Category: INO.com Contributors

The Perils Of A Russian Turkish Conflict

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


Unless you’ve been asleep for the past 72 hours you’ve no doubt heard that Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet. Of course, whether the Russian fighter jet did or did not cross into Turkish airspace is debatable.

What is not debatable, however, is the rising tension between the two countries, which seems to be leading to a trade war. Though less grave than a military conflict, it could ignite a rout in Emerging Markets and their currencies.

What Ignited the Mess

Even before the unfortunate incident it was clear that tensions between Moscow and Ankara were heating up. The reason for that is a very clear conflict of interest between Russia and Turkey over what’s happening in Syria. More specifically, it involves the area of Turkey’s border with Syria. Continue reading "The Perils Of A Russian Turkish Conflict" →

USDJPY: Bullish On The Dips

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


From the Bank of Japan’s recent monetary statements, one might assume that Yen bears have hit a brick wall. The BoJ refrained from adding more stimulus and kept its ¥80 trillion annual bond purchases unchanged.

The BoJ’s reticence seems a disquieting throwback to the monetary policy of the Shirakawa days. Then, the BoJ was in a clear state of denial and refrained from making extra stimulus. Now, though it may seem history is repeating itself, this is not the case. Governor Kuroda is certainly no Shirakawa, and the Yen is not about to get stronger.

What Is The BoJ Really Doing?

At first blush, it just doesn’t add up. How can this be the same Haruhiko Kuroda? The man who announced ¥80 trillion in stimulus in a jaw dropping move suddenly and inexplicably turned passive. But, as the saying goes, appearances can be deceiving. In fact, the BoJ is really making a very calculated move. Continue reading "USDJPY: Bullish On The Dips" →

Three Industries That Will Suffer From A Fed Rate Hike And Which ETFs Avoid

Posted on by Matt Thalman

Matt Thalman - INO.com Contributor - ETFs


In recent weeks, the likelihood of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike has been increasing. I recently pointed out a few reason on why I believe the Fed will increase rates at the upcoming December meeting, which you can read here. I also have pointed out a few industries that would benefit from a rate hike and which corresponding ETFs that could benefit from such a move by the Fed.

So, today let's take a look at a few industries that will likely suffer from an interest rate increase and which ETFs you may want to avoid if the Fed makes a move. Continue reading "Three Industries That Will Suffer From A Fed Rate Hike And Which ETFs Avoid" →

Will OPEC Be Turkeys Again?

Posted on by Adam Feik

Adam Feik - INO.com Contributor - Energies


Last year, while we Americans were busy overindulging on turkey and all the fixings, OPEC ministers pulled a fast one on us. While we innocently watched football and took naps, the price of WTI crude plummeted from $74 to $68 in response to OPEC’s announcement it would leave its oil production target unchanged at 30 million barrels per day (mb/d).

Until that weekend, oil in the $60s or $70s seemed unsustainably low.

Of course, even before OPEC’s big Turkey Day declaration, oil had already fallen about 30% from its June highs of $107, due to burgeoning supplies. But the summer swoon turned out to be just the warmup for the rest of oil’s big 17-month collapse (so far). OPEC’s Thanksgiving 2014 meeting sent prices reeling and continued pressures have kept crude near its lows (around $40) even today. Continue reading "Will OPEC Be Turkeys Again?" →

Aussie Dollar: Short to Long View

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


Two weeks ago investors in the Aussie Dollar were on the receiving end of a sweet surprise. The official unemployment rate dropped to 5.9%, smashing analysts’ expectations. That suggested the Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest easing cycle, which began about a year ago, might soon be ending.

But before you jump on the Aussie bandwagon, you need the right strategy.

Aussie Outlook Looking Brighter

The truth is that the whiff of optimism had been long overdue for the Aussie Dollar. Even before the unemployment data there had been tentative signs of stabilization in the Australian economy.

Key Points Of Improvement

Continue reading "Aussie Dollar: Short to Long View" →