Monday, November 26, 2012

Weekly Newsletter November 25th - December 1st

Current Events: Bullish investors are hoping that the record-breaking shopping weekend witnessed bodes well for the U.S. markets. While fears of a fiscal cliff concern even the most bullish of investors, consumers seem unaffected by the stalemate between U.S. lawmakers on how to resolve the issue.

What to Look for This Week

A relatively light week for earnings awaits for all industries except one. The retail industry will catch the attention of investors this week as many shopping mall regulars are set to announce earnings. American Eagle, Ann Taylor, Tiffany & Co., and Express are a few of the popular retailers sure to capture some heavy trading volume.

News Affecting the Markets

3 million more Americans shopped on Black Friday this year compared to last as a record high 89 million shopped online and in stores, according to the survey conducted by BIG insight for the National Retail Federation released on Sunday. It was also a record four-day holiday weekend as 247 million Americans shopped in person and electronically, compared to the 226 million last year during the same period.

Smart Investing

A Shiny Investment: Diamonds have an intrinsic value. These gems come with numerous unique properties. Their objective and primary advantage lies in the reality that they are one of the hardest substances on earth, and they can last practically forever. Diamonds are very portable. With all their value, diamonds are easy to carry and conceal, even through the times of war. Diamonds are money, and they hold and carry their value in all parts of the world. Unlike any other asset, diamonds are not priced on a simple price-per-gram system. Instead, according to weight, carat, clarity, cut, color, and other parameters, their price is based on an international pricing system. The higher the grade, the higher the value of the diamond will be. Nonetheless, mid-range diamonds are also the most bought and sold, making it more liquid compared to the top-grade diamonds. Long-lasting and tangible assets with elevated intrinsic value; diamonds are exceptional value holders that make for a smart investment. They retain and increase their value, especially during inflation and uncertain times. Though they may not be a practical choice for those who want a quick profit, a patient and wise investor reaps generous returns if he or she takes advantage of this unique potential.

Earnings for the Week

Monday: Big Lots Inc (BIG)

Tuesday: ADT Corp (ADT), Analog Devices Inc (ADI) {after the close}, PVH Corp (PVH) {after the close},

Wednesday: Aeropostale Inc (ARO) {after the close}, American Eagle Outfitters Inc (AEO), Ann Inc (ANN), Express Inc (EXPR), GUESS? Inc (GES), TiVo Inc (TIVO)

Thursday: Barnes & Noble Inc (BKS), Kroger Co (KR), Tiffany & Co (TIF)

Friday: No major announcements scheduled.
* Earnings dates and times are subject to change

Economic Data this Week

Monday
No scheduled announcements.

Tuesday
Durable Orders @ 8:30 AM for October (Est. = 0.4% to 0.5%, Prior = 9.8%)
Case-Shiller 20-city Index @ 9:00 AM for September (Est. = 2.5% to 3.1%, Prior = 2.0%)
Consumer Confidence @ 10:00 AM for November (Est. = 73.0, Prior = 72.2)
FHFA Housing Price Index @ 10:00 AM for September (Est. = n/a, Prior = 0.7%)

Wednesday
MBA Mortgage Index @ 7:00 AM for 11/24 (Est. = n/a, Prior = -2.2%)
New Home Sales @ 10:00 AM for October (Est. = 388K to 395K, Prior = 389K)
Crude Oil Inventories @ 10:30 AM for 11/24 (Est. = n/a, Prior = -1.466M)
Fed's Beige Book @ 2:00 PM for October

Thursday
Initial Claims @ 8:30 AM for 11/24 (Est. = 395K to 400K, Prior = 410K)
Continuing Claims @ 8:30 AM for 11/17 (Est. = 3325K, Prior = 3337K)
Pending Home Sales @ 10:00 AM for October (Est. = 1.0%, Prior = 0.3%)

Friday
Personal Income @ 8:30 AM for October (Est. = 0.0% to 0.2%, Prior = 0.4%)
Personal Spending @ 8:30 AM for October (Est. = 0.0% to 0.1%, Prior = 0.8%)
Chicago PMI @ 9:45 AM for November (Est. = 50.0 to 50.7, Prior = 49.9)

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Weekly Newsletter November 18th - November 24th

Current Events: A sudden increase in confidence that the White House and Congress will eventually reach a U.S. budget deal has helped the financial markets snap out of a lasting negative trend.

What to Look for This Week

The U.S. financial markets will likely see trading volume fade as the Thanksgiving Day holiday approaches. However, any insights or updates on the likelihood of a fiscal cliff occurring will instantly pour in heavy trading.

News Affecting the Markets

Bullish news from the National Association of Home Builders index helped continue the U.S. markets rally on Monday as builder confidence increased in November to a six year peak.

Smart Investing

The Power of Financial Knowledge: Financial freedom and growth both begin with financial literacy. Choosing the paramount and the most suitable investment vehicle for you and your hard-earned money could allow you to jumpstart you search for such investment ventures. Whether or not you wish to go short term or long term basis, you always have to keep in mind that you need to focus on your financial objectives. Adjust your targets and see how you could hit the note exactly the way you wish to – succeeding in your investments through the help of your options trading strategies. Increasing the value of your assets while minimizing liabilities, one must learn how to handle his or her finances.

Earnings for the Week

Monday: Agilent Technologies Inc (A) {after the close}, Brocade Communications Systems Inc (BRCD) {after the close}, Lowe's Companies Inc (LOW), Tyson Foods Inc (TSN), Urban Outfitters Inc (URBN) {after the close}

Tuesday: Campbell Soup Co (CPB), Chico's FAS Inc (CHS), Eaton Vance Corp (EV), H.J. Heinz Co (HNZ), Hewlett-Packard Co (HPQ), Medtronic Inc (MDT), Salesforce.com Inc (CRM), Trina Solar Ltd (TSL), Zale Corp (ZLC) {after the close}

Wednesday: Deere & Co (DE)

Thursday: No major announcements scheduled.

Friday: No major announcements scheduled.
* Earnings dates and times are subject to change

Economic Data this Week

Monday
Existing Home Sales @ 10:00 AM for October (Act. = 4.79M, Est. = 4.50M to 4.70M, Prior = 4.70M)
NAHB Housing Market Index @ 10:00 AM for November (Act. = 46, Est. = 42, Prior = 41)

Tuesday
Housing Starts @ 8:30 AM for October (Est. = 815K to 840K, Prior = 872K)
Building Permits @ 8:30 AM for October (Est. = 870K to 900K, Prior = 894K)

Wednesday
MBA Mortgage Index @ 7:00 AM for 11/17 (Est. = n/a, Prior = 12.6%)
Initial Claims @ 8:30 AM for 11/17 (Est. = 423K to 435K, Prior = 439K)
Continuing Claims @ 8:30 AM for 11/07 (Est. = 3400K, Prior = 3334K)
Michigan Sentiment @ 9:55 AM for November (Est. = 84.0 to 84.5, Prior = 84.9)
Leading Indicators @ 10:00 AM for October (Est. = 0.1% to 0.2%, Prior = 0.6%)
Crude Oil Inventories @ 10:30 AM for 11/17 (Est. = n/a, Prior = 1.089M)

Thursday
No scheduled announcements.

Friday
No scheduled announcements.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Weekly Newsletter November 4th - November 10th

Current Events: The market's spike on Thursday provided little relief to the slowly sliding U.S. indexes. Investors have patiently waited for Election Day which will aid in the forecasting of directions to be taken by the government, as well as businesses, over the next four years.

What to Look for This Week

As states across the northeastern coastline slowly recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy, volatility in the commodity markets such as crude oil and gold is expected to continue. While there is a heavy dose of earnings to be reported this week from retail giants, such as Nordstrom, J.C. Penney, and Kohl's, the U.S. presidential election will undoubtedly still the show.

News Affecting the Markets

The debt-laden country of Greece may be forced out of the euro zone warns Greek prime minister if the country's parliament does not proceed with a new round of austerity measures. The critical vote is scheduled for Wednesday. Greece must approve its 2013 budget to receive aid from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, along with a package involving severe spending cuts and tax hikes totaling 13 billion euro.

Smart Investing

The Importance of Forecasting: Whatever the reason one has for trading in the futures and commodities, or the stock markets, everyone can agree that in order to trade profitably you must buy low and sell high, or sell high and then buy back low. It is a straightforward reality that deserves no debate. Forecasting the futures and commodity, and stock markets has much to do with simply determining when the market is 'most likely' to move in the anticipated direction. Anyone who uses any form of technical or fundamental analysis to make a determination of direction or market timing is in fact involved in a work of forecasting. Call it what you want, but if you are worth your salt as a trader you need to plan your entry and plan your exit. You need to decide, ahead of time, what the market is likely to do and what you are going to do. In addition, you need to plan on what you are going to do if the market does not do what you planned. But that is a different subject altogether.

Earnings for the Week

Monday: CF Industries Holdings Inc (CF), Consolidated Edison Inc (ED), Entergy Corp (ETR), EOG Resources Inc (EOG) {after the close}, Fidelity National Financial Inc (FNF) {after the close}, Fidelity National Information Services Inc (FIS) {after the close}, Health Net Inc (HNT), Humana Inc (HUM), LeapFrog Enterprises Inc (LF) {after the close}, McDermott International Inc (MDR) {after the close}, Rockwell Automation Inc (ROK), Southern Co (SO), Transocean Ltd (RIG), Walter Energy Inc (WLT) {after the close}, Weight Watchers International Inc (WTW) {after the close}, XL Group PLC (XL) {after the close}, Zillow Inc (Z) {after the close}

Tuesday: AOL Inc (AOL), Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc (ARNA) {after the close}, Cablevision Systems Corp (CVC), Computer Sciences Corp (CSC), CVS Caremark Corp (CVS), Directv (DTV), DISH Network Corp (DISH), Emerson Electric Co (EMR), Marathon Oil Corp (MRO), Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc (MMC), Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp (MRX), Office Depot Inc (ODP), OfficeMax Inc (OMX), Quicksilver Resources Inc (KWK), StemCells Inc (STEM){after the close}, {after the close}, {after the close}, {after the close}, {after the close}, {after the close}, {after the close}, {after the close}, {after the close}, {after the close}, {after the close},

Wednesday: Becton Dickinson and Co (BDX), Devon Energy Corp (DVN), Dillard's Inc (DDS), Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP), Macy's Inc (M), MBIA Inc (MBI) {after the close}, Molson Coors Brewing Co (TAP), Prudential Financial Inc (PRU) {after the close}, Sodastream International Ltd (SODA) {after the close}, Strategic Hotels and Resorts Inc (BEE) {after the close}, Time Warner Inc (TWX), Titanium Metals Corp (TIE), WellPoint Inc (WLP)

Thursday: Advance Auto Parts Inc (AAP), Assured Guaranty Ltd (AGO) {after the close}, Dean Foods Co (DF), Duke Energy Corp (DUK), Firstenergy Corp (FE), International Game Technology (IGT) {after the close}, Kohl's Corp (KSS), Monster Worldwide Inc (MWW), Nordstrom Inc (JWN) {after the close}, PPL Corp (PPL), Sotheby's (BID), The Wendy's Co (WEN), Walt Disney Co (DIS) {after the close}, Windstream Corp (WIN)

Friday: Covidien PLC (COV) {after the close}, J C Penney Company Inc (JCP), MGIC Investment Corp (MTG)
* Earnings dates and times are subject to change

Economic Data this Week

Monday
ISM Services @ 10:00 AM for October (Actual = 54.2, Est. = 54.5 to 55.0, Prior = 55.1)

Tuesday
No scheduled announcements.

Wednesday
MBA Mortgage Index @ 7:00 AM for 11/03 (Est. = n/a, Prior = -4.8%)
Crude Oil Inventories @ 10:30 AM for 11/03 (Est. = n/a, Prior = -2.045M)
Consumer Credit @ 3:00 PM for September (Est. = $10.0B to $10.6B, Prior = $18.1B)

Thursday
Initial Claims @ 8:30 AM for 11/03 (Est. = 370K, Prior = 363K)
Continuing Claims @ 8:30 AM for 10/27 (Est. = 3250K, Prior = 3263K)

Friday
Michigan Sentiment @ 9:55 AM for November (Est. = 83.0 to 83.5, Prior = 82.6)
Wholesale Inventories @ 10:00 AM for September (Est. = 0.4% to 0.7%, Prior = 0.5%)