Oil prices may have run from $64 to $75 in recent weeks. But that’s nothing compared to what some experts say may be coming, as major oil companies continue to underinvest in the exploration of new oil reserves. In fact, analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. just noted: “Investors who had egged on management…
DetailsAfter hitting an 18-year low of 3.8% in May 2018, the unemployment rate inched up to 4% in June because another 600,000 Americans joined the work force. “Admittedly, the unemployment rate did rebound to 4.0%, from 3.8%, but that was only due to a 601,000 surge in the labor force,” noted analysts at Capital Economics,…
DetailsFor quite some time, Bitcoin was the hottest trade of the decade. At almost $20,000 near the end of last year, it outperformed stocks, bonds, gold and real estate. And for many investors, it became the “can’t lose” trade of the decade. It didn’t last. It’s been extremely volatile and has been falling. Recently, it…
DetailsSix months ago, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. “Six months ago, we unleashed an economic miracle by signing the biggest tax cuts and reforms,” Trump said, as quoted by Real Clear Politics, lauding “six months of new jobs, bigger paychecks and keeping more of your hard earned money where it belongs,…
DetailsOil prices have been moving at a rampant pace over the last month. While crude took a bit of a breather over the last few weeks, prices quickly resumed their ascent on concerns that a boost to supply won’t be enough to offset a growing list of supply issues. In fact, since the middle of…
DetailsWith worries escalating about a trade war, there’s plenty of “blood in the streets.” But you wouldn’t know it looking at small cap stocks. Since the start of the year, the Russell 2000 small cap index has gained 7%. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones is now down 3% on the year with the S&P 500 up…
DetailsThis could open the floodgates of opportunity in marijuana stocks. Just last week, the Canadian Senate overwhelmingly passed Bill C-45, also known as the Cannabis Act, which legalized the use of recreational marijuana. The law goes into effect on October 17. While it’ll take Canadian provinces a few weeks to ramp up for likely demand,…
DetailsThe trade war with the U.S. and China may get worse before it improves. On July 6, 2018, the Trump Administration will tack 25% tariffs on top of existing duties to 818 Chinese imports valued at nearly $34 billion. Another 284 products, worth about $16 billion, could meet the same fate shortly thereafter. “The United…
DetailsWhile two of the world’s largest economies escalate a trade war, investors don’t seem terribly worried. In fact, they don’t seem bothered by it at all. That’s probably because markets have been flooded by similar news for weeks now. Granted, the Trump Administration is moving ahead with a 25% tariff on $50 billion of Chinese…
DetailsLast week, a federal judge ruled in favor of AT&T, allowing it to absorb Time Warner in a deal valued at $85 billion. The Department of Justice’s loss of its landmark challenge of that mega-merger has set the stage for a raft of likely deals. You may remember that the Justice Department filed suit in…
DetailsThe U.S. consumer is alive and quite well. In fact, they spent a good chunk of their paychecks on retail in May 2018, adding even more fuel to an explosive U.S. economy. U.S. retail sales were up 0.8% month over month to $502 billion, according to the U.S. Commerce Department, marking the biggest month over…
DetailsCrude oil (WTI) prices have slipped from a lofty recent high of $73 to a low of $64, recovering slightly to $66. But it’s not time to panic. Instead, it may be time to buy on the dip, and let it rip. In recent weeks, Russia and the Saudis hinted they may boost oil production…
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