Less than 60% of all U.S. corporations have beaten analyst estimates for Q4 profits. Revenue numbers are equally questionable, as the “beat rate” is only 54%. Both readings are the weakest since the bull market in stocks began in March of 2009.
Bespoke Research Group points out that forward guidance has been equally disconcerting. By analyzing the spread between the percentage of corporations raising guidance (expectations) [...] [...more]
It wasn’t that long ago that gold bears were sticking a fork in the yellow metal. And they had several reasons. The $300+ per ounce price drop was not attracting tons of bargain-hunters. What’s more, the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) had fallen below its 200-day trendline for the first time since 2009.
That said, precious metals have reclaimed their luster [...] [...more]
In January, some of the “risk on” attitude has favored the sector that many investors love to hate. That’s right… financial stocks are back on a roll.
That said, investors may be “smart” to dislike the financial segment. Wells Fargo notwithstanding, most of the banks have put forward terrible Q4 earnings and revenue numbers. The forward guidance [...] [...more]
ETFs for 2012, 2012 ETFs, 2012 Investing Preview, Gold ETFs, MLP ETFs
Click here to listen to the show: 01-01-2012
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U.S. stocks rallied 4% on the last day of November. Granted, China formerly announced that bank reserves would be lowered, a form of easing that hasn’t taken place in China in 3 years. And the ADP private payroll report on U.S. employment indicated a healthy pick-up in hiring.
Nevertheless, the primary driver for one of the best sessions in [...] [...more]
In spite of stock market woes in November, the spot price of crude has managed to push back towards the $100 per barrel mark. Not surprisingly, ETFs with exceptionally high correlations to oil such as Market Vectors Russia (RSX), have significantly outperformed the iShares MSCI All-World Fund (ACWI).
That said, Canada, the second largest non-OPEC producer, may also be worth a look. Don [...] [...more]
For better or for worse, there are a wide range of perspectives on the investments that are likely to do well over the next 6 months. And while nobody doubts the severity of the Eurozone crisis, each seems to see different opportunities in light of costly euro-baggage.
One portfolio manager believes that U.S. equities will remain [...] [...more]
There is an erroenous assumption that some investors make about Dividend ETFs. For one thing, many mistakenly believe that a fund needs to be labeled as a dividend exchange-traded product to provide a high level of income. For another, many fail to look overseas.
Granted, Vanguard Dividend Growth (VIG) is a fine example of capturing long-term [...] [...more]
How many major sectors of the U.S. economy are riding above their respective long-term, 200-day trendlines? 3 of the big 10 are.
Not surprisingly, Defensive Equity ETFs like SPDR Select Sector Utilities (XLU) and SPDR Select Sector Staples (XLP) made the cut. More surprisingly to some, however, is the recent emergence of a cyclical powerhouse like SPDR Select Sector [...] [...more]
Is it a loss of confidence in gold that has caused a 10% sell-off over the previous 5 trading sessions? Have under-performing hedge fund managers been forced to liquidate the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) — hedge fund managers like John Paulson who own super-sized stakes in the world’s largest gold ETF?
Data may suggest otherwise.
Futures traders have yet to close out [...] [...more]
