Here’s a quick, executive summary of stories from this trading week, with a link to the full articles online.
What’s Driving This Trend?
Suddenly and without warning, a number of major companies are jumping into a field that until just recently was considered pure science fiction: Driverless vehicles and drones. Martin D. Weiss talks tech this week, and teams with Jon Markman (see next item) to help bring some of the new trends to you. Click here to read more.
The Next Wave in Tech
We have talked a lot in recent months about the panorama of technology innovation, but in our lifetimes there have been very few truly revolutionary technology developments. This begs the question of what all those Silicon Alley engineers have been doing the past two decades. Get some answers from Jon Markman by clicking here.
Don’t Listen to Bad Advice …
Larry Edelson sees thousands of investors shaking in their boots over gold and silver. But Larry warned them, repeatedly, over the last few months: “Precious metals are still in a bear market. Don’t buy yet.” He’s said the same about mining shares. Get more from Larry by clicking here.
An Index to Our Economy
It seems that some of America’s biggest financial institutions have been big buyers of U.S. Treasury securities. In fact, banks have been consistent bond buyers for 16 months straight and now hold more than $2 trillion worth of Treasury and federal agency dept, the most since 1973! That’s got Mike Burnick to look at a specific index to get an idea of how the economy is going. Click here to read more.
Where are the Opportunities?
Sometimes when the stock market rallies, it’s like pulling teeth. One or two of the major averages might make a marginal new high. But the others don’t confirm it, and it comes on very little volume. Then when you look behind the headlines, you see it’s just one or two sectors doing the heavy lifting. Not this time. Click here to read more from Mike Larson.
The Week’s Hot News
Money and Markets columnist Mike Larson takes a look at key financial and political events around the globe after the market close. Here are the week’s highlights:
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| The joys of Sunny Florida … |
It’s an Expensive World After All
Mike takes a look at some Mickey Mouse news — ticket prices at the Magic Kingdom have surpassed the $100 mark. Will people continue to go and line up for rides? Click here to get Mike’s take and read the comments of his readers.
What Yellen Said …
One of the Federal Reserve Chairman’s most, ahem, “enviable” tasks is the semi-annual appearance before Congress. Click here to get Mike’s take on her first day before the lawmakers.
Crude Realities for the Crude Bears
On the surface, there wasn’t much to like about this week’s inventory data out of the EIA. Crude oil supplies rose by another 8.4 million barrels, after increasing 7.7 million the week before. But after briefly spiking lower on the news, oil prices stabilized. Then they turned higher! So what “crude realities” are the bears missing? Get Mike’s take on the situation by clicking here.
Take My Money … Please!
You know the old comedy routine, the one where Henry Youngman says: “Take my wife … please”? Today’s foolish bond investors are doing the same thing, only they’re saying: “Take my money … please!” They’re telling it to the governments of Switzerland, Denmark, France, and most notably, Germany!
What does Mike mean? Click here to read on.
Best wishes,
The Money and Markets Team
