Oil analysts haven’t been this divided in 8 years: What’s an investor to do?

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description: Standard Chartered Plc’s Paul Horsnell forecasts oil will rise to US$90 a barrel in the fourth quarter. Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Francisco Blanch predicts US$58. Six months ago, they were just US$1 apart. Source: NationalPost.com/Bloomberg – video report Date: March 26, 2015 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2015/03/27/oil-analysts-havent-been-this-divided-in-8-years-as-market-gets-messier-so-whats-an-investor-to-do/?__lsa=62a8-b7e6 Questions for Discussions: What are the reasons for diverse… Read more »

Investors fly away from U.S. stock funds at a rate last seen in 2009

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description: Don’t expect European inflows to keep up torrid pace: analysts Source: MarketWatch.com Date: March 28, 2015 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/investors-flee-us-stock-funds-at-a-rate-last-seen-in-2009-2015-03-27 Questions for discussion: Why are investors moving into European stocks? When do you think it will taper off?

Will the Fed raise interest rates to the detriment of the stock market?

Posted by & filed under Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Market Analysis.

Description: Fortune senior editor Stephen Gandel and writer-reporter Christopher Matthews discuss if the Federal Reserve raising interest rates is a good thing for the economy long-term. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: March 13, 2015 Link: http://for.tn/1b8kdxr Questions for Discussions: Summarize the commentaries about a rate hike and the consequences for the economy? What do… Read more »

Are Alibaba’s Problems Expiring Along With Its IPO Lockup?

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Description: Starting today, some of Alibaba’s earliest investors can sell their stakes, six months after the company went public in the biggest market debut in history. Source: Forbes.com Date: March 18, 2015 Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurengensler/2015/03/18/alibaba-ipo-lockup-expiration/ Questions for Discussions: What contributed to the recent decline in the stock price? What would suggest better prices in the not too distant… Read more »

Stocks get crushed on strong dollar

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Description: Jim Awad, Chairman of Plimsoll Mark Capital, explains why a strong dollar led to the Dow tanking 333 points and what effect it might have on the Federal Reserve raising interest rates. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: March 10, 2015 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2015/03/10/stock-market-crushed-dow-down-333-strong-dollar.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: What does Jim Awad suggest is at the… Read more »

Oil rally is a “short squeeze” that won’t last: Trader

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Description: Todd Horwitz, founder at AverageJoeOptions.com, joins The Close to explain why he believes the current rally in crude oil prices won’t last long. Though he suspects oil will eventually recover to $65 or $75 per barrel, he believes this rally won’t lift prices to those lofty levels. Source: BNN.ca – video report Date: Feb… Read more »

Bullish Dollar Super Cycle to Push on Companies: O’Rourke

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Description: Michael O’Rourke, chief marketing strategist at Jonestrading, discusses how businesses are dealing with the strong U.S. dollar. He speaks on “In The Loop.” Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Jan 28, 2015 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2015-01-28/bullish-dollar-super-cycle-to-push-on-companies-o-rourke Questions for Discussions: Summarize the analysis presented by Michael O’Rourke. Do you agree with his assessments with respect to currency… Read more »

How 2014’s Huge Market Moves Are Affecting the Economy in 2015

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Description: Global financial markets made a series of epic moves in the second half of 2014: toward a sharply lower price of oil, much lower interest rates, and a far stronger dollar. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Jan 28, 2015 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/28/upshot/how-2014s-huge-market-moves-are-affecting-the-economy-in-2015.html?ref=economy&abt=0002&abg=0 Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights presented in this report. Do you agree with the… Read more »

Currency trading isn’t for amateurs

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Description: There should be a sign hanging outside the foreign-exchange market that reads: Amateurs need not apply. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: Jan 21, 2015 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2015/01/21/investing/fxcm-swiss-currency-trading/index.html?iid=HP_River Questions for discussion: Why is currency trading so risky, according to the report? Why does it attract traders?