Japan Stocks Rise as U.S. Economic Growth Tops Estimates – Bloomberg 10-28-12

Salient to Investors: Masaru Hamasaki at Toyota Asset Mgmt said: Investors expect further BOJ stimulus but are also losing hope that big enough steps will be taken. Japanese shares are outperforming versus overseas markets because the yen’s strengthening trend has eased. The 2 percent growth of US GDP was certainly good as the headline,

READ MORE...

What If Recovery Is Actually Bearish? – Seeking Alpha 10-25-12

Salient to Investors: Mercenary Trader writes: The routine intervention of the Central Banks, the Greenspan Put transitioning to the Bernanke Put, have underscored the “bad news is good news” phenomenon. Good news is good news because things are getting better. Mediocre news is good news because it means CBs keep rates near

READ MORE...

Gross Says Structural Headwinds to Dominate After Election – Bloomberg 10-25-12

Salient to Investors: Bill Gross at Pimco said: Structural headwinds in terms of economic growth, the budget deficit, and the fiscal cliff will dominate the economic debate no matter who wins the election – meaning lower growth due to the excessive debt and leverage built up over 10 or 20 years. Future annual

READ MORE...

Matt Taibbi and Chrystia Freeland on the One Percent’s Power and Privileges – BillMoyers.com 10-19-12

Salient to Investors: New York City’s economic inequality rivals that of a third-world country – in 2011, the median annual income for the bottom 20% was less than $9,000, the top one percent was $2.2 million. Income inequality is the highest since the Great Depression – the top 1% took 93 percent of the income earned

READ MORE...

Treasuries Rise on Speculation Existing Home Sales Fell – Bloomberg 10-19-12

Salient to Investors: Charles Comiskey at Bank of Nova Scotia said the market is finding its bottom and becoming a range trade again – there’s no change in the big picture. Brian Barry at Investec said the economic backdrop is weak and sees no  sustainable improvement in economic indicators. Gary Shilling at A. Gary Shilling & Co said

READ MORE...

Euro Gains Beyond $1.30 on Speculation Spain Will Request Aid – Bloomberg 10-16-12

Salient to Investors: The ZEW Center for European Economic Research  index of investor and analyst expectations rose to minus 11.5 from minus 18.2 in September. Neil Jones at Mizuho Corporate Bank said the better the chances of a bailout for Spain, the more risk-on that is – the market is not prepared for the upside or

READ MORE...

Goldman’s Cohn Sees ‘Small’ Chance Euro Area Will Stick Together – Bloomberg 10-11-12

Salient to Investors: Gary Cohn at Goldman Sachs says: There is a small probability that the euro area will stick together, and it’s more likely that some countries will exit to pursue growth. The ECB program hasn’t addressed the lack of growth – Europe still needs a “Lehman moment”.   Southern Europe has no

READ MORE...