The European crisis continues to dominated markets all over the world and Moody’s Investor Service dimmed its outlook on Germany further exasperating the situation.  Rising bond yields in Spain and Italy are a function of the European leaders not doing enough to promote confidence and resolve the crisis.  By the constant posturing and threatening, European...Read More

The U.S. economy is slowing quickly and nowhere is it more apparent than the ISM’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index plunging to 49.7% in June.  A reading below 50% shows contraction and this is the first time the number has been below 50% since July 2009.  Problems in Europe and a slowdown in the United States...Read More

Euro leaders produced some tangible results over the night through extended discussions.  They agreed to set up a single banking supervisor to oversee the industry, and this will enable funding from the ESM, which takes pressure off the peripheral countries economies that are struggling to raise cash at reasonable prices.  Finance ministers are targeting a...Read More

This article discusses the merits of both Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T) in this current low interest rate environment.  While both stocks offer attractive dividend yields, the multiples are quite high on both securities.  If you look across the pond to Europe an investor can find much more attractive payouts and earnings yields.  Obviously there...Read More

Today’s housing news contributed to the market route but I don’t think the number were as bad as some people think.  Sales of existing homes were still up 9.6% from last year, and although they were down sequentially, inventories are low limiting sales opportunities.  It is going to be a tough slog especially with all...Read More

This article discusses some of the cheap stocks that are trading at low price to book values due to the European crisis.  While I agree that the European banks look interesting, I find U.S. banks to be the better buy because they trade at similar valuations despite higher capital ratios, and less exposure to European...Read More

This is an interesting article on the risk on/risk off mentality that has existed in the markets since 2008.  There is a big difference between and investing and trading and I think this mentality pertains to trading.  Benjamin Graham developed the concept of “Mr. Market” and the primary premise is that over the short term...Read More

Alexis Tspiras, head of Greece’s biggest anti-bailout party Syriza, continues to beat the drum of cancelling the agreed upon terms of their bailout.  This is an amazingly dangerous and manipulative campaign that distorts facts, and preys on those who are consumed by the deep recession and the accompanying unemployment.  If Greece were to abandon their...Read More

I’m glad to see that the Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti is ratcheting up pressure on the German’s to be more flexible in aiding peripheral Europe.  I really don’t think the Germans have any choice if there wish is to save the European Union.  With the current disruptions in Spain due to the restructuring of...Read More

New French President Francois Hollande is very much interested in changing Franco-German relations.  The current economic policy being instituted to deal with the European crisis is based almost 100% on austerity.  The leadership of German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been strong but I believe slightly misguided in that not enough has been done to boost...Read More