent and Google Inc. (GOOG) up 21 percent.

US jobless rate rises to over 10%
The US economy lost 190,000 jobs in October, taking the jobless rate above 10% for the first time since 1983.

South Korea approves India deal
South Korea ratifies a free trade deal with India that will give the two Asian countries greater access to each other's markets.

Ukraine 'pays Russian gas bill'
Ukraine says it has paid its gas bill to Russia, calming fears that Europe may suffer disruptions to gas supplies.

Major economies 'all recovering'
Major economies are showing strong signs of recovery, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development says.

Australia raises growth forecasts
The Reserve Bank of Australia says the country is growing faster than it had expected.

G20 ministers meet in St Andrews
The world's most powerful finance ministers are in St Andrews for a summit aimed at pulling the global economy out of recession.

US hits China pipes with tariffs
The United States imposes high anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese pipes as trade disputes mar the run-up to a bilateral summit.

US shares rise on business data
US shares rise strongly after official figures show business productivity has risen at its highest rate in six years.

More house price falls forecast
The recovery in UK house prices could be punctuated by a 6.6% drop in values next year, property group Savills forecasts.

Extra £25bn to stimulate economy
The Bank of England is to pump an extra £25bn into the economy but has kept interest rates unchanged at 0.5%.

Christmas shoppers 'undeterred'
Christmas shoppers will spend as much this festive season as last year despite the UK remaining in recession, Deloitte predicts.

China defends export restrictions
China denies claims by the US, EU and Mexico that it is unfairly constraining exports of some raw materials.

Euro interest rates unchanged
The European Central Bank keeps interest rates on hold at 1% as rising unemployment weighs on economic confidence.

Iceland interest rates cut to 11%
Iceland cuts interest rates to 11% from 12%, as hopes build that the country's economy is starting to stabilise.

Savers suffering from low rates
Nearly half of all UK variable rate savings accounts pay interest of 0.5% or less, says information service Moneyfacts.

US interest rates left unchanged
The Federal Reserve keeps US interest rates on hold at between 0% and 0.25% to help the economic recovery, as expected.

China 'boosts East Asian growth'
The World Bank raises its forecasts for East Asian growth, largely as a result of an economic rebound in China.

Gold hits new high on India deal
The price of gold reaches an all-time high after a large sale of the precious commodity by the International Monetary Fund to India.

Small fall in Irish jobless total
The unemployment rate in the Irish Republic fell in October for the first time in almost two years, official figures show.

New Australia interest rate rise
Australia, which managed to avoid recession, raises its main interest rate once again - this time from 3.25% to 3.5%.

Spanish benefit claimant total up
The number of people seeking unemployment benefits in Spain rose by 98,906 in October, government figures show.

Cash crackdown in Nigerian banks
Nigeria's central bank orders banks to report suspicious cash transactions from people involved in politics.

Drinkers get VAT New Year break
New Year's Eve revellers will get an extra six hours of reduced-VAT drinking, the government announces.

Libyans 'unlikely' to compensate
A lawyer who has advised Libya in the past says it is unlikely victims of the IRA in NI will be compensated.

Debt management under focus
A watchdog is to monitor the largely unregulated debt management industry to ensure fair treatment for customers.

Craving for raw garlic sees Irish finance minister through crisis
An economist reveals Irish Finance Minister Brian Lenihan's unlikely fondness for munching on raw garlic.

Afghan resources
There is more than just poppy dollars in Afghanistan

Darling project
G20 finance ministers to pursue banking reform

Recovery signs
Signs of confidence despite the shrinking economy

Stephanomics
If the economy is recovering, now is moment of truth

Lessons learned
The BBC Box returns from a year of globe trotting

Holy water
Ghana spa hopes to spark health tourism boom

BBC News | Business | Economy | World Edition
The latest Economy News from the BBC: breaking news on the global and UK economy and international investments including audio and video coverage.

 

Could Big Donors Break Obama's Fundraising Record?
The Obama presidential campaign rewrote the playbook for raising campaign cash in 2008. The Supreme Court may change it again before 2010: An upcoming decision could potentially curb the growing influence of small donors in favor of corporate America.

Worried Consumers Continue To Shun Credit
Consumers borrowed less for a record eighth straight month in September amid rising unemployment and tight credit conditions. Economists worry the declines in borrowing will drag on the fledgling recovery. The Federal Reserve said borrowing fell at an annual rate of $14.8 billion in September.

Money In A Bottle: The Celebrity Scent Business
If you walk down the cosmetics aisle of any big store, you might mistake the perfume collection for the guest list to a Hollywood party. But star-studded scents account for only about 10 percent of fragrance sales; their value is the publicity.

U.S. Economic Steps May Be Leading To Bubble
The global economy is slowly recovering after the worst financial crisis in decades, but government efforts to stimulate growth, including the Fed's move to drive interest rates down to zero, may be creating another problem. Prices for assets — gold, stocks and real estate in Asia — are soaring, leading to warnings that a new bubble could be forming.

Jobless Rate Highest Since 1983
The government says the nation's unemployment rate hit 10.2 percent last month, the highest since 1983. Economists had expected the figure to rise to 9.9 percent.

Health Overhaul Could Make Chain Restaurants Post Calories
A little-noticed provision in the House's health overhaul bill would require make chain restaurant menus and vending machines carry calorie counts.

Jump In Jobless Rate Puts Spotlight On Obama
News that the jobless rate has crossed the psychologically important 10 percent mark comes in the same week that Democrats suffered a sobering Election Day. Some experts say it dims Democratic prospects not just for 2010 but for the health care vote this weekend.

Jobless Rate 10.2 Percent, Casts Doubt On Recovery
Little over a week after the government said the economy has begun to grow, the unemployment rate climbed to 10.2 percent, the first time it has hit double digits since 1983. That, along with the loss of an additional 190,000 jobs in October, shows the economy is still struggling to emerge from recession.

CDC: Make Sure Swine Flu Vaccine Goes To Neediest
The CDC told health officials to make sure that scarce swine flu vaccine goes to priority groups, such as kids and health-care workers, after some criticized doses being delivered to Wall Street firms.

Wal-Mart, Amazon Price War Extends To DVDs
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is trimming the online preorder prices of some upcoming DVDs following last month's price cut on books. The move led rivals Amazon.com Inc. and Target Corp. to reduce some DVD prices, which pushed Wal-Mart to take a few more cents off its offerings.

Boosted By Bailout, AIG Racks Up Profitable Quarter
AIG said it posted profits for the second quarter in a row as its core insurance operations continue to stabilize after the company's government bailout last year. American International Group Inc. also got a lift from the increasing value of investments it still holds that soured last year and helped drive it to the brink of collapse.

U.S. Insider Trading Probe Widens
Federal authorities accused the founder of the Galleon hedge fund and five others of making millions of dollars illegally by using insider information to make trades. The six have denied wrongdoing. Authorities have charged 14 more people with insider trading. The suspects are not only from hedge funds but also from large corporations like Intel and IBM.

Monthly Unemployment Rate Tops 10 Percent
The Labor Department says the jobless rate hit 10.2 percent in October. That's the first time it's gone over 10 percent since the recession of the early 1980's. The economy shed a net total of 190,000 jobs in October.

Why Do Countries Rich In Oil Still Have Poverty?
This week's Planet Money report deals with what economists call the "paradox of oil." We'll meet two men who work in the African nation of Angola. One is an American, who makes big money in the oil business. The other is an Angolan who sells chewing gum on the street.

Tower Of London Warders Suspended For Bullying
Two Tower of London Beefeaters have been suspended for allegedly harassing a female colleague. She is the first woman appointed to the post in more than 500 years. The warders, who patrol the fortress on the banks of the Thames, are popularly known as "Beefeaters" because of the rations of meat they were given during medieval times.

NPR Topics: Business
Find the latest business news with reports on Wall Street, interest rates, banking, companies, and U.S. and world financial markets. Subscribe to the Business Story of the Day podcast.

 

Market Winners & Losers: International Game Technology, AIG
The major indexes ended the week on a positive note after the release of unemployment figures. The Dow closed up 0.2%, the S&P gained 0.3% and the Nasdaq added 0.3%.

FOXBusiness.com's Week in Review: Nov. 2-6, 2009
This week in business news: holiday web sales are expected to rise, brain drain is happening with limits on executive compensation, and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway goes into the railroad business.

Lobbyists Scramble Ahead of House Health-Care Vote
Opponents of the House health care bill and Democrat leaders are competing for about a dozen moderate Democrat votes as lobbyists are descending on Capitol Hill in a last-minute rush to sway tomorrow’s vote.

Al Lewis: Gold Glitters Because Central Bankers Do Not
I wish I had an ounce of gold for every time somebody told me an ounce of gold was a dumb thing to buy.

Recovering From Labor Pains
There won’t be much in the way of data to make the situation appear worse especially in the wake of Friday’s employment report which came just two days after a cryptic statement from the Federal Open Market Committee There won’t be much to make it look better either.

Early-Market Movers: NVIDIA, Crocs
Here are some of the early-market movers for Friday.

Markets Undaunted by Jobs Data
In a fresh sign of Wall Street’s resiliency, stocks held onto their big week of gains on Friday as not even the unemployment rate soaring above the 10% threshold was enough to spook the markets.

Market Winners & Losers: IMS Health, CVS Caremark
The major indexes rallied to close out Thursday’s session, with the Dow closing up 2%, the S&P 500 gaining 1.9% and the Nasdaq adding 2.4%.

'Non-Stimulus' Package Will Pump an Estimated $46B Into Economy
A new package of extended unemployment benefits and fresh tax breaks will pump another $46 billion in government stimulus into the economy through the middle of next year, Congressional estimates show.

What to Watch for in the Employment Report
Two numbers will grab headlines when the employment report is issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics at 8:30 a.m. Friday: the unemployment rate and the change in the number of payroll jobs.

FOXBusiness.com
FOX Business Network - We Report. You Decide.

 

Outlook: Dollar Likely to Ride Higher on Bleak Jobs Report
The dollar is likely to trade higher in the week ahead, with Friday's worse-than-expected U.S. non-farm payrolls data for October seen as the driving force for currency markets at least until mid week.

Week Ahead: Stocks Search for Catalyst in Quiet Week

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Says Net Income Tripled

Cramer: Earnings, IPOs Dominate Next Week

Buying Fear: How to Own Volatility

Consumers Haven't Changed —They Just Got Pickier

Want the Homebuyer's Tax Credit? Here Are Some Tips

Fears of Bubble Prompt Investors to Seek Exit Strategy

Can't Find a Job? Here Are the Best Places to Look

Video Game Industry's Troubles Aren't Just in US

Week's Top Videos: Droid Phone, Insider Trading & More

Liquidity Fears? Check Out No-Penalty CDs

Sun Micro Sales Fall as Oracle Deal Remains Delayed

Should an Idea Be Patented? Supreme Court to Decide

Consumer Borrowing Falls by $14.8 Billion in September

Jobless Rate Jumps to 10.2% as Labor Market Still Weak

GE, Comcast Deal on NBC Universal Now Set for Nov. 16

Blog: Funny CEOs? You Gotta Be Joking!

iPhone Has Become Threat To Nintendo: 'Doom' Creator

Food Network, HGTV Drive Scripps Networks' Profit

Wines to Bring to a Holiday Meal

CNBC Top News and Analysis
Stock Market News, Financial, Earnings, World Market News and Info

 

Overview: Central banks calm nerves
The surge of volatility in global markets late last month was calmed this week, even though Friday's US employment report threatened to undermine sentiment

Wall St shrugs off jobs report
Gains by General Electric, Starbucks and the world's biggest video games company, Activision Blizzard, helped Wall Street shrug off disappointing jobs data in choppy trading

Gold passes $1,100 level
Gold hit a fresh peak above $1,100 an ounce on Friday but crude oil prices fell as a disappointing rise in US unemployment fuelled concerns about prospects for a recovery in consumption

FTSE rises after volatile session
Rio was in the spotlight on speculation that shareholders could vote down a proposed joint venture with BHP Billiton

Risk appetite weighs on dollar
The dollar came under renewed pressure after a series of policy decisions from the world's leading central banks boosted investor confidence over global economic prospects

Swiss Re swings back to growth
Disparate third-quarter earnings results among the continent's insurers have highlighted the difference a year can make

NEC helps limit Nikkei's losses
NEC took the spotlight in Tokyo trading on Friday as the stock rallied the most in a year

Stability concerns over CoCo bonds
UK regulators have raised concerns about a new form of bonds that are likely to be launched by banks worldwide as a replacement for discredited hybrid securities

JGB yields reach a three-month high
Poor demand at a 10-year bond auction underscored concerns over rising issuance in the world's largest bond market

Sri Lanka follows Indian move to buy gold
The Sri Lankan central bank is buying gold to diversify its reserves and smooth out periods of dollar volatility

Japan's retail investors lose faith in rally
Japanese retail investors are the least optimistic about the outlook for the country's stock market since April, a monthly Nomura survey shows

FT.com - Financial Markets News
FT.com - Financial Markets News

 

Output, prices and jobs

Markets

Trade, exchange rates, budget balances and interest rates

Market performance

Despite a wobble in global stockmarkets at the end of October, investors in equities have had a rewarding year. The shares in the MSCI index, which covers 23 rich countries, have risen by more than a quarter in dollar terms since the start of 2009. Hedge funds have delivered steady returns, if not quite as much as stocks. The Hedge Fund Research (HFR) index, an industry standard, rose by 11% from the beginning of January to the end of October. The HFR index has been much less volatile than the MSCI this year. That is just as well. One selling point of such investments is that they are supposed to deliver steadier profits. Rich-country government bonds have returned a modest 4.4% since the start of the year.

...

Overview

The Federal Reserve kept the target range for its benchmark federal funds rate at 0-0.25%. The Fed said economic activity had picked up but would probably remain weak for a while. With inflation subdued, the federal funds rate was likely to remain “exceptionally low” for “an extended period”.

In America the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) index of manufacturing activity jumped from 52.6 to 55.7 in October, its highest reading since April 2006. The ISM’s non-manufacturing gauge pointed to modest growth in business for a second month. Home sales that had been agreed but not yet completed rose by 6.1% in September, as first-time buyers rushed to qualify for a tax credit that expires on November 30th. ...

The Economist poll of forecasters, November averages

The Economist commodity-price index

Greenhouse-gas emissions

The volume of greenhouse gases emitted by 40 industrialised countries that report under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change increased by 1% in 2007. Between 1990 and 2007 emissions fell by 4% in these countries. Control of greenhouse gases varied widely over the period. Emissions in Spain rose by more than 53%, but in Germany they fell by more than 21%. Britain’s switch from coal- to gas-fired power stations has helped its green credentials. Countries with significant primary industries, such as mining or forestry, tend to emit far greater quantities of greenhouse gases. Australia’s emissions are greater than France’s, for example, even though France has a much larger economy.

...

Pension funds

Pension funds in the OECD had a torrid time last year, losing over 20% of their value between the end of 2007 and the end of 2008. Funds heavily invested in equities, such as those in Ireland and Australia, proved particularly vulnerable. The big rally in financial markets since their nadir in March has allowed some of the losses to be recouped in the first half of 2009, though there is still a long way to go. Pension funds in Turkey and Norway fared especially well. But the crisis has bruised faith in equities. Exposure to shares fell during 2008 largely because of the collapse in stockmarkets, but funds in some countries, such as the Netherlands, have been deliberately seeking to reduce the weight of equities in their portfolios.

...

Global imbalances

In its latest World Economic Outlook, the IMF forecasts that this year the current-account balances of the main trading regions will fall below 2% of world GDP for the first time since 2004. America’s deficit is expected to shrink by almost half as a share of global GDP from its level last year. The oil exporters’ current-account surplus is set to drop by more than two-thirds. But China and South-East Asia’s surplus is forecast to be broadly unchanged. International deficits and surpluses should offset each other, but the data are subject to measurement error. The figures since 2005 suggest the world is running a surplus with itself. The discrepancy is thought to arise from delays in the recording of imports.

...

The Economist: Indicators
Indicators

 

The Comeback Kid
What a difference a week makes: As you know, a week ago things were looking quite grim, but as we've seen several times this year, this market has a knack for playing the comeback kid. For the week, the S&P...

Live Chat With Brian Shannon
Brian Shannon from AlphaTrends will be here at 11:AM EST to take our questions. To attend, please visit the following link: Live Chat With Brian Shannon Brian has become quite popular and for very good reason - many traders have...

10.2% Unemployment, 190K Jobs Lost
Good morning. Futures are under pressure following a worse-than-expected jobs report. Other headlines beyond jobs include news that the OECD sees strong signals of worldwide recovery especially in China, the G20 to stay the course on economic stimulus, the latest...

Back To Square One
At this time last week, the S&P 500 was at 1066. Today it closed at the same level: Today's rally was more impressive in my view primarily because if leadership by Russell and Nasdaq - an indication not only that...

Member Mailbag
Time for another member mailbag. Here's what I'll be covering today: The Importance Of Sector Performance Quantifying Low/Risk High/Reward Trades Handling Conflicts Between Weekly & Daily Time Frames Using Real-Time Scans TIP As A Cash Position Reading Fast Evaluating The...

A Surge In Bearish Sentiment
Good morning. Futures are in positive territory following a batch of better than expected data and earnings news. Markets overseas were mixed after both the Bank Of England & Europe Central Bank followed Ben Bernanke and left their rates alone....

Gap & Crap
It was another interesting Fed Day. Notice both the 10-day & 2-day views below: We gapped up, hit some stretched levels this morning (like the equity-only put/call) and then crapped out in the final few minutes to fill this morning's...

StockScreen 123
As MSN retires its popular and free stock screener this month, I've been asked many times over the past few weeks for other free stock screening solutions. MSN was one of, if not my favorite free stock screener and honestly...

Investor Sentiment Cycle
In the whole scheme of things, where do you think we are currently at in this sentiment cycle? I think some would certainly say we're at the anxiety stage but frankly we could still only be at the relief or...

Fed Day
Futures are positive on this Fed day helped by strength in overseas markets, another decline in the U.S. dollar and an increase mortgage applications. For the most part, reaction to this morning's jobs data has been muted. According to Challenger,...

Member Mailbag
Thank you once again for sending in your questions. In today's mailbag, we will cover the following: My Prep Time Opinion On Using Leveraged ETFs Scaling Out After ATR Stop Expectations For The Housing Market Robert Lichello's AIM strategy Volume...

The Return Of M&A
Good morning. Futures are lower as weakness in overseas markets and strength in the U.S. dollar cause sell pressure in premarket trading. However, futures are off their lows as the return of M&A activity lead by Warren Buffett's big buy...

Oversold Consolidation
When the market gets stretched on the downside, it has two basic choices - 1) it snaps back or 2) it consolidates. Today we saw the latter. From the get go, relative underperformance by the Nasdaq 100 & Russell 2000...

November Trends
Historical trends have not been particularly useful this year, but I know many of you like for me to pass this kind of information on so I'm more than happy to do so. A few things that you may want...

Spooky Stocks Portfolio!
It's Halloween and time for this year's 2009 Spooky Stocks Portfolio! Earlier this week, I asked members to submit the name of the stock that they think is "most likely to scare investors and blow away their returns” between today...

The Kirk Report
One pro's view of the stock market. Stock screens, market analysis, trading tools, stock research, investment ideas, portfolio analysis, trading lessons, investment commentary, trading tips, and more are provided by Charles E. Kirk.

 

Stocks rise on day, week
Stocks eked out an advance Friday, at the end of a volatile session in which the Dow industrials struggled to move beyond the 10,000 level after a weaker-than-expected October jobs report.

Gold breaks $1,100
Gold powered through $1,100 an ounce Friday after the U.S. government said the nation's unemployment rate rose more than expected last month, fueling demand for the metal as a safe haven.

Treasurys pop after jobs report
Treasury prices were higher Friday after the government reported that unemployment spiked to 10.2% -- its highest level since April 1983.

Oil sinks nearly 3% after jobs report
Read full story for latest details.

Dollar climbs after weak jobs report
Read full story for latest details.

Bonds mixed after jobless data
Bond prices were mixed on Thursday with dated Treasurys edging lower after the government reported that the number of Americans who filed for unemployment benefits slipped last week.

Why the Droid won't save Motorola
Motorola is obviously hoping that, to twist a famous Obi-Wan Kenobi quote from "Star Wars," its heavily hyped new phone is the Droid people are looking for.

Gold steadies just below $1,100
Gold was modestly higher Thursday, as stocks rallied and investors took a step back following the precious metal's recent push near $1,100 an ounce.

Treasurys mixed after Fed statement
Government debt was mixed on Wednesday after the Fed said it would keep interest rates near zero and scale back the amount of debt it is buying.

Gold hits a record near $1,100
Gold pared gains Wednesday after hitting an all time high, but still settled at record levels after the Federal Reserve's latest policy statement came in as expected.

Oil slips below $80
Read full story for latest details.

Dollar gains on cautious tone
Read full story for latest details.

Treasurys mixed ahead of Fed statement
Bond prices were mixed on Tuesday afternoon as investors await a statement from the Federal Reserve on monetary policy due Wednesday and monthly jobs data due Friday.

A surprisingly decent third quarter
A far better-than-expected third-quarter reporting period is nearly over, closing the door on the longest streak of declining profits since Thomson Reuters began tracking the numbers 15 years ago.

Dollar climbs to one-month high
The dollar rose against rival currencies Tuesday as weakness in global stock markets and concerns about the banking sector boosted demand for the greenback as a safe haven.

Is Warren Buffett calling a bottom?
Warren Buffett said he's making an "all-in wager on the economic future of the United States" with the purchase of railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Let's hope it's a bet that Buffett wins.

Tips for an investing newbie
Question: I'm 30 years old and have savings of about $50,000. I've never invested in stocks or mutual funds, but I would like to start. Can you recommend some resources that can help educate me about investments and give me a better understanding of how they work? --Suresh T., Jacksonville, Florida

Using buybacks to help pick stocks
The top job of managers at every company is the same: allocating capital. Should money be spent on internal growth or acquisitions? Should capital be returned to shareholders via dividends or share repurchases?

3 reasons not to ditch Dodge & Cox International
Last fall Dodge & Cox International made big bets in the emerging markets and in economically sensitive stocks it considered undervalued, such as financials. By the end of 2008 the portfolio had sunk 47%, making it one of the worst-performing foreign large-value funds last year.

Create the perfect bond portfolio
You already know that to protect yourself against stock market meltdowns, you should devote more of your portfolio to bonds as you age. But as you may have discovered recently, the downside protection you get can vary dramatically depending on the type of bonds you own.

Latest stock market news from Wall Street - CNNMoney.com
From CNN and Money magazine, CNNMoney.com combines business news and in-depth market analysis with practical advice and answers to personal finance questions.

 

The Build America Boondoggle
Taxpayers get a 20 years bill for a problem the bond markets fixed in 6 months.

Back On The Balance Sheet
New accounting rules will force big banks to own up to their hidden obligations.

Get In While The Gettin' Is Good
First American Funds' equity chief sees rally lasting for the next few quarters, but policy changes will produce a headwind later in 2010.

Cash Call From Copenhagen
Top organizer of the U.N. Climate Conference has her eye on this weekend's G20 meeting.

China In The Shadow Of Swine Flu
Medical stock prices rise as the number of swine flu cases takes off.

Dark Cloud Over Insurers
Don't be fooled by big profits at insurance companies. Prices are falling and the stock market can't go up forever.

REITs Made The Right Call
The decision to raise capital and dilute owners could launch real estate companies into a new era of expansion.

Malaysian Palm Trees For China?
Malaysia may sell 10% of Sime Darby to China during Hu's visit.

Rally Still Has Legs
UBS gauge shows investors shying away from risk again, but that could mean an attractive time to buy is near.

Holiday Blues For Retail
Cautious consumers will likely hold back this Christmas season, but some firms will shine.

Forbes.com: Market News
Market news and reports from Forbes.com

 

The blue chips notched their highest weekly finish in 13 months
Traders took their cues today from the Labor Department's highly anticipated nonfarm payrolls report for October, which revealed a steeper-than-forecast decline of 190,000 jobs for the month...(Read More)

Will the software concern extend its streak of earnings surprises?
In last week's edition of Trading Tools, we analyzed insurance issue MBIA Inc...(Read More)

The equity was hammered after earnings, prompting unusually heavy option volume
Call volume exploded on CVS Caremark Corporation (CVS: sentiment, chart, options) yesterday, with activity surging to 30 times the norm in the wake of the drugstore chain's most recent earnings report...(Read More)

Options trader opens a post-earnings debit spread on this chip firm
After the close of trading last night, NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA: sentiment, chart, options) reported a third-quarter profit of %24107.58 million, or 19 cents per share, compared with a profit of %2461.75 million, or 11 cents per share, for the year-earlier period...(Read More)

The aluminum giant is staring up at heavy call open interest in the November series
Call volume has easily outpaced put activity on Alcoa Inc. (AA: sentiment, chart, options) recently...(Read More)

Three trading opportunities among chemical manufacturers, suppliers
The chemicals sector has been overshadowed this year by the flashy performance of the tech sector...(Read More)

A bullish candidate sees a surge in put trading
This week's edition of Options Spotlight takes a look at DuPont (DD: sentiment, chart, options)...(Read More)

The blue-chip conglomerate garnered an early upgrade on high hopes for 2010
Today's column includes a bullish note for General Electric Company (GE), more government aid for Fannie Mae (FNM), a spin-off from Citigroup Inc...(Read More)

U.S. stock futures hover near breakeven ahead of the October employment report
The bulls are holding their breath this morning, as Wall Street awaits the release of October's nonfarm payrolls report and the unemployment rate...(Read More)

Crude snapped a three-session winning streak as petroleum demand eased
Stocks frolicked in the black from start to finish today, with an upbeat forecast from Cisco Systems (CSCO) jump-starting the blue chips...(Read More)

Dissecting a theoretical short call butterfly on DISH Network Corp. (DISH) ahead of earnings
In Wednesday's edition of Advanced Options, we analyzed the short call butterfly spread, which allows investors to profit from significant price swings in either direction...(Read More)

Options traders placing bets on a breather for Oracle
The fact that the company's earnings report is now in the rearview mirror hasn't slowed Oracle Corp...(Read More)

Find out how to refine your sentiment analysis with this handy indicator
We're going to be open and honest about this right up front: we don't have particularly strong feelings about SL Green Realty Corp...(Read More)

Uncovering overpriced and underpriced options is made easier through implied volatility scans
One of the foundations of a solidly performing portfolio is picking the right stocks that will outperform and keep your returns in the green...(Read More)

The Japanese automaker swung to an unexpected profit in the fiscal second quarter
Today's column includes upbeat quarterly results from Toyota Motor Corporation (TM), a sales disappointment from Aeropostale, Inc...(Read More)

U.S. stock futures point to positive open as traders prepare for more economic data
Wall Street is still digesting the Federal Open Market Committee's policy statement this morning, as traders come to the sobering conclusion as to why the Fed decided to leave interest rates at record lows for an extended period...(Read More)

An upbeat afternoon for the equities market was erased in the final half-hour
Stocks started the day on solid footing, boosted by a respectable jobs report from Automatic Data Processing (ADP)...(Read More)

Learn the basics of analyzing option volume and open interest configurations
So, you want to trade options, do you? Luckily, you've come to the right place -- here at Schaeffer's, we're all options, all the time...(Read More)

Online travel firm attracts a short vertical put spread heading into its quarterly earnings report
The options pits are buzzing with activity ahead of priceline.com Inc.'s (PCLN: sentiment, chart, options) quarterly earnings report, which is scheduled to hit the Street on Nov...(Read More)

Weighing the risks and rewards of this three-tiered volatility play
In a recent edition of Advanced Options, we analyzed the long call butterfly spread, which allows investors to profit from a stock's apathy on the charts...(Read More)

Strong technical performance has not dissuaded investors from betting against this Internet services firm
This column is designed to introduce you to some of the valuable trading tools available on the SchaeffersResearch.com Web site...(Read More)

Despite the stock's recent slide, speculators are snapping up bullish bets
Call volume popped yesterday on MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (WFR: sentiment, chart, options), with activity surging to seven times the usual level...(Read More)

Examining the pros and cons of a long guts trade
Welcome back to another in a series of articles that examines the thought process behind a variety of option strategies using stock, index, and/or exchange-traded fund (ETF) options...(Read More)

Analyzing three potential catalysts behind the escalating demand for options
The flourishing popularity of equity options, combined with the growing complexity of these derivatives, has resulted in several inescapable speed bumps for the options industry...(Read More)

Dow construction equipment firm sports strong earnings, strong technicals, but negative investor sentiment
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT: sentiment, chart, options) is the world's No. 1 maker of earth moving machinery and a leading supplier of agricultural equipment, according to Hoover's...(Read More)

SchaeffersResearch.com Market Observations
Timely market observations from Bernie Schaeffer and the traders at Schaeffer's Investment Research. Discussions on stock and option trading; technical, fundamental and sentiment analysis; finance and investing.

 

Top Ten: The week's Top 10 videos on MarketWatch
In case you missed them, here are the top 10 videos that appeared on MarketWatch for the week of Nov. 2-6:

Personal Finance Daily: The week's 10 best Personal Finance stories
In case you missed them, here are the top 10 Personal Finance stories from MarketWatch for the week of Nov. 2-6:

Auto Review: 2009 Audi R8 5.2: The best Audi ever
The R8 is a great car but needs more power to get into the same playpen as the Ferraris and Lambos Since Lamborghini is part of the same family it was relatively easy to find a V10 engine to up the ante.

Market Snapshot: U.S. stock market caught by discord about recovery
Another weeek of rough sailing awaits investors.

California bank failure to cost FDIC $1.4 billion
San Francisco-based United Commercial Bank, which received federal bailout funds in 2008, and four other banks are taken over bny regulators on Friday.

Critics take Frank 'too-big-to-fail' bill to task
Frank's legislation creating controversy in House; Dodd about ready to offer competing version in Senate.

Weekend Edition: Radical fixes for 'too big to fail' gain support
Some of the biggest banks may face mandatory downsizing in an attempt to avoid "too big to fail" scenarios.

Hollywood's ingenuity on line for the holidays
With few sequels and remakes on tap, industry is rolling the dice on ingenuity in hopes creativity will bring in the holiday dollars.

Weekend Investor: Short-term Treasurys the better bet on the Fed
Not all Treasurys are created equal, and in today's Fed climate short-term bonds are more promising for investors.

Berkshire to borrow billions for Burlington deal
Berkshire Hathaway plans to borrow roughly $8 billion to help the company pay for its acquisition of railroad operator Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

MarketWatch.com - Top Stories
MarketWatch, a leading publisher of business and financial news, offers users up-to-the minute news, investment tools, and subscription products.

 

U.S. Unemployment Rate Hits 10.2%, Highest in 26 Years
The number of unemployed rose to 15.7 million in October, as 190,000 nonfarm jobs were lost, the government said, and economists do not expect relief until next year.

Broader Measure of Unemployment Stands at 17.5%
The official jobless rate excludes millions of people who have given up looking for work and part-time workers who want to be working full time.

Stocks and Bonds: Seeing the Glass Half Full Despite the Day’s Reports
The market had been expecting unemployment to top 10 percent before peaking. But the pace of job losses has accelerated and the rate is likely to go higher.

Off the Charts: Car Buyers Come Back, but Not in Droves
A factor causing sluggishness may be that auto companies produced and, with discounts, sold too many cars in the years before the recession.

Executives Are Wary After Arrests
Recent arrests in an insider trading case have hedge fund managers and technology company leaders watching their words carefully.

Administration Rejects Plan to Buy Fannie Mae Credits
Goldman Sachs had proposed to pay cash for Fannie Mae’s tax credits, which are tied to investments in affordable housing.

British Bankers Defend Their Pay and Bonuses
Regulators, central bankers and citizens are criticizing bankers for continuing large compensation packages while receiving government funds.

Berkshire Says Profit Tripled in Quarter
The big Warren Buffett-led conglomerate said its third-quarter profit tripled as the improving economy and stock market boosted the value of its derivative contracts.

To Retain Its Bankers, Citi Offers Option Plan
As an extra incentive to keep its bankers, Citigroup said it would grant one stock option at just above the current price for each share employees had accumulated.

A.I.G. Reports Profit but Warns of Continued Volatility
The insurance giant, which was bailed out last year amid the financial crisis, warned that earnings would remain choppy as the company executes its restructuring plan.

Blackstone Reports $275 Million Third-Quarter Profit
The Blackstone Group on Friday reported a $275 million profit for the third quarter, as the giant publicly held private equity firm bounced back from the depths of the financial crisis last year.

Choice for Bear Trial Jury: Two Clashing Stories
As closing arguments come to an end, the jury in the trial of two former Bear Stearns hedge fund managers will have to decide which version of reality they believe.

Founders Win a Piece of Skype From eBay
The founders of Skype will drop their lawsuits against the company and a consortium of buyers who bid to purchase Skype. In exchange, the founders will get a 14 percent share in the new Skype.

Questioning a Test for Cancer
Scaring people into quitting is the marketing rationale for a new genetic test, which purports to identify which smokers have the highest risk of developing lung cancer.

Your Money: Money Issues That Can Test Even a Rock-Solid Marriage
Money may be the root of all evil, and in a marriage it can certainly be the seed of trouble. Here are five things couples should do to sidestep difficulties.

Patient Money: In Anxious Times, Medical Help for the Mind as Well as the Body
A new law requires that next year big group plans provide the same level of care for mental health as for medical ones.

Prep Schools Face Cuts in Student Aid
The institutions’ endowments have suffered, making schools scramble for ways to keep their doors open to students who do not come from wealthy families.

Beijing Denounces U.S. Duties on Chinese-Made Pipes
China denounced new duties as protectionist, a week before President Obama is due in China talks.

British Airways to Cut Another 1,200 Jobs
The total number of planned staff reductions rises to nearly 5,000 as the British carrier wrestles with what its chief executive called the toughest year in the history of aviation.

G.M. Executive Quits Over Opel Decision
The head of European operations for General Motors quit after the automaker backed out of a deal to sell its Opel brand, a decision that has angered German workers and government officials.

Virtual Goods Start Bringing Real Paydays
It is quickly becoming commonplace for people to spend a few dollars to get ahead in an online game or to give a friend a gift on a social network.

Medical Device Maker Settles Conflict Inquiry in New Jersey
The settlement calls for Synthes, the maker of the Prodisc artificial spinal disk, to disclose any future payments or investments held by doctors involved in researching its products.

Consumer Borrowing Falls Sharply
The Federal Reserve said borrowing fell $14.8 billion, the biggest decline since July.

Enthusiasm for I.P.O.'s Starts to Fade Across Asia
There are signs that the primary equity window that saw a big revival two quarters ago is beginning to quickly shut.

Job Cutbacks Rise by 1,200 at a Carrier in Britain
The airline says the additional reductions are necessary in what its chief calls the most difficult year in airline history.

Chinese Agencies Struggle Over How to Handle Video Game
Two government agencies are facing off over the right to regulate the popular online game World of Warcraft.

Research in Motion Plans Big Share Buyback
Stock in the company, creator of the BlackBerry smartphone, has lost about a third of its value since September.

Yacht Broker Sentenced to 2 Months for Tax Evasion
A Florida yacht broker gets credit for promptly confessing and for assisting a federal inquiry of tax evasion at offshore banks.

Turning Happy Hour Into a Global Job Search
As the New York economy founders, job seekers are using social events to forge foreign connections that hold hopes of new careers.

Pension Checks of Retired New York City Teachers Canceled
City and union officials attributed the mistake to the Bank of New York Mellon, which said it would return the money and cover any resulting overdraft fees.

Official Endorses Workplace Clinics for Vaccine Distribution
The official said swine flu vaccine should be distributed through many outlets, to get it to high-risk people quickly.

NYT > Business

 

G20 Agree Too Early to Remove Stimulus: UK's Darling
G20 policymakers are agreed it's too early to pull the plug on economic life-support packages as the global recovery is still fragile, said British finance minister Alistair Darling.

Why German Opel Workers Can't Stand GM

RBS Posts $2.5 Billion Operating Loss

British Airways Posts First-Half Loss of $346 Million

Hermes Revenue Up 10% in Third Quarter

Hannover Re Swings to Profit in Third Quarter

UBS Traders Dumped Losses on Duped Rich Clients

IMF Freezes Loan to Romania Amid Government Crisis

UK Postal Workers Suspend Strike

Eni Signs Cooperation Deal in Kazakhstan

Polish New Car Sales Fall 8.5% in October

Estonian Inflation Falls by Record 2.2% Year-on-Year

Slideshow: London Fashion Week

World's Biggest Gold Reserves - In Pictures

Special Report: Countdown to London 2012

Special Report: Eastern Europe on the Edge

CNBC Europe Top News and Analysis
Stock Market News, Financial, Earnings, World Market News and Info Covering the Europe Region

 

China Blasts US Duties Ahead of Obama's Asia Visit
China has denounced as protectionist new U.S. anti-dumping duties and vowed to protect the interests of its industry a week before President Barack Obama visits Beijing and Shanghai.

World Not Headed for Double-Dip: Singapore Leader

NEC Plans $1.5 Billion Share Sale after Losses

DBS Leads Third-Quarter Surge in Singapore Bank Profits

Sumitomo Trust, Chuo Mitsui in Merger Talks

Elpida to Outsource Production to Taiwan's ProMOS

Dollar Shortage in China's Foreign Exchange Market

Japan to Offset Spending Freeze with Jobs

Korea Life May Raise Around $2 Billion in IPO

Australian Central Bank Sees Gradual Rate Rise

China's SMIC Reportedly in Settlement Talks with TSMC

Baidu's Challenge: Expand Beyond Its Success in China

LG Electronics Investing Heavily in Smartphones

Wines to Bring to a Holiday Meal

World's Biggest Oil Reserves

CNBC Asia Top News and Analysis
No Description Provided

 

10% Unemployment: Good News or Bad for the Market?
As reported this morning, the unemployment rate in the US rose above 10% for the first time since 1982. As shown below, this is by far the fastest rise since continuous data begin in 1948. It is interesting to note...

Mutual Fund Returns: Don't Follow the Herd
From 1962 through the third quarter of 2009 the S&P 500 had an average annual return of 8.71%; the weighted average US mutual fund was up 1.18%. (By weighted we mean adjusted for the funds’ sizes. A $100mln fund that...

November 2nd Blogger Sentiment Poll
Bloggers are mostly neutral to start a new month. Blogger Sentiment Poll Participants: 24/7 Wall St (-) Carl Futia (+) Crossing Wall Street Dash of Insight (N) Elliot Wave Lives On (-) In the Money Knight Trader (+) Learning Curve...

Q3 Earnings: Better Than Expected, Better Than Last Time
The last few days have everyone wondering whether the rally can continue. Is the market's move supported by the fundamentals, and can the economy recover fast enough to drive further earnings growth? Looking strictly at reported earnings so far this...

October 26th Blogger Sentiment Poll
There are more bears than bulls in this week's poll. Blogger Sentiment Poll Participants: 24/7 Wall St (-) Carl Futia (+) Dash of Insight (N) Elliot Wave Lives On (-) Fallond Stock Picks (-) In the Money Learning Curve (-)...

Laszlo Birinyi on CNBC
Laszlo Birinyi will appear as a guest on tomorrow's airing of Squawk on the Street at 10:00.

October 19th Blogger Sentiment Poll
There are more bears than bulls in this week's poll. Blogger Sentiment Poll Participants: 24/7 Wall St (N) Carl Futia (+) Dash of Insight (+) Elliot Wave Lives On (-) Fallond Stock Picks (-) In the Money Maoxian Millionaire Now...

Stock of the Week Adds Another 8%
Monday morning we recommended King Pharmaceuticals (KG) as our stock of the week. The recommendation was distributed at 8:30 and we calculate performance based on the opening that day. Subscribers to Birinyi's Mini-Institutional service have gained 7.7% through Wednesday's close,...

Where Will You Be In Ten Years?
Below we highlight the simple rolling ten year return on the S&P 500 since 1955 (note that this is simple return, not total return). The shaded areas on the chart are periods of negative return. The great bull market lasting...

Birinyi in the News - Barron's
Barron's was kind enough to feature Laszlo Birinyi this weekend as one of the more prominent bulls who kept people in the market. Click the link below for the full story. Link to Barron's

October 12th Blogger Sentiment Poll
There are more bulls than bears in this week's poll. Blogger Sentiment Poll Participants: 24/7 Wall St (-) Carl Futia (+) Dash of Insight (+) Elliot Wave Lives On (-) Fallond Stock Picks (-) In the Money The Knight Trader...

Biggest Money Makers Since 3/9
A lot has been said about the biggest percent gainers since the March 9th low, but what about the biggest money makers. Let's face it, when banks were at risk of government abduction and the market was blind sided by...

Ticker Sense