Prior to this week the FDIC had closed just over100 banks. However after “FDIC Friday” nine banks shut their doors, mostly due to plunging real estate values in the western US that eroded the value of the collateral backing the loans. Read more…
Oil’s climb to $80 per barrel is indicative that the economic wheel’s are turning. Stimulus efforts, deficit spending and infrastructure investment has giving economic activity a jump, however the fundamentals remain weak. Read more…
I never thought derivatives would get their day in the spotlight with retail investors. Already offered to investors are futures, options, and in other countries, contracts for difference. This new and interesting exchange could be the start of something big for retail investors. Read more…
Banks will pay out more in bonuses in 2009 than any other year in history. Amid bailouts and special accounting gifts from government, some are feeling ripped off while others view the bonuses as just a cost of business. Here are a few viewpoints and solutions, and we’d love for you to leave yours in the comments section. Read more…
China’s economic growth surged to 8.9% in the third quarter of 2009, returning China to 2007 when its economy was hot and heavy in import cash. Much of the growth is from its $586 billion stimulus program. So why is China’s stimulus working so well when the US stimulus hasn’t seemed to make a dent. Read more…
Before delving into calculating alphas and betas, rooting through each and every line of quarterly report to find how businesses are spending R&D capital or drawing trendlines, there are a few things each and every investor should do. Number one priority is straightening out a budget. Read more…
It is not very often that investors get the chance to invest in a Latin American nation as solid as Brazil. After its stock market’s have surged nearly 100% year to date, the economic fundamentals of the nation have been solidified. Brazil is a country that has earned your long term investments.
Read more…
As many have seen I have been incredibly anti-ETFs in the past. But for one demographic, ETFs may serve a very underserved demographic-those reaching retirement age. Read more…
As traders prepare for another bout of earnings, analysts are most focused on the banking sector. Strong stock returns since March 9 may help banks clear earnings season with a positive number, even as loan losses continue to grow. Read more…
If it wasn’t already, its official: green tech and solar stocks are going to be the next big thing for the US stock markets. With so much federal cash flowing into energy reduction/conservation, and key players hopping on board, the new wave in energy is looking like it may be the next investment bubble too. Read more…
Gold’s recent surge has some investors wondering if gold might be the next bubble. After having already quadrupled in price since 2003, some worry that gold may soon take a breather. But there are many fundamental and techincal reasons as to why $900 gold might not be back for some time to come. Read more…
The first central bank has given its own stamp of approval to the current economic environment. The Reserve Bank of Australia upped its overnight rate 25 basis points to 3.25%. Though its a small step, it certainly demonstrates RBS’s view of the world economy. Read more…
Investors have for a long time feared October and embraced August. October, of course, is the worst average month for stock returns with the Great Depression beginning in October. August, on the other hand, performs well, which has been attributed to a Congress on recess. Read more…
