Market News

Anthropologie and Free People were of no help during the first quarter.

more...

Chinese companies are investing more than ever in the U.S. - a trend that’s likely to continue as they look to diversify and hedge against slowing domestic Chinese growth.

more...

Oaktree Capital, one of the largest shareholders of Tribune Publishing, is growing increasingly frustrated with the newspaper giant's reluctance to entertain a premium priced takeover bid from competitor Gannett, publisher of USA Today.

more...

George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) former partner Stanley Druckenmiller (Trades, Portfolio) shares his bullishness on gold but also bet a sizable amount of funds on emerging markets in the first quarter.

more...

Economic expansions in the US generally end after the Fed takes a step or two too many on the tightening side. They were moving in this direction in 2014-15 through its forward guidance (which matters more to real growth than the spot Federal funds rate, especially when the funds rate is anchored at zero). Upon seeing a rapidly slowing economy and tightening financial conditions early this year, they gave a nod and a wink to the markets, thereby giving "permission" for the curve to flatten which, in turn, allowed equity markets to recover and the dollar to weaken.

more...

Bruce Berkowitz (Trades, Portfolio), staunch contrarian investor at the Fairholme Fund (Trades,Portfolio), engaged in unusually aggressive selling in the first quarter and unloaded some of his key long-term holdings.

more...

Growing wealth inequality, a major domestic issue this Presidential election year, is also becoming an increasingly noticeable feature of Corporate America.

more...

Tim Cook has spent the last week traveling to China first and the last 4 days visiting Bombay, Kanpur, Hyderabad and New Delhi In India.

In China, Tim Cook met with the hugely important Ministry of Industry and Information Technology chief, Miao Wei, early last week in addition to meeting with local startups. There was not much in the form of news that came out of that meeting except the Ministry released a statement that it hopes that Apple will continue to expand its footprint in China via continued investments in its Chinese business, supply chain and R&D in order to give the Chinese consumer “safe and convenient” experiences. (whatever that means).

more...

In 2010, a veritable “murderers row” of investors lined up to profit from the inevitable currency debasement and inflation that the Fed would create from ZIRP (Zero Interest rates) and money printing (Quantitative Easing). The investment of preference was gold – Keynes’ barbarous relic. There was John Paulson, fresh off his legendary score betting against mortgages from the great recession, telling investors that 80% of his wealth was in his firm’s new “gold” hedge funds. But he was not alone- other big hitters touting gold were Peter Thiel, Julian Robertson, Dan Loeb, Chris Shumway, Steve Cohen, and Howard Marks.

more...

Colleges and the government do such a bad job communicating student loan repayment options that some 70% of those defaulting on this debt don’t even know they can benefit from a lower, income-based repayment plan.

That’s the government’s finding, not mine. In truth, there are millions taking on student loans who are being crushed by monthly payments who can benefit from better terms. The federal program alone has nine repayment options. As nearly two million graduates view for jobs and start repaying their loans, some essential information is not being shared.

Although colleges rarely counsel undergraduates on their repayment options, you can find a plan that will give you a break on payments while in graduate school, if you become sick, lose a job or start a job with low income.


more...