It wasn’t quite a QE III but it came close. This week the Federal Reserve Bank extended the time period in which they would keep a lid on short term interest rates to 2014 while at the same time pushing longer term rates lower. Investors liked that and bought stocks on the news. (more…)

It has been a long time since oil production in this country has been a source of growth. Between domestic regulation, depressed energy prices and off-shore projects, the action in oil has been elsewhere. Now that is beginning to change. (more…)

Problems, issues, challenges, call them what you may.  Nary a day has gone by when something, somewhere continues to put investors on edge. From the Straits of Hormuz to the infidelities of Republican hopefuls, the world appears to be full of surprises. Yet, the stock markets grind higher.

Markets will do what is most inconvenient for the most number of investors

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Over the last few years government authorities have gone after insider traders with increasing success. Now, news headlines indicate that there was actually a hedge fund club of sorts that regularly traded on illegal information.

FBI Operation 'Perfect Hedge'

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 After a week of slowly grinding higher on exceptionally low volume, the markets swooned on Friday. Europe, once again, was responsible.

Europe is back on the front burner

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Much has been made of the $78.9 billion profit that the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank made last year. All but $2 billion will be transferred over to the Treasury. It is a lot of money but in terms of return on capital it is less than spectacular, a mere 2.6%.

The Fed banked billions in 2011

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All week stock averages fluctuated, usually down in the mornings and popping up to moderate gains in the afternoon. This slow grind upward however, is largely dependent on what happens next in Europe.  So far there hasn’t been any thing new but that could change as Europe gets back in business after their long holiday season. (more…)

It is that time of year when market strategists stick their neck out and predict the future. No never mind that most, if not all, of their predictions will turn out to be wrong. Investors clamor for yearly forecasts regardless of accuracy, so here’s mine.

Volatility ahead

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Taxes are not my favorite thing. Like everyone else, I would like to see less, rather than more, taxes in my life. However, there is one tax under consideration in Congress that I fully support (more…)

 The dividing line that often separates bull from bear is the 200 day Moving Average (200 DMA). It is a technical term that tracks the moving average price of stocks over 200 days. All week equities have traded a little above or below that average, leaving investors uncertain of what awaits them in 2012. (more…)