RSAAKKS

Tuesday Outlook: Commodities, Global Markets

On too many of the charts, MACD is rolling over. Is that of any concern? Looks like dollar is making a bottom, and most indices making a top...at least for the near term. Do you agree?

Market Outlook: Inside vs. Outside View

" have been arguing for months now that the stock market is not overpriced because the mood of the market is still very pessimistic"...and I thought market valuations were measured by earnings and p/e multiples. You can be optimistic or pessimistic, unless S&P delivers earnings way better than $70 next year, it is overpriced..and I find it tough to see how S&P will deliver say..$90 of E

On the State of the U.S. Economy

"who cannot help but cringe at the spectacle of Citibank being forced to sell its Phibro trading arm for essentially cash value to Occidental Petroleum because it is embarrassing to have to pay a contractual and well earned $100 million to its leading principal? We, the people, are now giving up an estimated $200mm in annualized profits in an institution that can sure use it. ".....well earned $100 MM, wow!! can someone explain what great product or service creates this $200mm profit, and who pays that profit? Isn't AIG or some else who is on the other side of that contract paying that profit--and is that person really very different from this Phiboro manager, it seems to me some times Phiboro wins and someone else loses, other times some else wins and Phiboro loses, The winners can keep the massive gains and cash, losers can always go to the taxpayers and ask for bail out--what a way to run an economy--keep it up.

We're Living Through the Best of Times

I wish I couyld agree with the optimism of the author. The reason is, America today is in fact quite different from what it was in the 70

Sure It’s Legal … But Is It Right?

Accountability at the highest levels are the main issue. Lots of people can demand accountability from average folks, but who can dare ask the guy at the top? and live to talk about it. Starts with the politicians first? Does a president get pay based on performance? Does any Senator get salary based on how well he did the job? Almost the same goes for CEO's, increase shareholder value and get paid say $100 million salary-do some stupid mergers or make other bad decisions to make the company go bankrupt- you get only $50 million- and if a board is really nasty-they will pay him $20 million. That my friend is free market capitalism.

One of the great lines I see too often in earnings calls/transcripts is "our profits were lower because currency worked against us" but I have never heard anyone say the opposite-"our prifits were good because the currency exchange rates were favorable"

Dow's and Monsanto's SmartStax Looks Like a Blockbuster

There are competitive seeds from DuPont and Syngenta as well. So it is not as much of slam dunk as you may think. Weather playing a huge role in productivity, and recession hitting the pocket books all over, it remains to be seen if higher prices will stick.

Clearing Up Misconceptions About Leveraged ETFs

"If you invested in a leveraged ETF over a period of months and the market went down 20%, a 2x short leveraged ETF wouldn’t go up exactly 40%."
Yes, that part is clear and if market went down 20%, the 2x ETF will be (or shoudl be) down perhaps 32-36?% or some such fugure. Problem that I cannot comprehend is when oil goes up 5 fold and the leveraged ETF goes down. That is the part no logic can expalin, but has actually happened. Just look at the ETF and oil prices in 2008-2009.
Secondly, if these instruments reset everyday, why not just make them good for a day only, i.e., at the end of the day, fund automatically sells at NAV--period. You want to play it, buy it every day after market opens.

Was August 6 the Stock Market Top for 2009?

wait another 10 hours or so, with the positive employment report, you shorts may prove costly.

Natural Gas: A Tale of Two ETFs

All we hear is the supply and demand, which supposedly controls prices. Lst year, when oil supply was plentiful, no body could explain why oil had gone to $147, NG was plentiful last year too, and the price went well above $10. Could any of you explain why that happened last year? I really have no idea why the prices spiked, other than pure speculation drove prices last year. If inflationary pressures come into play, supply and demand will again fail to control prices, just like it did in 2007-2008. Who knows, may be Chinese are stock-piling NG too??

Thursday Outlook: Commodities, Global Markets

for the short term at least, SDS and SKF make more sense for a trade while the market tries to find support underneath. So many sectors, all filing at the 200d MA is not just a concidence ad Dave has pointed out.
Best wishes for your wife Dave, hope all goes well.

Kraft CEO's 50% Pay Raise Is Wrong

Anyone who thinks market forces will control CEO pay levels to a reasonable level is dreaming. Without Govt control, the boards and CEO's will keep looting the companies as much as they can get away with.

Our Economic Temple Is Not Structurally Sound

Why don't you point out what the problem is in our financial system, and what you think is the solution. Just saying the system is broken does not say much

Dow, Rohm Are Talking Again - Some Thoughts

In the days when judges can reduce mortgage amounts for people, when banks can write off billions, and when the govt can flush trillions down the toilet in the form of TARP or wahtever else, is it possible that a judge will restate a lower purchase price and set perhaps $40 for a share of ROH, in light of 50% market decline??? Not really legal, but these markets are not strictly legal, are they?

Financial Stock Valuations: The Mirror Image of Tech Stocks in '99?

Your rationale for holding WFC will most likely prove correct, although timing for realizing any meaningful returns is year's away. It will depend on: 1. How soon the mortgage business and housing market begins to stabilize 2. General economy has to show signs of REAL recovery, meaning employment starting to increase and corpoarte profits beginning to rise. Until we see such recovery, loan protfolios of banks will remain a drag causing more write offs and losses. Finally, interest rates have to remain at reasonable levels, 10 yr treasuries below 5%. If all these happen, WFC will go up 4-5 fold. If even one of the three conditions remain negative, bank stocks will go no where, and market will have tough time crawling out of this hole.

ICICI Bank: Indian Capitalism At Its Worst

Sounds like a lot of gripe but not many facts to prove the points made. Could you state exactly what risks were taken by ICICI-you said borrowed at high rates and lend at low rates?? How were they reporting the profits they did in past years with such underwriting-bull market or bear market-such loan policies will have produced losses even 2 years ago.