Silence of the PIIGS
7/30/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
PIIGS debt auctions are garnering less and less attention in the financial media–and no news is good news.
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Spill Bill on the Hill
7/29/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Is there enough political will to pass a contentious energy bill?
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Basel III Takes Shape
7/28/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A more moderate amendment to the global book of bank rules gained wide acceptance Monday—alleviating more financial uncertainty.
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European Stress Management
7/27/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Even a more stringent look at Europe’s banks show they are healthier than many expect.
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Releasing Less Stress
7/26/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Step off the treadmill and remove the EKG—the stress test is over.
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Earnings to Fly
7/23/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Q2 2010 corporate earnings are exceeding expectations, a trend that looks likely to continue.
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Lowering the Economic Bar
7/22/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Fed Chief Ben Bernanke’s testimony revealed a weaker outlook for growth—but also expectations for a continued recovery.
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Dear Prudence
7/21/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Though austerity has its risks, a balanced perspective shows the measures taken could have long-term benefits.
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Energizing Global Growth
7/20/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A new report shows China consumed more energy than the US last year.
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Chips and a Dip
7/19/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Recent market negativity—including Friday’s sell-off—has some questioning the recovery. But what do chips have to say to the dip?
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Reform to the Norm
7/16/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
As expected, Congress passed Wall Street reform on Thursday. Given the resulting hodge-podge of studies and feckless changes, was the goal real reform or political gain?
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On PIIGS and Needles
7/15/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Signs show PIIGS and the eurozone aren’t doing as badly as feared.
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Tuning Out the Static
7/14/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Earnings season is here, and the last couple quarters’ strong earnings showing seems likely to continue.
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Konnichiwa—and Sayonara?
7/13/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Japan’s latest election results show yet another political power shift.
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The Long March
7/12/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Long March is legendary in modern Chinese history—but perhaps the reference should now change to reference the ongoing journey of rapid economic development.
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Lit Crit 101
7/9/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The IMF’s latest outlook, while laced with pessimism, has plenty of good news.
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Still a Yuan for US Debt
7/8/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
China still desires US debt—despite the easing of the yuan-dollar peg.
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Economic Relativity
7/7/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
As the economic recovery matures, it’s important to separate a declining rate of growth from an absolute decline.
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Negative Needles in Positive Haystacks
7/2/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The ongoing correction and negative first half year returns stoked pessimism in many. But is this indicative of what lies ahead?
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All Else Is Never Equal
7/1/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Correction fears continued cycling Wednesday, even as fretted “crises” show signs of moderation.
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A Chicken Little Sort of Day?
6/30/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Is the sky really falling, or are other forces playing a role in stocks’ recent pullback?
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The Consumer Lives!
6/29/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Despite market jitters, consumer spending remains steady.
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The Paper Companies’ Big Win
6/28/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Congress celebrated reconciliation of financial reform on Friday—but there’s a lot more paper than substantive reform targeting major factors driving 2008’s financial panic.
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Summertime Rebalance
6/25/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Early summer is index rebalancing season, which may briefly impact some shares for a short period.
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Housing Tax-Credit Hangover
6/24/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
New and existing home sales data for May disappointed—but the expiring housing tax credit likely played a role.
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“Crime” and Punishment
6/23/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The UK, France, and Germany announced their joint support of general bank levies to reduce financial risk Tuesday.
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Yuan for You, Yuan for Me
6/22/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
China announced over the weekend it will loosen the US dollar-yuan currency peg.
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RIP FSA
6/21/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Brits will likely merge their central financial services regulator, the FSA, with the Bank of England.
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Unnecessary Stressing
6/18/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Debate over releasing EU bank stress test results is now resolved—perhaps the next test should be a recent history test for EU and US politicians.
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Charge It, Please…Or Not
6/17/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
On Tuesday, the Fed announced amendments to the Credit CARD Act of 2009—which included regulations on late payments and account inactivity penalty fees.
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Make Trade, Not Taxes
6/16/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Western governments would do well to cast their eyes East—where freer trade and lower taxes may boost growth.
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We’re Not Out of the PIIGS Pen, Yet
6/15/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Though Greece continues to rattle, market jitters over PIIGS could be short-lived.
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Cashlandia
6/14/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
While some fear ailing US consumers, businesses are showing resounding balance sheet vitality—a likely forerunner to bullish business spending.
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Improvements for the Average João
6/11/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
While not a brand new story, rapid Emerging Markets growth is as current as ever.
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Debunking Debt Concerns
6/10/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
We're big enough to handle our debt—and more.
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A Not So Sterling Warning
6/9/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The timing and tone of an unexpected Fitch warning on the UK’s credit rating were a little strange.
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We’re Okay, Euro Okay
6/8/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
German industrial activity shows not all is bleak in the eurozone.
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Hungary for News
6/7/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Global stocks shed mid-week gains on Friday, tied to one story that was positive but not positive enough, and gamesmanship from a new Hungarian politician.
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Crisis-Gate
6/4/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
“Crisis” has worked its way into our lexicon all too frequently in the recent past—so frequently that its meaning has been lost.
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Positive Profits
6/3/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Emerging Markets are in the lead, but there’s promising news in developed nations too.
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The Land of the Revolving Door
6/2/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The besieged Japanese prime minister resigns. However, it should have little effect on global stocks.
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PIIGS and Chips
6/1/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Spain’s credit was downgraded on Friday, but that shouldn’t overshadow positive developments elsewhere, like US manufacturing.
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A Crisis of Irony
5/28/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Eurozone debt concerns have led to a lot of speculation, rumor, and talk lately—some of it rather ironic hot air.
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Projecting on Growth
5/27/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A recent OECD report significantly raised global economic growth forecasts for 2010 and 2011—despite European debt woes.
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LIBOR and TED’s Bogus Journey
5/25/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Upticks in interbank borrowing rates are alarming some—but rates remain near historic lows.
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Of Politics and Markets
5/24/2010
Political uncertainty in the US and Europe contributed to a volatile week for stocks
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Corrections and Other Common Anomalies
5/21/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Market recoveries, and economic recoveries, aren’t smooth slopes higher—occasional bumps along the road should be expected.
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An Uphill Battle
5/20/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
German politicians recently banned naked short-selling of sovereign debt and bank shares.
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Dear Chancellor
5/19/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The BoE has some explaining to do, but inflation is not a global worry yet.
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America, Still Popular
5/18/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Recent data show it takes more than badmouthing to strip US assets of their popularity.
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The Fundamental Focus
5/17/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
As stocks waver on euro-worries, global economic fundamentals continue their strong showing.
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The Girl from Ipanema or Santorini?
5/14/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Today’s Brazil is an image of growth, but eight years ago it resembled Greece.
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Little Inflation in Big China
5/13/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Does an April uptick in Chinese inflation mean its explosive growth is unsustainable? Not just yet.
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A Hearing a Day
5/12/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Congressional hearings give the air of “action” but accomplish little.
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C’est Un Bazooka
5/11/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The EU unleashed a bazooka-sized rescue package on Sunday.
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No PM and More Volatility
5/10/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Despite political uncertainty in Britain and widespread fears of a European debt contagion, economic news was overwhelmingly positive.
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The Only Thing to Fear Is…Fear!
5/7/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A volatile day on Wall Street left investors scratching their heads
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Upbeat on Unemployment
5/6/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Unemployment news recently is trending more positive—but expect the unemployment rate to remain high for awhile as more people start seeking jobs.
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Rumors and Rhetoric
5/5/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Despite positive economic news, sovereign debt speculation sent global markets spiraling on Tuesday.
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“Short”-comings
5/4/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Hedge funds betting against the market get hurt—sometimes in a big way—when stock prices rise.
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Third Time’s Also a Charm
5/3/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The US economy expanded for the third consecutive quarter.
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May Day!
4/30/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
It’s the time of year for a classic rhyming myth to return from winter—but it doesn’t pass muster when tested.
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A (Non) Moving Target
4/29/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Fed maintained its target rate Tuesday—but it’s only natural to worry about what happens when higher rates do come. (Hint: Fine things historically.)
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The Benefits of Union
4/28/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Sovereign debt uncertainty struck global markets again Tuesday.
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Rocky Earnings
4/27/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
S&P 500 companies reporting earnings thus far are beating analysts’ expectations—by a wide margin.
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A Tale of Two Bonds
4/26/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Recent US-dollar bond offerings by Russia and Greece illustrate the uneven nature of economic recovery.
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To Burn or to Stone…
4/23/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Bankers deserve their share of the blame for 2008, but why solely them?
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FAT Chance
4/22/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The IMF proposed a bank tax to avoid future crises. Ill advised? Sure. Bull stopping? Fat chance.
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Brimstone for Breakfast
4/21/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Human behavior after an economic crisis is as immovable as it is predictable.
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Bull in a China Shop
4/20/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
China’s growth prospects look good, but remember, investing in Emerging Markets can be more volatile than in developed countries.
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Goldman on Trial
4/19/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Goldman Sachs has been charged by the SEC for allegedly failing to disclose material information about CDOs.
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PIIGS Versus SKIMJOSTS
4/16/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
In terms of global economic significance, PIIGS can’t hold a candle to a new, slightly less cute acronym.
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Uncle Sam’s Payday
4/15/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
There’s much talk about raising taxes, but whether or not taxes go higher likely has little effect on the bull market.
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Monetary Measurements
4/14/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Taking the temperature of Chinese monetary policy, we find it’s neither too hot nor too cold presently.
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Wonka Wonka Wonka
4/13/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The wonks at NBER are delaying declaring the recession’s end—but investors needn’t care about an “official” declaration.
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Extra-Special Bulletproof
4/12/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Are credit ratings agencies really all that different from other forms of financial analysis? Nope.
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Going Once…Going Twice…
4/9/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A great deal of ink has been spilled over the world’s growing disdain for US Debt, but two recent Treasury auctions tell a different tale.
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Greece Got Your Goat?
4/8/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Greece is once again making headlines, with government bond yields hitting historical highs this week.
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Freer + Butter = Better
4/7/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
We don’t often think much of Washington’s “bright” ideas, but clearing houses could be a good thing for some credit derivatives markets.
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Whose Side Are Yuan?
4/6/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Is all the fuss over China’s currency policy warranted?
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No Kidding
4/5/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Stocks got off to a good start in the second quarter, with gains likely fueled by positive manufacturing data from countries large and small.
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Don't Holler About the Dollar
4/1/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The latest IMF data show the US dollar accounted for over 62% of global reserve assets in Q4 2009, up from the previous quarter.
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Adventure’s Out There
3/31/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Though the housing market continues stabilizing, the pace of recovery remains slow—in stark contrast to stocks and the broader economy.
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Short-Changed
3/30/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Banks have received little credit for repaying bailout loans.
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Feelings and Other Tragedies
3/29/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Most Americans feel like their portfolios haven’t grown over the last year. But feelings are often completely wrong.
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Swatting the Fly on the Wall
3/26/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
An injunction preventing unauthorized early release of analyst recommendations has a little website (and some opponents) up in arms—but the ruling ultimately doesn’t much matter for long-term investors.
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If It’s Not One Thing…
3/25/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
PIIGS problems seem to keep coming, but they likely won’t be as bad as widely feared.
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There's a Pill for That
3/23/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The House of Representatives passed the Senate health care bill Sunday night—what does this mean for stock markets?
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Timing (Isn’t) Everything
3/22/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Global markets seem to be back on track after the early 2010 pullback. But expect volatility ahead—it’s only normal.
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March On
3/19/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Wednesday’s tame consumer price index reading is welcome confirmation inflation remains a distant threat.
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Meaningless Marker
3/18/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Major stock market indexes hit 18-month highs Wednesday—spurring some folks to fear stocks may be due for a drop.
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On the Watch
3/17/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Fed held steady as an old accounting debate stirred early this week.
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Not in the Mood
3/16/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Moody signaled its displeasure with US debt levels by announcing the country was closer to a rating downgrade.
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Bottoms Up!
3/15/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A year after the bear market bottom, we look at how far global markets (and economies!) have come.
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Logorama
3/12/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A resurging corporate debt market is yet another sign companies are strong and ready to spend, which spells growth for the broader economy.
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A Tale of Two Swaps
3/11/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Greek cross currency and credit default swaps have been in the headlines lately.
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Long Live the King?
3/10/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Cash is corporate king currently, and that bodes well for stocks looking forward.
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Russian Roulette
3/9/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Russia’s economic outlook may not look as red-hot as other Emerging Markets’.
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Packing a Punch?
3/5/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Many fear commercial real estate losses present a potential blow to economic recovery.
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Servicing Crickets
3/4/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Growth in US service industries is yet another sign we’re in a broad-based recovery.
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In Memoriam
3/3/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
This month memorializes the 2000 market peak a decade on. Looking back, we find few revolutionary investing lessons, but many essential reminders.
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Natural (In)effects
3/2/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Though tragic, natural disasters and terrorist attacks have historically relatively minimal effects on markets.
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Underdogs Victorious
3/1/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The US and most Emerging Markets beating Q4 GDP expectations signals the global economy is alive and well.
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Headline Hog
2/26/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The threat of continuing Greek drama dominated headlines Thursday, but investors were left with more questions than answers at day’s end.
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Banks and Capitalism
2/25/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Likely mindful of a still-struggling banking industry and other economic vulnerabilities, Fed head Ben Bernanke emphasized the need for continued low interest rates on Wednesday.
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A False Prophet
2/24/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
February’s falling consumer confidence doesn’t tell us much and should little worry investors.
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Dead Bill Walking?
2/23/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The White House is hoping to breathe new life into the health care legislation—but is it just a dead bill walking?
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A Fed Surprise
2/22/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Fed raised the discount rate Friday—a baby step toward normalizing monetary policy.
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Whoop, There It Is
2/19/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
There’s much to whoop and cheer about in the US manufacturing sector.
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PIIGS Go to Market
2/18/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Recent PIIGS countries bond auctions were oversubscribed.
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The Chinese Invasion?
2/17/2010
Japan surpassed China as the largest foreign holder of US Treasuries in December.
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Remind Me
2/16/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Amid recent stock market volatility, it’s easy to forget why this bull market will continue. Allow us to jog your memory.
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Gold’s Safety Blanket Myth
2/12/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Gold can be emotionally comforting when markets get volatile, but it boasts poor long-term returns compared to stocks.
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The Plan That’s Just a Plan
2/11/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Fed head Bernanke released a statement Wednesday detailing stimulus exit options—but indicated monetary policy will remain accommodative for a while yet.
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Here Comes . . . a Little Sun
2/10/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Falling inventories, little talked about, signal continued economic improvement and could help stocks rise over time.
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Simmer Down Over Corporate Bonds
2/9/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Sentiment may be shaking the corporate bond market right now, but companies' prospects are largely robust.
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A Tale of Two Surveys
2/8/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Friday’s employment report might seem a mixed bag, but it shows progress overall.
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A Big Fat Greek Deficit—Redux
2/5/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Markets dropped significantly Thursday as sovereign debt fears resurfaced in the EU.
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Melancholy Over Manufacturing?
2/4/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
US manufacturing expanded in January at the fastest pace in five years, but naysayers fear the sector’s continuing decline.
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Budget Blueprint Blues
2/3/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The White House released its budget blueprint for fiscal year 2011 Monday.
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Flipping the January Argument on Its Head
2/2/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Markets finished January in the red, but that doesn’t tell investors much about the year.
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This. Is. Good. News.
2/1/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
As US GDP grew at its fastest pace in six years, the pessimism of disbelief finds reason to doubt.
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Running on Rumors
1/29/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Concerns over Greece’s rising deficits escalated this week, but sentiment (not fundamentals) seems the culprit behind the volatility.
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One Step at a Time
1/28/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The FOMC’s Wednesday meeting contained no surprises—but showed the Fed's willing to maintain accommodative policies until the recovery is on surer footing.
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Cheerio Ol’ Chap
1/27/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The UK became the last developed country to bid cheerio to the recession on Tuesday.
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Ben There. Done That. Now Let's Do It Again.
1/26/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Senators are dragging their feet over Fed chair Bernanke’s confirmation vote, but it’s very likely he’ll get another term.
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Pessimism of Disbelief
1/25/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Sad news is everywhere, but don’t believe everything you read.
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A Limiting Proposal
1/22/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
President Obama proposed further regulation of large financial institutions on Thursday, but lacking details, sent markets into a tailspin.
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So Long, Sixty
1/21/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Tuesday’s election surprise likely spells doom for health care reform.
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Euronomics
1/20/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The European economy overall continues to show signs of recovery.
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A Race We All Win
1/19/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
It’s easy to think the developed nations make the world go round—but don’t discount the up-and-comers.
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Taxing TARP
1/15/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Besides death and taxes, the only other certainty is the government can be counted on to cook up goofy remedies to problems of its own making.
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Correct Correction Behavior
1/14/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
After a strong bull market run, a correction this year wouldn’t be surprising and shouldn’t be feared.
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Of Dogs and Decoupling
1/13/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
No single factor explains broad market trends—ever.
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Submerging Market
1/12/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Emerging markets are leading the global economic recovery, but events in Venezuela show not all emerging markets are equal.
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Another Brick in the Wall
1/11/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
December’s job losses may discourage, but they’re just another brick in the bull market’s wall of worry.
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Testing the Tiger
1/8/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
With China’s recovery gaining ground, gradual policy tightening is underway.
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Bonus Brawl: Round Two
1/7/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The UK’s 50% banker bonus tax is causing a stir among the industry’s biggest firms.
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See You Next January
1/6/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
So goes January, so goes the year—so long? Not so fast.
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Bonds in Red
1/5/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Bonds can lose value too. 2009 was an example.
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Trading in the New Year
1/4/2010 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
New trade tariffs aren’t on the list of reasons to celebrate the New Year.
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Predictably Unpredictable
12/31/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Long-term economic and stock market predictions are never entirely accurate—there are simply too many unforeseeable factors involved.
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Toasts, Not Tears
12/30/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
This year’s holiday shopping season exemplifies the disconnect between expectations and reality.
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Onward
12/29/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
What are the experts saying about 2010? And what should investors do about it?
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Fisher Investments Looks Ahead
12/28/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
With 2009 (and the ‘00s) winding down, investors can take what they’ve learned and look forward to the future.
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Data Drawbacks
12/24/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Economic data—what’s in those numbers?
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The Ghost of Christmas Future
12/23/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Senate will vote a present down the chimney this Christmas Eve—but it’s only the next step in a lengthy process littered with political land mines.
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Deflated Copenhagen
12/22/2009
The UN’s Copenhagen summit fell short of its lofty goals—and that could be good for business going forward, especially in developing nations.
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Charge It, Please!
12/21/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Credit card interest rates are rising in advance of a new law—a good example of regulation gone awry.
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Big Fat Greek Deficit
12/18/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Greek debt concerns roiled markets again Thursday. Expect such disruptions to continue, but not to derail the bull market.
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Cash Rich
12/17/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
US companies have plenty of cash on hand ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice.
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A Buck for the Barber
12/16/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
For now, moderately higher inflation signals economic recovery—nothing more
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Yields Signs
12/15/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The US yield curve steepened to its biggest spread in decades last week—bullish for economic growth.
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Country Matters
12/14/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Emerging markets are fueling global growth, and China’s surge bodes well for the world.
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Pacific Politics
12/11/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Japan’s new leadership continues to shake things up—leaving investors wondering what’s next for the country’s stock market.
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TARP Controversy
12/10/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
TARP’s extension Wednesday was largely irrelevant—along with other emergency programs, it’s already prevented the worst-case scenario.
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A Grecian Knot
12/9/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Markets were fidgety following a Fitch downgrade of Greek government debt Tuesday.
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Skip the Double-Dip
12/8/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The future's never certain, but a double-dip recession seems unlikely.
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Jobs Report, Sarbox, and Japan Post
12/7/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The world is full of rotating characters, and some acts have more power to move markets than others.
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The Devil You Know
12/4/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Entirely new challenges lie ahead for the Fed Chairman—whose confirmation is all but assured. Is he up to the task?
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Exits in Sight
12/3/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
That some countries are mulling stimulus exit plans is a positive sign the global economic recovery has legs.
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The Ol’ Pension Blues
12/2/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The ol’ pension blues are back—but they needn’t rob investors of holiday cheer.
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The Good Life
12/1/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
After giving thanks for all we have, let’s ponder just why we have so much.
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Much Dubai About Nothing
11/30/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
News of Dubai World’s debt restructuring roiled global markets but doesn’t reflect a new financial crisis.
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Thanks Aplenty
11/26/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Folks generally aren’t as happy this holiday as usual, but there’s plenty to be thankful for.
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Black Friday X’s and O’s
11/25/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Holiday retail sales won’t make or break economic recovery.
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The Talented Mr. Van Rompuy
11/24/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Besides a talent for haikus, what will the new EU president bring to the table?
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Is the Price Right?
11/23/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Short-term US Treasury yields dipped into negative territory this week. Investors needn’t panic—it’s not December 2008 all over again.
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Channeling Chips
11/20/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The semiconductor industry was rattled Thursday by analysts’ downgrade.
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Lopsided Trade
11/19/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Concerns about the US-China trade imbalance are overwrought. Historically, trade deficits haven’t held back the US economy and stock market—and likely won’t now.
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The Show Will Go On
11/18/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A single piece of news virtually never accounts for daily market movement.
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Time and Again
11/17/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Time and again, market timing proves to be an attractive—but elusive—pursuit.
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Back to Business
11/16/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Investors need not believe in the US economy to believe in global stocks.
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Downgraded
11/13/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Credit ratings agencies are on the ropes lately. But are they down and out for good?
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More Countries, More Problems
11/12/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
European worries over Greece’s large deficit underscore some of the EU’s structural issues and possible risks surrounding the euro.
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Battle of the Buck
11/11/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Don’t fret a weakening dollar.
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Paying for the Bailouts
11/10/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The financial crisis appears to be over, but thanks to onerous regulations and political scrutiny, Financials’ woes aren’t.
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Unemployment’s Jab No Knockout
11/9/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
US October unemployment rose, but shouldn’t hold back economic and stock market recovery.
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Hungry for More
11/6/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Q3 US worker productivity increased the most since 2003—good news for corporate profits and stocks.
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Shot Across the Bow
11/5/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
In efforts to get re-elected, Republicans and Democrats alike will continue moving toward the center or risk losing seats.
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Ignoring the Itch
11/4/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Jittery markets make for itchy trigger fingers.
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Bedtime Stories to Scare Investors
11/3/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
CIT’s bankruptcy filing is a story reminiscent of last year’s financial horrors—one with less power to move markets.
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Fall Classic
11/2/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The global stock rally busted many investing myths so far this year, but don’t expect universal acknowledgment any time soon.
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Treats, Please
10/30/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The US economy returned to growth mode in Q3, with consumer spending leading the way.
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Monetary Mantras
10/29/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Though some central banks are raising interest rates, stimulative global monetary policy remains en vogue.
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Touch of Fear
10/28/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
MLPs are being touted as the answer to investor woes--but without proper due diligence, they can represent significant risks to long-term investors.
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Not Just Debt Weight
10/27/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Worried about today’s high government debt? History shows we’re still well within manageable levels.
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London Fog
10/26/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
British GDP declined for the sixth straight quarter, fueling fears the UK may recover slower than most countries.
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Picture This
10/23/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Leading economic indicators are up for the sixth consecutive month. Investors who wait for the whole picture will likely be left behind as the bull market continues to rise.
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Other Shoe Blues
10/22/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Bull market skeptics believe commercial real estate woes may be the much- awaited “other shoe” drop-kicking markets. We doubt it.
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Unexpected Earnings
10/21/2009
Positive earnings surprises should continue for some time.
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Taming of the Shrill
10/20/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Cries proclaiming imminent rampant inflation have little economic support.
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Not So New Normal
10/19/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The “new normal” economy is likely to be more normal than new.
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D10K Doubters
10/16/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Amid some celebration, Dow doubters hailed 10,000 as the ceiling for stocks. The milestone means little, but the bother’s bullish.
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Change Ain’t Easy in DC
10/15/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Some Democrats want to expand the current stimulus—but investors needn’t fear, it’s unlikely any sweeping new stimulus measures will get approved anytime soon.
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Don’t Mess With Taxes
10/14/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Concerns about higher taxes abound, but stock investors likely needn’t fear the effects.
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Futures Ahead
10/13/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
China’s aiming to further develop its futures exchanges—potentially opening a window to this important end market.
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Even Steven
10/12/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Investors shouldn’t abandon their long-term investment strategies just because stocks are recovering.
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Tools of the Trade
10/9/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Bond ETFs—just another tool on the investing tool belt? Investors looking to jump into these popular vehicles would do well to understand how they work.
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The Dollar’s Doom Looms?
10/8/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Rumors are flying that a few countries want to stop pricing oil in US dollars, raising fears about the dollar as the world’s dominant currency.
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Doubt in the Driver’s Seat
10/7/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Doubts drive every bull market.
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Here Come the Irish!
10/6/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Irish voters overwhelmingly approved the Lisbon Treaty—after saying “no” to the treaty last year.
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Unemployment, Underemployment and Zombies
10/5/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Unemployment and underemployment may continue rising, but history tells us they won’t hold back stocks.
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Spooked?
10/2/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Fears natural disasters or geopolitical unrest could trigger the next bear market are nothing new.
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A Sign of Better Days to Come
10/1/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
US Q2 GDP was revised higher—but fears about the economy and consumer spending continue to weigh on many folks’ minds.
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A Strong Second Six
9/30/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
As earnings season looms, stocks should continue their “V” recovery, with sentiment outweighing fundamentals.
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What’s Brewing in Germany
9/29/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The German parliament is set to shift toward a business-friendly, center-right majority. But the status quo, not significant change, is probably what’s brewing.
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Shaken, Not Stirred
9/28/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The stock market recovery has been steady so far, but don’t forget pullbacks are normal during a bull market.
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Lofty Promises, Little Action
9/25/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
World leaders descended on the US this week for a couple high-profile summits. Policy decisions, major or minor, are unlikely.
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Stimulus U-Turn
9/24/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The DPJ, Japan’s new ruling party, announced its decision to postpone parts of the $165 billion economic stimulus package passed earlier this year—possibly hindering Japan’s economic recovery relative to the rest of the world.
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Back From the Brink
9/23/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A year after financial panic compelled the Treasury to insure money market funds, the program peacefully expired last Friday.
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Bare Bottom
9/22/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
As the global economy recovers, bare-bones inventories need to rise to keep shelves from becoming equally bare.
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A Perplexing Peg
9/21/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Chinese yuan appears to be re-pegged to the US dollar—more evidence recent anti-dollar rhetoric is more talk than action.
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Wading Back In
9/18/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A year after financial panic sent investors fleeing, risk appetite is on the rise again.
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Bye-Bye, Recession?
9/17/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Recent talk of the end of the global recession isn’t new news to investors.
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Minor in the Key of Kerfuffle
9/16/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Scaled historically, today’s trade kerfuffles are minor—but we like that so many are paying attention.
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Separation Anxiety
9/15/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Though Treasury and White House speak of “exit strategy,” financial regulation proposals could mean continued government involvement in the financial sector.
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One Year Later
9/11/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
One year after a fateful week on Wall Street ignited a panic, we evaluate where things stand today.
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The Bling Fling
9/10/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Even at $1,000 per ounce, gold isn’t a harbinger of hyperinflation or financial panic…just a boring old commodity.
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Of Mop-Tops and Monetary Union
9/9/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The United Nations recently proposed establishing a global central bank and currency to solve the world’s woes—but don’t expect action anytime soon.
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Less Bad Is Good
9/7/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Economic data has been exceeding dour expectations, but skeptics are quick to note “less bad" data still isn’t good.
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Fuel for the Fire
9/4/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Oil’s constricted supply, lengthy extraction process, and difficult distribution highlight the bullish prospects for the Energy sector.
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FDIC Out of Cash?
9/3/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The financial crisis was a big test, but there's little need to fear the FDIC will run out of money—even as bank failures continue rising.
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Rare Earths
9/2/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Materials and Emerging Markets are two equity categories likely to lead market recovery. Rare earths, a small subset of Materials, show us why.
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Chip, Chip, Hooray
9/1/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Global semiconductor sales climbed for the fifth month in a row—a confirmation of Tech’s stock outperformance so far this year.
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Location, Location, Location
8/31/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Signs of improvement in the housing market are welcome but not necessary for the stock market rally to continue.
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Stay in September
8/28/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Despite investing myths to the contrary, September isn’t a cursed month for investors.
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CB-Uh-Oh?
8/27/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Investors shouldn’t fear the CBO’s deficit prediction—it matters little to stocks.
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And the Nominee Is…
8/26/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Predictably, President Obama nominated Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke for another four years Tuesday.
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Sayonara, LDP?
8/25/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
If current polls are correct, Japan may soon be saying sayonara to its long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
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The Tortoise and the Hare
8/24/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Stock prices haven’t come too far, too fast. On the contrary, outsized returns are typical for the initial stages of a bull market and are likely to continue.
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Buckle Up
8/21/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Investors needn’t fear China’s stock market correction.
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Alphabet Soup Recovery
8/20/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Contrary to popular belief, the stock market and the economy don’t move in lockstep. Markets can recover in a V—even while the economy L’s, W’s, or Q’s for a bit.
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The Monetary Punch
8/19/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Inflation’s absence tells us the Fed’s monetary punch is mixed just right.
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Pulling Weeds
8/18/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Colonial BancGroup’s failure is typical of recessions’ tendency to weed out weaker firms.
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The Report of the Consumer’s Death is an Exaggeration
8/17/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The cards might seem stacked against a rebound in consumption, but consumers are much more resilient than most think.
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Out of the Gates
8/14/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
France and Germany announced positive Q2 GDP numbers Thursday, adding to signs a global economic recovery is well underway.
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Brainlessly Buoyant?
8/13/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Stocks’ fast pace has some fretting bubbles.
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Sickness or Health
8/12/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Innovation happens all the time—even during downturns.
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Bangladeshi Butter Indicator
8/11/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Beware extrapolating past stock returns to predict future ones.
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The Day the Twitter Died
8/10/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Bottom news stories are often the ones behind surging stocks.
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Training Wheels
8/7/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Central banks worldwide are maintaining flexible monetary policies as the global financial system continues its recovery.
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Attack of the Machines!
8/6/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Relax, high-frequency trading isn’t necessarily an enemy to everyday investors.
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Nothing Sweeter Than Sour Grapes
8/5/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Washington’s legislative loggerheads could benefit stock investors.
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Reading Rainbows
8/4/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Positive manufacturing readings across the globe are welcome signs.
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Don’t Call It a Comeback
8/3/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The US economy could be on the verge of renewed growth, but extremely cautious optimism pervades.
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Musical Chairs
7/31/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Employment numbers are in the spotlight again, but don’t count on them to perfectly reflect the employment picture or tell you where markets are headed.
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The Dog Days
7/30/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
With Congress in recess and much of the financial industry on vacation, the news cycle should be mellow until after Labor Day.
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Statutory Sunshine
7/29/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The financial regulation debate is raging again.
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Hard-Earned Profits
7/28/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Companies are achieving better-than-expected earnings by reacting quickly to the economic downturn.
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The Long Summer
7/27/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Major new legislative proposals have stalled in the Beltway—that just might be a good thing for stocks.
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Misleading Milestones
7/24/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Investors would do well to ignore silly, numerical milestones.
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Take a Hike
7/23/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The federal minimum wage increases this Friday. Despite arguments to the contrary, it’s likely the economic impact will be negligible.
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Juggling Hats
7/22/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke detailed current and future monetary policy in congressional testimony and a Wall Street Journal editorial Tuesday.
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CIT’s Private Reprieve
7/21/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
CIT may have secured a reprieve from bankruptcy court—for now—but the bigger news is its rescue is being backed by private financing rather than the government.
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Back to Basics
7/20/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Earnings show banks’ traditional capabilities are intact.
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The Year of the Ox
7/17/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
China’s stimulus plans are coming to fruition faster than most developed nations, and the country will probably lead the global economic recovery.
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The Tin State
7/16/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
State budget woes have received significant media coverage, but they tell us little about future stock prices.
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‘Tis the Season
7/15/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
This earnings season, try to remember: Corporate profitability doesn’t require improved economic conditions.
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A Dose of Reality
7/14/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
China swallowed a hard dose of reality as two recent government debt auctions failed to attract enough investors.
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This Is Thriller Time
7/13/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
As the market pulls back a bit, some investors are reconsidering their approach. But brief pullbacks are normal—not reason to change a sound long-term strategy.
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Oil! (Again)
7/10/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Commodities regulators are debating the role speculators play in prices—yet again.
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CDO Remix
7/9/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Budding CDO activity is a sign an important source of lending isn’t permanently gone.
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A Confused Chorus
7/8/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Well before the current round of fiscal stimulus has been fully deployed, let alone allowed to work its mojo, a confused (but ever louder) chorus is calling for the encore.
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Lights, Camera, Renminbi
7/7/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Chinese renminbi is starring in a new role: Trade settlement currency.
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Numeric Follies
7/6/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Sometimes the government’s economic projections simply don’t add up.
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Goldilocks and the Inflation Bugaboo
7/2/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Investors should differentiate budget deficits from inflation.
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The Regulatory Ring
7/1/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Almost drowned out by the King of Pop and King of Con, a recent Supreme Court decision may negatively affect banks down the line.
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The Program That Wasn’t There
6/30/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Banks are less interested in the government’s help these days. That’s a good thing.
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Reversing the Stimulus
6/29/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Fed’s “exit strategy” needn’t be precise.
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Trifling Transformers
6/26/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
President Obama signed off on the “cash for clunkers” program Wednesday. Don’t hold your breath on this one folks.
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The Boring Bull
6/25/2009
Folks looking for explosive headlines often overlook the quiet bits of good news likely to drive markets higher.
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Buy Apple Pie
6/24/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Rising American protectionism is provoking retaliation. But history’s hardest lessons should stem the tide.
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Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
6/23/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Investors seem discouraged by the World Bank’s dour economic forecast, but even “official” forecasts don’t really mean much for stocks.
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Witching Hour
6/22/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A seemingly ghoulish event known as quadruple witching took place this week, but long-term investors shouldn’t fear its spells.
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Voting and Weighing
6/19/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Short-term market volatility has never inhibited long-term value recognition or positive returns.
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Regulator Rubik’s Cube
6/18/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Today’s announced financial regulatory proposals are moderate but highlight why investors should beware US Financials for now.
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The Earliest Bird
6/17/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Economically sensitive sectors should lead the recovery—especially Materials, the earliest bird.
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Trial by Volatility
6/16/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Pullbacks are to be expected during market recoveries.
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Yesterday’s Breaking News
6/15/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Fed reports showed US household wealth dropped in Q1, but this is hardly new news!
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A Fire Sale Four
6/12/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Rising US Treasury yields—alarming or alluring?
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Not a Bair Market
6/11/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Recent government feuding over Citigroup’s stock conversion highlights political risk within the slowly healing financial sector.
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Baby, You Can Drive My Volvo
6/10/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
America’s auto industry is as American as strudel, sushi, and bangers and mash.
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Fear of Heights
6/9/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Markets don’t adhere to humans’ preference for moderation.
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Time’s Test
6/8/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
An obscure benchmark for raw materials shipping costs adds its weight to other tentative signs of recovery.
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One War at a Time
6/5/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke called for deficit reduction this week—what gives?
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Banks and the Temple of Doom
6/4/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Big banks are eagerly trying to escape TARP, but it isn’t easy.
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Reserved Panda-monium
6/3/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Fears about China moving away from the US dollar eased as policymakers vocalized a simple truth: The greenback is China’s only realistic option today.
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Don’t Bow to Dow
6/2/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
It’s time investors stopped bowing to the Dow—it’s a poorly constructed index.
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The Name Is Bond
6/1/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The 10-year US Treasury bond yield recently spiked to a six-month high. Rather than cause for concern, it could be a sign of improving conditions ahead.
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Coping With Stress
5/29/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The government is expected to announce the delay (perhaps a permanent one) of the Legacy Loans Program.
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Out With a Thud
5/28/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Bankruptcy looks inevitable for GM.
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Choose Rubber
5/27/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Stocks continue to stage a massive rally—despite plenty of bad news.
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Extreme Makeover: Bank Edition
5/26/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Last Thursday’s failure of BankUnited was the largest bank failure of 2009, but there’s no need to panic.
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Small Potatoes
5/22/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The UK risks losing its AAA sovereign credit rating due to rising public debt, but worrying over credit ratings is small potatoes next to righting the economy.
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Political Pavement
5/21/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Congress recently passed a slew of new credit card regulations—and already the “law of unintended consequences” is hard at work.
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Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
5/20/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
You can sweat the small stuff—or look at the bigger picture.
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Tarnished by Taxes
5/19/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Tough economic conditions and budget woes in some big states won’t derail economic recovery.
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Separating Shoots From Stocks
5/18/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Sluggish economic recovery won’t prevent a V-shaped stock market bounce if worst-case fears subside.
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Regulatory Redux
5/15/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Downturns bring increased federal scrutiny. But not all regulation is bad regulation.
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The Crooked Road to Recovery
5/14/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Don’t be discouraged if the market takes a breather after two months of climbing. Many underappreciated positives can move markets higher in the months ahead.
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Throwback to High-Waters
5/13/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
With stocks down considerably from their high-water mark, it’s hard not to wonder how long it’ll take to get back there.
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Too Fast, Too Furious?
5/12/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Some traditional stock valuation metrics are quickly approaching long-term averages. But compared to investment alternatives, stocks are still very cheap.
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A Medium Rare Market
5/11/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The stock market has been rising in the face of negative economic news, as it’s supposed to.
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Fashionably Flaky
5/8/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Adding to already massive global monetary stimulus, the European Central Bank and Bank of England announced more stimulus Thursday.
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Don’t Stress the Tests
5/7/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Fears about bank stress tests are overblown, and markets have so far cheered the results.
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Pop Quiz, Hotshot
5/6/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Investors should ignore seasonal investing myths.
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The Taxman May Cometh
5/5/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The government’s looking overseas for extra tax revenue.
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Chucking Darts
5/4/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Don’t fret the recent rise in long-term US Treasury yields.
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The Incredible Shrinking Mortgage Problem
5/1/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Time is healing the US mortgage market.
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Economic Archaeology
4/30/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Although Q1 2009 GDP fell more than expected, the numbers suggest strong improvement potential looking forward.
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The Baby-Talk Indicator
4/29/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Consumer confidence reminds us what the stock market already indicated and is not a good predictor for future stock returns.
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This Little Piggy
4/28/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Investors reacting to swine flu fears is an example of markets trading on sentiment, not fundamentals.
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No News is Good News
4/27/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Details of bank stress tests were released today, and investors cheered the lack of news.
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It’s Just the Opposite
4/24/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
In bad times, stocks are commonly shunned as permanently damaged goods—history shows no such thing.
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Packing on the Pounds
4/23/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The UK budget isn’t bloated—substantial government spending is appropriate in today’s economic environment.
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Head Scratchers
4/22/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Beltway bumbling remains a risk to bank stocks but doesn’t preclude a broader market recovery.
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Political Appeal
4/21/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
When Democratic presidents learn to appeal to voters beyond their party base, history shows markets do very well in their inaugural years.
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Emerging Optimism
4/20/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Unbeknownst to many investors, emerging market stocks have been on a tear recently.
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Walk the Line
4/17/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Regulators told investors Thursday they will detail bank stress-test methodology well before the results are released to the public.
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The Government’s Learning Curve
4/16/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
How the government handles stress tests for banks will indicate the administration’s ability to learn from past mistakes.
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A Stimulative Spark
4/15/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Recent prices demonstrate neither alarming growth nor precipitous declines—making a case for today’s aggressive monetary policy.
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No Surprise Here
4/14/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Markets are discounters of known information, so they can be jolted by surprises.
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An Unexpected Tenner
4/13/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Wells Fargo and other big banks will likely report stronger-than-expected first quarter earnings. But banks still face plenty of risks.
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Uptick Rule, Plus Frills
4/9/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The SEC is considering limits on short selling, including reinstating the recently shelved uptick rule.
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To the Tax Mobile
4/8/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Tax Day 2009 is nigh and change is in the air—some of which may not seem great for investors, but taxes aren’t the sole driver of market movement.
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Blind Date
4/7/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Investor reactions to first-quarter earnings reports will be a function of expectations.
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De-U.S.ification
4/6/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The relative size of the US in the global economy is shrinking.
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Free of FASB’s Fust
4/3/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A move in the right direction, the Financial Accounting Standards Board voted to soften FAS 157 Thursday.
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Fool’s Errand
4/2/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Focusing on today’s negative data to gauge economic progress is a fool’s errand.
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Soapy Antics
4/1/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The G-20 will meet in London this Thursday—hold on to your hats.
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Tick Tock, Autos
3/31/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Time is running out for General Motors and Chrysler, and filing for bankruptcy is looking likely.
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Banking Man
3/30/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Bank executives visited the White House today to discuss the state of the economy and the financial system with President Obama.
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Yogic Wisdom
3/27/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Treasury Secretary Geithner’s been on fire all week—but do his words doom stocks? Probably not.
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Climate Control
3/26/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Ambitious cap-and-trade legislation won’t get through Congress easily. That’s good news for the economy.
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Short One Alien Invasion
3/25/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Chinese officials continued their anti-dollar rhetoric Tuesday.
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Public-Private Teamwork
3/24/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Treasury finally released details of the Public-Private Investment Program, but proposed modifications to FAS 157 could be more important to investors.
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TALF Talk
3/23/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Fed’s new Term Asset-Backed Loan Facility (TALF) kicked off this week to somewhat tepid demand.
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In AIGony
3/20/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
March Madness kicked off Thursday, and the AIG controversy continued to kick up dust.
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A Fed to Be Reckoned With
3/19/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Fed proved it’s a force to be reckoned with, unveiling three additional strategies injecting up to an additional $1.15 trillion into capital markets.
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Debt-jà Vu
3/18/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Concerns foreigners will cease to finance the US’s growing debt are nothing new.
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The Inscrutable Federal Mind
3/17/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Markets continue to discount uncertainty, not risk, as the rules of the game remain inscrutable as ever.
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Fool’s Gold?
3/16/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Economic and banking news largely beat dour expectations last week—and stock markets rose in response. But it’s too soon to say if a new bull has arrived.
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Savvy Cities
3/13/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Free markets increase efficiency—even in hulking government bureaucracies.
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Digesting Clouds
3/12/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Markets have a lot to digest, but few things are concrete yet.
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Fahrenheit 157
3/11/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Mark-to-market accounting rules continue to draw scrutiny, but don’t expect a repeal anytime soon.
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Redundant Rhetoric
3/10/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
There’s little need for pols to further discuss global stimulus—it’s already in the works.
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Employing Sound Judgment
3/9/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Employment data contributed to wild swings in stock prices today.
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Beyond the Market’s Malediction
3/6/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A bevy of negative headlines sent stocks down big—but few were new news.
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China’s Economic Game Plan
3/5/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Regardless of what was or not said, Premier Wen’s speech reaffirmed the Chinese government’s commitment to support economic growth.
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Washington Waffles
3/4/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Washington’s waffling is only prolonging the pain.
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More Aid for AIG
3/3/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Battered AIG received more aid, but there’s no definitive end in sight to their problems.
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A One-Two Punch
3/2/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Stock prices dropped today on dour news from the banking and economic fronts.
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Our Beltway Buddies
2/27/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The White House submitted a blockbuster budget blueprint Thursday.
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Odds Are
2/26/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Markets falling to previous lower levels doesn’t necessarily portend poor returns ahead.
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Parental Advisory
2/25/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
More inconsistent federal messaging roiled markets Monday and Tuesday.
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Eastern European Finger Trap
2/24/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Pressure is tightening on Western European banks as investors pull capital out of Eastern Europe.
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Cheering Inflation
2/23/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Today’s CPI data indicates the economy isn’t slipping into deflation as many fear.
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Bad News Banks
2/20/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Political rhetoric continues to focus on banks—this time touching on the idea of nationalization.
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A Calculator, and Bananas
2/19/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The 3.5 million jobs promised by the stimulus package is based on fuzzy math, but it doesn’t matter much for investors.
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Pent Up on Pins and Needles
2/18/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A pent-up deluge of dreadful news was unleashed Tuesday sending markets sharply lower.
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Treasuring Treasuries
2/17/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Major holders of US government debt aren’t about to abandon this important market.
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It Was No Grilled Cheese
2/13/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Members of Congress grilled top bank executives Wednesday on why their institutions haven’t been lending.
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Seeing Past the Trees
2/12/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Treasury Secretary Geithner’s financial rescue strategy may lack details, but one thing’s for certain—it’s massive.
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Strong Currents Stirring
2/11/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Erratic equities declined Tuesday, yet credit markets continue to thaw.
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Little Air in Deflation Fears
2/10/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Deflation is a near-term risk worth watching, though a severe deflationary spiral is unlikely to take hold in 2009.
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A Silver Lining
2/9/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The economy lost more jobs in January—an unfortunate statistic for jobseekers, but not necessarily investors.
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Hop, Skip, and Jump
2/6/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
What’s the right pace for monetary stimulus? The answer is not yet certain, though it’s likely a severe financial crisis needs an aggressive response.
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On Borrowed Dime
2/5/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The government can go a long way on borrowed dime.
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Skip the Scratch
2/4/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Amid today’s negative economic news, we note already low inventories could signify a particularly sharp but abbreviated downturn.
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Orange-Hued Sticks?
2/3/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Government capital infusions to help banks lend appear to be sticks disguised as carrots.
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Building the Wall of Worry
2/2/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
GDP dropped 3.8% for Q4 2008—a dismal end to the year. Economic news will likely get worse in 2009, but expect the market to improve before the economy.
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A CDS Witch Hunt
1/30/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Credit Default Swap market has been maligned as a source of financial instability, but inhibiting this important market would do more harm than good.
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So Bad, It’s Good?
1/29/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Plans for a government-run “bad bank” stoked financial shares today, but the targeted assets aren’t nearly as bad as people think.
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Mountains of Money
1/28/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Global fiscal stimulus has been significant and is growing daily. Despite the dangers, that’s a good thing for investors.
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Proceeding Aggressively With Caution
1/27/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Fed policy makers will likely exhibit both force and caution in their scheduled meetings this week.
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Housing Wobble
1/26/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The heavy emphasis on the latest housing data belies its light GDP weight.
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Meet Mr. Geithner?
1/23/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Treasury secretary nominee Timothy Geithner won the Senate Finance Committee’s approval Thursday—but we still know relatively little about him.
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Strings Attached
1/22/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
TARP’s strings are tightening around the banking sector.
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Don’t Count On It
1/21/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
President Obama’s first term may be less revolutionary than expected—and for markets, the less change, the better.
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Banky Panky
1/20/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Problems for Financials will likely linger. But the government seems intent on avoiding a systemic collapse, and Financials’ woes shouldn’t prevent a recovery for the broader markets.
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Wild Whisper Numbers
1/16/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
It’s earnings season again, but for the foreseeable future, uncertainty reigns.
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It’s Okay to Double Dip
1/15/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
At the end of bears and beginning of bulls, lows are often retested. Investors shouldn’t fear.
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Patience With Punches
1/14/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
We’re too eager to give up on monetary and fiscal stimulus before it’s had a chance to work.
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Made in _______
1/13/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Current protectionist talk is likely no more than political huffing and puffing.
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German Debt Drama
1/12/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Though little noticed in the US, a failed German bond auction has some worried abroad.
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Reverse Logic
1/9/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
More weak unemployment data made the news today—but don’t bet it depresses stocks long term.
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Pipeline Politics
1/8/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Pipeline politics are leaving Eurasia and Europe in the cold.
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Sunk by Saving?
1/7/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Consumer health has been at the tip of everyone’s tongue—now some worry more saving will make things even worse.
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Layer Cake Regulation
1/6/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The SEC’s long-awaited report on FAS 157 only complicates things.
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Tomorrow Is a New Day
1/2/2009 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Our sights are set on the future, but it’s tough to cast off the anchor of ‘08.
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The Four Corners
12/30/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
What should investors be vigilant of now? Look abroad.
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What You See May Not Be What You Get
12/29/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Those seeing negative economic data today should remember the stock market prices in future expectations.
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Fisher Investments MarketMinder: Shifted Balance
12/26/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
During crises, it’s not surprising to see balance shift in favor of government over capitalism. But ultimately, capitalism, not government, drives most economic progress.
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Globalization’s Sequel Is Safe
12/24/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Central banks worldwide have acted quickly, aggressively, and more or less together all year.
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Toxic Mortgages: Act II?
12/23/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Looming rate resets on various adjustable rate mortgages are causing some to fear another subprime-like fallout.
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The Ghost of Bailouts to Come
12/22/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The US government is spreading holiday cheer from Detroit to Main Street.
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America’s Lost Decade?
12/19/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Fed’s recent rate cut and announced policy of quantitative easing is causing some to compare the US now to Japan in the 1990s—we’re not so sure.
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Oily Promises
12/18/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Despite OPEC’s pledge to cut oil production, some analysts are still predicting depressed oil prices for 2009. But such predictions typically don’t hold water in the long run.
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Still Fighting the Good Fight
12/17/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
US markets were up today as the Fed announced it would again cut rates and continue aggressively deploying its many other policy tools.
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To Err Is…
12/16/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Madoff scandal is an unfortunate demonstration of Wall Street hucksterism, but red flags were aplenty.
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Fresh Air’s Fleeting
12/15/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Thursday night and Friday morning witnessed some surprisingly sane action from the Beltway—and predictably, the opposite too.
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Simplify, Simplify
12/12/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The muddled US financial regulatory system exacerbated this fall’s crisis—maybe it’s time to simplify its structure.
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Seasonal Shoppers
12/11/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Consumer spending will be subdued this holiday season, but there is some good news amid the coal lumps.
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All Hail…the Car Czar?
12/10/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
After the Big Three’s second trip to Washington, hats in hand, Congress is circulating a bailout plan.
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Days of Future Past
12/9/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Investors can use history to help frame future expectations.
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A Gradual Cure
12/8/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
US financial and economic health recovery will take place in steps, not in a single climactic moment.
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Deep Into the Playbook
12/5/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
In yet another attempt to address housing market concerns, the feds announced a plan hoping to aid new homebuyers and support housing prices.
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The Usual Suspects
12/4/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
President-elect Obama’s economic Cabinet picks are experienced economic and political veterans—the usual suspects.
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The Egghead Economy
12/3/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
On Monday, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) officially labeled this past year a recession.
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Help Wanted
12/1/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Banks are learning the hard way TARP is no overnight solution.
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Our Erratic Queen
11/28/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Rapidly falling prices have many worried about deflation.
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Take Two
11/26/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Fed’s willing to innovate and innovate again to succeed.
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Citi Won’t Sink Yet
11/25/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
As expected, the federal government stepped in over the weekend with an aid package for ailing mega-bank, Citigroup.
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Fear Strikes Financials, Again
11/24/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Fear strikes Financials—again!
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Little Meaning in the Muck
11/21/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Today’s volatility is sometimes hard to fathom—but some of it is surely due to existing non-fundamental pressures.
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Presto Change-O
11/20/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Some insurance companies are turning themselves into savings-and-loan holding companies to qualify for government funding.
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With Jaundiced Eye
11/19/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
We don’t deny there’s plenty of trouble in the world today. But remember, there’s good news too.
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All Together Now
11/18/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The leaders of the Group of 20 are hoping to prevent future financial crises.
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Invest for the Future, Not the Present
11/17/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
During economic downturns, many wait for signs of recovery before investing. But investment decisions based on today’s news only puts investors behind.
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Plan B
11/14/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The government has switched to “Plan B” on various rescue programs.
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And Justice For All…
11/13/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Some have argued the government’s financial crisis cure-all has been one-sided—but a new plan seems to indicate that will soon be remedied.
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A Motor City Mess
11/11/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Can a government save an industry? Detroit’s Big Three are hoping so.
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Monsters Under the Bed
11/6/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
New data is helping to bring the CDS market out of the shadows.
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Down to One
11/5/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The US elected a new president Tuesday night, removing one key uncertainty.
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The Ultimate Leading Economic Indicator
11/4/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The stock market is a leading economic indicator, not the other way around.
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Months Like Years
11/3/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The last day of October finished higher—but the month was tough for stock investors.
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Nothing’s Shocking
10/31/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Thursday brought further global liquidity support and weak (though expected) preliminary third quarter GDP data.
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Tooling Around
10/30/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Cutting the federal funds rate is just one monetary policy tool of many.
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Signs of Life
10/29/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Taken together, recent government and private sector actions are easing financial uncertainty.
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Banking on the Government
10/28/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
What will banks participating in the Treasury’s recapitalization program do with the extra funds?
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Carried Away
10/27/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Currency carry trades are unwinding across the globe.
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There Are Positive Earnings
10/23/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Despite the gloomy headlines, there are plenty of companies reporting positive earnings.
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More Fed First Aid
10/22/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Recently, the Fed announced more help for ailing money market mutual funds.
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Gotta Love a Cheap Buffet
10/20/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Things seem pretty bad right now—and there’s plenty of trouble—but stocks have never been cheaper. Just ask the Oracle of Omaha.
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Easing Goes It
10/17/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Tight credit conditions have eased lately—a little-noticed fact.
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Follow the Leader
10/15/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
After Monday’s round of announced European government capital injections, the US countered with a plan of its own Tuesday.
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Monday’s Swing
10/14/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
To put it lightly, this Monday was a nice change of pace.
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Ghosts of Lehman’s Debt
10/13/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Could part of this past week’s volatility been caused by ghosts of Lehman’s debt?
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The Paper’s Piling Up
10/10/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
In addition to an interest rate cut, the Federal Reserve this week opened a new lending facility aimed at jumpstarting the commercial paper market.
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Fighting the Financial Crisis
10/9/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Central banks and governments around the world have taken up the call to arms.
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The Benefit of Bad Memories
10/8/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Though today’s financial panic may seem Great Depression-like, the real economic consequences don’t have to be.
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An Uncertain Panic
10/7/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Markets proved volatile as governments around the world took action
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Build a Man a Fire…
10/6/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The Treasury’s $700 billion financial rescue plan won’t solve anything quickly—at least not in the way most folks think it will.
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From Liquid to Antiques Roadshow
10/2/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
We examine the controversial topic of mark-to-market accounting—for those who forgot the details (or never knew to begin with)!
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Study Abroad
10/1/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
At the close of a wild third quarter, and with the US Congress taking a day off, we examine global responses to recent financial events.
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Monday’s Markets
9/30/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
After one of the largest down days in years, some new information came to light while other issues remained unresolved.
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Politicizing the Rescue Plan
9/29/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
In the hands of politicians, the financial rescue plan has become…politicized!
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Merely Bailout Opines, Not Call to Action
9/26/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Many smart folks are weighing in on the government’s bailout plan. Instead of hasty action, use this time to become as informed as you can.
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Dollars for Assets
9/25/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
As Congress debates the Treasury and Fed’s financial system bailout, many are concerned over its “price tag.”
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Certainly Uncertain
9/23/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The weekend and Monday delivered more news of material importance to financial markets.
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Wall Street’s Wild Spirits
9/22/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
After a wild week on the Street, markets ended just about where they started.
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A Shot in the Dark
9/19/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Curtailing short selling is at best a regulatory shot in the dark.
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Concerning AIG
9/18/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The government rescue of insurance giant AIG is concerning but has its bright spots.
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Weekend at Lehman’s
9/15/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
On one of the worst single days in stock market history, capital markets revealed as much about their strength as their weakness.
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Today, Resolve Trumps Timing
9/12/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
The last ten months have tested investors, but history and fundamentals say a bottom is likely near. When stocks hit bottom they’ll bounce high.
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New Rules for M&A
9/11/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
New M&A accounting and reporting standards mark a positive step toward creating seamless global markets, but pose problems for today’s would-be sellers and buyers of companies.
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Fate Accompli
9/9/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
For months, the fates of Fannie and Freddie seemed uncertain. Now, the federal takeover is a fait accompli.
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The First Flake
9/8/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
US markets were down Thursday and continued to fall unchecked Friday morning on “unsettling” employment news—yet the S&P 500 finished the day up. What gives?
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Looking Forward to the Back End
9/5/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Major indexes have declined 20% or more from their highs, indicating a bear market. With the US presidential election at hand, investors face a critical juncture.
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It Could Happen to You
9/4/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
“Could” and “might” aren’t news. Investors should be wary of opinions masquerading as journalism.
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The Silliest Season
9/3/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
For the second time in less than a year, Japan’s getting a new prime minister.
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Judge Not
9/2/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Economic decisions aren’t only about money and prices—judging what makes good economic sense can be subtler than many believe.
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What Recession?
8/29/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
US GDP was revised up from 1.9% to 3.3% for the second quarter, once again surpassing dour expectations.
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Durably Good
8/28/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Some folks fear July’s surprisingly good durable goods result will be fleeting. Though this is unlikely, weakness in a given country or sector won’t necessarily change strength overall.
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That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
8/27/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A few Nobel Laureates think globalization is bad for the world’s workers. Poppycock, we say!
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Survey Says
8/26/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Sentiment-based surveys almost never capture the complete picture.
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Everything in Its Right Place
8/25/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Many assign undue weight to the successes or failures of international organizations. But sovereign nations will do as they please, and failure to reach wide consensus doesn’t mean globalization’s end.
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Immaterial Materials Blues
8/22/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Despite a recent pullback in the Materials sector, supply and demand remains tight.
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The Price Is Right
8/21/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Falling oil prices have folks wondering if the long run for the energy sector is over. But prices remain high, and energy earnings are more resilient to lower prices than believed.
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Debunking the Ms
8/20/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
A record drop in US money supply as recorded by M3 is stoking the fire of existing economic worries. But the “Ms” aren’t the indicators they once were.
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Too Big to Fail
8/19/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Will the Fed’s expansion of powers prove to be a terrible precedent or a pertinent innovation?
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Don’t Demonize the Deficit
8/18/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Earlier this week we noticed the re-emergence of a classic investing myth. Folks hailed the trade deficit shrinking on growing exports as good news.
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The Dollar and You
8/15/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
There’s lots of hubbub surrounding the US dollar’s recent rally against other major currencies. What should investors know when it comes to currency movement?
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Georgia on Our Minds
8/14/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
As tensions escalate in Georgia, the question is, beyond the human costs, should folks be concerned?
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Chi Non Saltare…
8/13/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Italy’s economy contracted a bit in the second quarter, but global results are far more important than any single country.
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California Dreamin’
8/12/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Is California’s once-golden economy now tarnished by years of anti-competitive regulation and taxes?
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You Can’t Fathom the Froot Loops
8/11/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Geopolitical events are scary but completely unpredictable. You can’t plan a portfolio around them, and history shows you wouldn’t want to anyway.
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Of Autos and Airlines
8/8/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Troubles in the US automotive and airline industries are driving some investors to fly off the handle.
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Let the Games Begin!
8/7/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
On the eve of the Beijing Olympic Games, it’s a good time to reflect on the value of competition and trade—athletic and economic.
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Much Ado About Nothing
8/6/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Everyone knew the Fed would hold rates steady—what folks really cared about was what the Fed said.
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Cost Consumed
8/5/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
Higher production costs aren't necessarily directly passed on to the consumer.
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Get Us the President
8/4/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
With the 2008 presidential election in full swing, taxes are a hot topic. What impact might tax policy changes have on markets?
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Recessionism
8/1/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
As second quarter 2008 GDP came in stronger than expected, headlines still find reason to be gloomy.
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Long Train Runnin’
7/31/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Investors looking for anecdotal evidence miss some hard data, like transports, which remain strong--unlikely to happen during recession.
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Get Your Kicks on Route 66
7/30/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Some folks fret lower oil and gas prices are a bad sign for Energy and the economy, but fundamentals still look nice.
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Earnings Expectations
7/29/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Earnings season is proving to be a bumpy ride, but good news exists.
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Time to Go to the Bull Pen?
7/28/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Sector weightings are one of the key drivers of portfolio performance. Knowing when to make adjustments is vital to performance over time.
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Fine for Me, But Not for Thee
7/25/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Most Americans feel terrible about the US economy—but it’s everyone else’s economy they hate, not their own.
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Mark It to Market?
7/24/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Freddie and Fannie may be proxies for Financials woes in many ways, including in the distortions of mark-to-market accounting.
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It’s All Relative
7/23/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
When it comes to future inflation, it’s not current prices, but price movement, that counts.
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What Now?
7/22/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Investing based on how you wish you could have six months ago is typically a good way to make a larger error.
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Your Mother Was a Hamster
7/21/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
With all the talk of economic woe and calls for accountability, a harsh regulatory response could become a risk.
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Pessimistic Prognosticators Aplenty
7/18/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Those in the financial industry are overwhelmingly bearish. Is there legitimate reason for their pessimism, or do the current troubles within their industry skew their views?
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CPI : Rotten to the Core
7/17/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
While CPI has ticked up of late, rekindling inflation fears, global long-term interest rates, a better indication for the market’s expectation of inflation, remain benign.
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Demand or Speculate
7/16/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Oil endured its second biggest drop on record Tuesday…and “blame” was finally attributed to supply and demand, not speculators.
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Don’t Fear Failure
7/15/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Investors fearing bank failures shouldn’t—failures make way for progress.
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About Fannie and Freddie…
7/14/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Markets were volatile again on Friday as fears over the health of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac resurfaced.
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Care to Dance?
7/10/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Initial public offerings (IPOs) have dried up lately. Many view this as a bearish sign. But a dearth of IPOs means less stock supply—bullish for prices.
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Of Whipsaws and Rumors
7/9/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Fears over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s failing health sent Financials and the broader market reeling, but a closer analysis shows rumors of pending regulation were greatly exaggerated.
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream
7/8/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The annual Group of Eight summit will likely amount to little more than illusions.
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Fore!
7/7/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Market volatility continued in the second quarter. But volatility is normal, and shouldn’t much matter to long-term investors—unless they panic.
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The Paradox of Pursuit
7/3/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
For this year’s celebration of independence, it’s time to ask why we feel so bad while the world keeps getting better.
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Trade Liberalization Grudge Match, 2008
7/2/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A showdown between Nicolas Sarkozy and Europe’s trade commissioner threatens to turn world trade talks upside down.
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Oxymoronic Growth
7/1/2008 By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff
That so many want to classify the economy today as being in recession is probably more a function of dour sentiment than economic reality.
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A Classic French Fold
6/30/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Many touting economic stimulus checks as the economy’s saving grace are talking out of both sides of their mouths.
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Market Volatility and You
6/27/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Thursday’s market delivered another drubbing to investors. A third test of recent market lows surely proves tried and true investment disciplines no longer work, right? Wrong!
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Don’t Fear the Fed
6/26/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The Federal Reserve left rates unchanged yesterday, but hinted at a potential shift in policy in the months ahead. Regardless, incremental rate changes don’t matter much to long-term investors.
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What’s the Deal?
6/25/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Mergers and acquisitions activity remains strong these days, a sign things aren’t as bad as some folks assume.
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Hanging Tough…Over and Out!
6/24/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Many worry today’s market volatility is because the world’s more perilous than ever. Truth is, there’s never a dull moment. Hang tough!
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Time for the Bloodletting!
6/23/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
What do you get when you combine the subprime mess with recent hedge fund debacles? An archetypal regret-shunning hootenanny!
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The “Stabilitator” – Rise of the Knee-Jerks
6/20/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The British government wants the BOE to be the “stabilizer” for the British financial system. Alas, the plan is merely another political knee-jerk reaction.
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There’s More Offshore
6/19/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Record oil prices have intensified calls to expand offshore drilling in the US. But even if legislation is passed to allow it, drilling won’t impact oil prices anytime soon.
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Who Killed the Zeitgeist?
6/18/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A bilateral investment treaty between the US and China could help ease popular stigma about foreign investment.
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Speculation Accusation
6/17/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Speculation is being blamed for high oil prices, but it’s largely a political scapegoat.
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Global Inflation Conflagration
6/16/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Don’t fret inflation shock stories—global inflation remains benign.
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Orwell’s Words Proved Wise?
6/13/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Uncertainty abounds as Irish voters head to the polls to decide the fate of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty.
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Zigzags and Wild Polygons
6/12/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Stocks have experienced some downward volatility of late. Times like these call for yogic breathing and maybe a little energy work.
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Scrapping With Ben
6/11/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Many believe a rising fed funds rate would be bad for stocks. Such a notion is hogwash.
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Brave New World
6/10/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Some folks think a slowing global economy means less demand for energy and, eventually, lower oil prices. But slow economic growth is still growth, and the world will demand more oil, not less.
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Freaky Friday
6/9/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A pre-weekend panic sent stocks reeling, but the news that triggered the storm might not be so bad upon further inspection.
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What Wealth Effect?
6/6/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Folks fearing the weak housing market will dampen consumer spending shouldn’t worry—consumer spending tracks disposable income, not home equity.
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More Cookies for Us All
6/5/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Increasing productivity is one of the best ways to tame inflation.
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Cap and Trade, or Shuck and Jive?
6/4/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Congress is set to vote on an economically treacherous cap-and-trade bill. As of now, it’s all talk. Let’s hope there’s no action.
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Cap and Trade, or Shuck and Jive?
6/4/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Congress is set to vote on an economically treacherous cap-and-trade bill. As of now, it’s all talk. Let’s hope there’s no action.
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High (or low) Finance
6/3/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Financial stocks have taken it on the chin lately, and whether they recover anytime soon is debatable. Regardless, the sector’s fortunes don’t necessarily dictate those of broader markets.
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Oil!
6/2/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Investors panic over high oil, forgetting today’s high oil is a symptom of a growing economy.
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Bye-Bye Bear Stearns
5/30/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The approval of Bear Stearns’ sale to JPMorgan turned out to be a snooze-fest, revealing the true shallowness of the so-called financial crisis.
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Yes, But…
5/29/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Economic growth continues positive to the tune of overly dour expectations.
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No Confidence in Consumer Confidence
5/28/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The Consumer Confidence Index is often believed to portend economic and stock market direction. Put simply, it doesn’t.
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Born to Underachieve
5/27/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Socialist sentiment in Europe doesn’t bode well for long-term Continental prosperity.
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Our Robin Hood Government
5/23/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
No one profits much from high corporate tax rates.
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Kicking the Habit
5/22/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Headlines declaring a credit crisis and subprime fears are muted at present, and that’s bullish.
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Slow Road, No Inflation?
5/21/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Economies will grow, and economies will contract—but their movement in either direction has no bearing on inflation.
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Breakevenitis
5/20/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
After a market drop, investors can be tempted to sell out when they reach a breakeven point. But this temptation is best ignored—sales strategies based on arbitrary points in time hinder investment returns.
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Passive Manipulation
5/19/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The headlines are full of funky new “economic” indicators, but they can be just as misleading as old-fashioned statistics.
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Not So Green Acres
5/16/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The 2008 farm bill passed the House and Senate. That’s okay, because it amounts to little more than election year pandering.
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Brainiacs Unite
5/15/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Prediction markets are making use of efficient markets theory to forecast everything from basketball games to political contests.
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Hedging What?
5/14/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Investors fearing a falling dollar are increasingly turning to currency hedging. Is this necessary?
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Getting Gassed
5/13/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
High gas prices aren’t likely to go away anytime soon. But gasoline consumption is too small a percentage of overall spending for prices to have the impact folks fear.
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Gooooooooooooal!
5/12/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
From legislature to soccer fields, protectionism is creeping up.
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Hello GMOs
5/9/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Once foodstuff fodder, countries are suddenly turning to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) due to rising food prices concerns.
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Resurrection in Rainbows
5/8/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
As old as myth and Mother Nature, creative destruction is essential to economic progress too.
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Over the Troubles and Out of the Woods?
5/7/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Recent economic data and media analysis have folks asking, “Is the worst over, or is the next shoe about to drop?”
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A Suckers’ Rally?
5/6/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
It’s impossible to predict short-term market fluctuations, but the current crop of ills is widely known and unlikely to lead to a more prolonged downturn.
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Oh! You Pretty Things
5/5/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
China is gearing up for her Olympic coming out party, but a labor shortage in India tells us more about China’s real economic prospects.
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Inconspicuous Consumption
5/2/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Despite persistent fears to the contrary, consumers continue to spend.
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Phantom Storms
5/1/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The economy grew in the first quarter, but some still question whether the country is in a recession.
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Grain’s Gains
4/30/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
As food prices soar, fear of a global calamity elevates. But are rising prices a harbinger of doom or simply another sign of increasing global prosperity?
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M&M’s and M&A
4/29/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
With lots of cash and credit in the system, larger firms are looking for bargains.
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A Whole New Ballgame
4/28/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Innovation is turning the “old ballgame” upside down, and the boys of summer can teach investors something about decision-making.
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Profiting from Globalization
4/25/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Globalization helps US firms profit from global economic strength.
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A Seemingly Cruel Mistress
4/24/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
China’s recently roaring returns have given way to a sharp correction—a lesson in the benefits of Emerging Markets diversification.
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Analyzing Analysts’ Analysis
4/23/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Analysts play an important role in capital markets’ evolution. However, their end result—ratings, estimates and price targets—should be taken with a grain of salt.
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Bare Necessities…Big Opportunities
4/22/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We forget how good we’ve got it—the goods we consider bare necessities are seeing booming demand in developing regions. That makes for great investing opportunities abroad.
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A Design for Life
4/21/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The Bank of England is redecorating, and the US Fed is their interior designer of choice. What do the new curtains look like?
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Everyone’s a Critic
4/18/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Take criticisms of current CEOs and Fed activity with a grain of salt—especially when coming from predecessors.
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The World Can Buy Its Own Coke
4/17/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The current bull market has been driven by growth outside the US.
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Some Taxing Facts
4/16/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
April 15 is a day most Americans loathe—tax day.
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Pass the Corn
4/15/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Headlines are rife with suggestions to spur on the economy. Things have slowed down of late, but government remedies, like the decision to subsidize the production of ethanol, can cause more problems than they solve.
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Socialist Serenade
4/14/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
From Venezuela to Northern Rock, nationalization is rearing its ugly head, though history teaches us it almost always ends badly.
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Two Roads Diverged
4/11/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Global central bank activity abounded yesterday. While worth noting, such small moves don’t matter much.
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Bellwether Blues
4/10/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Folks tend to base broad economic views on local circumstances and solitary storylines. This earnings season, be wary of assigning too much weight to the performance of a small set of traditional economic bellwethers—there’s a wider world out there.
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Constructive Destruction
4/9/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Stock buybacks hit a record in 2007 for S&P 500 companies, removing an enormous amount of share supply from the market.
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Free Love
4/8/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Free trade spurs global growth and helps keep prices in check—both good things. Congress should remember that as they debate a free trade act with Colombia.
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That ‘70s Show
4/7/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Proposed solutions to today’s high gas prices are a bit short-sighted. Do we really want to voluntarily relive the 1970s?
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The Industrials Evolution
4/4/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Industrials are among the unsung heroes of today’s global economy.
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The Good, the Bad, and the Not So Bad
4/3/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Ben Bernanke’s congressional testimony on Wednesday seemingly supports calls for recession in 2008. Scaling the problems reveals slower growth, but a recession remains unlikely.
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Don’t Get High on Someone Else’s Supply
4/2/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The law of supply and demand is Econ 101 basics. But few consider it when analyzing stock markets.
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New Rules for the Street?
4/1/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced an “overhaul” plan for U.S. financial markets. But the plan, if it survives, will likely look very different.
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Confidence Confusion
3/31/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
New data shows consumers have the blues. Will stocks follow their wallowing?
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Goldilocks Government
3/28/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A “Goldilocks” government solution—just the right amount of government intervention and regulation—in economic markets is merely a fairytale.
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Not Quite to the Nines
3/27/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Investors tend to justify beliefs by searching out patterns where there are none and assigning meaning to the meaningless.
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Positively Ignored
3/26/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Today’s widespread focus on economic negatives and denial of positive global fundamentals is bullish for stocks.
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Don't Call It a Bailout
3/25/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Recent Fed policies have been criticized as a government-sponsored bailout and possibly a sign of more intervention to come. We view such fears as misplaced.
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Making Heads and Tails of Stop-Losses
3/20/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Testing fate with stop-losses is about as effective as flipping a coin.
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Ironman Investors
3/19/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
It’s been over four months since the global stock market peaked. After a re-test of January’s lows, investors are now both fearful and fatigued.
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Whoa-oh, Domino?
3/18/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The sale of Bear Stearns marks an appropriate action from the Fed, not the beginning of the end for stocks.
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A Confidence Game
3/17/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Today’s market turbulence probably had more to do with market confidence (or lack thereof) than substance.
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Trial by Fire
3/14/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Treasury Secretary Paulson’s new policy recommendations intended to strengthen financial markets could prove to be more bane than boon.
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It’s a Materials World
3/13/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Don’t let higher Materials prices spook you. The price trend in Materials isn’t a symptom of inflation but of growing global demand.
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Pawning Stocks
3/12/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Stocks have been sold in the short-term to pay off debt. Said otherwise—certain financial institutions have been de-leveraging. It’s kind of like pawning your guitar to pay the rent.
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Mint Dollar Chip
3/11/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The dollar hitting new lows isn’t a symptom of economic or market weakness.
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Going Once, Going Twice
3/10/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The Fed’s latest fix has markets in a huff. But just what is a Term Auction Facility anyway?
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The Trouble with Carlyle
3/7/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Investors fear Carlyle Capital’s troubles signal larger problems surrounding agency mortgage securities, but Carlyle’s woes aren’t systemic.
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Oil on Canvas: Today’s Energy Landscape
3/6/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
High oil prices translate to great investment opportunities.
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Soldiers and Generals
3/5/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A little-noticed change is taking place in market leadership. Small cap stocks are giving ground to large caps and the shift will likely continue.
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Pick Your Poison
3/4/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Whether you fear a Democrat or a Republican in the White House, you can rest easy. Either way, markets historically perform just fine.
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Let’s Do the Time Warp Again
3/3/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
This market looks a lot like 1998—a great year for stocks!
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Never A Dull Moment
2/29/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A dead cat bounce or a renewed bull? Whatever it is, investors will never escape uncertainty.
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Let the Market Do Its Thing
2/28/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Hidden in the credit crisis clamor, a little noticed development makes us smile—no sweeping legislative or regulatory change has taken root.
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Not in Our House!
2/27/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Reported January foreclosure rates are up 57% from last year—a closer look at the data shows the accompanying fears are overblown.
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Open for Business
2/25/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Behind the turmoil, markets continue to function normally.
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Disco, Stagflation, and Other ‘70s Horrors
2/22/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Journalists have reawakened the specter of stagflation. But comparing today’s economy to the disco heyday is flat wrong.
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Conspiracy Theories
2/21/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Today’s economic headlines contain all sorts of conspiracy theories and superstitions, but don’t use them to make investment decisions.
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Political Turnover
2/20/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Political changes are afoot. While noteworthy developments, they don’t amount to a hill of beans for the global economy and financial markets.
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Too Hot, Too Cold, or Just About Right?
2/19/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Folks generally associate steep yield curves with inflation—should they?
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Municipal Bondage
2/15/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Recent failed muni bond auctions have sparked new fears Wall Street’s in credit bondage. But a closer look reveals just another overhyped worry of the liquidity crisis.
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America’s Love Affair
2/14/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
America loves its position as a global economic leader, so is the recent slowing of the US economy a cause for heartbreak?
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Pass the Banjo
2/13/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The US consumer isn’t dead yet! January sales growth beat expectations and is tempering fears of an impending recession.
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Emotional Rescue
2/12/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Is the Sage of Omaha really trying to bail out bond insurers, or merely conducting business as usual?
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Hugo’s Gambit
2/11/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez is boasting of checkmating the US by cutting off oil trade, but his strategy is flawed from the start.
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Credit Zombies
2/8/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Do higher credit card delinquency rates mean American consumers are finally dead? No—in fact, delinquency rates are still below average. But even higher rates haven’t spelled doomed historically
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Don’t Fear Change
2/7/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Those fearful of a candidate from either of the two major parties ascending to the White House next year can breathe a bit easier. Democrat or Republican, historically markets have performed fine.
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Surveying Lending
2/6/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The recent Loan Officer Survey paints a dour picture on lending, but a closer look reveals far different results.
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Can We Get Some Service Here?
2/5/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Market reaction to today’s ISM service industry report is overwrought and near hysterical—not an uncommon reaction to economic news of late.
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Deficient Thinking
2/4/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The common fear big budget deficits are bad for stocks is wrong. In fact—the reverse is true!
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More Mergers!
2/1/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Acquisition and share buyback activity march onward amid the tumult—an indication economic and market fundamentals are much stronger than today’s pervasively dour outlook.
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Just Four Things
1/31/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Ignore short-term market swings and investor fears and focus on what the market’s likeliest to do going forward—only one of four possible scenarios.
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Still Growing
1/30/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
While some are swooning over the “worst economy in five years,” a sober analysis of preliminary US GDP figures released today shows an economy still on strong footing.
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Housing Humdrum
1/29/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Though bad news from the residential housing sector continues making headlines, it won’t have the long-term economic or market impact investors fear.
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A Question of Semantics
1/28/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The question of “correction” vs. “bear” is really a question of semantics.
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Wag the Dog
1/25/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Global stocks bounced around this week and fears emerged that problems in the US have finally spread to the rest of the world. But in the global economy, it’s a mistake to assign too much power to any one country.
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Empty Calories
1/24/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Today’s announced “stimulus” package from the beltway is little more than empty calories for the economy.
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Debt Disbelief
1/23/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A US bank liquidity crisis never materialized in 2007…and we’ve got the data to prove it!
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Fear and the Fed
1/22/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Market action today isn’t warning you to sell—rather, now is the time to remain disciplined and ride out market turbulence.
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The Circle of Life
1/18/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Bond insurers are struggling to keep their heads above water as ratings agencies evaluate credit ratings. But new companies are entering the market and increased competition promises an improved industry over the coming years.
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Inflation - It's Prices, not Price
1/17/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Investors are worried about plenty today, but inflation shouldn’t be on their short list.
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America for Sale
1/16/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Fears surrounding foreign governments’ investments in US firms is unwarranted. Capital is capital—the freer it flows the better.
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Nothing New
1/15/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Stocks took a walloping today on widely expected news tied to Financials’ health and mortgage-related asset write-downs.
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The Fed’s Show and Tell
1/14/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The Fed plans on communicating more regularly with the American public, which is nice, but we believe won’t ease volatility or make forecasting markets any less difficult.
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Lenders on the Block
1/11/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
As two troubled Financials firms prepare to go on the auction block, note they are getting bought out by other Financials firms. The sector isn’t as imperiled as it may appear.
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Market Noir
1/10/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
It’s no wonder market volatility is high lately. Today’s headlines reveal a lot of market misperceptions. More than ever, folks seem to be choosing an overly dour view in place of reality.
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Junk Bonds and Green Skies
1/9/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Predictions about rising bond default rates seem too dour and highly unlikely.
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Terza Rima
1/8/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Today’s investing environment isn’t a new bear market, it’s the poetry of capitalism.
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January Ineffect
1/7/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The common belief a bumpy start to January portends market trouble is statistically and fundamentally baseless.
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Employment Drizzle
1/4/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
In light of today’s dour employment news, we’re rerunning a past story detailing the imperfect nature of employment data.
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A Hundred Bucks a Barrel
1/3/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Headlines are making much of oil’s new milestone, but price milestones are meaningless and tell us nothing about the economy or market direction.
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New Year, Old News
1/2/2008 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
As markets opened for the New Year, folks dwelled on old news.
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Top Market Stories of 2007
12/31/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A look back at the top market stories of 2007.
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Top Market Myths of 2007
12/28/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
2007 felt like a tumultuous year, but stocks worldwide held their ground and so did the economy. A recounting of the year’s top worries that never materialized.
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MarketMinder’s Best of 2007
12/27/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A look back at the best 2007 MarketMinder daily commentaries.
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What Dollar Story?
12/26/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
2007 was a year of hand-wringing about the dollar’s demise. With just a few days left in the year, it turns out the dollar wasn’t so weak after all.
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Recession Confusion
12/24/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Headlines, polls, feelings—none of these are good indicators of a coming recession. Instead, you must look at the hard data to know if we’re in recession.
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Did Nothing
12/21/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
2007 was a year of political rhetoric in the US where virtually nothing got done.
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Propped Up
12/20/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A burgeoning belief among investors that foreign countries are “propping up” US markets today is pure mythology.
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Strength from Weakness
12/19/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Where many interpret recent central bank and sovereign wealth fund action as ominous, we see signs of incredible strength, versatility, and durability in today’s global markets.
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Groundhog Day 2008
12/18/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Many of the market gurus have made their 2008 stock market predictions. Before making your own, we’d advise some critical thinking and skepticism.
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You Call that Volatility?
12/17/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
There’s nothing unusual or alarming about recent market volatility. Though we may not remember it this way, market volatility is normal and should be expected.
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Odds On
12/14/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Those looking for the “odds” of a recession are barking up the wrong tree. Economies are not games of chance.
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The Willie Loman Effect
12/13/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The newest rationale to be bearish is possibly the silliest yet: A vicious cycle-induced recession.
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But Wait, There’s More
12/12/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
America’s and Europe’s central banks have coordinated in an innovative way to make capital available to troubled banks, which highlights the variety of liquidity sources available today for banks.
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Feel the Flow
12/11/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Investors dread decreasing home prices will translate to lower net worth and slower consumer spending. But the Federal Reserve’s latest report on the US household reveals the largely unappreciated strength and vigor of the American consumer.
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MarketMinder’s Letter to Santa
12/10/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
As 2007 draws to a close, we consider just a few of the market conditions that could help fuel a continued global equity bull market.
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Resilience
12/7/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Pearl Harbor reminds us of the resiliency, strength, and versatility of the United States and its citizens. By comparison, today’s perceived economic problems are mere trifles.
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Recession Quiz
12/6/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Folks seem to believe the US is headed for a recession. We’d bet most of those folks would fail our quiz.
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A BIG Year
12/5/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
2007 looks like a banner year for big cap stocks. But just because big caps are leading today doesn’t mean betting on them looking ahead is a sure thing.
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A Million a Minute
12/4/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Investors commonly fear the US government is over-indebted, particularly to foreigners, and this poses an economic threat. However, our government is largely indebted to Americans, and currently, our debt load isn’t worrisome.
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Super Ben, Part Deux
12/3/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
As the FOMC prepares to meet, the media predicts they’ll drop rates again to help “save” the economy from a credit crunch. We continue to view credit crisis fears as overblown and largely psychological.
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Blunder Now Alliance
11/30/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A new proposal to aid those in mortgage default danger is bad economics and bad public policy.
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The Exclusionary Economy (Everyone but Me!)
11/29/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
As sentiment plunges toward multi-year lows, positive economic news continues to flow in—a uniquely bullish scenario for stocks.
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Earnings Dilemma
11/28/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The first negative quarter for earnings growth in over five years has many investors running for the hills, but a close look at the data reveals bullish conclusions for stocks.
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Dopey Dow Theory
11/27/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A time-tested concept says a new bear market’s at hand—but there are good reasons to distrust the Dow Theory.
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Outback Ouster
11/26/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Australia’s new leader, Kevin Rudd, talks a big game of change and reform, but when the political dust settles, expect the status quo.
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Imagine: The Gaia Economy
11/23/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Globalization has made iconic baby-boomer utopian images of world unity closer to reality than ever.
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The Greatest Prosperity
11/21/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Free market economies are the alchemical conduits of progress and wealth for individuals and societies alike.
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Freddie Fretting
11/20/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The trend of overblown fears tied to a credit crisis continued today with Freddie Mac’s $2 billion loss announcement.
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Six Degrees of Tax Policy
11/19/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Contrary to popular opinion, a Democrat President and Congress doesn’t guarantee a tax hike. Rather, it’s conceivable the Democrats maintain the tax cuts for political leverage.
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Mis-behavior-ing
11/16/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Breakthroughs in neuroscience are spawning powerful insights for approaches to economics and investing. But like any new tool, it can easily cause as much damage as good. Tread lightly.
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All in Thain
11/15/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The continued trend of risk averse, wet blanket CEOs is an indication of today’s dour market sentiment, not economic peril. Merrill Lynch’s hiring of John Thain is the latest example.
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So Goes Jay-Z
11/14/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
No one’s immune from weak dollar fears—but fears don’t translate into fundamental trouble for markets or economies. Weak or strong, the dollar doesn’t dictate stock market direction.
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Writing-Off Write-Downs
11/13/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Maybe today ended the recent spate of negative market volatility, maybe not. Either way, investors will eventually wake up to the fact so-called “toxic” debt assets are worth far more than currently perceived.
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A Capital Gainsay
11/12/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Many fear higher tax rates after the 2008 election. But no matter the outcome, the benefits of compounding interest are too great to attempt short-term market timing to avoid a potential, future tax hike.
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A Government Sponsored Bank Run?
11/9/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
In a bizarre twist of irony, the British government exacerbated credit problems by blocking a merger between banks earlier this year. The episode underscores both the perils of government intervention and the gross misunderstanding of today’s so-called “credit crunch.”
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The Secret Testimony of Big Ben
11/8/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Bernanke’s testimony to Congress today depicted a resilient economy with plenty of capital markets-based mechanisms to ballast the soft housing market. Too bad many chose to hear a different message.
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Dour as It Gets
11/7/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Stocks took a walloping today as media coverage of the economy reached its most dour levels of the year. But volatile markets and grim headlines are nothing new for this bull market.
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Credit Crunch II: A Box Office Flop!
11/6/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A new narrative has emerged from the media hype machine: Credit Crunch Part II. Like all bad sequels, this one has even less substance than the original.
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China's Fabulous Moolah
11/5/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
China’s historic bull market run-up probably has further to climb, but investors should use extreme caution before making a foray into Chinese equities.
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Guilty by Association
11/2/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Individual stocks are highly correlated with their sectors, countries, and the market. Thus, investors must take a broader view than simply studying specific companies. Today’s Capital Markets stocks are a great example.
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Bumpy, Lumpy Bulls
11/1/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Stock market volatility is perfectly normal—up and down. Allowing market choppiness to predicate investment decisions is simply wrong.
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Metaxic Imbalance
10/31/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
It’s been a great day for the US economy. Too bad few (including Fed officials) appreciate it.
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Is Oil Finally Too High?
10/30/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Are oil prices finally high enough to stifle the economy? In a word, no.
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The Exorcist
10/29/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Just in time for Halloween, Wall Street is once again exorcising the demons of credit crunches past.
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Is Tech for Real?
10/26/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Tech stocks have been on a tear. Is the rally for real, or just a post-correction countertrend?
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Rangel Rouser
10/25/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
One of the most ridiculous tax bills in US history was proposed today. Good thing it has no chance of passing.
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Earnings Breather Not a Bear Harbinger
10/24/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Reported US corporate earnings are weak so far in the third quarter, but a close look at the numbers and proper perspective reveals this doesn’t signal a new bear market.
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Futile Congressional Fixes
10/23/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Congress is at it again. Their proposed fixes for troubled subprime borrowers are unlikely to solve anything, and most likely will have unintended, negative consequences.
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The Real Credit Story
10/22/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Long-term rates have been moving lower lately, a remarkable story almost entirely ignored by the media.
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Flaming Kamikaze Squirrels! (And Other Anomalies)
10/19/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
This week’s market volatility is being compared to Black Monday 20 years ago. In reality, the dissimilarities are many and stocks remain a great value.
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Proof of Theory
10/18/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Investors would be wise to abandon theories and stick to the facts when making portfolio decisions.
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Don’t Stifle the Prudent!
10/17/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Pervasive misunderstanding of derivatives markets is fueling fears of financial instability. In fact, the role of derivatives is just the opposite.
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Same Old Song and Dance
10/16/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Two days of stock market weakness spawned resurgence in well-worn fears…and little more.
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Ghost of October Past
10/15/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Similarities between today and October 1987 abound. But for as many superficial similarities the media highlights, there are as many or more fundamental differences.
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Leave it to The Mavericks
10/12/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The M&A and share buyback boom is set to resume on the strength of market fundamentals and the leadership of “maverick” business leaders willing to re-set the trend.
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Hail to the Tax Cuts
10/11/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Big proposed tax changes and political turmoil in Britain may turn out to be a tempest in a teapot. A simpler tax system may be in the cards for Britain, but British politicians have a long time to foul up positive proposals.
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Happy Anniversary!
10/10/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Yesterday the bull market celebrated its fifth anniversary. Hooray! Too bad few are noticing what a great run it’s been.
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The Real Risks
10/9/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Sensational headlines about subprime woes, a weak dollar, the “credit crisis,” etc., distract investors from seeing legitimate market risks. But never fear—the risks we identify here are unlikely to develop into major market negatives at this point.
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Global Politics Update
10/8/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
While the media focuses on the US 2008 presidential election, many forget the importance of politics on global stock returns. Today, an update and analysis on global politics.
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What a Week!
10/5/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
While headlines about Britney losing custody of her kids dominated front pages, few are taking note of stocks’ stellar run. But it’s not all good news—rising protectionist sentiment is also lurking in the background.
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Veto Power
10/4/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Politicians continue to hem and haw, but no legislation of consequence has passed in 2007—a great thing for stocks. Bush’s veto of new healthcare legislation is the latest example.
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A Good Bad Quarter
10/3/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
It felt like a summer of turmoil, but the third quarter of 2007 was much better for stocks than it seemed.
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Live Long and Prosper
10/2/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
By not assuming a long enough time horizon or trying to “get conservative,” many investors make critical investing errors seriously impacting their ability to meet long-term investing goals.
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October Horrors
10/1/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Is another Black Monday waiting for investors this October? Probably not, but expect to see endless headlines warning of coming trouble tied to the 20th anniversary.
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Mind the Gap
9/28/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Politicians have it backwards. Debt is not a societal negative. It’s a vital economic driver, and having access to credit makes society wealthier overall.
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Vector Investing
9/27/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Large and diverse economies (such as the US) require huge dislocations to impede economic growth—most concerns like subprime and new housing supply simply aren’t big enough to matter.
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Dollar Doldrums Don’t Mean Diddly for Stocks
9/26/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Headlines fretting over the falling dollar are both overblown and lack power to curtail the bull market in stocks.
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Ask the Question
9/25/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Questioning common media storylines can prevent some potentially costly investing errors. Frequently, news stories are built on hype and conjecture, not historically valid data.
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Chinese Inflation
9/24/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
China’s inflation rate is soaring. While that’s unlikely to derail China’s economy in the near term or infect the global economy with higher prices, the problem underscores a still fragile and developing nation fraught with peril for investors.
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Hug a Journalist
9/21/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The media’s sentiment hasn’t improved, which is good news for a market driven by strong positive fundamentals.
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The Could Headlines
9/20/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
With the faux credit crisis quickly becoming yesterday’s news, the financial press is scrambling to find the next great fear-mongering and speculative story.
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Ben to the Fake Rescue!
9/19/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Yesterday’s Fed action won’t have much impact, which is good news, since our healthy economy requires no rescuing.
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Saving the Day (And Not Much Else)
9/18/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Today’s semi-surprise rate cut of 0.5% by the Federal Reserve featured some bewildering messages, but on balance the move will probably do little to bolster or hinder the economy other than provide a short-term psychological boost.
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Britain Rocked
9/17/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Troubled British lender Northern Rock isn’t evidence of systemic woes in Britain or elsewhere.
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Small Cuts Don’t Much Matter
9/14/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Expectations for a Fed interest rate cut to “save” the economy next week are overblown. Cut or no cut, it makes little economic difference—today’s fervor over Fed meetings is more about psychology than reality.
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The Bigger the Better
9/13/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A big trade deficit isn’t an economic negative requiring a government fix. Rather, it can be symptomatic of dynamic economic health. Developed nations running trade deficits have had better economic growth than surplus nations.
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Japan’s Benny Hill
9/12/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Fraught with scandal, gaffes, and general embarrassment, the end of Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s reign was closer akin to watching Benny Hill shuffle around the stage than a dignified exit. Antics aside, this doesn’t appear to be a crippling event for stock markets or the Japanese economy.
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Fear
9/11/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Acts of terrorism are vile, tragic and significant. But they’ve accomplished little in the way of decimating the free-market capitalist economies of the west, which today thrive at a near unprecedented pace six years after 9/11.
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Main Street, Bling Street?
9/10/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The media’s contradictory views are driven more by fear than fundamentals. Investors are better served by focusing on fundamentals over the long term.
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Belaboring Labor
9/7/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Today’s jobs report was indeed negative, but when the hype is cleared away it doesn’t amount to much.
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Our Callous Economy
9/6/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
News about increasing foreclosures may not be as bad as you think because weakness in the housing sector isn’t enough to materially hamper America’s economy.
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Peeling the Onion
9/5/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
When media gloom disengages from positive economic reality (like today), it’s usually a great time to buy stocks.
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Recession Risks? Inconceivable!
9/4/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
No matter what the media claims, recession is not in the eye of the beholder.
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Laboring Through Summer, Part 2
8/31/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
On the eve of Labor Day weekend, Part 2 of MarketMinder’s look at the economics of labor.
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Laboring Through Summer, Part 1
8/30/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
As summer unofficially closes, it’s a good time to remember the tenets of Capitalism and free market economics that helped make US labor one of the most versatile, productive, and wealthy workforces in the world.
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Partners in Debt
8/29/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Think the US or UK has too much debt? Think again.
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Grumpy Journos, Happy Market
8/28/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
When media headlines are uniformly dour, it’s not proof of hard times ahead. Rather, it’s likely just the opposite!
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They’d Rather Be in the Casket
8/27/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A recent survey shows folks fear an impending credit crunch more than the specter of terrorism. Meanwhile, T-bill rates are climbing back toward the Fed Funds rate—both very bullish signals.
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Sentimental Silliness
8/24/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Investors are too flaky to bank on short-term shifts in sentiment.
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Best Credit Crunch Ever!
8/23/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Catcalls for a world economy in crisis on fears of the supposed credit crunch are getting sillier by the day as hard evidence of stability and strength piles on.
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Jump the Shark
8/22/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Has the market jumped the shark? Tune in to find out.
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Who Wants to be Normal?
8/21/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
When you were young, did you dream that one day you would grow up to be fairly normal? Maybe you really set your sights high and hoped to live an amazingly average life? No? We didn’t think so.
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Are We There Yet?
8/20/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
What do corrections and family vacations have in common? Way too much.
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The Fed’s Talisman
8/17/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Today’s rate cut from the Fed is more symbolic than it is potent…but it may prove to be just the antidote for today’s skittish investor sentiment.
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Fed Focus
8/16/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Will the Fed save the day? Better question, do they need to?
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Market Efficiency and the Bard
8/15/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Every so often, when financial headlines become particularly histrionic, it’s good to revisit MarketMinder’s principles for navigating the media.
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Bearing with Bulls
8/14/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Is there anything that could make us bearish right now? Sure, but none seem very likely at the moment.
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Bad Conation
8/13/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
When investors get jittery, they tend to believe one issue, and one issue only, moves stocks. That’s a classic sign of a bull market correction and not a new bear.
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Pray for Panic
8/10/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Pray for more investor panic. Bigger panic leads to bigger bounces.
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Blood in the Alleys
8/9/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The freak-outs continue. Dread that credit blood is flowing in the streets of the global economy received another seeming affirmation today.
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Free Trade Imperiled
8/8/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Is Congress trying to make the media’s baseless proclamations that the US economy is dead come true?
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Summer Reading
8/7/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
With today’s Fed’s statement behind us and the market’s nicely positive reaction, now’s a good time to turn bibliophilic and get to that summer reading.
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No Credit Messiah Necessary
8/6/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The market is expecting a savior, but this week’s Fed meeting likely won’t provide much in the way of a credit messiah. That’s ok because markets didn’t need saving in the first place.
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Corrective Measures
8/3/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Our daddies told us there'd be days like this. The S&P 500 took a whooping today, capping what's been a tumultuous couple weeks in the market. But don't let a few days' frightening downside volatility scare you away from stocks just yet.
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Notes on an Energy Boom
8/2/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The global boom in energy prices, profits, and stock appreciation isn’t done yet.
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Free Markets...Anyone? Anyone?
8/1/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Would Ferris Bueller approve of Chinese tariffs? We think not.
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In the Meantime
7/31/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
As the stock markets work through jitters about a credit crunch and subprime, recent aggregate economic news has been very encouraging.
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Is the LDP DOA?
7/30/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party suffered a stunning defeat in the upper house election on Sunday, giving up control in the chamber to the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. What does it mean for global stocks?
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Is the LDP DOA?
7/30/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party suffered a stunning defeat in the upper house election on Sunday, giving up control in the chamber to the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. What does it mean for global stocks?
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The (Credit) Party We Weren’t Invited To
7/27/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
For all of this week’s hubbub about credit problems and their wider implications for the economy, a dearth of real facts have emerged to corroborate the notion. Corporate balance sheets are in great shape and liquidity remains plentiful.
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Debt Disambiguation
7/26/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
News of a faltering credit environment persists, but fundamentals still appear conducive to a robust cash-based M&A market. This week’s equity sell-off is likely normal turbulence and not a harbinger of a credit crunch, or a new bear market.
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Presidential Popularity Contest
7/25/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
How will President Bush’s tanking popularity impact the stock market this year?
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High Comedy
7/24/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
All joking aside, a good sense of humor is vital for investing success.
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The MarketMinder Guide to MarketMinder
7/23/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Ever wondered what you’re supposed to do with stories you’re supposed to ignore?
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“Just Doing Our Job, Ma’am”
7/20/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Investor confusion abounds over what’s routine and what’s truly a worry for the Fed.
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Height Fright
7/19/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
New market highs trigger an instinctual, but potentially dangerous, reaction in investors—fear of heights.
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Commercial Amnesia
7/18/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Investors are predominantly focused on residential housing statistics, but many fail to realize commercial real estate is almost as big…and it’s booming.
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News Update
7/17/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Meaningful bullish news emerged from just about all corners of the economy today. Remember talk just six months ago about a recession? Hard landings? Soft landings? Those stories seem to be a thing of the past.
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Wall of Worries
7/16/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Markets climb a wall of worry, but how can investors tell worries to ignore from legitimate worries?
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Crowd Deification
7/13/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Markets are great! But let’s not deify them.
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Credit Crisis Conundrum
7/12/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Are we facing a coming credit crisis? Or is the real crisis a disappointing lack of working calculators in most major newsrooms?
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Pricing Armed Conflict
7/11/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
International military conflicts and terrorism can sometimes have a big impact on stocks. But probably not exactly in the way you’d think.
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Subsidy Soapbox
7/10/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Why congressional meddling in free markets should leave you feeling dirty.
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The Only Dollar Story
7/9/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
You thought the dollar was going to tank this year, didn’t you? Admit it. We’re not going to name any names or single you out, but you know who you are. Dollar-doomsdayers and greenback-naysayers have been unusually mum so far this year, despite their fire and brimstone predictions at 2007’s outset.
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Revisionist History
7/6/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Russia’s attempt at revisionist history is a classic example of a common investor bias.
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Danger: the Only Safety
7/5/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Stock market history features a litany of dangerous ideas and thinkers in the quest to know what others don’t.
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Free Trade Follies
7/3/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
No one wins in Congress’s war on free trade.
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Terror’s Toll
7/2/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Global stocks just aren’t shocked by terror attacks.
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Investing, the Government Way
6/29/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Governments around the world are pouring trillions into “Sovereign Wealth Funds” to gain exposure to capital markets.
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House of Horrors
6/28/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
What’s more frightening for investors than the bird flu, a housing bubble, and a subprime implosion combined?
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Befuddled Bond Bears
6/27/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Today’s bond market is not what the bears would have you believe.
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Evolved Markets
6/26/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The science of evolution is changing the way economics and markets are understood.
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Abe on the Outs?
6/25/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Political turmoil returns to the world’s second largest economy.
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The Bane of Conformity; The Boon of Truth
6/22/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Conformity is the norm of human existence.
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Anecdote Is no Antidote
6/21/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’re pretty hard on the media here at MarketMinder.
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French Fries Redux
6/20/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
There are two countries about to enact new laws.
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The Virtues of Legal Restraint
6/19/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
It’s good to be hypercritical of the antics of activist judges who legislate from the bench.
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Contronym Investing
6/18/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
If you ask the financial press, stock market investors have been "euphoric" over the last year.
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Runaway Rates?
6/15/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The 10-year US Treasury has hit a five-year high.
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Financials' Big Buzz
6/14/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The big buzz around Wall Street this week is the so-called lifting of capital restraints to US securities firms, which could lead to as much as $4.
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Buyback Bonanza
6/14/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Well, here we are, midway through June.
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Kaizen!
6/12/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The investing worry du jour is the arrival of global inflation.
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Yield Mandala
6/11/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
For millennia, yogis, sages, Buddhas, and general seekers of wisdom have contemplated the labyrinthine passages of life’s mysteries through meditation with mandalas.
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52 Card Pick-Up
6/8/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Two brothers, ages ten and four, are killing time on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
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Talk is Cheap
6/7/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Apparently, inflation has returned.
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Mmm . . . Bacon
6/6/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A possible story-line for the Simpsons: Homer travels to China with the sole aim of seeing China’s strategic pork reserves.
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I Can Has Cheezburger?
6/5/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
More than awkward grammar and poor spelling, that odd phrase is (perhaps regrettably) a rapidly spreading meme.
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Run Bull! Run!
6/4/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
As global markets knock new highs, an inevitable question arises: At four and a half years, is this bull done running? Before answering, think if you’ve heard anyone questioning the longevity of this bull market before.
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Good Data, Bad Information
6/1/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Corporate profits are beating expectations.
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A Political Punch
5/31/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Yesterday’s market commentary ("Timing Tortillas") reminded us of one compelling fundamental likely to drive great stock returns this year.
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Timing Tortillas
5/30/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Apparently, the latest trend in Washington is self-flagellation.
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Yen Carry What?
5/29/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Remember Y2K? Or rather, remember the Y2K hysteria? Planes would fall out of the sky, ATMs stubbornly refuse to cough up cash, computers melt, and all of modern life’s little conveniences suddenly implode in one, awesome, anarchy-inducing ball of over-digitized apocalyptic flames.
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The Last Full Measure
5/25/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
What strength of resolve is it that impels a people to raise a value—a mere abstract concept—above life? Who can fathom the force of character necessary for ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom? Where can be found, deep in the gut, that ego-annihilating principle giving man the expedience and depth of heart to destroy the body in the name of ethereal liberty? What a rare and new thing is liberty in world history—the timeline of civilization is a tapestry of human enslavement.
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Bizzaro Economic Policy
5/24/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
One of Superman’s arch-enemies is Bizzaro.
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Group Dynamics
5/23/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Outlined against a blue-gray October sky .
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The Boom Isn't Ending Today
5/22/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We continually tout the power and potency of the merger and acquisition boom as a primary driver of the global bull market in stocks.
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Stating the Obvious
5/21/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Sometimes the most obvious stuff is the least recognized.
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Loopy Mind Models
5/18/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Mind-bending doesn’t begin to describe it.
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Hot Fuzz
5/17/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Here come the Fuzz.
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Currency Pegging Pedantics
5/16/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Just about everyday, in some form or another, we rant about the importance of free markets.
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The Inquiry Culture
5/15/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
When stocks go down, people start blaming each other.
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Bean Counter Uprising!
5/14/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’ve written before in this space on the complexities and absurdities of today’s accounting systems.
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I Dream of China
5/11/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Today, Chinese officials announced Chinese commercial banks will be allowed to make foreign stock investments.
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Dastardly Dividends
5/10/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Dividend paying stocks are all the rage these days.
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When You Get to the Fork in the Road…
5/9/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Yogi Berra made this quote famous: "When you get to the fork in the road, take it.
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Flying Off a Cliff
5/8/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Just about every time the markets hit new highs the financial media dig up a veritable cornucopia of old stories from the last time it happened, change the numbers around a bit, and republish them almost verbatim.
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Morning in France?
5/7/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Some call him the Ronald Reagan of France; some call him the new Margaret Thatcher.
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Unfathomable Miscellany
5/4/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We like unfathomable things—they’re the stuff good investments are made of.
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Productive Ignorance
5/3/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
U.
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Labor's Punchline
5/2/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Tony Blair is set to step down as Prime Minister.
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Obsessing Over Black Swans
5/1/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
These days there just isn’t a lot of big news.
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Triangulation Reformation
4/30/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Economics and free market efficiency are universal.
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A Perverse Fantasy Life
4/27/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Most of life is fantasy.
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Cellulose Between the Ears
4/26/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
As the alternative energy craze continues, we’d like to interject a little commonsense into the debate.
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Comrade Yeltsin
4/25/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Even recent history suffers from rewrites.
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Smart, Smarter, Smartest
4/24/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Pretend you are an average CEO of an average S&P 500 company.
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Stay in May
4/23/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Here it comes.
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Demand? No Such Thing.
4/20/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Equity prices are ultimately determined by basic supply and demand.
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Gold-Diggers
4/19/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Gold is the great inflationary predictor, and holding gold is a superb hedge against rising prices, recession, and bear markets.
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Dead Horse. Stick.
4/18/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Remember the kerfuffle over the pesticide DDT? Turns out, DDT doesn’t hurt you, your pets, or anything at all, except mosquitos.
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Pound of Flesh
4/17/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Tough luck for any American planning a visit to Ye Olde England—as of today, one pound sterling costs two American dollars.
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Soak the Rich
4/16/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Ah, Tax Day! The one day Americans stand united in their utter contempt of their state and federal government.
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Indra's Net
4/13/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
One of the great mythic images of the near eastern traditions is Indra’s Net.
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Stagflation and Lava Lamps
4/12/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Stagflation.
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Going Postal
4/11/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
SAT analogy question pop quiz: Postal Service is to Japan as _________ is to the United States.
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Anchors Away
4/10/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The streak is over.
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Foreign Investment Boondoggle
4/9/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
So many protectionists out there these days.
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Jelly Bean Investing
4/5/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" says Homer Simpson, one of our favorite sages. Rarely has such wisdom come from one so yellow and two-dimensional.
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Do-Nothing Market Heroes
4/4/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Our politicians are on a roll with a rash of ill-considered legislation.
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No Impact? No Thanks.
4/3/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We like pretty much everything about Daylight Savings Time.
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A Pandemic of Fear
4/2/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
In 1918, a few cases of the flu meandered out of a Kansas army camp, ended a war, paralyzed commerce, and slaughtered tens of millions.
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Bang the Doldrums (of Protectionism)
3/30/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Our federal government has banged its booming drum today, delivering a baffling decree heading into what’s an otherwise blissful spring weekend.
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Dying of Old Age
3/29/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Economies aren’t like people.
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Flesh Eating Solutions
3/28/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Giant, poisonous toads capable of killing crocodiles are bedeviling Australian farmers (as we reported yesterday).
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Pass on the Patch
3/27/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Ah . . . Spring. That magical time when crocuses poke their timid heads out to greet longer days, tender shoots of green remake the world anew, everything smells fresh and clean, and you discover you owe the U.S. government another 8 grand because you got nailed by the @#$%-ing AMT.
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A Conspiracy of Hammers
3/26/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’re not much for conspiracy theories.
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Foxy Investing
3/23/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Many centuries ago, the Greek poet Archilochus wrote: "The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.
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This Ain't a Scene…it's a (Cognitive) Arms Race
3/22/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Why are free market-based systems the optimal framework for an economy? One way to understand it is through the brain’s evolutionary composition.
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Critical Invasion
3/21/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The scramble has begun! More art than science, more augury than empiricism, the pundits and pinheads are dissecting the Fed’s newest statement, fresh off the presses.
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Retired Presidents Society
3/20/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
As one of the financial community’s most prominent retirees, Alan Greenspan can’t seem to let the spotlight go.
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Poison Pill Protectionists
3/19/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
According to Investopedia, a Poison Pill is: "A strategy used by corporations to discourage a hostile takeover by another company.
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Political Bracketology
3/16/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
March Madness is in the air. Everybody’s got their favorite to win the men’s collegiate basketball championships, and the odds-makers in Vegas are hard at work determining the appropriate lines for each game. In honor of the NCAA tournament, we’re breaking down the state of the current US Presidential race, bracket style.
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OMG! Big Telecom Returns
3/15/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Editor’s Note: Today’s commentary is written in half English, half Texting language.
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Spread the Risk; Spread the Love
3/14/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’d bet you love your neighbor a lot more than you think.
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No Canary in the Coal Mine
3/13/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Markets were pounded today in what could be the beginning of the second down leg of the correction.
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New Century, Old Worries
3/12/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Have you noticed how quickly theories about the current market correction are being spawned then subsequently abandoned? We went from China, to the carry trade, to hedge funds, to the new "Daylight Savings Y2K", to subprime lending all in about two weeks.
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Death and Taxes…and Economic Growth
3/9/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Ben Franklin said: "Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.
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Idle Thoughts
3/8/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Our minds are wandering.
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Whoop Whoop Whoop
3/7/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The incompetence of government-run systems cannot be overstated, and we cannot belabor that point enough.
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Carry Trading Tirade
3/6/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Today we discuss the reason du jour for the recent stock market weakness: The Big Bet That Could Melt Wall Street: A look at the 'Yen Carry Trade' and Why so Many Investors Are Starting to Worry it Might Unravel
By Grace Wong, CNNMoney
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A Gore-y Correction Correlation
3/5/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Congratulations are in order to Mr. Al Gore, inventor of the internet and former Vice President, for winning an Oscar in the "best documentary" category for his film denouncing humanity for it’s carbon burning ways in "An Inconvenient Truth".
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To Seek The Grail
3/2/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
"Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of all England.
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Separating the Muck from the Mire
3/1/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A couple bad days of trading and—literally—people are starting to lose it.
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A Different Kind of Debt
2/28/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’ve written in the past about the positive structural forces at work in emerging markets.
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A Bull Market Sell-Off
2/27/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We wrote last week that the US stock market was on its longest run without a daily 2% decline since 1954.
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Stone Age Forecasting
2/26/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Do you know Abbey Joseph Cohen? How about Richard Bernstein? If you’re an enthusiastic investor who follows the popular press, you probably do.
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If CEOs Don't, Investors Will Do It For Them
2/23/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Stocks are cheap and they need to get more expensive.
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Fun With Numbers
2/22/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
- Over 100 million Americans drink coffee every day…that’s over 36.5 billion cups in a year! At about 50 beans per cup, that’s over 1,825,000,000,000 beans a year! At that rate, how could we possibly hope to re-grow enough beans for the next year’s brew? It’s too much of a strain!
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When Things Go Too Well
2/21/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’ve been noticing a common theme emerging in the popular press lately, one that we can’t quite get our heads around.
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Don't Go Blind from the Subprime
2/20/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
If you picked up a newspaper in the past few weeks, you probably saw at least one article detailing the downward spiral of the subprime mortgage market.
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Bottom Feeding
2/16/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Somewhere in the neighborhood of four billion people live on less than $2 per day.
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When Good is Bad
2/15/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The mission of most investors is to find the best companies to put their money into.
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I ♥ Investing
2/14/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Around here we always say "your brain can trick you.
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A Yawner in Essen
2/13/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The recent Group of Seven (G7) meeting in Essen, Germany was ho-hum.
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It's Catching On
2/12/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Globalization is one of the most powerful forces in the economic world today.
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Exponential Possibilities
2/9/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
One of the most interesting features of human intellectual history is that often the best ideas stem from simple observations.
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With a Little Bit of Time…
2/8/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Stocks are riskier than bonds, right? We’re not trying to trick you.
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Overseas Opportunity
2/7/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’re outright bullish on stocks for 2007.
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How Big is Big? Part II
2/6/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Yesterday in this space we talked about framing and understanding how big big really is.
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How Big is Big?
2/5/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Is this a big number? $87,000,000,000 What about this one? $2,900,000,000,000 Are they both big? Is one big and the other bigger? Surely they couldn’t be small! Ponder that for a moment…we’ll get back to it.
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Knowing and Understanding
2/2/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
- What I cannot create, I do not understand. - Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself. The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.
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Fight the Fed
2/1/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
FOMC meetings are some of the most closely watched market events.
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Still In Flight
1/31/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Back in November, we provided a list of worries keeping overall sentiment cautious about the economy (see our past commentary "Skyscraper of Worry" for the full list).
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As Sure as the Sunrise
1/30/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Some things you just don’t question in life.
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Multiple Expansion
1/30/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Stocks have gone up in each of the last four years.
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Self Reliance
1/27/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
- Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.
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Consistently Too Low, Again
1/26/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’ve sounded like a broken record lately: the global economy is thriving, 2007 will be another good year for stocks, and so on.
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The Sweetest Year
1/25/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We like anomalies, especially anomalies that few know about.
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A Balance Sheet to Die For
1/23/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Have a look at the balance sheet below.
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The Age of Conglomerates
1/23/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Conglomerates were bigger than the Beatles in the 1960s.
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Hawkish Behavior
1/20/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Nobel prize-winning economist Daniel Kahneman is at it again.
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Ben's Doomsday Prediction
1/18/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Dominating headlines today is our bearded buddy Bernanke’s Congressional testimony about the dangers of a retiring baby boomer generation.
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Where Money Flows Like Water
1/18/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Chinese M2 money supply growth accelerated to 16.
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Casual Correlations
1/16/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’ve done a very bad thing.
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Privatizing Profits
1/13/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Finally, some euphoria.
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Energy Depletion?
1/12/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The Energy sector has been one of the best stock performers over the last several years.
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T.G.H.
1/11/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
January is a stressful month for stock investors.
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Housing Still Isn't Haunted
1/10/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
2006 is over.
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The Flying Economy
1/8/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’ve written before about how investors latch on to metaphors, often erroneous ones, in order to better understand economic and market concepts.
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Too Much Scotch?
1/6/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
2007 marks the 300-year anniversary of the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland.
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From Russia With Love
1/5/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
As the New Year turned, Russia again showered its love upon one of its Eastern European neighbors.
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Go Global
1/4/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
If you’re like most investors, you probably shy away from global investing, preferring to focus on the S&P 500 and US stocks and mutual funds.
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Back to Parity
1/3/2007 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Global equities capped off another banner year in 2006, with the MSCI World Index returning 20% in dollar terms.
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Disciplinary Action
12/30/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
There’s a lot of talk in the popular press these days about an "imminent" US recession and the tired old legs of this bull market.
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Avoid Some Yearend Pitfalls
12/29/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
If you’re like most people, you’re probably indulging in a bit of yearend introspection as 2007 approaches.
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The Boy Scout in the White House
12/28/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
One of America’s shortest running presidents was also its longest lived.
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Burning Questions; Scorched Investors
12/26/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The WSJ Online recently held an online survey to answer this burning question: "What proportion of your holiday gift spending did you do online this year?" The results? As of December 26th: - 31% of shoppers do 75% to 100% of their shopping online
- 24% of shoppers do 50% to 75% of their shopping online
- 15% of shoppers do 25% to 50% of their shopping online
- 30% of shoppers do less than 25% of their shopping online
So, according to the survey, over 70% of people do some shopping online for the holidays, and well over half do more than 50% of their shopping online! Given such strong numbers, we ought to go out and buy up all the internet retailers like Amazon and ebay, right? Maybe.
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Bad Santa
12/23/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Many investing pundits try to give you gifts for the holidays in the form of stock advice.
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Gonna Fly Now
12/21/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Yo, Adrian! 2007 has all the makings of another sequel.
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When Normal Feels Weird
12/21/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in the United States is 6.
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Baht Were They Thinking!?
12/19/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Since the coup earlier this year (see our past commentary: "Could a Thai Coup Overthrow the Markets?"), Thailand’s new military-installed government has made a major economic policy gaffe.
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Rise of the Supervillains
12/18/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Remember the good old days, where every CEO was a visionary, a patriot, an innovator…a superhero! In the late 90s, triumphant executives would grace the covers of business periodicals with big smiles and statuesque poses.
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Contrary About Contrarians
12/16/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
It’s that time of year again.
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Low-Impact Tragedy
12/15/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Democratic Senator Timothy P.
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Surf's Up
12/14/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
You may be tempted to view the recent elections in Latin America as further evidence of a growing red tide sweeping the region.
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Manufactured Protectionism
12/13/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
There’s a good chance you think the entire world’s manufacturing production has moved to developing economies like China and India.
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Look Out Below!
12/12/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The dollar is falling! And the sky, too! At least that’s what the media has likely led you to believe.
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Brain Discord
12/9/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We have to live with ambiguity and discord every day.
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Production Junction; Market Functions
12/7/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A lot of economic theory deals with creating value, which we can loosely define as the value of an activity leftover after subtracting from it the cost of doing it (and if you want to get technical, also the opportunity cost of not undertaking an alternative activity).
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Standard of Misconception
12/7/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We aren’t going to wax political, or even philosophical, on income inequality or standard of living inequality in the world.
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Improvement is Still Good
12/5/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Treasury Secretary Paulson is on a mission to make US capital markets more competitive.
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More Connected Than It Looks
12/5/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’ve written often on this page about the importance of trade and the interconnectedness of the global economy, and how in turn these promote greater total economic growth.
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Asymmetric Investing
12/2/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
It’s pretty rare that anyone finds an investment that can’t go down.
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Skyscraper of Worry
12/1/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A common adage among fellow behavioral finance devotees is "bull markets climb a wall of worry".
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Not All Destruction is Created Equal
11/30/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’ve written several times in this commentary on equity supply destruction and its ability to drive stock prices higher.
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Free Trade Protectionists
11/29/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
What kind of an economy was the United States 150 years ago? Primarily agrarian.
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A Hawkish ECB
11/28/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The European Central Bank (ECB) is a strange animal.
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Much to Be Thankful For
11/25/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’re a little lethargic from all the turkey and fixings yesterday.
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Proud to be Liberal
11/23/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Milton Friedman, the recently deceased economist and Nobel Laureate, once asked the public this simple question: "How do you make a pencil?" By appearance it’s a simple object.
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Bamboozled by Bogus Bubbles
11/22/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
What’s a bubble? A small globule, typically hollow and light? A small body of gas within a liquid? Well, technically yes.
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Free to Give
11/21/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
To kick off the holiday week, we’re taking a look at the "New Philanthropy".
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Inflating Wages
11/18/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
One of our favorite pastimes is delivering bad news to the bears in times we believe it’s a bull market (like now).
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Capitalism and Freedom's Stalwart Defender
11/17/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Nobel prize-winning economist Milton Friedman has died today at the age of 94.
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Deriving Stable Markets
11/16/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We hear a lot of irrational worries about the derivatives market.
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Domestic Growth Abroad
11/15/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
It’s been one of the best periods for US corporate earnings since World War II.
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More Freedom; More Money
11/14/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Less regulation actually increases government tax receipts.
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Are You Optimal?
11/11/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Finance geeks already know what an "optimal capital structure" is.
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Too Busy Working
11/10/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
United States unemployment stands today at a 5-year low of 4.
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Little Surprise Power for the Donkeys and Elephants
11/9/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The media blitz is on.
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Ho Hum - Another Stellar Earnings Season
11/8/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Yawn…another quarter, another double-digit rise in corporate earnings.
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Thoughts on Election Eve
11/7/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
With the media giddily anticipating tomorrow’s mid-term elections, headlines are dominated by breathless commentaries, wild predictions, and 11th hour campaigning.
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Reckless Teen Investors
11/4/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Sharon Begley’s science column in today’s Wall Street Journal is an insightful look into the psychological underpinnings of reckless teen behavior.
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No News is Good News
11/3/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Here’s a smattering of today’s mass-media, front-page headlines:
"Study: Ocean's edible species fading," USA Today
"Wildfire Murder Charges Filed," cnn.
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The Savings Rate Myth
11/2/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’re a bit tired of hearing of the over-extended consumer.
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Caveat Emptor
11/1/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The siren song of Chinese equities has proved too hard to resist.
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Markets Do Just Fine Regulating Markets
10/31/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’ve been listening to the media get it wrong for so long, we almost missed it when someone actually got it right.
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Have a Market Mentality
10/27/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Capital markets are all about innovation, technology, dynamic change, and the flow of information.
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Stocks Don't Look Back to the Future
10/27/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
It’s official: US GDP growth slowed in the third quarter.
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Even More Destruction
10/26/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Lately we’ve been lauding the virtues of destruction.
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Three's a Charm
10/24/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
P/E ratios are fickle things.
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Fears for Facts… Blowout Sale!
10/24/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’re trading fears for facts! Come on down and trade in some of those jalopy-like worries you’ve been holding on to and drive a spanking new piece of data off the lot today! Fear of a recession? Trade it in for positive GDP data for no money down! Inflation fears? We’ve got a low headline inflation rate just waiting for you! We’re so sure you’ll love these facts once you’ve taken them for a test drive, you’ll trade in your fears for good! - Global GDP continues to outpace analyst forecasts and remains above average levels.
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The Financials Revolution
10/21/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
How can it be that an industry that creates no tangible products is worth about 25% of the value of all equities, and represents an even higher proportion of profits? It’s a time of great innovation and development throughout the Financials sector.
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When Destruction is Good
10/20/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Media empires are crumbling! Thousands of electronic products face obsolescence yearly! Large, well-established companies are being exterminated by leaner, more innovative competitors! How can the economy possibly survive amid continual danger to its products? Believe it or not, all this turmoil is positive.
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Consistently Too Low
10/19/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Already third quarter earnings are coming in well ahead of expectations.
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What, Me Worry?
10/18/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Here are three facts:
1. The German economy is growing at its fastest rate since 2000.
2. German investor confidence is at its lowest level in more than 13 years, according to the ZEW survey.
3. The German DAX stock index is up over 19% this year (in USD).
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Shocking Returns!
10/17/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Returns on Utilities stocks are truly electrifying this year.
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Flip it to See Stocks' Value
10/14/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We think price-to-earnings ratios are pretty boring.
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Trade Deficits Pop Quiz
10/13/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Pop-quiz time!
(Don’t worry, this won’t go on your permanent record.
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School's Out for the Congressmen!
10/12/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Throw your pencils and notebooks in the air! The 109th Congress is out for the year and they’ve all gone home.
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North Korea Can't Nuke Stocks
10/11/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Fears are rising around the world over the purported testing of a nuclear weapon in North Korea.
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Industrials Revolution?
10/10/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
We’ve noticed a lot of press lauding recent all-time highs of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
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Get Some Sleep on November 7th
10/7/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
While pundits, the press, and pollsters pine away for results of the US mid-term elections deep into the night on November 7th, we’ll be tucked in for a long autumn slumber.
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Re-Emerging Emerging Markets
10/6/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Perma-bears lauded the seeming implosion of Emerging Markets stocks when the market correction began in the spring.
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Guess What? The US is Bigger than Ever.
10/5/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Hopefully you said "That’s Great!" after reading the above.
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A Tale of Two Charts
10/4/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
What’s really going on in the commodity markets? You’d be hard pressed to find a positive story on commodities lately, with pundits citing oil’s decline, the lack of hurricane disaster, and calming tensions in Iran as reasons to turn bearish.
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In Defense of Global Capitalism
10/3/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
It’s amazing to us, given the results of the 20th century, that capitalism still needs a staunch defense now and again.
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I'm OK, You're OK (and We're Both US Consumers)
9/29/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Psychologist Thomas Harris wrote a book called I’m OK, You’re OK in 1976 explaining his theory on how we perceive ourselves and others.
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Housing Won't Haunt Real Estate, or Stocks
9/29/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Most people think of just housing when they read about real estate.
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The Media's Message on the Bond Market is Right…Sort Of
9/28/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The media has largely attributed the current US bond market rally—10-year Treasury yields have fallen 65 basis points since the end of June—to two factors: an oncoming recession and reduced inflationary pressures.
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Emerging Market Contagion?
9/27/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
If you read the newspaper in the past several weeks, you would think emerging economies were on the brink of imploding: a coup in Thailand, an assassination of a central banker in Russia, a budget fiasco and rioting in Hungary and a political maverick in Mexico declaring his own government after losing an election fair and square.
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It's Not a Law Just Because it Passes
9/26/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Protectionism is lurking and ready to rear its ugly head again.
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What Happened to the Big Storms?
9/22/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Here we are in mid-September of 2006 and not a single hurricane has made landfall in the US.
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Oh Fools, Where Art Thou?
9/22/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
Here’s a familiar refrain among our investing peers (tell us if you’ve heard this one before): The number of outstanding high-risk loans (specifically in the mortgage arena) will eventually lead to an unprecedented number of defaults once we hit the next recession.
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Mergermania!
9/20/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
When companies buy each other they take equity supply off the market and pay a premium for those shares.
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Could a Thai Coup Overthrow the Markets?
9/20/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
A story hit the wires around midday that Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has declared a state of emergency in response to a military coup.
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Japanese Businesses (Finally) Pay the Taxman
9/19/2006 By MarketMinder Editorial Staff
The Japanese government is going to have a fat wallet.
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