The Last Of The 2008 Doomsday Scenarios Is Fading Away [View article]
I have been skeptical of this market, but have successfully traded and invested in it while questioning the effects of QE and what happens when the bill comes due. The point is, the world is a dangerous place. That is why equities are called risk assets. Do I think the market is overheated with Fed fuel? Yes. I am still in? Yes. Do I think we're out of the woods? No. Solution? Keep some dry powder.
Competing articles on the JPMorgan (JPM) vote: The WSJ reports analysts saying the vote to split the Chairman CEO roles is too close to call, but Marketwatch has analysts saying Dimon is likely to keep both jobs. The vote is set to be tallied at the annual meeting tomorrow. Last year, the break-up proposal received 40% of the votes. [View news story]
I'm just wondering whether he should keep his job as de facto Fed Chair.
Silver (SLV) plunged to its lowest level in nearly 3 years overnight before a bounce brought it to its current price of $21.60, -3.3%. As with gold, silver ETP holdings have dropped to the lowest levels this year, and speculative short positions are on the rise, according to CFTC data. Gold (GLD) took out its April lows earlier - dropping as low as $1,338. A bounce has brought the metal back to $1,351, -1%. [View news story]
Even Barron's is questioning the takedown and pointing to coordinated action by the hedges in the Asian overnight (illiquid) futures markets.
Silver (SLV) plunged to its lowest level in nearly 3 years overnight before a bounce brought it to its current price of $21.60, -3.3%. As with gold, silver ETP holdings have dropped to the lowest levels this year, and speculative short positions are on the rise, according to CFTC data. Gold (GLD) took out its April lows earlier - dropping as low as $1,338. A bounce has brought the metal back to $1,351, -1%. [View news story]
All good comments. Traders in paper PMs are shifting to stronger asset classes because it is not paying to fight the central banks. I have no complaint against traders ( I am one), but I also own some physical which I can always pass on to my children. If you own physical, you should view it as an insurance policy against the deteriorating value of fiat currencies. Physical will trace and retrace like any other money, but to paraphrase Lord Keynes (childless, though he was), in the long run the only real money is gold.
The latest installment of the Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey, has some observers worried. Citing "increased competition," banks generally reported easing their lending standards on business loans over the last three months, as razor thin margins have created a scramble for C&I business (previous). Concurrently, the amount of business loans extended rose 10% Y/Y to $1.55T, leading some to question whether the combination of more lending and lax underwriting standards might prove hazardous to the system. Competition "creates the temptation to do silly things," M&T vice-chairman Mike Pinto tells FT. [View news story]
Whatever happened to dropping money from helicopters?
There is no precedent for the current market, writes The Fat Pitch. Consider: 1) The S&P (SPY) has been up 56 of 88 trading sessions this year 2) It's up an uncorrected 24% since the post-election low - the longest streak in over 3 decades 3) The Nasdaq (QQQ) is on pace for a 7th straight up month, an occurrence with a 3-in-100 probability. Long term it's bullish, writes Ukarlewitz, as this sort of strength is rarely the end of a trend. Short term? Stay nimble. [View news story]
The last time this was achieved was around 1929, I believe.
There is no precedent for the current market, writes The Fat Pitch. Consider: 1) The S&P (SPY) has been up 56 of 88 trading sessions this year 2) It's up an uncorrected 24% since the post-election low - the longest streak in over 3 decades 3) The Nasdaq (QQQ) is on pace for a 7th straight up month, an occurrence with a 3-in-100 probability. Long term it's bullish, writes Ukarlewitz, as this sort of strength is rarely the end of a trend. Short term? Stay nimble. [View news story]
The market is on a permanent high trajectory that cannot be stopped. By this time next year, Main St. will be back in full mode and unemployment will hover at 4%. The central banks have finally gotten it right and realized that you really can print your way to prosperity.
Ben Bernanke may not have overtly mentioned monetary policy during prepared remarks for a commencement address at Bard College Saturday, but he did reference Yogi Berra, and in the process made a statement that those of a cynical persuasion might say could have been pulled not only from the quips of a baseball legend, but from any recent speech by hawkish regional Fed presidents (I, II, III): "It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." Some would undoubtedly say the Chairman should consider this sage advice when making conjectures about the supposedly benign effects of policy tightening. [View news story]
If we keep moving up like this, stocks could go "parabolic," says Art Cashin. The stocks that have the heaviest short positions have already raced ahead of the indices, and they are going to crumble if we keep going. (Video). [View news story]
Ben Bernanke may not have overtly mentioned monetary policy during prepared remarks for a commencement address at Bard College Saturday, but he did reference Yogi Berra, and in the process made a statement that those of a cynical persuasion might say could have been pulled not only from the quips of a baseball legend, but from any recent speech by hawkish regional Fed presidents (I, II, III): "It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." Some would undoubtedly say the Chairman should consider this sage advice when making conjectures about the supposedly benign effects of policy tightening. [View news story]
Sure he does wyo. It ends in a new reserve currency.
Stocks at all-time highs aren't reeling in too many investors to the bullish side on the AAII Investor Sentiment Survey which shows a 2.3 point decline in bulls to 38.5% - just below the long-term average of 39%. Bears gained 1.9 points to 29.3%. also just under the long-term average. [View news story]
Beware Long-Term Damage From Stock Market Bubble Forming Now [View article]
As a fiscally conservative libertarian, neither party represents my views, but both subsidize parasites in their own fashion. The new political paradigm which dates back to the Progressive era of the early 1900s, the creation of the Fed and the imposition of federal income tax is an unstoppable force which attempts to remove all risk from society by adding layer upon layer of social and corporate welfare programs. It is undeniable that society as a whole has benefited from this largess, but we Have now become addicted to it and believe these policies to be human rights that must be provided despite cost. Government can spend at whim and the Fed can provide all the liquidity the markets need to find support. This is now a commonly held belief. I'm convinced it will end poorly. I just don't know when.
The Last Of The 2008 Doomsday Scenarios Is Fading Away [View article]
The Last Of The 2008 Doomsday Scenarios Is Fading Away [View article]
Competing articles on the JPMorgan (JPM) vote: The WSJ reports analysts saying the vote to split the Chairman CEO roles is too close to call, but Marketwatch has analysts saying Dimon is likely to keep both jobs. The vote is set to be tallied at the annual meeting tomorrow. Last year, the break-up proposal received 40% of the votes. [View news story]
Silver (SLV) plunged to its lowest level in nearly 3 years overnight before a bounce brought it to its current price of $21.60, -3.3%. As with gold, silver ETP holdings have dropped to the lowest levels this year, and speculative short positions are on the rise, according to CFTC data. Gold (GLD) took out its April lows earlier - dropping as low as $1,338. A bounce has brought the metal back to $1,351, -1%. [View news story]
Silver (SLV) plunged to its lowest level in nearly 3 years overnight before a bounce brought it to its current price of $21.60, -3.3%. As with gold, silver ETP holdings have dropped to the lowest levels this year, and speculative short positions are on the rise, according to CFTC data. Gold (GLD) took out its April lows earlier - dropping as low as $1,338. A bounce has brought the metal back to $1,351, -1%. [View news story]
The latest installment of the Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey, has some observers worried. Citing "increased competition," banks generally reported easing their lending standards on business loans over the last three months, as razor thin margins have created a scramble for C&I business (previous). Concurrently, the amount of business loans extended rose 10% Y/Y to $1.55T, leading some to question whether the combination of more lending and lax underwriting standards might prove hazardous to the system. Competition "creates the temptation to do silly things," M&T vice-chairman Mike Pinto tells FT. [View news story]
An Investment Strategy For The Bears [View article]
Apple's Magic Is Broken [View article]
There is no precedent for the current market, writes The Fat Pitch. Consider: 1) The S&P (SPY) has been up 56 of 88 trading sessions this year 2) It's up an uncorrected 24% since the post-election low - the longest streak in over 3 decades 3) The Nasdaq (QQQ) is on pace for a 7th straight up month, an occurrence with a 3-in-100 probability. Long term it's bullish, writes Ukarlewitz, as this sort of strength is rarely the end of a trend. Short term? Stay nimble. [View news story]
There is no precedent for the current market, writes The Fat Pitch. Consider: 1) The S&P (SPY) has been up 56 of 88 trading sessions this year 2) It's up an uncorrected 24% since the post-election low - the longest streak in over 3 decades 3) The Nasdaq (QQQ) is on pace for a 7th straight up month, an occurrence with a 3-in-100 probability. Long term it's bullish, writes Ukarlewitz, as this sort of strength is rarely the end of a trend. Short term? Stay nimble. [View news story]
Ben Bernanke may not have overtly mentioned monetary policy during prepared remarks for a commencement address at Bard College Saturday, but he did reference Yogi Berra, and in the process made a statement that those of a cynical persuasion might say could have been pulled not only from the quips of a baseball legend, but from any recent speech by hawkish regional Fed presidents (I, II, III): "It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." Some would undoubtedly say the Chairman should consider this sage advice when making conjectures about the supposedly benign effects of policy tightening. [View news story]
If we keep moving up like this, stocks could go "parabolic," says Art Cashin. The stocks that have the heaviest short positions have already raced ahead of the indices, and they are going to crumble if we keep going. (Video). [View news story]
Ben Bernanke may not have overtly mentioned monetary policy during prepared remarks for a commencement address at Bard College Saturday, but he did reference Yogi Berra, and in the process made a statement that those of a cynical persuasion might say could have been pulled not only from the quips of a baseball legend, but from any recent speech by hawkish regional Fed presidents (I, II, III): "It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." Some would undoubtedly say the Chairman should consider this sage advice when making conjectures about the supposedly benign effects of policy tightening. [View news story]
Stocks at all-time highs aren't reeling in too many investors to the bullish side on the AAII Investor Sentiment Survey which shows a 2.3 point decline in bulls to 38.5% - just below the long-term average of 39%. Bears gained 1.9 points to 29.3%. also just under the long-term average. [View news story]
Beware Long-Term Damage From Stock Market Bubble Forming Now [View article]