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Markets continued their vicious bounce to the upside, almost erasing all losses for 2015! This recent bounce has also triggered some new trades for Paul Orme, who follows a strict, rule bases approached to the markets. This methodology, called ProActive investing, applies the patented Online Trading Academy core methodology. Paul also addresses several key flaws investors are most likely making which is slowly sucking profits out of their account, regardless of market direction.



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With employment in the U.S. increasing by somewhat more than expected in the month of December, the Labor Department released a report on Friday showing that the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in well over six years.

The Labor Department said non-farm payroll employment increased by 252,000 jobs in December after jumping by an upwardly revised 353,000 jobs in November. Employment had been expected to climb by about 245,000 jobs.

The stronger than expected job growth helped to push the unemployment rate down to 5.6 percent in December from 5.8 percent in November.

Economists had expected the unemployment rate to dip to 5.7 percent, and the bigger than expected drop pulled the rate down to its lowest level since June of 2008.

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The Ambassador of Opportunity John O'Donnell joins Merlin for a look at the recent surge in share buyback programs by most major corporations. Does this signal a buying opportunity? The duo also take a look at the recent unemployment data release, exposing some serious flaws.



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Despite an uptick in developing countries and strong momentum in the United States, the World Bank downgraded its global economic forecast citing weak prospects for the euro area and Japan.

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In its biannual report 'Global Economic Prospects' released Tuesday, the World Bank said global gross domestic product is expected to grow 3 percent in 2015, slower than the 3.4 percent estimated in June.

For 2016, the economy is projected to expand 3.3 percent instead of 3.5 percent. The bank predicted 3.2 percent growth for 2017.

According to the World Bank, downside risks to the outlook are persistently weak global trade, possibility of financial market volatility, the extent to which low oil prices strain balance sheets in oil producing countries, and the risk of a prolonged period of stagnation or deflation in the euro area or Japan.

Underneath the fragile global recovery lie increasingly divergent trends with significant implications for global growth, the lender said.

Growth in the United States is expected to accelerate to 3.2 percent this year, before moderating to 3 percent and 2.4 percent in 2016 and 2017.

The forecast for euro area growth is a sluggish 1.1 percent in 2015, with the growth in the region expected to accelerate to 1.6 percent in 2016-17. Japan' growth will rise to 1.2 percent in 2015 and 1.6 percent in 2016, the bank said.

"Worryingly, the stalled recovery in some high-income economies and even some middle-income countries may be a symptom of deeper structural malaise," said Kaushik Basu, World Bank chief economist and senior vice president.

At the same time, China is undergoing a carefully managed slowdown with growth easing to a still-robust 7.1 percent in 2015, 7 percent in 2016 and 6.9 percent in 2017, the World Bank said.

Benefiting from lower oil prices, India is expected to grow 6.4 percent in 2015 and 7 percent in 2016-17.

Developing countries expanded 4.4 percent in 2014 and the growth in the region is expected to edge up to 4.8 percent this year, strengthening to 5.3 percent and 5.4 percent in 2016 and 2017, respectively. In June, the bank projected 5.4 percent growth for 2015 and 5.5 percent for next year.

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim urged developing countries to deploy their resources judiciously and to undertake structural reforms that invest in people.

While the fall in oil prices help lower inflation and reduce current account deficits in Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey, it will weaken activity in exporting countries.

The Russian economy is projected to contract by 2.9 percent in 2015, getting barely back into positive territory in 2016 with growth expected at 0.1 percent.

Lower oil prices will lead to sizeable real income shifts from oil-exporting to oil-importing developing countries, Ayhan Kose, Director of Development Prospects at the World Bank said.


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Commodities have had a rough time of late! Oil is getting crushed, copper falling like a rock, and others languishing with a strong dollar and potential global recession. Master trader, Don Dawson joins Merlin Rothfeld for a look at the driving forces behind these commodities and offers insights into where they may be headed next. The duo also answer several listener questions which are also in line with the Futures theme.



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Manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia area grew at a notably slower pace in the month of January, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia on Thursday.

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Singapore's non-oil domestic exports gained 2.3 percent on year in December, International Enterprise Singapore said on Friday.

That beat expectations for a decline of 2.2 percent following the downwardly revised 0.8 percent increase in November (originally 1.6 percent).

The electronics NODX advanced 0.4 percent on year - well above expectations for a decline of 9.0 percent following the 10.2 percent annual tumble in the previous month


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For most, the biggest battle is not the market, but what goes on in their head. Dr. Woody Johnson joins Merlin via phone to talk about some of the major challenges traders face, and how to overcome those issues. Several listeners send in questions which Merlin and Dr. Johnson address live on air.



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John and Merlin go over many significant market moving topics including: FXCM, Swiss National Bank, Global Currencies, Crude Oil, Bitcoin, Fiat Currencies, Bonds and Much more! Tune in and get your fix!



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Chinese retail sales growth quickened unexpectedly in December, figures from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Tuesday.

Retail sales rose 11.9 percent year-over-year in December following the 11.7 percent rise in November. Economists had expected sales to increase at the stable rate of 11.7 percent.

On a month-over-month basis, retail sales grew 1.01 percent in December after the 0.90 percent climb in November.

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In the January to December period, sales advanced 12 percent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

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