It is again that time when the earnings outcome of companies grabs all the attention. Analyst opinion, at this time, is usually centered on whether a company delivers an earnings beat or a miss. The first-quarter 2018 reporting cycle has almost crossed the half-way mark, with a robust picture of all-round strength. With solid earnings…
Cambridge Analytica is shutting down after becoming a staple in the media due to their involvement in the alleged manipulation of the 2016 United States Presidential Election. The company came under fire for their shady collection of user data and micro-targeted political ads that may have had a marked effect on the outcome of the…
The differences between investment vehicles can be confusing for many investors. For example, exchange traded funds (ETFs) and index funds (a type of mutual fund) can be a source of confusion largely because many investors think these two vehicles essentially represent the same type of product. The truth is, ETFs and index funds do have…
Argentina was perhaps the biggest success story of “reflation.” Left for dead in global markets as the hammer of the “rising dollar” pounded down on everyone, the country elected new leadership and began taking the right steps toward modern economic integration. That’s the story, anyway. What really happened was a bit different. The country that…
from the International Monetary Fund — this post authored by Vitor Gaspar and Laura Jaramillo Global debt hit a new record high of $164 trillion in 2016, the equivalent of 225 percent of global GDP. Both private and public debt have surged over the past decade. High debt makes government’s financing vulnerable to sudden changes in market sentiment….
One of the most consistent, easiest to understand and easiest to implement option strategies is covered calls. Investor sell or write a call options over stocks they own in exchange for collecting a premium. 1 call option contract represents 100 shares, so investors can sell multiple call options if they have a particularly large stock…
Apple Inc. (AAPL – Free Report) encouraged investors with robust second-quarter fiscal 2018 results, after the closing bell yesterday. The technology giant topped the earnings and revenue estimates and projected continued sales momentum, easing concerns about weak demand for iPhone that have put shares of AAPL under pressure in recent months. Additionally, Apple beefed up its plan…
As recently as the November 2016 election, the S&P 500’s dividend yield (2.0%+) was higher than the 10-year Treasury bond’s yield (1.75%). Many exclaimed that ultra-low interest rates alone justified extremely high stock valuations, including a GAAP-based price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 25. A year and a half later, the S&P 500’s dividend yield (1.8%) offers…
Inflationistas think a major inflationary move is at hand and they bet that with futures. I suggest the opposite. A commitment of traders (COT) report for 10-year treasuries shows record bets that treasury yields are headed higher. Large Spec Contracts Long: 606,022 Short: 1,058,155 Net Short: 452,133 Bullish: 36% Small Spec Contracts Long: 371,438 Short: 575,158 Net…
Tesla (TSLA) released earnings after the close today. The stock went up a little and then went down a little so it doesn’t look like there is going to be a huge afterhours impact. But it is what happens in the coming days and weeks with the stock that is going to be interesting because…
