Insights

Lots of green today as the US followed the European lead. Art Cashin of UBS says there is a massive short squeeze on the Euro, pushing the Euro higher. As the Euro goes, typically so go stocks and other risk assets. Stocks at a bit after 3:00 were up .5 - 1%,...

Economists expected the economy to add 100,000 new jobs this week, according to CNBC online. Instead, they got 163,000 new jobs. With that news the stock market jumped up, righ off the bat, gaining back all of yesterday's losses and has continue to move up this...

The stock markets in the US dropped sharply on the opening of trading today, the bounced slightly and continued lower, though right now stocks are a bit off their lows of about 30 minutes ago. I had mentioned in earlier posts that we had back to back meetings of the...

Bill Gross made some good points in his monthly missive called Cult Figures http://news.morningstar.com/articlenet/SubmissionsArticle.aspx?submissionid=150663.xml&part=1 The article argues that a portfolio equally split between stocks and bonds will produce a real...

I don't expect anything much from the Fed meeting today. I don't think we are going to see QE III announced between now and the election even though according to CNBC most traders expect it. But, the Fed almost has to buy Treasury debt in huge amounts or Treasury...

Natural gas is up 5.5% today on continued high demand from power plants for electricity to power A/C units for homes, factories and other commercial buildings. The intense heat and drought continues in much of the U.S. and shows no signs of letting up. For most of...

The computer screens of institutional traders are apparently showing the ubiquitous hourglass that means the program is still processing and unable to accept another command. There is not much news today but there is potential for plenty to sway traders later this...

Stocks were sharply higher today, probably on continued hopes for European Central Bank actions such as buying sovereign bonds again, something thought off the table since they quit buying bonds 4 months ago and Germany had been critical of the idea. The 2Q GDP #...

The growth in the US 2nd quarter economy was released today and was better than many expected, though in-line with consensus. I would guessed a lower number. In addition, 1Q growth was revised upward to 2.0% from 1.9%. The 4Q GDP was revised up a lot, from 3.0% to...

Mario Draghi, the head of the European Central Bank vowed to do whatever it takes to save the Eurozone and said "it would be enough." Markets in Europe are up 2-3% while Spain is up 5%. Here in the US, where traders have been worrying about Spain, stock indexes are up...