Huawei says in an e-mailed statement it "has no plans" to acquire Nokia (NOK +4.6%). Shares have given back a big chunk of their earlier gains, but they still closed up sharply. Huawei consumer group chairman Richard Yu qualified his remarks about his company being willing to buy Nokia by suggesting Nokia's commitment to Windows Phone could be an issue. "Whether Windows Phone will be successful is difficult to say ... It has a very small market share." Huawei launched the W1, a low-end WP8 device, earlier this year. [View news story]
Gold (GLD, IAU) bulls may take comfort as Dennis Gartman jumps on the bearish bandwagon, calling the metal an "aging athlete" and "a broken commodity." The man who loved "stuff that hurts when you drop it on your foot" 2 years ago says the price is headed to $1K if $1.2K support is broken. HSBC's James Steel disagrees, seeing strong physical demand lifting the price to $1.6K in H2 and $2K in the longer term. [View news story]
Serious questions:
Why does Gartman get so much play?
What about his track record suggests that he is someone to listen to?
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]
You can't be slaughtered if you aren't in the game.
You can miss opportunity but slaughter refers to losing capital.
The "ETF bid" in which indexed parts of the high-yield bond market (likely to be owned by HYG and JNK) rise faster than the rest when times are good works in reverse too as May saw the ETFs decline far more than NAV. What about for preferred shares? Investors pulled a relatively modest $300M from the $12B PFF in May and the fund was down 2.8%, but it's off another 1.6% since. "It stands to reason the same yield-seeking investors dumping HYG (and REM) are turning on PFF too," writes Brendan Conway. [View news story]
(REM) remains a hidden gem and a major buying opportunity here.
Bank of Ireland (IRE -6.6%) continues to slip, perhaps still stung by Goldman's downgrade to Sell yesterday. One wonders if the bank's return to the bond market in late May - when an issue of $650M in unsecured 3-year notes was 3x oversubscribed and priced to yield 2.75% - wasn't ringing some sort of bell. "Investors will get absolutely shellacked," says an asset manager. "As rates rise, investors will get savaged by both interest rate and credit risk." [View news story]
"I would not overestimate retail investors' knowledge of how this business works," says Scott Ulm, co-CEO of Armour Residential (ARR -1.3%). Income fans love mREITs (MORT -1.3%) but can suffer quick losses as rates rise. "We believe mREITs are not appropriate for most individual investors," says Edward Jones' Kate Warne, warning brokers to steer clients away from the sector. Ulm remains hopeful: "As bonds become cheaper, reinvestment becomes more profitable." Beneath a big rally for the averages, the sector is hit again today: American Capital (AGNC -2.6%), (MTGE -1.2%), Annaly (NLY -1.9%), Two Harbors (TWO -0.9%), Hatteras (HTS -1.9%), CYS (CYS -2.8%), Anworth (ANH -0.9%). [View news story]
With Treasuries yielding near zero mREITS are going to be just fine.
'Unprecedented Levels Of Demand' In Asia Will Support Precious Metal Prices [View article]
If anyone can show me evidence that the price of paper gold and physical gold has been more divergent in the past than now I'd love for them to post it.
As it is, it is impossible for gold to fall below $1,100 unless the Asians suddenly decide that they no longer want the yellow metal or the dollar becomes incredibly strong against the yuan and the won.
Huawei says in an e-mailed statement it "has no plans" to acquire Nokia (NOK +4.6%). Shares have given back a big chunk of their earlier gains, but they still closed up sharply. Huawei consumer group chairman Richard Yu qualified his remarks about his company being willing to buy Nokia by suggesting Nokia's commitment to Windows Phone could be an issue. "Whether Windows Phone will be successful is difficult to say ... It has a very small market share." Huawei launched the W1, a low-end WP8 device, earlier this year. [View news story]
Gold (GLD, IAU) bulls may take comfort as Dennis Gartman jumps on the bearish bandwagon, calling the metal an "aging athlete" and "a broken commodity." The man who loved "stuff that hurts when you drop it on your foot" 2 years ago says the price is headed to $1K if $1.2K support is broken. HSBC's James Steel disagrees, seeing strong physical demand lifting the price to $1.6K in H2 and $2K in the longer term. [View news story]
Why does Gartman get so much play?
What about his track record suggests that he is someone to listen to?
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]
You can miss opportunity but slaughter refers to losing capital.
The "ETF bid" in which indexed parts of the high-yield bond market (likely to be owned by HYG and JNK) rise faster than the rest when times are good works in reverse too as May saw the ETFs decline far more than NAV. What about for preferred shares? Investors pulled a relatively modest $300M from the $12B PFF in May and the fund was down 2.8%, but it's off another 1.6% since. "It stands to reason the same yield-seeking investors dumping HYG (and REM) are turning on PFF too," writes Brendan Conway. [View news story]
The FHFA Has Breached Its Fiduciary Duty To Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac [View article]
Dismantling Fannie and Freddie are a top priority for BOTH parties and the legislation is on the fast track in Congress.
Bank of Ireland (IRE -6.6%) continues to slip, perhaps still stung by Goldman's downgrade to Sell yesterday. One wonders if the bank's return to the bond market in late May - when an issue of $650M in unsecured 3-year notes was 3x oversubscribed and priced to yield 2.75% - wasn't ringing some sort of bell. "Investors will get absolutely shellacked," says an asset manager. "As rates rise, investors will get savaged by both interest rate and credit risk." [View news story]
This Small-Cap Natural Gas Stock Has Speculative Upside [View article]
Why You Should Not Buy National Bank Of Greece [View article]
Profit From The Fear And Confusion Surrounding Sears [View article]
Do you know how much it costs to borrow Sears stock?
Also the institutional options positions in SHLD are quite interesting...
"I would not overestimate retail investors' knowledge of how this business works," says Scott Ulm, co-CEO of Armour Residential (ARR -1.3%). Income fans love mREITs (MORT -1.3%) but can suffer quick losses as rates rise. "We believe mREITs are not appropriate for most individual investors," says Edward Jones' Kate Warne, warning brokers to steer clients away from the sector. Ulm remains hopeful: "As bonds become cheaper, reinvestment becomes more profitable." Beneath a big rally for the averages, the sector is hit again today: American Capital (AGNC -2.6%), (MTGE -1.2%), Annaly (NLY -1.9%), Two Harbors (TWO -0.9%), Hatteras (HTS -1.9%), CYS (CYS -2.8%), Anworth (ANH -0.9%). [View news story]
Edward Lampert's Baby: Is A REIT Around The Corner? [View article]
Lampert is smarter than his critics.
'Unprecedented Levels Of Demand' In Asia Will Support Precious Metal Prices [View article]
As it is, it is impossible for gold to fall below $1,100 unless the Asians suddenly decide that they no longer want the yellow metal or the dollar becomes incredibly strong against the yuan and the won.
The Abenomics Experiment: Major Risks For Japan's Banks [View article]
They've had a ton of success after the war and they are admired worldwide.
St. Joe: Is Fairholme Ready To Sell? [View article]
The Market Will Drag Frontline Ltd. To The Bottom [View article]
They will do just fine.