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Trade Deficit Widens: Cascade Of Bad News Accelerates, Trump Will Howl

Trade Deficit Widens: Cascade Of Bad News Accelerates, Trump Will Howl

The International Trade in Goods and Services report shows the trade deficit widened to $47.6 billion in April from $45.3 billion in March. The April deficit was greater than any Econoday economist’s prediction. In addition, the Census Department revised the March deficit from $43.7 billion from $45.3 billion. The bad news is accelerating for the second quarter. The trade […]
When Ugly Stocks Make For Great Investments

When Ugly Stocks Make For Great Investments

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that retail stocks have been getting pounded in 2017. Just in the last couple of days, the stocks of Michael Kors (KORS) and Express, Inc. (EXPR) have fallen off a cliff. Meanwhile, Amazon.com recently hit $1,000 for the first time and is riding a strong uptrend. The […]
Why I Prefer Startups To Stocks

Why I Prefer Startups To Stocks

Benjamin Graham, widely considered the father of value investing, once said, “In the short run, the market is a voting machine, but in the long run, it is a weighing machine.” In other words, over short periods, markets tend to move irrationally along with market psychology. But over longer market cycles (at least 10 to […]
Chart: Where Is Global Growth Happening?

Chart: Where Is Global Growth Happening?

According to forecasts from earlier this year by the World Bank, the global economy is expected to average a Real GDP growth rate of 2.8% between 2017-2019. But where will this growth actually happen? Is it in giant countries that are growing at a stable 2% clip, or is it occurring in the smaller emerging […]
RBC Warns Equity Markets Have Entered The ‘FOMO’ Stage

RBC Warns Equity Markets Have Entered The ‘FOMO’ Stage

It’s risk-parity heaven right now, notes RBC’s head of cross-asset strategy Charlie McElligott, with global equities (developed and EM) AND fixed-income all continuing their torrid rallies, but McElligott warns this is a classic “from worst to first” PM-grabbing into a new “Fear Of Missing Out” stage of the equities-rally. Bonds remain well-bid on account of […]
Economic Data Calls For June 5, 2017

Economic Data Calls For June 5, 2017

Here’s what we are looking for in Monday’s economic reports (June 5, 2017). 1. AU PMI Services (19:30 NY Time) — Bearish AUD — Potential for downside surprise given Sharp drop in PMI Mfg. 2. CH Caixin PMI Services and Composite PMI (21:45 NY Time) — No Trade — Chinese data is hard to predict […]
Ray Of Hope

Ray Of Hope

I’m starting to see a few rays of hope from various measures of breadth that could provide the fuel for a broad based rally. The first comes from the Russell 2000 Index (RUT). It finally looks like it wants to play catch up with the other major indexes. Another indicator that is showing some strength is the […]
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers: A Beaten-Down, High-Yield REIT Paying Safe Dividends

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers: A Beaten-Down, High-Yield REIT Paying Safe Dividends

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are an appealing way for income investors to benefit from rental properties without any of the liquidity or landlord hassles that come with actually owning physical properties. Many REITs are generally far less volatile than the rest of the stock market as well, making certain REITs a reasonable way to help […]
Emerging Markets: What Has Changed Lately

Emerging Markets: What Has Changed Lately

(from my colleague Dr. Win Thin) The Indonesian cabinet is discussing revisions to the 2017 state budget. The Thai central bank plans to reform some FX rules. South African President Zuma survived the no confidence vote within his own ANC. Brazil’s central bank signaled a slower pace of easing ahead after it cut 100 bp […]
The U.S. Economy: Are Bonds Or Stocks Telling The True Story?

The U.S. Economy: Are Bonds Or Stocks Telling The True Story?

On the heels of this mornings employment report indicating jobs creation below even the most pessimistic economist forecast along with revisions lower to the prior months, why are the bond and stock markets telling two such very different stories? This morning at 8:30AM the Employment Report was released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showing new […]