Where's The Regulation? - Part 2

Last week, I ranted about regulation and the folks who regulate. This week, I would like to follow up on that rant.

As many of you may know by now, PFG founder and CEO Russell Wasendorf Sr. was arrested last Friday. He admitted to making false statements to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission relating to the value of customers segregated funds at PFG. He even said, "I have committed fraud".

According to his own attempted suicide note, he's been embezzling money from the company for the past 20 years. He also stated that all the bank accounts came to him directly, and that it was easy for him to forge those bank statements over that time. Continue reading "Where's The Regulation? - Part 2"

Morning Commentary for the Indexes

The September NASDAQ 100 was lower overnight as it consolidates below broken support marked by the 20-day moving average. Stochastics and the RSI remain bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. If September extends this month's decline, the reaction low crossing at 2503.50 is the next downside target. Closes above the 10-day moving average crossing at 2593.85 are needed to confirm that a short-term top has been posted. Continue reading "Morning Commentary for the Indexes"

Does Central-Bank Gold-Buying Signal the Top Is Near?

By Jeff Clark, Casey Research

Doug Casey told me in January, "The only thing that scares me is that central banks are buying a lot of gold; they're historically contrary indicators." When it comes to buying gold, central banks have such a poor timing record that they're frequently joked about as a contrary indicator. Continue reading "Does Central-Bank Gold-Buying Signal the Top Is Near?"

Deflation or Inflation?

John Mauldin, International Man

I am frequently asked in meetings or after a speech whether I think we will have inflation or deflation. "Yes," I readily reply, trying hard not to smirk, as the questioner tries to digest the answer. And while my answer is flippant, it's also the truth, as I do expect both outcomes. Following the obligatory chuckle from the rest of the group comes a follow-up request for a few more specifics. And they are that I expect we will first see deflation and then inflation, but the key is the timing. Continue reading "Deflation or Inflation?"

Stocks Close Sharply Higher Following Recent Weakness

(RTTNews) - After trending lower in recent sessions, stocks showed a strong move back to the upside over the course of the trading day on Friday. The markets benefited from a positive reaction to some Chinese economic data as well as JP Morgan's (JPM) quarterly results.

The major averages saw continued strength going into the close, ending the day firmly in positive territory. The Dow jumped 203.82 points or 1.6 percent to 12,777.09, the Nasdaq surged up 42.28 points or 1.5 percent to 2,908.47 and the S&P 500 soared 22.02 points or 1.7 percent to 1,356.78. Continue reading "Stocks Close Sharply Higher Following Recent Weakness"