Today's Video Update: Cyprus puts lipstick on a pig

Hello traders everywhere! Adam Hewison here, co-founder of MarketClub with your mid-day market update for Monday, the 25th of March.

CYPRUS PUTS LIPSTICK ON A PIG
As the world waited with baited breath this past weekend, the powers that be put together an agreement so Cyprus would not fall out of the Euro and off the face of the earth. I say, it's like putting lipstick on a pig, it still doesn't change the fact that it's a pig. The banks have serious problems in Cyprus and potentially in other countries and "putting lipstick" on the situation may look pretty, but it does not alter the real core problems with the banks. Continue reading "Today's Video Update: Cyprus puts lipstick on a pig"

A look at the eurozone's 5 bailouts

Cyprus' bailout deal is the fifth agreed on so far in the 17-strong group of European Union countries that use the euro since the debt crisis began in late 2009.

Here's a look at the rescue programs:

GREECE - Greece has received two bailout packages from its eurozone partners and the International Monetary Fund. Its problems began in late 2009, when the government admitted that public debt was far higher than official statistics showed. That led it to accept a bailout package of 110 billion euros (worth $142 billion today) in May 2010. When it became clear that bailout was not enough _ because the economy kept weakening _ a second bailout was clinched in February 2012 for another 130 billion euros. That included a writedown on the value of Greek government bonds to lighten Athens' debt burden. Continue reading "A look at the eurozone's 5 bailouts"

Read This Before Investing In Commodities

I want to show you the best way to invest in gold and other commodities. But there is something you need to know...

Commodities are risky. One of the riskiest things an individual investor can attempt.

It's estimated that 95% of individual commodity futures traders lose money. That means 19 out of 20 walk away with less than they started. 

You see, commodities trading is not investing. It's speculating that prices will move one way or the other. That's akin to gambling in my book.

Really, the only people that make serious money in commodities trading are the brokers. They pocket hefty commissions from clients that speculate on gold, wheat, oil, cattle, lumber and even coffee.  Continue reading "Read This Before Investing In Commodities"

Hugo Chavez Is Gone, but His Oil Legacy Lives On

On March 5, 2013, Hugo Chávez, one of the most iconic presidents in the world, died at the age of 58. While he was alive, Chávez was a highly controversial figure, calling George W. Bush a drunkard and a "psychologically sick man" and Tony Blair an "imperialist pawn who attempts to curry favor with Danger Bush-Hitler."

Like him or hate him, Chávez definitely had a huge following in Venezuela, as well as the entirety of Latin America. His anti-American and socialistic rhetoric made him an ally of Fidel Castro in Cuba and Ahmadinejad in Iran. Combined with Correa in Ecuador, Fernández in Argentina, and Morales in Bolivia, Chávez was able to make a front in South America against the "evil imperialist gringos."

But with him no longer in the picture, things will change, and cheap Venezuelan oil will be able to flow into the markets, right? Continue reading "Hugo Chavez Is Gone, but His Oil Legacy Lives On"

Weekly Futures Recap W/Mike Seery

We’ve asked Michael Seery of SEERYFUTURES.COM to give our INO readers a weekly recap of the Futures market. He has been Senior Analyst for close to 15 years and has extensive knowledge of all of the commodity and option markets.

Michael frequently appears on multiple business networks including Bloomberg news, Fox Business, CNBC Worldwide, CNN Business, and Bloomberg TV. He is also a guest on First Business, which is a national and internationally syndicated business show.

Precious Metal Futures-- The precious metals were mixed this week with silver futures getting hammered this Friday afternoon down $.56 at 28.65 an ounce down around $.20 for the trading week stuck in a 4 week sideways pattern which is unusual for silver to have this low of volatility for this long of a stretch still trading below its 20 day moving average which currently stands at 28.85 and far below its 100 day moving average which is at 31.65 with major support at $28 an ounce. Gold futures for the April contract my opinion are forming a rounding bottom trading higher than their 20 day moving average but below their 100 day moving average with stands at 1, 666 with major support at 1, 560 and the next resistance level which happened about 4 weeks ago at 1, 620 and if those levels are breached which I think could happen next week you will start to see the bull market come back while closing last Friday at 1, 593 up around $15 for the trading week. Copper futures for the May contract are still trading below their 20 and 100 day moving average finishing this week a positive note up around 300 points at 3.47 after settling last Friday at 3.52 down about 500 points for the week but coming off weekly lows which were hit at 3.40 which also created an 8 month low and I am scratching my head wondering why copper prices keep going down the housing market is doing so well if you look at lumber prices they are right near contract highs and the stock market continues to rally basically on a daily basis which I would think will start to lend support in the copper market and I do believe you should start taking advantage of these weak prices. Continue reading "Weekly Futures Recap W/Mike Seery"