FeedPosted Nov 17th 2009 3:20PM by Sheldon Liber (RSS feed)
Filed under: International markets, Bad news, Rants and raves, China, Employees, FedEx Corp (FDX), Headline news, Federal Reserve, Recession
The only thing that has been devalued faster than our precious dollar is the perpetual slide in government credibility. Over the years we have heard countless times about the importance of a strong dollar from our leaders.
"Our administration believes in and will do everything in its power to support a strong dollar" or something like this has been spewed out by Republicans and Democrats alike, yet there is little evidence that the policies put in place over the past century have done anything of the sort. Perhaps there was one person that took the heat and did the right thing -- Paul Volcker, during the Carter administration, who had to deal with dizzying inflation.
Continue reading Will Americans be working for Chinese wages?
Posted Nov 17th 2009 3:00PM by Steven Halpern (RSS feed)
Filed under: International markets, India, China, Russia, Newsletters, Commodities, Stocks to Buy
Daniel Frishberg -- a former Wall Street insider and the current host of BizRadio -- offers an intriguing glimpse behind the scenes of the gold market.
In his The Moneyman.com Gold & Oil Report, he questions the role of not just overall market fundamentals, but short positions held by institutions. He also looks to a new long positions in silver.
Frishberg explains, "There are plenty of reasons to be bullish on the future of gold prices, including a weak US dollar. Further, India's Central Bank recently announced their purchase of gold from the IMF. Russian and Chinese Central Bankers have also expressed an interest in purchasing the remaining IMF gold.
Continue reading Gold and silver: Frishberg looks behind the scenes
Posted Nov 17th 2009 11:00AM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: India, China, Brazil, Russia, Avon Products (AVP), Clorox Co (CLX), Colgate-Palmolive (CL), Procter and Gamble (PG), Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
The rest of the world is going to help U.S. consumer product manufacturers next year. Look for international growth to push the likes of Colgate-Palmolive (CL), Avon (AVP) and Clorox (CLX) higher in 2010, according to Fitch Ratings. In an interview with Reuters, a director gave the Fitch's outlook for consumer goods.
The household and personal care segments increased revenue every year from 2003 to 2008. So, 2009 was but a bump in the road. Even in a recession, you need toilet paper and shampoo, so expect the spending to come back.
Continue reading Consumer goods to gain 5% next year, according to Fitch
Posted Nov 16th 2009 5:00PM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: India, China, Brazil
Now that it's reached 10.2%, the unemployment rate is higher than it's been in 26 years. That puts plenty of people on the hunt for work, especially since the unemployment rate doesn't reflect everyone who's been affected by the recession, such as those who have been unemployed too long or who are underemployed. Lacking alternatives at home, more Americans are heading overseas to find their fortunes weather the storm.
The number of people looking for international work through Manpower Inc. (MAN), the largest staffing firm in the country, has increased over the past six months. Half a year ago, Jeff Joerres, the company CEO, said that only a few dozen were looking for work outside the U.S. Now, it's up to 500. He tells USA Today, "It is a phenomenon we haven't had before."
Continue reading New U.S. export: labor
Posted Nov 16th 2009 1:40PM by Sheldon Liber (RSS feed)
Filed under: International markets, China, Chasing Value, Stocks to Buy, E*TRADE (ETFC)

In this installment of our search for the ten picks for 2010, I will risk my reputation (and money) as I head in a more speculative direction. In
Part 1 of this series, I discussed breaking up my potential picks into three categories: "Contender", "On the Fence", and "Out of the Running", until the 10 stocks have been identified.
The following lists the first ten stocks I discussed and the current standing after
Part 2 of this series, plus four new stocks reviewed today.
Continue reading Chasing Value: Ten stocks for 2010 -- Part 3
Posted Nov 15th 2009 4:31PM by Connie Madon (RSS feed)
Filed under: Forecasts, Management, Competitive strategy, China, Oil
The price of oil has risen from about $30 per barrel at the height of the economic recession to the present $77 per barrel. Much of the increase is due to the weakness in the U.S. dollar. Rex Tillerson, CEO of Exxon Mobil (XOM) told CNBC: "If you put the price of oil, which is priced in dollars around the world, and if you look at what some effects are with the weak dollar -- in our view that is contributing $20 to $25 dollars per barrel to the price."
Globally, Tillerson said, oil is well supplied with historic high inventory levels, especially in the U.S. This is causing the market to be a "bit soft," according to Tillerson.
Continue reading Weak dollar adds $20 to the price of oil
Posted Nov 13th 2009 5:20PM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: China, Economic data
There's always good news, if you're willing to look hard for it. So, even though consumer sentiment dropped as unemployment rose, you can find the seeds of economic recovery in some of the U.S. import and export data reported recently.
Consumer sentiment fell early this month, largely because of the grim outlook for the job market. Consumers don't see a recovery coming anytime soon, with economists saying that unemployment has yet to peak despite having hit 10.2% already. Hopes edged higher in September when imports were seen to be on the rise, but sentiment starts and ends with jobs.
Continue reading Consumer sentiment down, but glimmer of hope in trade data
Posted Nov 13th 2009 3:20PM by Steven Halpern (RSS feed)
Filed under: International markets, China, Newsletters, Stocks to Buy
"New Oriental Education (NYSE: EDU), which offers English language instruction to Chinese students, recently fell sharply after disappointing the Wall Street crowd," says Tony Sagami.
In his The Asia Stock Alert. the China stock specialist suggests, "This pullback is creating a buying opportunity. Indeed, this is your big chance to buy it on sale.
"Digging deeper, EDU's numbers contain both bad and good news. Among the good news, EDU earned $1.57 per share of profits last quarter, which is exactly what the consensus forecast was and 27% more than the same period last year.
Continue reading New Oriental (EDU): Language instructor 'on sale'
Posted Nov 13th 2009 12:00PM by Elizabeth Harrow (RSS feed)
Filed under: International markets, Earnings reports, China, Options, Technical Analysis
Yingli Green Energy (YGE) traded sharply higher Friday in the wake of its third-quarter results. The solar issue reported that its quarterly earnings contracted 18% to $17.7 million, or 12 cents per American depositary share (ADS). Excluding items, such as stock compensation, earnings weighed in at 18 cents per ADS. Revenue for the period edged 0.7% higher to arrive at $325.9 million.
Ahead of the report, analysts were looking for a profit of 16 cents per ADS on $331 million in revenue. Despite the revenue miss, YGE surged into the black right out of the gate. In addition to the stronger-than-expected profit number, traders were no doubt enthused by an 80% jump in shipments from second-quarter levels.
Continue reading Yingli Green Energy bounces higher on solid 3Q earnings
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