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4 REIT Plays With Beat Potential In Q2 Earnings

4 REIT Plays With Beat Potential In Q2 Earnings

Huge profits and earnings surprises can lure you this earnings season. But rather than accumulating stocks later, investing in those that are yet to release their numbers and poised to beat expectations can fetch you more gains. This is because an earnings beat essentially serves as a catalyst and raises investors’ confidence in a stock. […]
Forex Critical: The Australian Dollar – Too Much, Too Fast

Forex Critical: The Australian Dollar – Too Much, Too Fast

Over two weeks ago I officially ended my bearishness on the Australian dollar (FXA). I made that call just in time. Against the weakening U.S. dollar, the Australian dollar has gone nearly parabolic. AUD/USD recently touched the 0.80 level, a new 26-month high. Source: FreeStockCharts.com The Australian dollar has powered higher against almost all major currencies and now […]
Basic Materials And Commodities

Basic Materials And Commodities

Since the Basic Materials sector is breaking out I would like to take an in-depth look at some of the stocks that make up the Basic Materials sector along with some commodities in general. Most commodities have had a tough go of it since they topped out in 2011, but there are some signs that […]
UK Retail Sales Beat With +0.6% – GBP/USD Jumps

UK Retail Sales Beat With +0.6% – GBP/USD Jumps

Good news from the UK: consumers were more active in June. Retail sales are up 0.6% and this comes on top of an upwards revision. Year over year, sales are up 3%. Core retail sales are up 0.9% m/m and 2.9% y/y also ahead of expectations. All figures are better than predicted. GBP/USD recaptures 1.30 […]
Stocks Watchlist: TAP, MOS, CNP

Stocks Watchlist: TAP, MOS, CNP

Long Molson Coors Brewing (TAP) Long Mosaic (MOS) Short CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
What’s In The Shopping Carts Of Food Stamp Recipients?

What’s In The Shopping Carts Of Food Stamp Recipients?

Last November, the USDA published a report that provides some insight into the kinds of food and drink items that recipients of its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which used to be called “Food Stamps”, are buying up with their government-issued EBT cards. In the chart below, we’ve taken the Top 10 items from Exhibit 6 of the report, which […]
“ECB Or Not To Be”: Here’s What Mario Draghi May Say Tomorrow

“ECB Or Not To Be”: Here’s What Mario Draghi May Say Tomorrow

Looking at tomorrow’s main event, the much anticipated ECB announcement in which Draghi may (or may not) announce a hawkish shift to the centrral bank’s policies and/or reveal the bank’s tapering plans, Citi (whose titled we borrowed) gives the 30 second summary, and says that the market seems quite split on whether the ECB will […]
Why Might Hong Kong Still Be Interesting?

Why Might Hong Kong Still Be Interesting?

When the People’s Republic of China (PROC) was granted full UN status in 1971, everything was then set in motion. The successor to Chaing Kai-shek’s nationalist government in the Republic of China (ROC, or what we call today Taiwan) was originally granted as a founding member and one of five Security Council seats. UN General […]
Buying Illinois Debt – Bold Or Bad?

Buying Illinois Debt – Bold Or Bad?

The Illinois debt saga continues. The state operated without a budget since 2015. In June, just before their fiscal year end, both S&P and Moody’s downgraded Illinois’ credit rating to one level above “junk bond” status. Moody’s said: “Legislative gridlock has sidetracked efforts not only to address pension needs but also to achieve fiscal balance, allowing […]
Asian Shares Fly High On Thursday

Asian Shares Fly High On Thursday

Asian shares hovered near decade highs on Thursday morning, supported by strong U.S. corporate earnings and optimism about Japanese and European central bank meetings later today. The Bank of Japan is expected to end its two-day policy meeting with an intention to cut its inflation forecasts again and to project a delayed cutback of its […]