TXN hit a record high earlier todayTexas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) is red-hot today, sparking accelerated activity in the chip stock's options pits. The stock is up 7.7% at $129.28 -- fresh off a record high of $129.80 -- after the semiconductor firm's second-quarter earnings beat eased concerns over slowing global microchip demand, and most of today's options volume has occurred on th...Read More

The chip sector is propping up the tech-heavy Nasdaq The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is taking a breather today, down triple digits as the latest batch of blue-chip earnings reports disappoints. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are cautiously in the black, with the latter fresh off a new record high, as chip sector gains outweighthe scrutiny FAANG stocks are receiving...Read More

At least the FinancialTimes now has come clean about its hostility to gold – as well as to freemarkets and elementary journalism.GoldAnti-Trust Action Committee (GATA) friend Chris Kniel of Orinda,California, sent to the newspaper's chief economic columnist, Martin Wolf, theexcellent summary of gold and silver market manipulation justwritten by gold researcher Ronan Manly.Wolf replied derisi...Read More

Key data from Fastmarkets' Wednesday July 24 pricing session in Europe:Key drivers The ferro-titanium market has stabilized after a run of losses and while there was one sale around $4.50 per kg and below the current range, it was in isolation, with most sources expecting a stabilizing in the market. The ferro-titanium market is establishing a price floor, with producer supply cited to be in...Read More

- Dave KranzlerTexas Instruments reported its Q2 yesterday after the close. Revenues were down 9% YoY for Q2 and management forecast an 11% decline for Q3. The stock market rewarded this fundamental deterioration in TXN's business model by adding nearly $8 billion to TXN's valuation as I write this.The Dow Jones Transports index is up 1% on the news that the U.S. is sending envoys over to...Read More

Gary Savage - gold, silver update:Gary Savage Read More

The bull market has been chugging along for more than ten years, so there's little point in pretending we know precisely where or when it will end. However, neither should we ignore the fact that the Dow, having traded as high as 27,399, is mere millimeters from a key 'Hidden Pivot' resistance at 27,463. As a practical matter, because this is a logical place for a top of at least middling impor...Read More

Three things/events/economic data which can affect gold and silver till next week.1. European Central bank meeting tomorrow.2. US GDP numbers on Friday. 3. US-China trade talks. I do not think FOMC meet will have any impact on metals, energies or the US dollar Index. Interest rate cut has been factored in by the market. Gold and silver short-term investors need to c...Read More

In November, Christine Lagarde will replace Mario Draghi as the ECB President. Will gold warm up to her more than to Draghi? It remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Super Mario will not leave his position just like that. Gold investors should be prepared for his Grand Finale. Mario’s Grand Finale?In June, the ECB became more dovish, as it postponed the possible beginning of the inte...Read More

UPS announced second-quarter earnings and revenue that exceeded analysts' estimates The shares of package delivery concern United Parcel Service Inc (NYSE:UPS) are up this morning on second-quarter earnings and revenue that exceeded analysts' estimates. The company cited strengthening e-commerce deliveries and a higher demand in domestic shipments, driven by increased Next Day Air volume from Amaz...Read More

(Adds more comment)By Elizabeth PiperLONDON, July 24 (Reuters) - Boris Johnson has appointedDominic Cummings, an architect of Britain's Brexit campaign, asa senior adviser, a move his team hopes will help deliver thenew leader's "do or die" pledge to leave the European Union byOct. 31.The appointment of Cummings, known for a combative stylethat charms and offends in equal measure, was la...Read More

Our indicators showed a put-skew on Boeing and Visa before earningsWall Street is considering a barrage of earnings releases this morning, and two of the biggest names making headlines are Dow stocks Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) and Visa Inc (NYSE:V). Below is a brief breakdown of the news and numbers to watch for the shares of BA and V today. For Boeing, traders are considering the fallout from the compan...Read More

Fastmarkets is proposing changes to the specifications of its price assessments for stainless steel cold-rolled coil, Asia grade 304 (2mm), cif East Asian port, $/tonne and stainless steel hot-rolled coil, Asia grade 304, cif port East Asia, $/tonne.The proposed amendments to the location and quality of product to be assessed are made in response to changing market conditions. This will enable Fas...Read More

* Johnson is Britain's new PM, appoints ministers * Johnson vows 'no ifs or buts' Brexit * 'We can do a deal' - Johnson says * He promises to quit EU by end of October, come what may * Sajid Javid appointed finance minister(Adds appointments, Tusk)By William James and Kylie MacLellanLONDON, July 24 (Reuters) - Boris Johnson promised in hisfirst speech as prime minister to lead Britain out of theEu...Read More

The domestic prices for hollow steel sections in both Northern and Southern Europe widened this week, with increases proposed for trading done after the summer break, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday July 24.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?615-630 ($687-704) per tonne on Wednesday, widening downward from ?,?620-630 per ton...Read More

Boeing suffered a major loss of $5.82 per share, while Caterpillar also reported an earnings miss A disappointing day for blue chips in the earnings arena has Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures reversing course, signaling a roughly 100-point loss this morning. Trade-sensitive stocks Caterpillar (CAT) and Boeing (BA) are in the spotlight after CAT posted a second-quarter earnings and rev...Read More

The construction giant cited slowing Chinese sales for its earnings missCaterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) stock is down 5% in electronic trading, after the big-cap construction concern reported adjusted second-quarter earnings of $2.83 per share. Not only was this below the consensus estimate, but it was down 4.7% from its year-ago profit, on slowing demand in China. Revenue of $14.43 billion fell just...Read More

Gold hasn't been this expensive, in silver terms, in a quarter-centuryThis week, I'm looking at gold and silver, which are behaving very strange lately relative to each other. The chart below shows the two commodities since 2010. Gold has shot higher recently to its highest levels since 2013. Silver, on the other hand, has moved higher recently, but has significantly lagged behind gold. Gold/Silve...Read More

- Dave KranzlerTexas Instruments reported its Q2 yesterday after the close. Revenues were down 9% YoY for Q2 and management forecast an 11% decline for Q3. The stock market rewarded this fundamental deterioration in TXN's business model by adding nearly $8 billion to TXN's valuation as I write this.The Dow Jones Transports index is up 1% on the news that the U.S. is sending envoys over to...Read More

Gary Savage - gold, silver update:Gary Savage Read More