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The Friday File: Retailers expect Britons to spend $100 million toasting the arrival the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s first child in July. Another $40 million will be spent on party food, $207 million on commemorative memorabilia and books and…
Read MoreOn days like today when stocks, bonds, precious metals, commodities and emerging markets all fall, portfolio diversification, doesn’t help. Remember that. Separately, financial markets have wiped out all of May and June’s gains not because QE3 will end, but because…
Read MoreWith the Fed (and everyone else) forecasting improved economic conditions in the second half of ’13, it’s not surprising that the Fed again reiterated that it MAY start tapering QE3 later this year. Interestingly, the Fed has been consistently over-optimistic…
Read MoreSince hitting a low of 9 million in annualized auto sales in 2/09, strong demand has propelled new-car sales to 15.3 million as of 5/13. However, sales have flat-lined of late and are barely higher than in 1/13. This is…
Read MoreDespite a US Energy Information Administration report that global oil reserves are 10% higher than in 2011, due to the discovery of 345 billion barrels of shale oil, don’t expect lower pump prices. This is because unlike Alaskan oil, shale…
Read MoreThe Friday File: With fear of inflation finally receding, the new concern is deflation. While high unemployment keeps wage growth in check, the price for sage business advice has absolutely tanked. Last year, lunch with Warren Buffet was auctioned off…
Read MoreWith the Obamacare requirement that most employers offer affordable health insurance to their employees soon to become law, expect total employment to rise and hours worked/worker to fall. This is because employers will force their employees, where possible, to work…
Read MoreWith house prices soaring by double digits and investors buying large numbers of homes, there is suddenly talk of another housing bubble. I doubt it. Affordability is still remarkably high, credit is being extended to only the best borrowers, and…
Read MoreThe key problem holding Europe back isn’t high interest rates, it’s the weak condition of their banks and thus their unwillingness to lend. Exacerbating the problem is that in Europe banks are the basically the only source for money and…
Read MoreThis past week of economic data had something for everyone. For bulls, it was an improving non-manufacturing sector, higher auto sales and record breaking household wealth. For bears, it was a weakening manufacturing sector, a worsening trade deficit and a…
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