Salient to Investors: Bloomberg survey of global investors: 38 percent, the highest, expect the US to be in the top two markets over the next year, followed by China. 53% say equities offer the highest return in the next year, the most since the poll began in July 2009. Nearly
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Japan’s QE move will further devalue the yen in the long-term, and invite competitive devaluations. Experts are disappointed that Japan’s QE will not begin until 2014. Gustavo Reis at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said the BoJ’s plan sounds more aggressive than it actually will be because many
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: 48 of the 67 companies reporting earnings exceeded analysts’ estimates S&P 500 earnings are expected to exceed $1 trillion in 2013, 31 percent more than when the index peaked. The S&P 500 P/E is 9.8 percent below the 6-decade mean. Analysts predict S&P 500 earnings will rise 8 percent
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Harry Fotopoulos writes: Market is in a bullish uptrend, led on increasing volume by economically sensitive sectors, small caps, and emerging markets. The market has confirmed a breakout, and not yet dramatically overbought. Expect a minor correction at any time. Look for gold to make another run
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Doug Short at Advisor Perspectives writes: Statistics says that 99.7% of all daily movements should fall within three standard deviations of the mean, but Deutsche Bank research shows that three standard deviation movements are not as rare – some instances, like the 2008 financial collapse, happen over 25% of
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Armin Zinser of Societe de Gestion Prevoir remains bullish for 2013 even if the euro-economy continues to contract. Zinser likes companies that make products that we will always need, and prefers luxury-goods companies as in times of crisis, luxury does well. Zinser avoids companies partly owned by the
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Most people don’t try to be financially independent because they think it’s out of reach. It comes down to the question – how badly do you want to be free from the requirement to work? To retire in ten years, live on 25% of your income and
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Commodity speculators increased net-long positions last week by the most since Nov. 27. Barclays says investors increased commodity holdings by $20.4 billion in 2012 versus $14.6 billion in 2011. Suki Cooper et al at Barclays said palladium will be the best performing precious metal in 2013 as supplies tighten and demand
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Miles Shipside at Rightmove said the continued increase in London prices restricts any recovery in transaction volumes that a healthy market needs. Rightmove said that new sellers in London will raise prices by 3 percent in 2013 versus 6.8 percent in 2012. Shipside said the thaw will be helped
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: William Cohan writes: Robert Rubin’s fingerprints on Jacob Lew is a grave concern. Rubin was one of the leading purveyors of irresponsible behavior that led to the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008. Robert Strauss taught Rubin two important principles about politics – money is the mother’s milk and
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