Tuesday, January 25, 2011

DailyMarkets.com - Review Of American Express Plum Card: A Rewards Business Credit Card That Gives You 1.5% Cash Back

DailyMarkets.com - Review Of American Express Plum Card: A Rewards Business Credit Card That Gives You 1.5% Cash Back

Review Of American Express Plum Card: A Rewards Business Credit Card That Gives You 1.5% Cash Back

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 07:35 AM PST

The Plum Card from American Express OPEN is a unique card for established business owners: You can decide each month whether you want to be rewarded for paying in full, or to defer your card payment. The Plum Card, issued by American Express (NYSE:AXP) is thus designed especially for those who want to be able to pay their bills in a more flexible way and also wish to enjoy exclusive Amex cardholder benefits.

Here I’ll do a detailed review of the Plum Card from American Express OPEN, one of the … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Stocks To Know For Tuesday: Bank of America, McDonalds, American Express, Intel, Berkshire Hathaway, Novartis

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 07:27 AM PST

US stocks advanced Monday, sending the Dow to its highest level since June 2008, as acquisitions, share-buyback plans and dividend prospects bolstered investors' optimism. Novartis's (NYSE:NVS) purchase of Genoptix kicked things off and And better than expected results from the likes of McDonalds (NYSE:MCD) and American Express (NYSE:AXP) helped to boost sentiment. American Express results also provided a read-through for the broader economy as it stated that consumer spending reached record … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Swiss Franc: Capped By A Negative Trend Line

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 07:18 AM PST

Update on supports and resistances. … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Japanese Yen: Under Pressure

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 07:18 AM PST

Update on supports and resistances. … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

British Pound: The Downside Prevails

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 07:18 AM PST

Update on supports and resistances. … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Euro: Under Pressure

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 07:18 AM PST

Update on supports and resistances. … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

US Consumer Confidence Jumps In December, Supports US Recovery Story

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 07:12 AM PST

For January
Provided by: Conference Board
Present Situation: 31.0, pr. 23.5 (Nov), 25.4 (Oct),
Expectations: 80.3, pr. 71.9 (Nov), 73.6 (Oct)
Very strong consumer confidence report from the Conference Board today. The overall index jumped to 60.6 in January from 53.3 in December, beating expectations by 6 points, and moving to the highest level since May of last year. That was before the US economy hit a "rough patch" in the summer. The increase came as a result of big jumps in both … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

VMware Misses, Shares Fall

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 07:05 AM PST

VMware Inc.'s (NYSE:VMW) fourth quarter 2010 earnings of 25 cents a share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 29 cents in spite of strong revenue growth that handily surpassed the Zacks estimate. Shares dipped $4.17 (4.75%) in after hours trading.
Operating Performance
Earnings (excluding one-time items) increased 56.3% year over year and 19.0% sequentially to 25 cents a share. The year-over-year growth was primarily attributed to strong revenue growth in the quarter.
In fiscal 2010, earnings … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Stock Market News Briefs: Corning Incorporated, J.C. Penney Company Holding Company, NYSE Euronext, Travelers Companies Inc, Vmware

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 07:05 AM PST

 Corning Inc. (NYSE:GLW) reported EPS of $0.46, ex-items, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Revenues for the quarter rose 15% year-over-year to $1.77 billion, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.626 billion

 Travelers (NYSE:TRV) reported Q4 EPS of $1.89, ahead of Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.67. Net premiums rose 1% year-over-year to $5.23 billion, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.163 billion. The insurer reported its full-year net income of $3.22 billion which … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Boost For VRX-GSK Epilepsy Drug

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 07:05 AM PST

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (NYSE:VRX) and GlaxoSmithKline plc (NYSE:GSK) recently said that the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended the approval of epilepsy drug, retigabine.
The companies had submitted the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for retigabine to the EMA in November 2009. The companies are looking to get retigabine approved as an adjunctive treatment for adults suffering from partial-onset … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Commodities Roiled By OPEC Warning And Inflation Shortfalls

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 06:40 AM PST

Stronger global activity is accompanied by a warning of elevated risks associated with the recovery in today’s World Economic Outlook report from the IMF. The dollar has strengthened as several global data-points undershoot the target leaving investors scratching their heads. Commodity currencies are feeling the weight of a lack of inflationary price pressures that had earlier invited them to find alternatives to the dollar for fear of capital losses.
U.S. Dollar – As commodity dollars and the … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Zions Beats Estimate, Trims Losses

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 06:35 AM PST

Zions Bancorp. (NASDAQ:ZION) reported fourth quarter 2010 loss of 25 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 37 cents and also improving upon the prior quarter's loss of 30 cents.
However, including non-cash effects of the discount amortization on convertible subordinated debt and additional accretion on acquired loans, Zions reported a fourth quarter net loss of $110.3 million or 62 cents per share. This compares unfavorably with the prior quarter net loss of $80.5 … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

RLI Corp. Beats Estimates

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 06:35 AM PST

RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) reported fourth-quarter 2010 operating earnings of $1.66 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 99 cents by 67 cents. Operating earnings were 49 cents ahead of $1.17 the year-ago period.
Operating earnings for the quarter were $35.1 million versus $25.3 million in fourth-quarter 2009. The improvement over the prior-year quarter may primarily be attributed to lower expenses and better performance at the Property and Surety … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

TI Sees Improving Demand In 2011

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 06:35 AM PST

Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE:TXN) reported fourth quarter earnings that were down 1.5% sequentially and up 37.2% year over year, beating the Zacks Consensus estimate by 8 cents, or 12.7%. TI's results were particularly heartening given the 3.66% average surprise percentage in the four preceding quarters and the lack of estimate revisions in the past few months.
Therefore the 2.45% decline in share prices could only be because of the continued decline in orders. TI stated — similar to analog … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Packaging Reports In Line Earnings

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 06:35 AM PST

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG) reported net sales of $627 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, up 18% year over year, but was short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $635 million. 
Packaging Corporation is the fifth largest producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products in the United States.
Corrugated products shipments were up 3.1% year over year. Outside sales of containerboards were up 8.6%. Containerboard production was 639,000 tons, up 6.4% year over … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

IEA: A New Superabundance Of Game-Changing Shale Gas Will Provide 250 Years Of Natural Gas

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 06:33 AM PST

BBC News – “The world may have twice as much natural gas than previously thought, according to the rich nations’ think tank the International Energy Agency (IEA). The world may have 250 years of gas usage at current levels thanks to “unconventional gas” from shale and coal beds, Anne-Sophie Corbeau, senior gas expert at the IEA told BBC News. Estimates may even be revised upwards.

Studies are underway into newly-recoverable sources, Ms. Corbeau said. “The gas story is huge. A few years ago … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Earnings Preview: Abbott Labs

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 06:06 AM PST

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is all set to announce its fourth quarter and full year 2010 results on January 26, 2011 before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fourth quarter is $1.29, representing a year-over-year increase of 9.3%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2010 is $4.17, up 12.1%. Abbott Labs has surpassed earnings estimates consistently in the last four quarters with a trailing four-quarter average of 1.01%.
Third Quarter 2010 Recap
Abbott Laboratories' third … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

American Express Comes Out Fair

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 06:06 AM PST

Yesterday, American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) reported fourth quarter operating earnings of 94 cents per share, well ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 90 cents and year-ago quarter of 59 cents. This excludes restructuring and other reengineering charges (related to the recent elimination of 500 jobs in the customer service operations) of $74 million (after-tax) or 6 cents per share.
Including the one-time charge, GAAP net income was $1.1 billion or 88 cents, up from $716 million or 60 … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Dovish BOC Reinforced As December’s CPI Underwhelms, CAD Retreats

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 06:01 AM PST

The Canadian Dollar reversed course last week, after having moved to the 0.9840 area last Tuesday. Since then, the USD/CAD returned back above parity at 1.0050 but for the past couple of sessions confined itself to a pretty narrow range between 0.99 and 0.9985.

Today' after testing the bottom part of that range near 0.99, prior to the release of the Canadian CPI data, we saw the pair move back in favor of the greenback following the release, rallying to just below the parity level.
Why the … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

GBP/JPY’s Bearish Targets

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 05:58 AM PST

Previous GBP/JPY post (1/21): Weekly Outlook – Flat Correction
GBP/JPY

- The GBP/JPY is no longer in a flat correction. In fact the strength of this move suggests it might be more than just a correction.
- Before getting ahead of ourselves, let's consider that it could just be a correction. A break below the current 38.2% and 61.8% fibonacci cluster targets 129.50-129.30 area. If that area is broken, we don't have to work as much about the bullish scenario developing anymore.
- In fact … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Amgen Beats, Guides In Line

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 05:36 AM PST

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) reported fourth quarter earnings per share of $1.15, 9 cents above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.06 and 11.7% above year-ago earnings. Higher revenues, a lower tax rate and lower share count helped drive fourth quarter results.
Full year earnings increased 5.8% to $5.12 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.01.
Total revenues increased 1% to $3,841 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. Revenues were slightly above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,803 … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Earnings Preview: Baxter

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 05:35 AM PST

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) is slated to report fourth quarter and fiscal 2010 results on Thursday, January 27. The company expects earnings per share in a range of $1.09 and $1.11 for the fourth quarter and in a band of $3.96 to $3.98, before any special items, for fiscal 2010. The current Zacks Consensus Estimates for the fourth quarter and fiscal year are $1.10 and $3.97 per share, representing an estimated 6.73% and 4.78% annualized growth, respectively.
Third-Quarter Recap
Baxter reported … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Forex Trading: EURUSD Maintains Support At 1.3575 To 1.3577

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 05:29 AM PST

GBP/USD Plunges And Targets 1.5660, 1.5350 And 1.53

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 05:27 AM PST

Video (1/24): A Look at the Greenback as the USD Index Retraces 61.8%
GBP/USD

- The GBP/USD plunged after failing to successfully break and sustain the break above 1.60. The 1.61 and 1.63 levels are put to the side as targets.
- The RSI in the 1H chart reflects bearish continuation staying mainly below 60, then plunging below 30. In the near-term this is oversold, and the market might by in a pause or consolidation.
- If after this consolidation, the market remains below the 1.59 area, we … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Occupational Licensing Gone Wild

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 05:24 AM PST

Public Enemy and Criminal Barber Dale Smith

An 82-year old Oregon barber (pictured above) with more than half a century of experience cutting hair (he was first licensed in 1957) is accused by government authorities in Oregon of “criminal barbering” because his government license to cut hair inadvertently expired in 2006.  Now state regulators want him to go back to barber school and pass a series of exams before he will be allowed to cut hair again legally. His barber shop is currently … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Forex Trading: GBPUSD Holding Above The 100 Day MA

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 05:17 AM PST

Praxair Wins Three Contracts

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 05:10 AM PST

Praxair Electronics, Praxair Inc's (NYSE:PX) Chinese unit, was recently awarded three contracts in China. Among the three, the first one was from ShanXi LuAn Solar Energy for the silane, ammonia and bulk atmospheric gases.
The second was from Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co. Ltd. for the supply of silane and finally the last came from Realforce Solar, a subsidiary of Realforce Group, for silane and ammonia gas.
Praxair at present has more than 15 such contracts on hand and this is going to take … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

EUR/USD’s Double Top And Confirmation

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 05:06 AM PST

Previous EUR/USD Post (1/24): EUR/USD Might See One More Rally Before Topping
Video (1/24): A Look at the Greenback as the USD Index Retraces 61.8%
EUR/USD

- The 1H chart in the EUR/USD shows the bearish attempt starting after yesterday's wave 5 rally.
- After the market developed a double top (its not a triple top because there were 2 rally attempts from the same base at 1.3630.
- When this base or support was broken, the market plunged, pulled back, and is now showing continuation.
- The … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Bank Of Israel Lifts Rates 25bps To 2.25%

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 05:06 AM PST

The Bank of Israel’s Stanley Fischer hiked the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.25% as Israel saw continued house price inflation, with house prices rising 17.3% over the past 12-months. Israel recorded inflation of 2.7% in 2010 (or 1.9% excluding the housing component from the CPI inflation measure), which was within the range of the price stability target (3% is the upper … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

UK Economy Contracts In 4th Quarter, GBP/USD Targets 1.56

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST

The main story overnight was the putrid 4th quarter GDP release from the UK. Expectations were that the economy is getting ready to cool as the government puts through austerity measures meant to help re-align the government's books.
Coming into the overnight release, forecasts had the economy growing 0.5% in the 4th quarter compared to the 3rd quarter. Instead the data showed that the UK economy shrank by 0.5% on the quarter, and grew by 1.7% growth on a year-on-year basis, against … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Forex – Dollar Mixed Vs. Rivals As U.K. GDP Data Sparks Risk Aversion

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 04:35 AM PST

Forex Pros – The U.S. dollar was mixed against its major counterparts on Tuesday, after data showing that Britain's economy contracted unexpectedly in the final quarter sparked renewed concerns over the global economic recovery.

During European early afternoon trade, the greenback was up against the euro, with EUR/USD sliding 0.11% to hit 1.362.

Earlier in the day, the order book for the European Financial Stability Facility’s inaugural debt issue closed with bids valued at EUR43 billion … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Forex – USD/CHF Tumbles To 3-week Low As Risk Appetite Fades

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 04:13 AM PST

Forex Pros – The U.S. dollar erased early gains against the Swiss franc on Tuesday, tumbling to a three-week low after data showing that Britian's economy contracted unexpectedly in the fourth quarter sparked a wave of risk aversion.

USD/CHF hit 0.946 during European early afternoon trade, the pair's lowest since January 4; the pair subsequently consolidated at 0.9468, shedding 0.24%.

The pair was likely to find support at 0.9325, the low of January 4 and resistance at 0.9522, the … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Canada Core CPI Declines More-than-expected In December

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 04:07 AM PST

Forex Pros – Core consumer price inflation in Canada fell more-than-expected in December, official data showed on Tuesday.

In a report, Statistics Canada said that its core consumer price index, which excludes the 8 most volatile items, fell by 0.3% in December, after posting a flat reading in November.

Analysts had expected core CPI to decline by 0.1% in December.

The report also showed that CPI, which includes more volatile food and energy costs, was unexpectedly flat in December, after … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

How The Active ETF Asset Class Mix Has Evolved

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 04:00 AM PST

For most of 2010, the large majority of assets in the Active ETF space were to be found in currency funds, all of which are run by WisdomTree Investments. As the chart below shows, as of July 31, 2010, there were 28 actively-managed ETFs in the US with $1.8 billion in assets, 66% of were in currency ETFs. 23% of the assets were in fixed-income funds, a measly 5% in equity funds and the remaining 6% in multi-asset class funds that invested across asset classes. It's interesting to see how the … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Forex – EUR/USD Softens As Dismal U.K. GDP Data Weighs

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 03:41 AM PST

Forex Pros – The euro softened against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday, after preliminary data showed that Britain’s economy suffered an unexpected contraction in the fourth quarter, dampening expectations for European interest rate hikes.

EUR/USD hit 1.3674 during European morning trade, the daily low; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.3623, slipping 0.09%.

The pair was likely to find support at 1.3539, Monday's low and short-term resistance at 1.3685, Monday's high and a nine-week … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Forex – GBP/USD Hits 8-day Low As U.K. Economy Contracts In Q4

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 03:11 AM PST

Forex Pros – The pound tumbled to an eight-day low against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday, after official data showed that Britain’s economy suffered a shock 0.5% contraction in the last three months of 2010.

GBP/USD hit 1.5752 during European morning trade, the pair's lowest since January 13; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.5781, tumbling 1.25%.

The pair was likely to find short-term support 1.5717, the low of January 13 and resistance at 1.6016, the day's high.

The Office for … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Be Warned, China Manufacturing PMI For January May Disappoint

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 01:00 AM PST

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.
The JP Morgan Emerging Market Bond Yield spread to U.S. Treasuries has been a remarkable leading indicator of China's manufacturing PMI, especially over the past 15 months. (Please note that the PMI is in reverse order on the axis.)

Sources: chineseshipping.com; I-Net Bridge; Plexus Asset Management.
Leading by one month, the yield spread indicates that the bond market in December expected China's … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

James Simons: Mathematics, Common Sense, And Good Luck – His Life And Careers

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 12:50 AM PST

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.
Don't expect to glean any market tips or trading secrets from James Simons, who steadfastly refuses to disclose the method behind his remarkable record in investing. Instead, listen to this mathematician, hedge fund manager and philanthropist sum up a remarkably varied and rich career, and offer some "guiding principles" distilled along the way.

James Simons: Mathematics, common sense, and … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Flash Eurozone PMIs: Rescued By Germany And France

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 12:00 AM PST

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.
The Markit Flash Eurozone PMIs for manufacturing and services, based on around 85% of usual monthly replies, were released yesterday. The manufacturing PMI dropped slightly to 56.9 in January from 57.1 in December, while the services PMI rose to a 2-month high of 55.2 from 54.2 in December.
Growth in the Eurozone is concentrated in France and Germany. Both Germany's manufacturing and services PMIs … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

ViaLogy Raises New Cash To Fund Oil Exploration Technology Roll-out

Posted: 24 Jan 2011 11:51 PM PST

Vialogy (LON:VIY) , the AIM listed technology company behind a system that helps oil companies identify drilling targets, has raised £1.25m in a share placing priced at 3p per share with existing shareholders. Cash raised from the move will be used to expand the company's energy business which uses its proprietary QuantumRD technology to discover and characterise hydrocarbon reservoirs and generate drilling targets.

Terry Bond, the chairman of ViaLogy, said: "This funding will help to … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Face To Face With John Hathaway On Gold And More

Posted: 24 Jan 2011 11:50 PM PST

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.

Eric King has just conducted an excellent interview with John Hathaway: Senior Managing Director & Portfolio Manager, Tocqueville Funds. John has almost fout decades of market experience and is known internationally for his writings about the U.S. economy, gold, silver, commodities and much more. He is one of the most respected institutional minds in the world regarding gold.
Click here or on … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Gross On Troublesome Dollar, Improving Economy

Posted: 24 Jan 2011 10:30 PM PST

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.
Bill Gross, founder of Pimco, talks to Barron's Michael Santoli at the Roundtable conference on the improving economic outlook for 2011. Problems loom with the declining dollar, government debt and high unemployment.

Gross on troublesome dollar, improving economy was first posted on January 25, 2011 at 8:30 am.
©2011 “Investment Postcards from Cape Town”. Use of this feed is for personal … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Meredith’s Muni Bond Meltdown Scenario: Paranoia?

Posted: 24 Jan 2011 09:45 PM PST

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.
Discussing whether Meredith Whitney's predictions on the muni bond market are overblown, with Thomas Doe, Municipal Market Advisors CEO, and Doug Dachille, First Principles Capital Mgmt CEO.

The chart below, courtesy of Barclays Capital (via Business Insider – Clusterstock) illustrates the "The Meredith Whitney Effect".
Click here or on the image below for a larger chart.

Meredith's … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Laugh Out Loud: Hu Reports Back …

Posted: 24 Jan 2011 09:30 PM PST

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.

Laugh out Loud: Hu reports back … was first posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:30 am.
©2011 “Investment Postcards from Cape Town”. Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at wordpress@investmentpostcards.com

Feed enhanced by the Add To Feed Plugin by Ajay … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Rand Strength Ebbed Fast

Posted: 24 Jan 2011 09:05 PM PST

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.
By Cees Bruggemans, Chief Economist of FNB.
As fast as Rand strength seemed to be gathering the one moment, in December reaching 6.55:$ and 8.70:€, with increasing concern about yet more strength to come in 2011, so fast has it been ebbing away the next moment as January saw rapid Rand sliding taking hold.
If it had anything to do with us, it had apparently more to do with rumour than fact.
With some … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

SA Growth Recovery So Far Narrowly Based

Posted: 24 Jan 2011 09:00 PM PST

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.
By Cees Bruggemans, Chief Economist of FNB.
For South Africa, the New Year (and decade?) kicked off with a few nice bangs.
Reported new car sales in December were 25% up on a year ago. Industry insiders were looking for another 10%-15% gain in 2011. Way to go!
——————–
Retail trade data was as happy for November 2010, sales volumes being up by 7.8% on year ago, ahead of consensus … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Inflationary Pressures Are Subsiding

Posted: 24 Jan 2011 07:58 AM PST

As this headline from the Wall Street Journal shows, inflation pressures are just beginning to be recognized by investors.
  

Figure 1. Headline WSJ

My composite indicator, which is constructed from the trends in crude oil, gold, and yields on the 10 year Treasury and which is a gauge of inflationary pressures, has been at extreme levels for the past 12 weeks.  The indicator is shown in figure 2,  a weekly chart of the SP500.  When the indicator is at such … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates
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