Gold has big year in 2020 and outlook for this year robust. Learn about monetary expansion and gold future prices.Read More
The gold futures price reached US$1,767/ounce this week before retreating, which was the second time it has surpassed US$1,760 in the past two months, marking some of gold's highest levels in several years.Read More
Bloomberg said GE has filed IPO papers for its healthcare unitThe shares of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) are trading up 7.1% today at $7.79, after Bloomberg reported the company has filed confidentially for an initial public offering (IPO) of its healthcare unit. Plus, GE stock was upgraded for the second time in the past week -- with Vertical Research Partners lifting its rating to "buy" --...Read More
The healthcare concern is pulling textured breast implants from European marketsThe shares of Allergan plc (NYSE:AGN) are getting crushed today, after the company pulled its textured breast implants from the market in Europe. Late yesterday, France's regulatory body issued a recall request for the implants, saying they've been linked to a rare type of cancer. There is no evidence that women who ha...Read More
The retailer will report earnings after tomorrow's closeIt's been a volatile stretch for Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) stock, per its 60-day historical volatility of 30.4% -- in the 100th annual percentile. The options market is expecting even more volatility for NKE shares after the athletic apparel retailer reports earnings after the market closes tomorrow, Dec. 20.Specifically, Trade-Alert places the imp...Read More
Both drug stocks have pulled back from multi-year highs Despite today's gains, the healthcare sector has been under pressure lately amid the recent Obamacare court ruling. If history is any guide though, there could be clear skies ahead for blue chip Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) and cardiovascular disease specialist Amarin Corporation (NASDAQ:AMRN), both of which are flashing the same bullish s...Read More
The Dow is eyeing a second straight win at middayThe Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is gaining for the second straight day, as Caterpillar (CAT) pops on the latest trade news. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are higher, as well, though today's gains are coming amid low trading volume, with traders taking a wait-and-see approach before the Fed's policy decision this afternoo...Read More
The company's 2019 forecast exceeded expectationsShares of Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY) are up 3.2% to trade at $109.85, after the company issued 2019 guidance above analyst expectations. The pharmaceutical giant cited high demand for some of its newer medicines, and lifted its quarterly dividend by 15%. LLY stock has remained relatively strong amid the broader stock market correction. The shares t...Read More
A pair of retail stocks could suffer after the Fed statementDespite public pleading from President Donald Trump and recent dovish commentary from Fed Chair Jerome Powell and company, the Fed is widely expected to announce another rate hike this afternoon. Since the current tightening cycle began in 2015, rate hikes have preceded weaker-than-usual price action for the broader S&P 500 Index (SPX). W...Read More
Morgan Stanley said the bottom still isn't in sight for the chip sectorAs Wall Street digests a post-earnings slide from Micron Technology (MU), other chip stocks are in focus, as well. This follows a note out of Morgan Stanley that urged investors to "stay cautious" on the semiconductor industry, with the firm calling out weakness from almost all key markets, on top of valuations it still sees as...Read More
A steel trade group argued that the statute under which the US Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports were issued was unconstitutional, according to oral arguments during a US Court of International Trade (CIT) hearing on Wednesday December 19. The American Institute for International Steel (AIIS) alleged that the statute violates the constitutional prohibition against Congress delegati...Read More
UAA stock is lower after the bear noteJ.P. Morgan Securities cut its price target on Under Armour Inc (NYSE:UAA)to $21 from $25, though this is still an 11.6% premium to last night's close. In reaction, UAA stock is down 1.2% to trade at $18.58, but finding support near its 320-day moving average, which served as a floor in late October, too.The pullback to this trendline could signal a short-term...Read More
CloseGain/LossGold $1242.00-$7.30Silver$14.58-$0.06XAU66.61-5.67%HUI150.99-5.83%GDM558.39-4.33%JSE Gold1355.53+27.10USD97.06UNCHEuro113.72+0.08Yen89.30+0.12Oil$47.20+$0.9610-Year2.780%-0.043T-Bond144.84375+0.375Dow23323.66-1.49%Nasdaq6636.83-2.17%S&P2506.96-1.54% The Metals: Gold edged up to $1251.40 in Asia before it dropped back to $1246.80 in London and then jumped up...Read More
Mnuchin said the U.S. and China will begin face-to-face negotiations in JanuaryIt's set to be another positive session on Wall Street today, with Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures trading above fair value this morning. Traders are reacting to new U.S.-China trade headlines, with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin telling Bloomberg News that the two countries will meet next month to restart...Read More
CloseGain/LossGold $1242.00-$7.30Silver$14.58-$0.06XAU66.61-5.67%HUI150.99-5.83%GDM558.39-4.33%JSE Gold1355.53+27.10USD97.06UNCHEuro113.72+0.08Yen89.30+0.12Oil$47.20+$0.9610-Year2.780%-0.043T-Bond144.84375+0.375Dow23323.66-1.49%Nasdaq6636.83-2.17%S&P2506.96-1.54% The Metals: Gold edged up to $1251.40 in Asia before it dropped back to $1246.80 in London and then jumped up...Read More
By Craig HemkeLast week, we succinctly laid out for you what to expect for the end of this year and into 2019. Though, there are many reasons for optimism regarding higher precious metal prices next year, understand that The Banks are already taking steps to fight us every step of the way. In case you missed it, here is the post from last week. The key takeaway is that Comex precious metal price...Read More
By David SmithOver a year ago in this space, you may have read my rationale for not closing out core metals and mining stock positions after the May 2011 intermediate top (which turned out to be a longer term!) in the resource sector. (By the way, David Morgan called that top to his subscribers -- to the day.)I held those positions in spite of having written down on paper a decade earlier my int...Read More
By Frank HolmesCommodity traders appear excited about gold again as stocks are on pace for their worst year since 2008, and their worst December since 1931. Bullish bets on the yellow metal outnumbered bearish ones for the week ended December 11, resulting in the first instance of net positive contracts since July, according to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) data.click to enlargeAs...Read More
As part of Merk's in-house research we regularly evaluate a consistent set of charts covering the economy, equities, fixed income, commodities and currencies. The aim is to keep our eyes open and to look through the noise of the headlines, avoiding the distractions of sensationalized click-bait. In sharing this content, we offer a cross-check to your own thinking and aim to add value to your own...Read More
I'm prone to remind readers from time to time that I don't have a crystal ball. Although I hit forecasting bullseyes often enough, this feat is just a cheap parlor trick for anyone even a little bit familiar with the Hidden Pivot Method. Under the circumstances, I probably shouldn't be too disappointed when the crystal ball I insist that I don't have fails me.Or has it? Yesterday I wrote that...Read More
By George SmithThe Christmas Truce of 1914 is remembered today as something of a miracle, and based on letters the soldiers had written home it struck them much the same way.How could it be that men can stop killing each other for a day after five months of mutual slaughter on the battlefield? Nor did they merely take a time out, but fraternized, much to the displeasure of their high command....Read More
- Review of 2018: 'Everything bubble' started bursting- International stock market indices and many property markets have fallen sharply- S&P 500 -4.5%, Nikkei -8%, EuroStoxx 50 -12.5%, FTSE -13%, DAX -16.5%- Of 54 major international stock market indices, only 6 are higher (see table below)- Global property bubble bursting - London, Sydney and Vancouver fall nearly 10%- Crypto bubble burst a...Read More