BREAKING NEWS: Huanggang now joins Wuhan (epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak) as the second Chinese city to be in “lock down” mode in an attempt to control and contain the fast spreading coronavirus, with authorities shutting down all modes of transport into and out of these cities. No planes, trains, or automobiles! Now while this [...]

Innocuous is defined as not harmful or offensive. In yesterday’s note, I suggested that at some point we would get an innocuous event that would cause markets to back off a bit. Was yesterday’s news “that event?” Stocks closed lower yesterday. It’s “Sleepless in Seattle” as the US has its first case of CoronaVirus. The [...]

Technology stocks continued to soar last week, rising nearly 3% as the broader tone of the markets settles down. Robust US economic data also added to the “feel good” mood and “better than expected” earnings in the financials (big banks) reinforced the fact that the consumer is alive and well. Toss in the better Chinese [...]

The music just doesn’t stop. As earnings continue to “blow the roof off the house,” MS, the most recent bank to report, stunned everyone with a beats on both the top AND bottom, with contributions coming from all four verticals. Investment Banking, Trading, Wealth Management and Asset Management (add in lower taxes) and BANG, the [...]

Ok, Ok already. They signed the deal… can we stop now? Yesterday’s signing does mark an advance for the administration and the closure to the Phase One conversation. Just so you know, here is a list of some of the purchases that China has agreed to: Agriculture: Soybeans, bovine meats, swine meat, wheat, fruit, jams [...]

Earnings did not disappoint today, as the season begins… “Deck the halls with boughs of Holly – fa la la la la, la la la, laaaaaaa – tis the season to be jolly – fa, la la la, la la la laaaaa…” Oh wait, that was last month. This month we should be singing – [...]

The S&P and Nasdaq do it again, managing to close at another record as the 4 pm bell rung at 11 Wall Street. The path of least resistance appears to continue to be UP. It is the usual suspects that continue to fuel the rally: easing trade and geo-political tensions, an accommodative FED (and other [...]

10:05 am, January 10th, 2020, the Dow tops 29,000! The S&P hits 3282, the Nasdaq 9235, and the Russell traded at 1666. The good times rolled on: easing geo-political tensions, signing of the Phase One trade agreement, coming earnings, and continued robust macro data all adding to the excitement.   Friday’s NFP (Non-Farm Payroll) reported [...]

“I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day. I think I can make it now the pain is gone, all of the bad feelings have disappeared. Here [...]

“…remember it is just the NEXT headline that can change the tone dramatically…” BREAKING NEWS – FLASHING HEADLINES “The Iranians are STANDING DOWN” “No Americans were harmed in the Tuesday night attack by the Iranians” “The US will immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime” And the one that sent Nancy Pelosi [...]