Hot Links: This Year’s Big Bad Wolf

Stuff I’m Reading this Morning…

Japanese company takes over Jim Beam for $13.6 billion!  (DealBook)

Dividend payout ratios have even more room for explosive growth in 2014 based on historical standards and record cash balances.  (SDDT)

“A more robust U.S. economy could lift 2014 profits and boost corporate spending, giving some comfort to investors worried about bloated stock prices.”  (Reuters)

GOLDMAN: By Almost Any Way You Look At It, This Market Is Getting Expensive (BusinessInsider)

Speaking of Goldie, watch them buck the trend and take their Twitter price target UP on “accelerated innovation”.  (StreetInsider)

More reinforcement that China is this year’s Big Bad Wolf.  (BusinessInsider) see also Soros (TRB)

Looking at 2014’s early equity market leadership regime.  (DynamicHedge)

The technical case for going long gold here.  (ArmoTrader)

What if the future is better than we think?  (AWealthOfCommonSense)

Whitney Tilson: DDD is still a bubble and TSLA is too.  (ValueWalk)

Who’s the boss in the $2.4 trillion global exchange traded product space these days?  (MoneyBeat)

ICYMI: I killed myself on this piece about CAPE valuation this weekend, I hope you get something helpful out of reading it as I did while writing it.  (TRB)

Epic Trollsmanship from Citi: How Bitcoin is like North Korea.  (BusinessInsider)

And how about this: “A lot of business reporters are assholes. I’m not sure there are more assholes per capita in business journalism, but, by virtue of the job, they can be pretty high profile.”  Shots Fired!  (TalkingBizNews)

What’s the deal with China and its tacit acceptance of the whole North Korea shitshow?  (NYT)

What happens to your brain when you’re in love?  (MentalFloss)

 My book, Backstage Wall Street, available at Amazon

This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.

The commentary in this “post” (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Ritholtz Wealth Management employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Ritholtz Wealth Management LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Ritholtz Wealth Management or performance returns of any Ritholtz Wealth Management Investments client.

References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.

Wealthcast Media, an affiliate of Ritholtz Wealth Management, receives payment from various entities for advertisements in affiliated podcasts, blogs and emails. Inclusion of such advertisements does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof, or any affiliation therewith, by the Content Creator or by Ritholtz Wealth Management or any of its employees. Investments in securities involve the risk of loss. For additional advertisement disclaimers see here: https://www.ritholtzwealth.com/advertising-disclaimers

Please see disclosures here.