U.S. Economy

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Trump and Clinton Use the U.S. Economy as Attack Ammunition

By Money Morning Staff Reports, Money Morning - June 21, 2016

Both Trump and Clinton are making the U.S. economy ammunition for their latest attacks on each other.

Here's a look at the word-bombs they're lobbing...

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Trump and Clinton Use the U.S. Economy as Attack Ammunition

By Money Morning Staff Reports, Money Morning - June 21, 2016

Both Trump and Clinton are making the U.S. economy ammunition for their latest attacks on each other.

Here's a look at the word-bombs they're lobbing...

The Cost of Zika

By Money Morning Staff Reports, Money Morning - May 28, 2016

The cost of Zika -- the financial and human toll - is staggering.

Here's a breakdown of how much the U.S. will have to pay to fight the terrifying disease...

Higher Minimum Wages Could Crater Your Portfolio – Unless You Own Companies Like This One

By Keith Fitz-Gerald, Chief Investment Strategist, Money Map Report • @kfgtotalwealth - March 31, 2016

California's new, state-mandated $15 minimum wage sounds appealing, but it could have startling economic ramifications.

Fortunately, we've found a stock with the balance sheets and pricing power necessary to withstand any increased labor costs.

How to Use the U.S. Economy to Pinpoint Your Next Trade

By Tom Gentile, America's No. 1 Pattern Trader, Money Morning • @powerproftrades - March 22, 2016

Last week the U.S. Federal Reserve decided against raising interest rates four times this year, opting for just two hikes instead.

Some analysts point to this recent change of mind as proof of an impending recession. Others state there's no strong possibility of one.

But I'm not going to wait to find before I make my trading decisions. And you shouldn't either.

All you need is this very simple strategy to find the best trades based on the U.S. economy. And I'm going to show you right now...

The Two "Bandits" Ripping Off Investors This Week

By Michael E. Lewitt, Global Credit Strategist, Money Morning • @MichaelELewitt - December 6, 2015

Just because central bankers want to lead investors over the cliff like they did in 2008 doesn't mean that people should follow them.

Unfortunately, that's exactly what investors did last week. In a year that has seen many foolish rallies, Friday's massive rally in stocks - coming just a day after a massive sell-off - was the most foolish of all.

Let's take these one at a time...

Tech Stocks Poised to Rise on This Economic News

By Michael A. Robinson, Defense + Tech Specialist, Money Morning • @Robinson_STI - November 11, 2015

As we've talked about in several recent conversations, I live by the credo "always have some money invested in tech stocks" - no matter how much "noise" you hear out of Wall Street and Washington.

Otherwise, you'll miss opportunities to buy winning stocks when they are "on sale." Worse, you'll miss taking a big profit from the rebound.

Here's a breakdown of brand-new market data proving this - and why you should be bullish about tech investing for the rest of 2015...

The Best Inverse Play, as the Market Goes "Back to the Future"

By Michael E. Lewitt, Global Credit Strategist, Money Morning • @MichaelELewitt - November 1, 2015

Markets produced their strongest returns in four years in October - ignoring a steady stream of bad economic news and lousy corporate earnings.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 8.5% while the S&P 500 jumped 8% for the month. The Nasdaq Composite Index was driven higher by strong big tech earnings. It skyrocketed by 9.38% and is now back above 5000.

Last week's gains were muted with the Dow rising 0.1% or 16 points and the S&P 500 rising 0.2% or 4 points, so perhaps the jubilation is ebbing. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.4% on the week.

Of course, some strategists are calling for the rally to continue and for the market to gain another 10-15% by year-end. All I can say is that if they want to send over what they are drinking, I will take a sip. But I will not reach my hand into my pocket and follow them into the market...

It's a Great Time to Buy Tech Stocks… and These Numbers Prove It

By Michael A. Robinson, Defense + Tech Specialist, Money Morning • @Robinson_STI - September 3, 2015

On Thursday, an important bit of news came out that you may have missed: The U.S. Commerce Department sharply revised upward its second-quarter GDP estimate.

That revised number proves that, despite recent market turbulence, the U.S. economy remains on solid ground.

And that means now is a great time to take advantage of the buying opportunities the chaos has created - especially in tech stocks. Let's take a look...

U.S. Dollar Drops as Global Stock Markets Decline

By Kyle Anderson, Associate Editor, Money Morning • @KyleAndersonMM - September 1, 2015

U.S. Dollar Drops Today: The U.S. dollar fell against the yen and euro yesterday, after global markets had another down day.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 114 points Monday and another 400 points early Tuesday. The Stoxx Europe 600 was down 0.4% Monday, while Germany's DAX slipped 1%.

Here’s what’s next for the U.S. dollar…

U.S. Financial War with Iran to Trigger Dollar Collapse

By Money Morning Staff Reports, Money Morning - June 11, 2015

The U.S. is waging a dangerous financial war with Iran right now.

And if it's not managed carefully, it could embolden the dollar's enemies to mount a counterattack on the U.S. currency.

Such a move could destroy the U.S. dollar as we know it...

BREAKING: U.S. Debt to China Will Destroy the U.S. Dollar

By Money Morning Staff Reports, Money Morning - June 10, 2015

The amount of U.S. debt owned by foreign nations has never been higher.

Since Sept. 30, 2014, the U.S. Treasury has accumulated $17.8 trillion worth of debt. That’s roughly 103% of the total U.S. GDP in 2014.

And 34% of that debt – $6.1 trillion – is owned by foreign governments. Here’s why that’s such a big problem…

The Wealth Gap in America Has Reached Historic Levels

By Kyle Anderson, Associate Editor, Money Morning • @KyleAndersonMM - June 9, 2015

The wealth gap in the United States and other developed countries hasn't been this big since the 1980s, according to a new report from the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

In the 1980s, the top 10% of earners in the developed world made seven times the income of the bottom 10%. But the wealth gap has expanded since. By 2013, the top 10% had 9.6 times the income of the bottom 10%. That was across 34 nations.

And the numbers in the U.S. are even worse…

U.S. Company Layoffs in 2015 Up 13% Year Over Year

By Diane Alter, Contributing Writer, Money Morning - June 8, 2015

U.S. company layoffs are up 13% in 2015 from the year before.

U.S.-based employers announced a whopping 41,034 job cuts last month.

Check out this list of employers that are slashing scary high amounts of jobs from their payrolls...

Catalyst #3: China Gold Reserves Threaten the U.S. Dollar

By Money Morning Staff Reports, Money Morning - June 2, 2015

China gold reserves have been kept secret – but we know China is stockpiling faster than ever. And with enough of the yellow metal, China gold reserves could actually harm the U.S. dollar.

Watch the video to see how analysts know China is secretively stockpiling gold - and exactly why that poses a threat…

The "Unnatural Disaster" Ravaging Global Markets

By Shah Gilani, Capital Wave Strategist, Money Morning • @WallStreet_II - May 30, 2015

The tide is turning for crude oil prices. Following some nice recent gains and despite a dip on Tuesday, the market currently remains at just below $60 a barrel for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures in New York. The recent rise in prices would seem to be just what the smaller operators in the U.S. need to avoid a sector meltdown. A few months back, when prices were pushing lows of $40 a barrel, there was widespread talk of a wave of bankruptcies coming in the oil patch. The picture is now better, given a recovery in crude prices.
The tide is turning for crude oil prices.

Following some nice recent gains and despite a dip on Tuesday, the market currently remains at just below $60 a barrel for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures in New York.

The recent rise in prices would seem to be just what the smaller operators in the U.S. need to avoid a sector meltdown.

A few months back, when prices were pushing lows of $40 a barrel, there was widespread talk of a wave of bankruptcies coming in the oil patch. The picture is now better, given a recovery in crude prices.

But there is another shoe about to fall in the ongoing fight by smaller companies to survive. Here's my take on the disaster that's brewing - and the opportunities it may bring...