Bonds
Is Unemployment Good For The Stock Market?
I’m sure you’ve heard by now, the latest jobs report came out a few days ago. Yuck! Needless to say, it wasn’t pretty. Just last week I wrote how many economic indicators are clearly pointing towards a recovery. And then this happens… In case you didn’t see it, here’s a quick recap… The economy only […]
Is The Economy Really Improving?
Every week the financial news is flooded with economic data. There are reams of stats released to the public concerning anything and everything relating to the health of the economy. From the housing market and the labor market to consumer confidence and GDP… it can be daunting for the average investor to sort through. To […]
Muni Bonds: Muni Bond Plunge Begins…
Is the municipal bond market on the verge of collapse? If recent trading activity is any guide, it certainly looks like it. Over the past couple weeks, muni bonds have suffered their worst decline in almost two years. Take a look at a chart of the iShares S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund (MUB). MUB […]
Sarah Palin Doesn’t Understand Economics
It’s comical just how many politicians and members of the media have no understanding of economics. No clue. This utter lack of economics comprehension couldn’t be more apparent than with my least favorite politician, Sarah Palin. For whatever reason, the media loves Palin. Every speech she gives is covered by the news, ad nauseum. Now, […]
Federal Reserve: Quantitative Easing 2 Is A Dangerous Game
In the classic 1955 film, Rebel Without A Cause, 17-year old Jim Stark (played by James Dean) is pressured into playing a high-stakes game to resolve a dispute with school bully, Buzz Gunderson (played by Corey Allen). After Jim triumphs over Buzz in a knife fight, Buzz tries to regain his pride by challenging Jim […]
Inflation – Much Ado About Nothing
Well I was right… sort of. Last week I highlighted a key economic indicator – CPI, and why you should watch it closely. I also predicted the CPI would be positive for the month of September. And CPI was positive… as I predicted… but just barely. September CPI showed a 0.1% increase from August levels. […]
Where Big Ben Tells Us To Invest…
At just before 4:00 am on Friday morning our local pack of coyotes started howling. I’m certain they caught a rabbit and were enjoying a late dinner (or would that be an early breakfast?). Our three large dogs decided to earn their kibble for the week. In unison all three dogs started barking… loudly. Needless […]
Is Inflation Around The Corner?
I have a quick question for you. Are you more concerned about inflation or deflation? Off the top of your head, which do you think is the bigger issue? If you’re having trouble answering that question, you’re not alone. Even the experts can’t figure it out. There are a lot of moving parts. And the […]
Keep Your Mouth Shut!
Sometimes I get so frustrated I want to YELL at my computer screen. Do you know what I mean? You’re surfing the web or reading the paper, when you come across a provocative article. It’s often something simple… and you can feel your face get flush. Your blood is literally about to boil. It’s a […]