Most Recent Articles
Lacy Hunt on the Roadblock to Recovery by Robert Huebscher
'The fundamental key to prosperity is not governmental financial transactions, or even private sector financial transactions,' according to Lacy Hunt, the widely respected economist at Hoisington Investment Management, with whom we spoke last week. 'The key to prosperity is the hard work and creativity of our individuals in businesses.'
Most Recent Commentaries
Some Facts About the 'Falling' Unemployment Rate by Mike 'Mish' Shedlock of Sitka Pacific Capital Management
Given the complete distortions of reality with respect to not counting people who allegedly dropped out of the work force, it is easy to misrepresent the headline numbers. Digging under the surface, the drop in the unemployment rate is nothing but a statistical mirage.
FDIC-Insured Structured Certificates of Deposit & Investors Reaching Their Financial Goals by Dave Siebert of Advisors Asset Management
The safety that Structured CDs provide, in terms of the return of principal when held to maturity in addition to FDIC insurance, may have the calming effect that an investor who has reached their destination is looking for while the performance of said CD linked to some underlying asset class (commodity, currency, equity or fixed-income) may be what the investor who is still traveling to their destination is seeking in order to reach said destination.
Strong January, Strong 2012? by Kevin D. Mahn of Hennion & Walsh
We are encouraged by the strong start to the New Year and some of the recent economic data reports. Yet, with all of this mounting optimism, we are mindful that the first half of 2012, at a minimum, is still likely to be volatile as headwinds still persist in our view.
Drudge, Tyler Durden and Economic Ignorance by Brian Wesbury of First Trust Advisors
There is a group of influential people (meaning that they get lots of hits on their blogs or websites) who may be articulate and have an ax to grind, but at the same time know little about economics, mathematics and data. A classic example is the Drudge Report link today to a headline and blog post by Tyler Durden that says, Record, 1.2 million people fall out of labor force in one month
Still Losing the War on Unemployment by Mohammed El-Erian of PIMCO
The first Friday of every month, you will find me among those eagerly waiting for the release of the latest government data on jobs. Such eagerness, however, should not be confused with joyfulness. While the numbers have markedly improved over the past year, too much of the commentary has been overly partial and, sometimes, dangerously misleading a situation that is likely to grow worse in the run-up to the November elections.
In the Bullring With Gold by Frank Holmes of U.S. Global Investors
We anticipated that the Year of the Dragon would spur an increase in the buying of traditional gifts of gold dragon pendants and coins. Gold buying did hit new records, says Mineweb, with sales of precious metals jumping nearly 50 percent from the same time last year, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Commerce. This should serve as a warning to all of golds naysayers. Gold bullfighters bewareyou now have to fight the gold bull while fending off a golden Chinese dragon.
ECRI Recession Call: Growth Index Contraction Eases Again by Doug Short of Advisor Perspectives (dshort.com)
The Weekly Leading Index (WLI) growth indicator of the Economic Cycle Research Institute (ECRI) posted -5.2 in its latest reading, data through January 27. The latest public data point is a reduced contraction from last week's -6.6 (a slight downward revision from -6.5). This is the highest level (i.e., least negative) since late August. The underlying WLI increased fractionally from an adjusted 122.7 to 123.2 (see the third chart below).
Global Markets Rally on Moderating Global Risk and Positive Fundamentals by Doug Cote of ING Investment Management
The so-called January Effect typically causes equity markets to explode out of the gates only to fizzle out after the second week of the month. January 2012 was different, however, as the equity market delivered four weeks of moderate but relentlessly positive returns on the back of easing global risks. Meanwhile, volatility broke below 20 for the first time since last May. Investors on the sidelines barely noticed the explosive performance, nor did a media that nonchalantly labeled it a stealth rally There is nothing stealthy about a 4.5% monthly return!
Bob Doll Believes the Recent Equities Rally Could Continue by BlackRock
Conditions have improved compared to last quarter, with the US economy showing signs of acceleration and European policymakers moving further along the path of progress. With the bearish tone receding, investors should consider moving into "risk" assets and out of "safe" assets, especially on pullbacks.
Barry Eichengreen on the End of the Dollar by Dan Richards
Barry Eichengreen is a professor of economics and political science at the University of California, Berkeley and a former senior advisor to the International Monetary Fund. In this interview, he discusses the future of the dollar as the reserve currency and the role of the IMF in the Eurozone crisis. This is the transcript of the interview.
Barry Eichengreen on the End of the Dollar - Video by Dan Richards
Barry Eichengreen is a professor of economics and political science at the University of California, Berkeley and a former senior advisor to the International Monetary Fund. In this interview, he discusses the future of the dollar as the reserve currency and the role of the IMF in the Eurozone crisis. This is the video of the interview.
A 13-Point Plan for Top Clients by Dan Richards
Time is our scarcest currency. We must be cautious about taking on significant new commitments, and the only exception is when there's absolutely clear cut evidence of a substantial return. That's why a simple way to get your top clients to look forward to your meetings is incredibly important.
Why Target-Date Funds Fail by Robert Huebscher
New research explains why target-date funds have failed to meet investors' objectives. While most of the criticism has been directed to overly aggressive glide paths, that is merely a symptom of the underlying problem - the misalignment of incentives between investors and fund companies.
Letters to the Editor – Reinhart and Rogoff by Various
Several readers respond to Robert Huebscher's article, Beyond Reinhart and Rogoff, which appeared last week.
Michael Lewis on the True Depth of the Crisis in Europe by Larry Siegel
Michael Lewis is a financial writer and author, most recently of Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World, in which he reported on the European debt crisis from several of the affected countries. In this interview, he discusses a range of topics, including the future of Wall Street and the challenges of great financial writing.
