The comments above & below is an edited and abridged synopsis of an article by Egon von GreyerzThe concentration of global wealth has reached dangerous proportions. The world's three richest people have a greater wealth than the bottom 50%. The top 1% has $33 trillion; the bottom 1% has debt of $196 billion.The interesting point is not just that the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer, but...Read More
The comments above & below is an edited and abridged synopsis of an article by M.N. GordonAs more money is issued relative to the output of goods and services in an economy, it is watered down and loses value. Price inflation is not rising prices; it's the loss of purchasing power resulting from an inflating money supply.In its October Consumer Price Index Report, the Bureau of Labor Statistics sa...Read More
It was a choppy, low-volume session on Wall Street, with traders carefully eyeing the November Fed minutes. While the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) was upbeat on employment and the economy, some members are concerned that "elevated asset valuations" could lead to a sharp reversal in asset prices -- with potentially "damaging effects" on the economy. Against this backdrop, the...Read More
U.S. stocks are mixed ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, though the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) carved out a new high earlier. Among those making the biggest moves are online vehicle auction services provider Copart, Inc. (NASDAQ:CPRT), bitcoin biochain expert Riot Blockchain Inc (NASDAQ:RIOT), and Roomba maker iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ:IRBT). Here's a quick look at what's moving shares of CPRT, RI...Read More
Earlier today, Square Inc (NYSE:SQ) stock hit a new record of $49.55 -- marking its 10th consecutive session of all-time highs, fueled in large part by optimism over the mobile payment company's recent move to allow its customers to buy and sell bitcoin. However, SQ has since reversed course to trade down 1.7% at $47.24, on pace for its first daily loss in over a week.Meanwhile, the recent crop of...Read More
Oil prices have been climbing amid increased expectations members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-cartel members will extend their production cut agreement at next week's meeting. This positive price action is continuing today, with January-dated crude futures up 1.9% at $57.88 per barrel, after data showed a surprise decline in domestic crude supplies. As such,...Read More
Stocks are bouncing around breakeven today, as trading volumes remain muted before the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow. However, the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) managed to touch a fresh record high in early action. And while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) trade in a tight range, many investors will likely stay glued to the market to see this afternoon's release of the Fe...Read More
The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) -- whose top holdings include FAANG stocks Amazon (AMZN) and Netflix (NFLX) -- has been roaring higher, as solid earnings and an ongoing tech rally help boost the sector. Earlier today, XLY shares hit a record high of $94.55, but options traders think there's even more upside on the horizon.At last check, roughly 3,600 calls had traded on XL...Read More
It's been a rocky year for most telecom stocks, as evidenced by the price action of the iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF (IYZ). The exchange-traded fund (ETF) has been exploring a channel of lower highs and lows since its early 2017 peak, and plummeted to a new annual low in early November, after Sprint (S) and T-Mobile (TMUS) called off their merger. Against this backdrop -- and with AT&T (T)...Read More
Amazon (AMZN) may be the ever-growing monolith of the online retail space, but it's hardly the only stock in the sector that's worth your attention. With the busy holiday shopping season kicking off this week, the shares of online retail hub Etsy Inc (NASDAQ:ETSY) just sent up a reliably bullish signal on the charts.Specifically, ETSY has had a lengthy stay above its 80-day moving average, and rec...Read More
Analysts are weighing in on cloud name salesforce.com, inc. (NYSE:CRM), Outback Steakhouse parent Bloomin' Brands Inc (NASDAQ:BLMN), and retail stock GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on shares of CRM, BLMN, and GME.Salesforce Stock Downgraded After Dismal Profit ForecastAnalysts were quick to weigh in on Salesforce.com, after the cloud concern u...Read More
U.S. stocks are trading close to breakeven in low-volume, pre-holiday action. Three stocks making moves today are e-commerce solutions company Baozun Inc (NASDAQ:BZUN), farming machinery concern Deere & Company (NYSE:DE), and Chinese machinery company Cleantech Solutions International Inc (NASDAQ:CLNT). Here's a closer look at what's moving shares of BZUN, DE, and CLNT.BZUN Falls After Third-Q...Read More
Analysts are weighing in on semiconductor specialist Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:MRVL), cybersecurity expert Palo Alto Networks Inc (NYSE:PANW), and biotech stock Sangamo Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:SGMO). Here's what's moving shares of MRVL, PANW, and SGMO. Barlcays Upgrades Marvell StockBarclays is weighing in on Marvell Technology stock after the company's big M&A announcement earlier t...Read More
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are trading above fair value ahead of what's expected to be a low-volume session. Nevertheless, a jam-packed economic calendar leaves plenty to digest for those lingering on Wall Street ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. While early data showed durable goods unexpectedly fell 1.2% in October, the day's marquee event will be the 2 p.m. ET release of the...Read More
With retail stores opening on Thanksgiving, Cyber Monday becoming a thing, and websites running deals all weekend, Black Friday doesn't seem as momentous as it once was. In any case, it's a telling time for retail stores -- and retail stocks. News reports of lines and fist fights will emerge later this week, and they will be used to gauge consumer strength and the economy, in general. This made me...Read More
The comments above & below is an edited and abridged synopsis of an article by Jim RickardsThe physical fundamentals are stronger than ever for gold. Russia and China continue to be huge buyers. China has banned the export of its 450 tons per year of physical production.Gold refiners are working around the clock and cannot meet demand. They are also having difficulty finding gold to refine as mini...Read More
It was a record-setting session on Wall Street today. Not only did the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) hit record highs, but the S&P 500 Index (SPX) topped 2,600 for the first time ever -- and Goldman Sachsraised its 2018 target for the benchmark to 2,850, based on expectations for tax reform. Tech stocks led the path higher, while a strong batch of earnings reports...Read More
U.S. stocks have rallied to record levels today. Among those making the biggest moves are semiconductor stock Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ:MLNX), transportation industry services provider Cubic Corporation (NYSE:CUB), and drugmaker Celsion Corporation (NASDAQ:CLSN). Here's a quick look at what's moving shares of MLNX, CUB, and CLSN. Starboard Stake Provides Tailwinds for Mellanox Techno...Read More
Tech stocks are leading the stock market rally today, and chipmaker Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) is soaring right alongside its sector peers. At last check, the shares were up 3.8% to trade at $49.46 -- fresh off a 16-year high of $49.56 -- after Evercore ISI called Micron "the strongest stock within the [semiconductors and technology] group," and said the equity could surge another 25%. Op...Read More
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) ended last week in the red, marking their first back-to-back weekly losses since August. What's more, the indexes haven't suffered a three-week losing streak since mid-2016 -- and it's not looking like another weekly loss is in the cards, with stocks at record highs. There have been just six calendar years in history where the Dow and...Read More