BRIC Dominance Fades as State Meddling Curbs Equity Returns – Bloomberg 12-31-12

Salient to Investors: John-Paul Smith at Deutsche Bank said stocks in the major developing markets will again lag global equities in 2013 – China has focused on increasing the pool of buyers for Chinese assets, rather than boosting the role of free markets and privately run companies in the broader economy. Smith prefers cash to BRIC

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Hedge Funds Cut Bullish Bets to Lowest Since June: Commodities – Bloomberg 12-31-12

Salient to Investors: Hedge funds et al reduced net-long positions across 18 US futures and options last week to the lowest since June 19. Gold holdings reached a 4-month low, copper holding dropped for the first time in five weeks, and investors were the most bearish on natural gas since May. Walter Hellwig at BB&T

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Pimco’s Gross Sees Less Return, Stubborn Unemployment – Bloomberg 12-31-12

Salient to Investors: Bill Gross at Pimco said: Stocks and bonds will return less than 5 percent in 2013 due to a sluggish economy as the effect of Fed stimulus diminishes Structural headwinds lower real GDP to below 2 percent in the US and other developed nations. Bernanke is not Rumpelstiltskin and can

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U.S. on Pace for Slowest Decade of Population Growth Since 1930s – Bloomberg 12-30-12

Salient to Investors: At the current pace, the US population will grow by 7.3 percent during the decade, the lowest level since the 1930s. William Frey at Brookings said mountain states in the West were among the fastest-growing places. Read the full article at http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-31/u-s-on-pace-for-slowest-decade-of-population-growth-since-1930s.html. Click here to receive free email alerts of articles as soon as they

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Job Market Probably Held Gains in December: U.S. Economy Preview – Bloomberg 12-29-12

Salient to Investors: Ryan Sweet at Moody’s Analytics said businesses are worried but not panicked, and expects much stronger employment gains in half2 2013. Read the full article at http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-30/job-market-probably-held-gains-in-december-u-s-economy-preview.html Click here to receive free email alerts of articles as soon as they are posted.

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Reliance Buys Indian Property Stocks as Bajaj Selling Drugmakers – Bloomberg 12-27-12

Salient to Investors: Indian policies to lure foreign investors are driving the nation’s largest money managers to buy automakers, property companies and metal producers that stand to benefit most from a recovery. Overseas investors bought a net $24.2 billion of Indian stocks in 2012, the most among 10 Asian markets excluding

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Treasuries Lag Behind Stocks by Most Since 2009 – Bloomberg 12-27-12

Salient to Investors: US government securities have returned 2 percent in 2012 versus 17 percent for the MSCI All-Country World Index including reinvested dividends. Hiroki Shimazu at SMBC Nikko Securities expects investors to shift money from the bond market to the stock market in 2013 as the economy becomes much stronger. Economists expect 10-yr yields to rise

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