Nick Waddell

Harry Dent ETF: Finding Power in Demographic Trends

Anyone who has taken an entry level stats course can tell that Harry Dent is a data miner. You are as good as your calls and his are bad.

Household net worth has risen for the first time in two years, the Fed said in its flow of funds report. U.S households gained in wealth by $2T to $53.1T in the second quarter, a 17% annual rate gain compared to an annualized 13% decline in the first quarter, with rising home prices pitching in along with the stock rally.

Two points for me:

1.These changes in paper wealth aren't real wealth.
2. Personal savings rates in the US still pale when compared to other countries.

The SEC is refocusing on a roadmap to move U.S. companies to international accounting standards, the agency's new chief accountant says. Former Chairman Christopher Cox set the plan in motion last November.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but these constant regulatory changes make it tougher for pubcos while making accountants and lawyers rich. It's especially prohibitive for small companies to be public anymore...

It's still early to be worrying that stocks are too expensive, JPMorgan analysts say, and they continue to favor the 'recovery trade' - being long risk assets against safer ones. Firm notes "the underlying fundamentals of growth, earnings, and credit quality are improving as fast as asset prices are."

I don't agree that the gradual removal of the life support we have been on will mean we crash again -I believe it created a much need stability- but I do believe there is more pain to come. I think we take another hit and then emerge into a stock pickers market for several years

Can you say spooky?

So, has this been our "lost decade"?

Stock market advisers have become markedly more bearish as the market has essentially flatlined over the past month, suggesting to contrarians that this rally may still have legs.

Contrarians want to be different...like everybody else.

FuelCell Energy (FCEL): FQ3 EPS of -$0.21 beats by $0.03. Revenue of $23M (-18%) vs. $28M. Shares +0.8% AH. (PR)

Yet I still get the feeling that fuel cells may be remembered as The Betamax of the alternative energy movement

What an Apple Tablet Has to Be

Apple is in a curious place in its history. Talk of making a larger netbook style IPod Touch and of not cannibalizing its own line are the hallmarks of a company that has reached some sort of maturity. Apple makes great products, but I think in the mind of "Apple fanboys" the company is still a bleeding edge innovator. If Apple were a rock band they wouldn't be The Clash or The Sex Pistols in 1977 they would be U2 right now; tasteful, virtous, riding somewhat on past glories...

Gold Is Still the Opportunity of a Lifetime

Imagine how little debate there would be about gold as a reserve currency if it actually had a practical use the way say, uh, oil does.

Taking the Pulse of the Economy

Good stuff Asif, a very measured and sensible assessment. Hope you are feeling better, we may all need a little more fortitude for the coming weeks!

Canadian Tech IPO Scene Comes Back to Life

Good article Mark, I would add Aastra (TSX:AAH) to your list. Has pulled back recently, but went from seven or eight bucks to well over $30.

Bernanke to Congress: Don't Ignore Fiscal Balance

How is a guy allowed to use a swastika as a logo for more than 20 seconds here?

Claudia Rosett, who covered the Tiananmen Square uprising for the WSJ 20 years ago, live, recalls the event. Thought-provoking quote from one of the protestors, who wondered what happens once you get your dream of democracy: "I know what China is dreaming. What is America dreaming?"

Somehow I don't think we are going to be seeing the image of the still anonymous protester in front of a tank on a Chinese postage stamp anytime soon.

Steve Ballmer threatens Microsoft (MSFT) will move some employees offshore if Obama's plans to impose higher taxes on foreign profits pass. Ballmer estimates the proposed tax hikes could cut DJIA constituents' profits by 10-15 percentage points.

If I'm the Mayor of Windsor or Cambridge ON, I am calling Steve today. I'm sure they could use Microsoft there to take the sting off all the auto-sector job losses...though it does seem like it's just posturing on Ballmer's part

Why Market Pessimism Has No Constituency: The View from the Top

I think history has shown that how we feel about the future has no bearing on what actually plays out. It keeps us occupied and engaged, but it makes no difference.

I wonder how many were feeling that England felt like a pretty rosy place in 1065 AD.