Searching for Yield?
Here’s a strategy to earn attractive yields without risking significant principal….
Here’s the $64,000 Question
The answer to this question could determine the fate of the current bull market in stocks.
A Miracle Metal
This relatively unknown metal could revolutionize energy production. Find out why and which country is the leader in reserves.
A Proposal 83% of Americans Support
Caroline Baum writes that 83% of Americans would support term limits in the House and Senate. Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina has introduced a “Term Limits for All” constitutional amendment. His amendment would limit every House member to three terms and every senator to two.
Wall Street’s Dirty Secret
The New York Times ran a must-read article this week on the important differences between brokers and investment advisors. As I have written in the past, the difference between brokers, or self-labeled “financial advisors” who work for big brokerage houses, and registered investment advisors is stark. Brokers are held to a suitability standard whereas investment advisors are held to a fiduciary standard.
Avoid These Securities
One sector of the financial markets that is greatly underpricing risk today is municipal bonds. State and local governments are facing extraordinary budget pressure.
A Snapshot of the Economy
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) came out this week. The LEI increased 0.3% from December. Each month when the Conference Board releases the leading, coincident, and lagging indicators, my staff sends me an updated table of the numbers.
A Grave Threat
Olivier Blanchard, the IMF’s top economist, is calling for a doubling or tripling in the rate of inflation. He wants central bankers to raise their inflation targets to 4%-6% from an average of 2% today. What would possess anyone to recommend more inflation?
Is this Round Two?
Global equity markets have sold off sharply to start 2010. The risk trade that worked so well last year is getting creamed. A flight to quality is underway. Investors are concerned over the sustainability of mounting debt and deficits of weaker Euro member states.
A Threat to Global Economic and Financial Stability
There is an emerging real-estate bubble in China. Ultra-loose monetary policy in the U.S. and an over-the-top stimulus plan in China, coupled with a pegged yuan, have created optimal bubble conditions.