Economic Risk in 7 Countries Spooking Investors
Matthew Bandyk

Despite federal spending consuming 27.2 percent of GDP, the United States maintains a Aaa rating. But you can't say the same about many countries in both the developed and developing world where continued fallout from the economic crisis is hurting their credit ratings. As a result, investors have viewed the economic situations in these countries as increasingly risky bets.

 

Wall Street CEOs
(c) Walt Handelsman

Wall Street CEOs: The Mea Culpa That Wasn't
Robyn Blumner

Here is the testimony I would have liked to have heard from the CEOs of Wall Street's largest banks -- institutions whose irresponsibility and greed nearly brought down the economy

 

New Economic, Market Trends Merit New Approach to Once Shunned Investments
Andrew Leckey

Investors seeking industries they can count on in 2010 will have to think outside the box. New economic and market trends require a reexamination of previously-avoided groups, such as regional banks, insurers, shipping companies, utilities, consumer staples firms and auto component companies. All could take a turn for the better in the coming year.

The New Energy Order
David G. Victor and Linda Yueh

The last decade has seen an extraordinary shift in expectations for the world energy system. After a long era of excess capacity prices for oil and most energy commodities have risen sharply and become more volatile. As such, a crisis is looming which will be difficult to resolve.

How to Fix the Financial System: Let Federal Reserve oversee new regulations for finance giants
Mortimer B. Zuckerman

In the grip of our Great Recession, with more job losses to come, we have yet to fix the broken financial system that is an underlying cause of this whole mess. How can we do it?

Mid-Cap Stocks Have Reigned in 2009
Andrew Leckey

Mid-cap stocks have been anything but middling in 2009. They've been the sweet spot for investors still leery of the large-cap stocks that burned them in the recent past. Too many big-name companies also seem to be offering only downsizing as a strategy these days.

Know Target-Date Fund's Strategy Before Investing
Andrew Leckey

Forget about resting easy. Target-date funds, billed as confidence-building vehicles that gradually shift your holdings into more conservative fixed-rate instruments as their date nears, have caused some sleepless nights. Investors stashed money in these one-stop retirement plans so they didn't have to worry about making their own allocation decisions. But it has become clear they need to better understand the basic

Festive Times for International real estate Funds
Andrew Leckey

Let's get the party started: An overseas run-up in real estate funds is rocking. International real estate funds are up 38 percent in 2009, or about 100 percent above their market bottom in March, according to Lipper Inc. Global real estate funds that also include U.S. companies are up 28 percent this year.

Oil Investments Are Predictably Unpredictable
Andrew Leckey

Oil companies are the elephant in the room. The wide trading range and erratic movement of oil prices has been perplexing to pundits, investors and motorists alike. You're not hearing bold prognostications or definitive explanations about either oil prices or oil-company stocks. Better to simply wait quietly for everything to play out, most rational people reason. When that will occur, however, no one knows for sure.

Mergers and Acquisitions Perking Up Again
Andrew Leckey

Whether or not you're personally convinced that the recession is just about over, those in the big-buck mergers-and-acquisitions game are believers. 'It's all a sign you can't keep a good capitalist down and eventually greed will overcome fear,' said James Paulsen, chief investment officer for Wells Capital Management, Minneapolis. People are saying, 'Gee, not only are we not going to have a depression, but it looks like we're actually going to have a recovery.'

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.

January chill for housing market
Activity in the UK housing market was frozen by the icy weather in January, surveyors say, but prices continued to rise.

Lloyds and RBS 'failing to lend'
Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds are criticised by MPs for failing to lend enough to homeowners and businesses.

Bad weather hits January sales
UK retail sales described as 'awful' as the icy weather and the unsteady economy keep shoppers at home.

Trade deficit widens in December
The UK's goods trade deficit with the rest of the world widened in December, figures show, after imports rose faster than exports.

Indian economy 'to grow by 7.2%'
India's fast economic growth forecast for this year raises the chance that state support could be withdrawn.

More pay freezes expected in 2010
Workers face a second year of pay freezes despite rising inflation and the UK's emergence from recession, a report says.

Ex-IMF economist warns on UK debt
Britain should be seen in the same category of highly indebted countries such as Greece, a leading economist says.

Surprise fall in US unemployment
The US unemployment rate unexpectedly fell in January, to its lowest level in five months, official figures show.

China to put duties on US chicken
China is to enforce anti-dumping duties on US chicken imports, accusing poultry firms of exporting at unfairly low prices.

Debt and job worries hit shares
Global shares fall sharply for the second straight day amid continued concerns about government debt levels.

Oil fuels UK producer prices rise
The prices of goods leaving UK factories rose at their fastest rate for 13 months in January, fuelled by the rising cost of oil.

Euro MPs shun data deal with US
A committee of Euro MPs moves to block the renewal of a deal allowing US anti-terror officials to access Europeans' bank data.

OFT reopens probe into pubs
The Office of Fair Trading reopens its investigation into so-called "beer ties" between pub companies and their tenant landlords.

Pause for UK stimulus plan
Bank of England decides against further quantitative easing, the policy designed to stimulate growth in the economy.

Greek officials strike over cuts
Customs officials and tax inspectors in Greece are holding a two-day strike to protest at government austerity measures.

China hits back at US over trade
China defends its policies after US President Barack Obama promised to take a tougher line with Beijing over trade.

House prices rise another 0.6%
UK house prices are up for the seventh month in a row - rising by 0.6% in January, the Halifax says.

Eurozone rates maintained at 1%
The European Central Bank keeps eurozone interest rates on hold at a record low of 1% for the ninth month in a row.

Iceland warns EU over Icesave
Iceland's PM urges EU leaders not to link the Icesave bank dispute to IMF aid for Iceland's battered economy.

Europe endorses Greek plans
The European Commission says it supports Greece's plans to reduce its deficit but will closely monitor its progress.

Finance minister falls foul of 'welcome' igloo
A Canadian minister was lucky not to get a frosty reception after wrecking an igloo built by Inuit to welcome officials to G7 talks.

Hewitt on Europe
Is the euro being stretched to breaking point?

Robert Peston
Why are mortgage markets looking so vulnerable?

Business elan
France rediscovers its entrepreneurial spirit

Hidden jobless
US unemployment is much higher than the official figure

Stephanomics
What does the Bank have to show for its £200bn?

Lame tiger
Latvia's economy struggles with spending cuts

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.

 

Toyota Recalls 437,000 Hybrids Worldwide
Toyota says it is recalling the Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems - the latest in a string of embarrassing safety lapses at the world's largest automaker.

Super Bowl Beer Ad Benefits Chicago Business
Miller High Life used its Super Bowl ad-buy this past Sunday to shine a light on some small businesses across the U.S. Tim's Baseball Card Shop on Chicago's North Side was one of them. The response has been overwhelming.

The Last Word In Business
Renee Montagne has the Last Word in business.

Toyota Squandered Its Reputation For Quality
Toyota has stumbled badly in managing its current recall crisis. The company has been accused of withholding information, changing its story and was less than aggressive in dealing with the various problems. Assuming the company can solve the technology and safety problems, how does Toyota regain public trust?

Business News
Steve Inskeep has business news.

For Telecommuters, It's Not About Going To Work
Some companies have no traditional office at all — and they like it that way. At one multimillion-dollar company, all 40 employees telecommute. The firm weeds out job applicants who look down on working from home.

Safety Risks At Regional Airlines Detailed By PBS
The crash of Continental Flight 3407 last February — in which 50 deaths were attributed to pilot error — sparked an inquiry that found safety problems. Among them: long hours and low pay at regional carriers, where some pilots become captains with less than a year of experience.

Boeing Engineer Gets 15 Years In Economic Espionage
A Chinese-born engineer convicted in the United States' first economic espionage trial was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for stealing sensitive information on the U.S. space program with the intent of passing it to China.

Japan Braces For More Recalls From Toyota
The Japanese press report Toyota is considering even more recalls. This time the recalls would involve 2010 Prius and the Lexus and Sai hybrids — they all share the same brake glitch. The recalls could be announced as early as Tuesday. For decades, Toyota has been one of the main drivers of the Japanese economy but its reputation has been sullied.

Dealers Work Overtime On Toyota Recalls
Toyota dealerships are making their way through a backlog of customers' cars during the massive recall involving the gas pedals on millions of cars. Toyota has said it is working on plans to resolve another possible safety problem — this one involving the anti-lock brakes on the Prius hybrid. So far, Toyota has not announced a recall on the Prius.

CIT Group Names Ex-Merrill CEO Thain As Chairman
CIT Group has chosen former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain to lead the company as chairman and CEO as the commercial lender continues to restructure its business following a brief stay in bankruptcy protection last year. Thain served as chairman and CEO of Merrill Lynch until its sale to Bank of America was completed in January 2009.

Businesses Reluctant To Hire New Workers
The economy looks better this year than it did in 2009 but despite positive economic reports, businesses remain reluctant to hire and financial markets are still jittery. David Wessel of The Wall Street Journal tells Renee Montagne that the economy isn't growing fast enough to create enough businesses that need new workers.

Hasbro Plans 75th Anniversary Edition Of Monopoly
Since the game was invented during the Great Depression, its makers have put out variations: from Sponge Bob Square Pants Monopoly to iPhone Monopoly. One big change this year, the board will be round instead of square. There will be no paper money, and instead, funds will be stored electronically.

Bill Would Apply Antitrust Laws To Insurance
With Congress still stalled on the big health bill, it turns to smaller pieces of legislation. The House this week will vote on a bill to repeal a decades-old insurance industry exemption from antitrust laws. Some analysts say eliminating the exemption wouldn't have an impact on competition or premiums.

Autoworkers, Analysts Weigh In From Toyota City
After recalling 8 million cars already, Toyota is expected to issue a recall notice this week for its crown jewel, the Prius. NPR's Louisa Lim went to Toyota City, the home of the Japanese auto giant, to see how autoworkers and analysts there are viewing the spate of problems. She fills in host Guy Raz on the latest.

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.

 

Futures Recover as Dollar Weakens, Oil Gains
After closing below the 10000 mark yesterday, stocks were poised to recover a portion of those losses on Tuesday on reports that the European Central Bank is moving to help Greece, the epicenter of the ongoing European debt crisis.

Spain Plans New Cut In Photovoltaic Solar Subsidies -Government
Spain Plans New Cut In Photovoltaic Solar Subsidies -Government

UPDATE: Teliti International Plans IPO On London's Junior AIM Market
UPDATE: Teliti International Plans IPO On London's Junior AIM Market

PRESS RELEASE: Fitch Affirms Canton Of Zurich 'AAA'
PRESS RELEASE: Fitch Affirms Canton Of Zurich 'AAA'

Japan Kan: Not Much Worried About Recent Stock Falls
Japan Kan: Not Much Worried About Recent Stock Falls

UK Treasury's Myners: UK Needs New Corporate Governance Body
UK Treasury's Myners: UK Needs New Corporate Governance Body

Philippines President Signs PHP1.541 Trillion Budget For 2010 - Official
Philippines President Signs PHP1.541 Trillion Budget For 2010 - Official

ECB: Total Of Settled Covered Bond Buys Hit EUR34.995 Billion Monday
ECB: Total Of Settled Covered Bond Buys Hit EUR34.995 Billion Monday

Teliti International Plans IPO On London's Junior AIM Market
Teliti International Plans IPO On London's Junior AIM Market

2nd UPDATE: China First Heavy Industries Falls Sharply On Debut
2nd UPDATE: China First Heavy Industries Falls Sharply On Debut

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

 

 

Greek rescue hopes help bourses regain their poise
Global Markets Overview: Euro rises on news that Jean-Claude Trichet, ECB president, is returning early from a banking summit to attend Thursday’s meeting of European leaders

Eurozone debt woes undermine Nikkei
The Tokyo index closes at a two-month low, with heightened concerns about the fiscal stability of Greece, Portugal and Spain continuing to eat away at investor confidence

Miners keep London shares positive
London equities rose on Tuesday, as strength in the mining industry helped counteract the impact on the financial sector of worries about sovereign debt risk in the eurozone

Greek rescue speculation helps euro bounce back
The euro pulled away from an eight-month low against the dollar on Tuesday as speculation of an imminent bail-out for Greece squeezed short positions against the single currency

Shorting rule raises market volatility
Short-selling disclosure rules found to ‘have materially negative impacts on market liquidity, bid-ask spreads, price discovery and intraday volatility’

Wall Street sinks on sovereign debt fears
US stocks closed at the lowest level since November last year after lingering concerns over sovereign debt in the eurozone overshadowed encouraging corporate results

Traders make $8bn bet against euro
Data from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange show net short positions against the single currency rising from 39,500 contracts to 43,700 contracts, equivalent to $7.6bn

Overseas investors rush for Japanese assets
Japan has seen net inflows from mutual funds this year, while markets including the US, China and Hong Kong have experienced net outflows

Chinese IPO sentiment worsens
Market participants are now scaling back their expectations for Hong Kong and mainland China’s IPO market in 2010, predicting a year of volatility

Call for Beijing to tolerate some inflation
As China’s labour market tightens, wage-driven inflation should play a crucial role in helping the country rebalance its lopsided economy, says Arthur Kroeber

Financial Times - Financial markets news
The latest markets news from the Financial Times, with stock data, financial commentary and investor analysis

 

Overview

America’s GDP rose at an annualised rate of 5.7% in the three months to the end of December. The change in inventories accounted for 3.4 percentage points of the quarterly increase in GDP. Service industries expanded in January for the first time since October. The Institute for Supply Management’s services index rose from 49.8 in December to 50.5 in January. A figure above 50 indicates rising activity.

The unemployment rate in the euro area edged up from 9.9% in November to 10% in December, its highest since August 1998. The annual rate of consumer-price inflation rose from 0.9% in December to 1% in January, according to a preliminary estimate. ...

The Economist poll of forecasters, February averages

Output, prices and jobs

The Economist commodity-price index

Markets

Manufacturing activity

Surveys of purchasing managers indicate that manufacturing industries in most of the world’s big economies are growing. In big emerging economies such as Brazil, China and India, the indices compiled by Markit, a provider of financial information, were well above 50 in January, indicating robust growth. In each of those countries manufacturing was still shrinking in January 2009. There has also been a pronounced turnaround in America, where the Institute for Supply Management’s index for January was 58.4, in contrast to 35.5 in January 2009. Manufacturing is also expanding in Germany, France and Britain. But it is still shrinking in Greece and Spain, though much less markedly than a year earlier.

...

Trade, exchange rates, budget balances and interest rates

Capital flows to emerging economies

The Institute of International Finance, a bankers’ group, reckons that net flows of private capital to emerging economies fell to $435.2 billion in 2009, a fall of more than a third from $667.1 billion in 2008. It expects them to surge to $721.6 billion this year. Private capital fled recession-hit emerging economies in Europe, which saw flows fall from $267.4 billion in 2008 to a mere $20.3 billion last year. Flows of official funds, mainly money from multilateral institutions like the IMF, increased by more than 50% but could make up only a little of the slack. By contrast, private flows to fast-growing emerging economies in Asia went up last year, by 44% to $236.3 billion. They are expected to rise further in 2010.

...

Hedge funds

Hedge funds made their biggest gains in a decade last year, according to the Hedge Fund Research Index, an industry benchmark. Funds returned an average 20% in 2009, having had their worst year ever in 2008. Investors withdrew $131 billion from hedge funds last year, but the healthy gains made on the money left in meant that assets under management increased to $1.6 trillion. That was $193 billion more than at the end of 2008, though still below the 2007 peak. Around 2,000 hedge funds have closed since the financial crisis started but an estimated 9,000 remain worldwide. Investors were charged less than the “two-and-twenty” benchmark: management fees averaged 1.6% of assets. Incentive fees were 19.2%.

...

Gold production

The world’s gold mines increased production by 144 tonnes last year, according to a new report by GFMS, a consultancy. That more than offset the drop in output in 2008, caused in part by a temporary slump in production in Indonesia. China remains the largest gold producer, accounting for 13% of the world’s supply in 2009. It produced almost half as much gold again as Australia, the next largest supplier, and has raised its output by 100 tonnes in the past four years. South Africa was once the world’s leading gold miner, but its output fell again last year. The decline in supply from America was even steeper. Output rose in all of the other main gold-mining countries, bar Papua New Guinea.

...

Israel

The Economist: Indicators
Indicators

 

Weekender
A few links for your reading pleasure this weekend... Downtrend resistance & support for the S&P (Dshort) If the S&P closes below 1030 that we should begin talking about a bear market instead of a pullback (Vix&More) Friday looks like...

Harry Domash
Harry Domash from The Dividend Detective will be here at 12:PM EST to take our questions. To attend the session live (or read it later), please visit the following link: Strategy Session: Harry Domash Harry does a terrific job at...

We're Not In Kansas Anymore!
WoooWeee - that was ugly! Let's see if tomorrow breaks the upside trend to job report days. * I have prepared a 10 minute video so please login to view.

Stay Tuned
Two days up is about all she could handle... While the news overall was ok, stocks just couldn't do much although buyers were lurking in big cap technology for a change ahead of "we always offer an optimistic outlook" Cisco...

Back To Back Gains
That makes another +1% gain today lead by strength in the S&P and Dow: The past two days is the best two-day performance since early October. Rest assure, this is causing some to think we've seen yet another vicious bear...

January Barometer Portfolio
You've probably heard by now that there's a strong belief that the sectors that outperform in the month of January tend to outperform for the full-year ahead. I've heard the same for many years, so last year to test that...

Weekender
A few insights for you to review over the weekend... A frosty January for stocks (WSJ) January's loss doesn't automatically doom the rest of the year (MarkHulbert) Stocks hit roughest spell since early 2009 (WSJ) Watch that channel (ShiftCTRL) S&P...

Q&A with Jason Kelly
It is my pleasure to present this Q&A. We've had the privilege of learning from a number of wonderful people over the past few years and we will start our series in 2010 with Jason Kelly. Known for his Neatest...

The End Of Prediction Season
It will come of no surprise to many of you that I spend an hour or two each and every day reading about the market. As once clear benefit from doing that every single day, I often notice subtle trends...

Fed Day Fun
What constitutes a market correction? (dshort) A technical analysis roundup (MarketFolly) Looking over into the abyss? (Jutia) What level of new highs is historically related to corrections? (SafeHaven) How long have we really been in a bear market (TradingReport) Bears...

Themes For 2010
For the past month I have been collecting posts regarding what others think are themes that we're likely to see play out in the year ahead. While most of these will probably miss the mark (they always do), you may...

Business As Usual
Fasten your seat belt (DashOfInsight) The importance of staying objective (CSSAnalytics) Bull & bear wish list for this week (UpsideTrader) In spite of sell the news reactions, earnings beat rate now at 70% (Bespoke) Bear market rally is being terminated...

Week Three
After a strong first week, sideways the next, in the third week the market rolled over and played dead. For the week, the Dow lost -4.12%, S&P 500 -3.90%, Nasdaq -3.61% and the Russell 2000 -3.27%. It is interesting to...

From The Front Lines
New normal psychology dominates consumer behavior (Gallup) Sentiment trends (AAII) Today's S&P leaders & laggards (AfraidToTrade) Holy VIX Spike! (DailyOptionsReport) The Volcker rule (FT) Don't hold your breath for the rules against prop trading (NakedCapitalism) An unexpected jump in jobless...

Twists & Turns
Americans see economic recovery a long way off (Gallup) The stock market has actually performed best when there is gridlock in Washington (iStockAnalyst) Caution flags keep rising (Disciplined Investor) 4 headwinds that stocks are ignoring (Smart Money) Pavlov’s dogs are...

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.

 

Stock rebound in the works
U.S. stocks were set to open higher Tuesday, as investors eyed buying opportunities after the previous session's selloff, although worries about debt problems in Greece remained in focus.

Debt fears drag Dow below 10,000
The Dow closed below 10,000 Monday for the first time in three months, with financial shares leading the way, as worries about the U.S. economy and European debt weighed on investor sentiment.

After the gold rush
It hasn't been a good year for the black and gold.

Treasurys mixed ahead of auctions
Treasurys were mixed Monday as investors prepare for a weekly offering of U.S. debt, worth $81 billion, amid ongoing concerns about struggling European economies.

Dollar slips against the euro
The dollar weakened against the euro Monday, but held firm against other major currencies, as concerns about Greece's fiscal health eased slightly.

Oil rebounds on weaker dollar
Oil prices rose toward $72 a barrel Monday on a weaker dollar, recovering from last week's losses.

Markets: Shaky after the slump
Wall Street avoided a bigger walloping late last week, with sellers finally calling it quits after a nearly 10% plunge in less than three weeks. But the week ahead could be pivotal as investors either jump back in - or retreat even further.

Stocks claw out a gain after late rally
Stocks erased big losses by the close Friday, with technology shares leading the advance, following a three-session rout that had taken the market to its lowest point since last fall.

Market panic returns -- sort of
Investors are starting to get nervous again. And who could blame them?

Treasurys gain on global economic jitters
Treasurys rose Friday as concerns about struggling European economies overshadowed a mixed U.S. jobs report and boosted demand for safe-haven assets.

Dollar strengthens after jobs report
The dollar rose against its main trading partners Friday amid ongoing concerns about sovereign debt problems in Europe and a mixed report on the U.S. job market.

International markets in big selloff
International stock markets tumbled Friday over concerns about the debt crisis in several European nations.

Oil falls toward $70 after jobs report
Oil prices fell Friday after a mixed report on the employment picture.

Bonds jump on global stock selloff
Bond prices rose Thursday as stocks sold off worldwide amid continued fears over foreign debt problems and an unexpected increase in U.S. jobless claims.

Brother, can you spare a dividend?
Cisco Systems has nearly $40 billion in cash. Maybe when Cisco gets to $50 billion it will finally feel comfortable using some of that moolah to pay a dividend.

Is it safe to buy Toyota stock?
Toyota may finally have a fix for the sticking gas pedal problem that led to a massive recall of many of its popular vehicles.

Wall Street bulls cheer the Jets loss
Investors scored big Sunday when the New York Jets lost to the Indianapolis Colts -- at least according to the Super Bowl stock indicator.

Getting in on China's stock boom
The group gathers every weekday: At least four ladies, and sometimes as many as eight, gather at the cavernous, badly lit brokerage office on Shanghai's Xiangyang Lu in what was known, when China was colonized by European powers in the 19th century, as the French Concession.

Google rolls the dice in China
Wow. It takes a lot of cojones to stand up to the Chinese government. But Google seems willing to give up on a huge market to protest strict censorship rules.

Are emerging markets the next bubble?
Question: I'm considering investing in emerging markets mutual funds. But do you think that's a good idea, or are they just going to be the next investment bubble? -- Mario, Atlanta, Georgia

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.

 

Real American Hero Lifts Hasbro
G.I. Joe action figures help drive 77% jump in toymaker's Q4 earnings.

SolarWinds Keeps On Growing
Software company books strong fourth-quarter profits and offers an optimistic outlook for 2010.

Home Depot Rallies As Wall Street Weakens
Analyst upgrade leads retail chain's rally in a down session for the broader market.

Littlefuse Energizes Investors
Maker of circuit protection devices beats Q4 estimates, issues strong guidance.

United Tech Doles Out Higher Dividend
Firm boosts its first-quarter distribution, at a time when many companies are holding the line on shareholder payouts.

Generic Drugs Could Boost Pharmacies
With some best-sellers due to go off-patent in coming years, generics could turn more profitable for the likes of CVS, Walgreen and Rite-Aid.

Trillion-Dollar Tab Awaits Debtors
Rating agencies warn that companies may struggle to cover an avalanche of debts coming due over the next few years.

Loews Portfolio A Mixed Bag
Majority-owned CNA Financial helps conglomerate post a profit, but earnings from offshore drilling fall.

Home Depot Heats Up On Down Day
Retail chain rallies after Morgan Stanley boosts rating. Rival Lowe's keeps pace after opening first stores in Mexico.

Rocky Quarter For REITs
Write-downs and accounting changes are behind a disappointing batch of earnings.

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

 

Traders continue to flee the equities market amid increasing economic uncertainty
Stocks took a turn for the worse today, showing very little of the bullish resilience that characterized Friday's afternoon rebound...(Read More)

Can BYI maintain a foothold atop its 10-month trendline?
Option traders are betting on a continued slump for casino concern Bally Technologies Inc...(Read More)

Put volume is heavy as the stock pulls back from stubborn resistance
Puts were a popular choice on NIKE, Inc. (NKE: sentiment, chart, options) last Friday, with nearly 12,000 of these bearishly oriented options crossing the tape...(Read More)

A neutral-to-bearish trader bets on short-term resistance for BIDU
Chinese search sultan Baidu, Inc. (BIDU: sentiment, chart, options) will step into the earnings spotlight after the closing bell tomorrow, according to Thomson Reuters...(Read More)

Directional neutrality is nice, but a straddle will cost you prior to the firm's first-quarter report
Whole Foods Market, Inc. (WFMI: sentiment, chart, options) is up more than 2% today, with the shares catching a lift after consolidating into support at their 10-month moving average...(Read More)

Can RIG muscle past the round-number 90 neighborhood?
Transocean LTD (RIG: sentiment, chart, options) was a popular target in the options pits on Friday, with both call and put volume surpassing the norm...(Read More)

Lawsuit reinstated against Dell
Aetna Inc. (AET)On Friday, Aetna Inc. (AET: sentiment, chart, options) reported stronger-than-expected results in its commercial plans serving employers...(Read More)

The coffee concern prolongs its tender offer to acquire a sector peer
Today's column includes the latest quarterly results from China Green Agriculture, Inc...(Read More)

U.S. stock futures point to a weak open
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) held onto the 10,000 level by the skin of its teeth last week, as a late-session rally pushed the Dow some 170 points higher on Friday...(Read More)

Despite a negative week, major market indexes held key support
That was a close one! It came down to the wire on Friday, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) managed to rally back nearly 200 points and eke out a close above 10,000 for the week...(Read More)

Crude futures fell beneath the $70 level for the first time since mid-December
Stocks spent most of the session wallowing in the red today, as economic troubles across the pond and an ambiguous unemployment report weighed on the Street...(Read More)

Can RIMM finally conquer its 20-month trendline?
Research In Motion Limited (RIMM: sentiment, chart, options) has attracted an unusual amount of attention from option traders today - especially on the put side of the tape...(Read More)

Traders have rarely snapped up bullishly oriented options at a faster pace
Bullish speculation has ramped up on Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (GNK: sentiment, chart, options) during the past week...(Read More)

A retrospective look at three equities heating up the options pits
Welcome to Options Stew, where we take a look back at what's been cookin' in the option pits this week...(Read More)

Examining three must-know option plays for earnings season
Earnings season is upon us, and investors all across Wall Street are hoping to take advantage of these potentially volatile few weeks...(Read More)

Will AUY's 20-month moving average hold as support?
In last week's edition of Trading Tools, we took a gander at OmniVision Technologies, Inc...(Read More)

Traders are expecting the equity's recent pullback to continue
Palm, Inc. (PALM: sentiment, chart, options) found itself in the crosshairs of put players on Thursday, Feb...(Read More)

Call trading jumps following NRG's shutdown news
NRG Energy (NRG)On Thursday, NRG Energy (NRG: sentiment, chart, options) reported that it and Delaware regulators are negotiating a deal under which the company would shut down three of four generating units at its Indian River power plant by 2013...(Read More)

The automaker follows Toyota's lead by confessing to braking issues with its hybrids
Today's column includes technical difficulties for Ford Motor Company (F), an optimistic note for Molson Coors Brewing Company (TAP), a bullish endorsement for ReneSola Ltd...(Read More)

U.S. stock futures edge lower ahead of key economic data
Wall Street is struggling to right itself following yesterday's nearly 270-point loss by the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)...(Read More)

A surprise jump in jobless claims spooked investors ahead of Friday's payroll report
The stock market was hit hard by economic worries today, with dismal data overshadowing a strong earnings report from tech bellwether Cisco Systems (CSCO)...(Read More)

Will ENER extend its year-to-date deficit?
In the most recent editions of Advanced Options, we've explored unique ways to exploit a stock's price swings with the strap, strap strangle, and strip strategies...(Read More)

Selling option premium in order to hedge a long call position
Bullish call spreads are known by a variety of different names among options traders...(Read More)

Call volume is on the upswing as the stock consolidates its recent gains
New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (NYB: sentiment, chart, options) attracted unusually heavy call volume on Wednesday, with 2,599 of these optimistically oriented contracts crossing the tape...(Read More)

This Super Bowl sponsor is wallowing in the red post-earnings
This week, our friends at Kiplinger's reminded us that it's once again time to take a look at one of our favorite sectors of the economy: Super Bowl stocks...(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.

 

CEO of Britain's FSA to resign by summer
The U.K.’s financial services regulator said Tuesday that its Chief Executive Hector Sants will step down in the summer, after three years at the top of the organization.

Europe Markets: Europe stocks flat as earnings offset Greece hope
European shares shook off early weakness to trade higher on Tuesday as worries about Greece’s finances appeared to abate and as earnings news from watchmaker Swatch cheered.

Coventry Health Care profit climbs 24%
Growing membership, rising rates and lower costs pushes Coventry Health Care profit up by 24% during the fourth quarter.

Earnings Watch: Updates, advisories and surprises
A roundup of the latest corporate earnings reports and what companies are saying about future quarters.

ECB flight change boosts Greek rescue speculation
Analysts say news Tuesday that the European Central Bank president will return early from Australia to attend a meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels is providing the euro and financial markets with a lift.

Indications: U.S. futures recover after sub-10,000 Dow close
U.S. stock futures were stronger Tuesday, recovering after the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished below the 10,000 mark for the first time since early November.

MarketWatch First Take: Better than Superman -- Trichet jets in
Better keep the kryptonite out of Frankfurt, because there’s a new Superman in town.

NYSE Euronext swings to profit, beats expectations
The stock-exchange operator NYSE Euronext avoids the impairment charges that weighed on its results a year earlier as its profit tops estimates.

Asian markets end mostly higher, Hong Kong up 1.2%
Asian markets ended mostly higher on Tuesday, with a rebound in commodity prices and Swiss banking major UBS's return to profit spurring late buying in Hong Kong.

London Markets: British Land shares climb in higher FTSE 100
Property-development firms advance in the top British share index. A rise in property values helps British Land swing to a profit.

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.

 

The Enforcers
The new enforcement team at the Securities and Exchange Commission is working to police Wall Street — and to shake off the psychic blow of the Bernard L. Madoff affair.

Toyota Details Recall of 2010 Prius for Brake Problems
The worldwide recall will affect about 437,000 units of the 2010 Prius and other hybrid models, according to the company’s filing.

Optimism Persists in a Kentucky Town Where a Carmaker Brought Jobs
As production resumes this week in Georgetown, Ky., and other American cities where Toyota builds cars, people are eager to see its recall problems blow over.

E.U. Slow to React to Toyota Safety Problems
The system for monitoring car safety across the European Union has appeared, like Toyota, opaque and slow to react.

Britain's Top Financial Regulator to Step Down
Hector Sants announced Tuesday that he planned to step down, surprising the markets and casting doubt over the future of the Financial Services Authority as well as broader banking reform.

UBS Returns to Profit but Clouds Linger
UBS posted its first quarterly profit in over a year Tuesday, but customers continued to pull money out of the bank, sending its shares down.

Japan Airlines Decides to Stick With American Airlines
The Japanese carrier said Tuesday that it will stay in the Oneworld alliance, rejecting an overture by Delta Air Lines of the rival SkyTeam group.

As Data Flows In, the Dollars Flow Out
The average American is expected to spend nearly $1,000 this year on services like cable, Internet and video games.

Bills Stalled, Hospitals Fear Rising Unpaid Care
While the debate continues in Washington, health care systems nationwide struggle to offset money spent to treat patients who cannot afford to pay their bills.

China Lists $9.6 Billion in Shares of U.S. Companies
The China Investment Corporation bought more than $9 billion worth of shares in companies like Bank of America and Apple.

Advertising: Do-It-Yourself Super Ads
Some of the most-talked-about ads during the Super Bowl broadcast were those created or suggested by consumers, not advertising agencies.

Making Solar Power Portable
A growing number of business travelers are using portable renewable energy devices to power up their electronics when they work in places that offer little or no access to electricity.

On the Road: A List No Hotel Wants to Be On
This year’s lists singled out the 10 "dirtiest" hotels in each of six regions — the United States, Asia, Canada, France, Italy and Britain.

Frequent Flier: A Chef’s Ingredients, and His Hopes, Run Afoul of a Border Inspection
In the travels of the chef Susur Lee, recipe ingredients raise red flags for airport security agents.

In Toyota Mess, Lesson for Japan
Economists said that Toyota’s troubles show that economic change is urgently needed in Japan.

With Shake-Up, SAP Seeks Better Customer Relations
The chairman of SAP, the German software company, said a decision to raise maintenance fees was wrong and acknowledged that he had been partly responsible for the move.

Insider’s Admission Deepens Galleon Case
Rajiv Goel said that in 2007 he provided the hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam with confidential tips about Intel and Sprint Nextel.

Google to Add Social Features to Gmail
Google will unveil add-ons to Gmail that let people post and view messages about their day-to-day activities.

Publishers Win a Bout in E-Book Price Fight
Publishers have managed to take some control — at least temporarily — of how much consumers pay for their content.

Developer Is Accused of Fleecing Investors
Adam Hochfelder, a onetime real estate mogul, was charged with taking $2.5 million from clients and friends for hotel deals he never made.

Newsstand Sales and Circulation Fall for Magazines
Newsstand sales of magazines plummeted in the last half of 2009, helping to send total circulation lower.

Findings: Will You Be E-Mailing This Column? It’s Awesome
A University of Pennsylvania study found that readers of news in print and online had more exalted tastes than might be expected.

Promising Results in Bone Drug Trial
A third trial of an experimental drug found that it worked better than a rival to delay the risk of bone complications in men with advanced prostate cancer.

In City Real Estate, Old Clans Are Shrewd Again
Some families with deep roots in Manhattan kept their heads a few years ago when the market for skyscrapers and other big projects overheated.

Immigrants Claim Wal-Mart Fired Them to Provide Jobs for Local Residents
Ten West Africans have filed federal complaints accusing Wal-Mart stores in Colorado of discrimination.

Crestor Wins Approval as a Drug to Prevent Heart Disease
The Food and Drug Administration cleared the way for the cholesterol treatment to be used by millions of people who are not normally prescribed such drugs.

Electronic Arts Shrinks Loss, but Shares Fall on Forecast
The publisher released its results, which analysts had expected to disappoint, after the regular market session ended.

Hasbro Shares Rise Sharply on Higher-Than-Expected Earnings and a Positive Forecast
Action figures tied to an adventure movie helped sales and Hasbro’s stock gains 11 percent.

CVS Slightly Beats Forecasts, With Profit Increasing 11%
Stock in CVS gained 3 percent after it posted an 11 percent profit increase, helped by the expansion of its benefits management business.

Ally for the Poor in an Unlikely Corner
Through his work in poor countries, Andrew Witty, chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline, has positioned his company as the leader among drug makers in advancing world health issues.

Judge Questions Bank of America’s New Deal With S.E.C.
The court might reject a new $150 million settlement over the takeover of Merrill Lynch, which could send the case to trial.

A Move to Expand Falters as Kirin Ends Talks With Suntory
Kirin, the Japanese brewing giant, cited differences over management independence and transparency in a merged company as the reason for ending the talks.

Reuters BreakingViews: Protecting Banks in the Boardroom
Directors at banks can help control risk by routinely posing the question: “What could make this institution fail?”

Dealbook Column: Shareholders Deciding a Dividend
The dividend, which private equity firms routinely paid to themselves until the economy turned against them, is back.

SAS to Issue Shares, Cut Jobs After Posting Loss for 2009
SAS, the Scandinavian airline group, said Tuesday that it would issue new shares to raise capital and cut 700 jobs after reporting a loss for 2009.

Corner Office: Now, Put Yourself in My Shoes
Susan Docherty of General Motors says that by asking potential hires how they would perform her job, she gets an idea of how they think on their feet.

The Card Game: How Visa, Using Card Fees, Dominates a Market
When you sign for a debit card at a retailer, the store pays your bank more than twice as much as when you enter a PIN — a strategy Visa hatched decades ago.

NYT > Business

 

 

 

February 8th 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 (-) Elliot Wave Lives On (-) Fallond Stock Picks (-) In the Money Learning Curve (-)...

Birinyi Featured in the WSJ
This morning's Abreast of the Market column featured several reports released by Birinyi Associates over the last several months. Click here for the full text.

February 1st Blogger Sentment 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 (-)...

Play the Odds: This Is Probably Just a Correction
Right now the S&P 500 is down 5.82% from its high close on 1/19. Market declines always bring out the bears, pointing to the economy, the government, the profits etc as reasons why the gains are all over. Birinyi Associates...

Telecom Sector "Correction"
The S&P 500 Telecom sector fell -1.2% yesterday, pushing the sector into a 10% decline. Telecom Sector Since 2009 Since 1962 there have 54 declines of greater than 10%. The average decline is 18.6% and average duration is 141 days....

Consumer Confidence - Up With a Long Way to Run
Consumer Confidence, reported this morning at 10:00, came in above expectations at 55.9 (estimates were for 53.5). This is the highest level since September-08, but as shown below the indicator still has a long way to run which is potential...

January 25th 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 Learning Curve (-)...

Traders Happier Following a Long Weekend?
There have been six NYSE holidays since the beginning of the bull market that have given investors a three-day weekend. On average the day after a long weekend, the market gains 92 basis points and has been positive every time.

Day After a 1% Decline
Last Friday the S&P 500 declined 1.08%, looking at similar days we find that on average the market is positive the next day and traders should expect an afternoon rally. Below we highlight the intra-day composite of days following a...

January 19th Blogger Sentiment Poll
Bloggers are bearish and decided this week, there were no neutral responses. Blogger Sentiment Poll Participants: 24/7 Wall St (-) Carl Futia (+) Dash of Insight (+) Elliot Wave Lives On (-) Fallond Stock Picks (-) In the Money Learning...

ETFs: 2009 Review
2009 was a record year for ETFs as assets grew 42% from a year earlier ($782 bln vs $551 bln). Net flows, however, decreased 56% from 2008 (+$98 bln vs +$222 bln). US focused ETFs were the only group to...

January 11th Blogger Sentiment Poll
There are more bears than bulls in this week's survey. Blogger Sentiment Poll Participants: 24/7 Wall St (N) Ahead of the Ticker Carl Futia (+) Dash of Insight (+) Elliot Wave Lives On (-) Fallond Stock Picks (-) Learning Curve...

Ticker Sense