It is natural that we measure things by a familiar yardstick - the problem is that being so-biased or lazy, we can be deceived. Take gold. Popular belief has it that gold prices have not performed especially well despite some egregious geopolitical and economic factors. Well measured in 72 currencies, gold is at ... or within a few percentage points ... of being at an all time high for people in t...Read More
The original estimate that the partial shutdown would subtract 0.1 percentage point from growth every two weeks has now been doubled to a 0.1 percentage point subtraction every week, according to a Trump administration official.The change is due to greater losses from private contractors also out of work and other government functions that have been halted.The administration's estimate is more agg...Read More
Federal government shutdown drags into its fourth week. Will it boost gold prices? US Government Shuts Down, Again Could you imagine life without a government? Now, you can. The federal government has been shut down since December 22nd, 2018. The government shutdown does not, of course, imply that the whole government is closed. Only non-essential discretionary federal programs and agencies close....Read More
Both AEO and ANF options are attractively priced as the stocks appear set to slideYesterday, retail stocks American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO) and Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE:ANF) were in focus after reaffirming their respective fourth-quarter sales forecasts. While the retailers aren't slated to report their full holiday-season results until the first week of March, both stocks could run into t...Read More
UnitedHealth stock is at the top of the Dow after earningsThe Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is modestly higher at midday, with UnitedHealth Group (UNH) leading the charge after earnings, overshadowing lackluster results from JPMorgan Chase (JPM). Meanwhile, Netflix (NFLX) is leadingtech stocks and helping the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) outperform, after announcing plans to raise subscription p...Read More
The company is teasing a "new relationship and material opportunity"The shares of New Age Beverages Corp (NASDAQ:NBEV) are higher today, as traders await the company's special conference call tomorrow. Specifically, the firm -- which is dabbling in CBD-infused drinks -- this morning said it will hold an investor call at 8:30 a.m. ET tomorrow, Jan. 16, "to provide a special business update on a new...Read More
A simple way to stop picking losers, and start cashing in like Wall Street's elite.Most traders would never believe that 9 out of 10 trades could be winners.But while it may sound impossible, thanks to a research breakthrough, it may not be as far-fetched as many think.JPMorgan's trading desk produced a 99.52% win rate from 2013 through 2017. That includes 2 straight years without a losing day....Read More
Fund flows data shows traders have piled back into SMH during the past weekThe VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (NYSEARCA:SMH) enters standard January options expiration week with its trading range clearly cut out for it. Overhead, we have the round century level of $100, which is currently about 9.4% north of the exchange-traded fund's (ETF's) Friday close. And hovering directly near this psychol...Read More
BloombergAn employee uses a hydraulic press at the Justin Paul Inc. manufacturing facility inside the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The numbers: The Empire State manufacturing index fell 7.6 points to 3.9 in January, the lowest reading in more than a year, the New York Federal Reserve said Tuesday. Economists had expected the index to inch up to 12, according to a survey by Econoday. The headline index has...Read More
BAC will report earnings ahead of tomorrow's openBig banks are starting to report earnings, with a rare profit miss for JPMorgan Chase (JPM) in focus today. Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) is scheduled to take its turn in the earnings confessional ahead of the open tomorrow, Jan. 16. While the stock is trading down 0.8% today at $26.17, the options market is expecting a bigger-than-usual post-earn...Read More
An overdue round of bull notes could create tailwinds for SBUXCoffee stock Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) recently bounced off its 80-day trendline for the second time this year. With the shares forming a symmetrical triangle and sitting just atop their post-earnings bull-gap levels from early November, SBUX could have found a new short-term floor. Analysts remain divided, so a round of bul...Read More
PLAY is set to take out its 80-day moving averageThe shares of Dave & Buster's Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ:PLAY) are up 4.5% at $53.05 in early trading, on upped guidance from the entertainment concern. Specifically, the company raised its full-year sales and net income forecasts. PLAY stock has been attempting a rebound, after a mid-December bear gap led the shares to shed 32.7% last quarter -- th...Read More
The FAANG name has started 2019 off on a bullish noteThe shares of Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) are up 2% to trade at $148.29 this morning, after Barclays weighed in on the social media sector, saying it is "slightly more optimistic" ahead of fourth-quarter earnings. For FB, specifically, the brokerage firm reaffirmed its "overweight" rating and $180 price target. And given Wall Street's extreme n...Read More
The big-box retailer is leaving CVS' pharmacy networksShares of CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS) are taking a hit this morning, after Walmart (WMT) said it will exit CVS-run pharmacy networks following a pricing dispute. CVS has requested the retail powerhouse continue to fill prescriptions as an in-network partner through April 30. According to the Wall Street Journal though, if Walmart doesn't agree,...Read More
Morgan Stanley boosted its rating on the IT services providerMorgan Stanley upgraded Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKAM) to "overweight" from "equal weight," saying the IT services company should benefit from accelerated security growth and stabilization in media. However, following the tech stock's recent technical troubles, the brokerage firm also cut its AKAM price target to $79 from $82, t...Read More
How you can transform lagging indicators into leading indicators.With the market action of the last few weeks, some traders may feel like they're working blind -- after all, who knows what the Dow will do next? With bulls and bears butting heads in their predictions, many investors are looking for a way to try and predict what's to come, to avoid losing any of their capital to sudden corrections a...Read More
A parliamentary vote on Brexit will take place in the U.K. todayDow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are pointed lower this morning ahead of a busy day on Wall Street. Investors are digesting subpar quarterly results from banking giant JPMorgan Chase (JPM), which reported a fourth-quarter earnings miss. This disappointment has offset encouraging developments abroad, after the People's Bank o...Read More
The floodgates are about to open, and early investors stand to reap some major rewards.Everyone knows: It's the casino that NEVER LOSES.And for years, the gaming industry has been stuck in a legal limbo, with black market bookies and smoky underground clubs soaking up billions in potential profits.But the floodgates are about to open to the general public.A key law outlawing online gambling across...Read More
Lion One Metals (TSXV: LIO) announced that it has just bought the drilling assets of Geodrill, which is located on Fiji's main island.The purchase would allow Lion One to prepare for drilling at its 100%-owned Tuvatu gold project on Viti Levu, also in the Fiji Islands.In a press release, the North Vancouver miner said that the Geodrill asset package includes one surface diamond drill rig capable...Read More
Gold's returns over time are unimpressive - if your comparison is stocks.But that's not really the relevant comparison, and in fact, gold can facilitate your ownership of stocks.The portfolio purpose that gold ultimately serves is as a cash equivalent that beats inflation and as a store of value when your dollars are not holding up.Gold's returns over time are unimpressive - if your comparison is...Read More