The chart above demonstrates how consumer spending typically lags GDP. One of the most gruesome features of our recent downturn has been the sheer depth of the unemployment crisis and how that has led to higher savings rates, leading to the need for businesses to lay off even more employees. Standard & Poors economists David…
Uncategorized
Large Cap Airlines Today's Big Winners Thanks To Oil Weakness
No one likes cheaper oil more than the airline stocks. I hate these names, never invest in them and I don’t even trade ’em. That said, they were the biggest winners on the day thanks to the weakness in crude oil. Check it on the 5 day chart: Congrats to those who played them. The…
Federal Debt Ceiling: What's Another $1.8 Trillion?
Source: Federal Debt Ceiling (IndyStar)
November Retail Sales Up On Gasoline, Autos Not a Factor
Real quick, looks like we have a gain over October and a better-than-expected number overall for November Retail Sales. And the “clunkers” were irrelevant… From CNNMoney: Retail sales jumped 1.3% in November, according to the Commerce Department, well more than the expected increase. Economists had expected retail sales to rise 0.6% from October, according to…
4 and a Half Minutes With Jim Rogers
The famed commodities investor and world traveler sounds off on his wish for the abolition of the Fed.
Exactly 9 Months Since the Bottom
It’s been exactly 9 months since the S&P 500 put in a bottom (March 9th). Hard to believe how far we’ve come since that day.
Greg Zuckerman on Paulson and the Gold Bubble Question
This morning I had the pleasure of attending a hedge fund industry event where the featured speaker was Gregory Zuckerman, the author of The Greatest Trade Ever. I was one of the few in the audience who had not yet read the book but a lot of what was discussed has already made it’s way into…
"I Will Not Sell Land in Florida"
Believe it or not, this one’s from Season 2 of the Simpsons back in the early 90’s. If only these words were heeded in, say, 2005. Source: Bart’s Blackboard
1 Trillion in US Credit Card Debt
Financial infographs like this one are especially interesting when they give you perspective on a global basis. This piece takes a look at the credit card usage and outstanding debt of US consumers vs that of other countries… Click to Embiggen! Source: Derri_Hasmi
A Roundup of Crude Oil Predictions and Targets
Remember when the producers of Diff’rent Strokes decided that Arnold wasn’t cute enough anymore so they brought on the quintessential red-headed stepchild, Sam, to ratchet up the adorable factor? Gary Coleman probably felt a lot like Crude Oil feels now that Gold has replaced it as the commodity speculators’ darling. Anyway, let’s take a look…
