Category: General

Rising Rates Are Coming -- Here's How To Prepare

Posted on by admin

If you racked up big gains in the stock market last year, you have Ben Bernanke and his cohorts at the Federal Reserve to thank.

The SP 500's 29.6% gain in 2013 (32.4% when dividends are included), which was the best year since 1997, was largely based on comments made by the Fed in December 2012.

Back then, the economy was so weak that the Fed committed to keep the federal funds rate at historic lows in place until at least the middle of 2015, even later than many economists had assumed. Against such a favorable interest rate backdrop, stocks faced little resistance.

Indeed, throughout 2013, the likelihood of an imminent increase in the federal funds rate remained off the table. And three Fed governors even suggested in December that interest rates would remain untouched into 2016.

But in the early months of 2014, the Fed playbook is starting to look different. The recently released minutes from the past Fed meeting in late January show that some Fed governors are getting anxious. As The Wall Street Journal noted recently, Fed governors have begun discussing "the possibility of rate hikes in the near future." Continue reading "Rising Rates Are Coming -- Here's How To Prepare" →

Chart of The Week - Silver

Posted on by The INO.com Team

Each Week Longleaftrading.com will be providing us a chart of the week as analyzed by a member of their team. We hope that you enjoy and learn from this new feature.

In the May 2014 Silver (or Mini Silver) futures, a recent up-trend has consolidated just above the $21.500 level over the past seven trading sessions. Equity markets have been weighed down by a round of profit-taking in the initial morning hours, giving way to strong upside potential in the precious metals markets.

Yesterday's trading session, February 25, 2014, provided an outside reversal on the daily chart. The market failed on a downside move, reversed, and closed above the high at $22.030. This price action is a bullish near-term indicator. Continue reading "Chart of The Week - Silver" →

Six Gold and Silver Leaders at Today's Prices

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The Gold Report: Gold is up for the year. Do you expect this trend to continue?

Benjamin Asuncion: For 2014, we're officially forecasting an average gold price at $1,300/ounce ($1,300/oz). We've elected to err on the side of conservatism in our commodity forecasts, which leaves company valuations to be more reflective of operating performance than reliant on higher metal prices.

TGR: Ambrose Evans-Pritchard of the Daily Telegraph says if the Federal Reserve "has to back off [tapering] again, gold will have a fresh lease on life." Do you agree, and do you think the Fed is committed to tapering?

Geordie Mark: I agree that if the Fed backs off tapering, it's a total game changer for sentiment. Janet Yellen, the new Fed chair, has certainly been quite cautious as to how she's going to approach monetary policy, so right now we're in a wait and see period, but that being said, the market now appears to show a certain positive sentiment for precious metals companies.

TGR: We've seen various currency panics around the world in recent weeks. Will this lead to a flight to safety in the U.S. dollar? Continue reading "Six Gold and Silver Leaders at Today's Prices" →

Are We On The Brink Of A Retail Spending Boom?

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Thanks, Old Man Winter. Consumers have already been in a sour mood, and you're not helping matters. Icy roads and bitter winds have left many people to stay at home -- and keep their cash in their pocket.

For companies that have been looking for signs that retail spending is finally ready to grow, this roadblock has been unwelcome. The bleak winter likely explains why retail spending on goods and services like cars, restaurants and gas stations slipped 0.4% in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the National Retail Federation.

Yet before you conclude that the era of robust consumer spending will never return, consider an interesting stat offered up by J.P. Morgan: In just the past two years, consumers' net worth has expanded by $13 trillion. Continue reading "Are We On The Brink Of A Retail Spending Boom?" →

What Separates The Winning Traders From The Losers?

Posted on by The INO.com Team

I want to talk to you today about a topic that I feel is the most important aspect of trading.

It's called "The Psychological Gap."

It's what separates the men from the boys... and the winning traders from the losers.

Warning:  Avoid the mistake of thinking this isn't important.

There's a big difference between fantasizing about trading and actually executing trades.

One person makes money while the other falls prey to limiting beliefs and fails to see a dime.

Having the right trading mindset is the key.

You might not know this because you're still committed to learning... Continue reading "What Separates The Winning Traders From The Losers?" →