David Hunkar submits: Chile is mainly a commodity-based economy.The 2008 GDP per capita was $10,117. Chile is the largest exporter of copper in the world. Besides copper, Chile is also one of the largest exporters of wine. The main stock market index is “The Selective Stock Price Index” or IPSA:Complete Story »
Jim Delaney submits: “It’s the push-pull between lots of cash looking to go into the market and concern about how stretched this move is. That’s the schizophrenia you’re seeing in the market.” At least that’s how Jon Merriman, CEO of Merriman Curhan Ford describes it. Ned Davis Research said in a recent note that “They see more measured gains ahead, with minimal risk of a bear market. Seasonal headwinds may mute advances, but bullishness isn’t overdone.” John Schneider, PM of the Touchstone JSAM fund, which is up 92.2% for the year, thinks “The credit market is fully recovered but the stock market has about 20% more to go. Stocks are still cheap.”Complete Story »
Tom Lydon (ETF Trends) submits: PIMCO is set to launch two new bond ETFs linked to Treasuries. This is adding to the bond giant’s growing category of bond-related funds. The two new ETFs PIMCO is adding to their lineup include:Complete Story »
Tom Lydon (ETF Trends) submits: Sugar is looking even sweeter than ever for investors, and the related ETN seems to be enjoying the market sweet spot as well.Last week, sugar prices rose to highs not seen in 28 years as concerns over a global sugar shortage were realized. The October contract for sugar, which expired Wednesday, rose 0.66 cents to 24.12 cents per pound on the Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange, reports Sarah Lepro for Associated Press.Complete Story »
Andrew Horowitz submits: Here are a few indicators we are watching. A few are showing some signs that the rally is getting strained. Last week we saw some very good news on the earnings front with a few decent economic reports. Even so, markets fell on increased volume. Not a good sign. Sentiment seems to have changed last week. Sell on good news?Complete Story »
Tom Lydon (ETF Trends) submits: Bargain-hunting during the holiday season is a national pastime, and internet shopping has been increasing over the years. There’s an ETF that can enable you to benefit from our new-found national thriftiness.Sites such as Amazon.com Inc. (NasdaqGS: AMZN) and eBay Inc. (NasdaqGS: EBAY) are providing cost-conscious shoppers with the means to sniff out popular items at low costs, writes Don Dion for The Street.com On Thursday, Amazon stated that third-quarter earnings jumped 69% on improved sales across all its product lines, reports Dan Gallagher for MarketWatch.Complete Story »
Diane Mermigas submits:Hulu's online video platform may be a success with the masses, but it will have to begin charging for at least some of its content if it doesn't want to destroy the $185 billion television ecosystem it draws from. Broadcast and cable TV are under siege by the very interactive digital technology that will extend their profitability. Television networks are finding it difficult to aggregate large audiences that generate ad revenues and fees to underwrite production. New platforms like Hulu could possibly help to ease that financial imbalance. However, the longer the ad-supported video hub remains free, the more it contributes to television's demise, according to a new report by Soleil Securities analyst Laura Martin. Her arguments and math are clear-cut.Annual domestic TV ad revenue is about $65 billion and video subscription revenue is about $120 billion. The overall market cap of media companies participating in the TV value chain is an estimated $330 billion, Martin says. All is at risk due to a variety of factors, including $600 million in value transferred to Hulu by its owners -- General Electric's (GE) NBC Universal, News Corp.'s (NWS) Fox and Walt Disney Co. (DIS) -- for which they receive no payment.Complete Story »
China imported 405 million tons of iron ore so far this year, an increase of 30% from 2008. Much of this iron ore came from Brazil—specifically from Brazil’s gargantuan iron miner Vale SA (VALE). Vale has ridden the commodity-to-China wave and has made a tremendous amount of money in the process. Its year-to-date stock price is up 120% (compared to the S&P roughly 20% rise) and its market capitalization today is roughly US$140 billion. Things may soon change, however. Brazilian legislators are considering the implementation of a new royalty payment system in the mining sector. This royalty could increase fees that mining companies like Vale pay to the Brazilian government, especially those that simply export ore and do not “add value in Brazil.”Complete Story »
Tom Lydon (ETF Trends) submits: Last week, Brazil implemented a 2% tax on new foreign investment. What could this mean for investors in the popular exchange traded fund (ETF) that focuses on the country?To understand the implications of the new tax, it’s important to understand how iShares MSCI Brazil (NYSEArca: EWZ) works.Complete Story »
Thomas MacLeod submits:This is the next installment in our "Five Charts to Rule Them All". We make our, rather good, living by forming an outlook, then trading that outlook. The weekly process that we describe here is one of the ways that we form our outlook. We try to ascertain if existing trends are likely to continue, or move sideways, or revert. Of course it's not an exact science, but must be done.Today was a longer "coffee house" session than usual. We stayed on past coffee to lunch. Rack of Lamb with Honey Mustard Glaze.Complete Story »
Tom Lydon (ETF Trends) submits: Since the market’s March 9 low, commodity ETFs have skyrocketed as countries start to recuperate from the economic blows. Here are five commodities that have been among the strongest performers.Coal. China has reduced its supply of coal by clamping down on pollution while demand remains unchanged, which could result in higher prices for the commodity. Now, China will need to import coal to maintain its production and power plants. Coal is the world’s fastest-growing fuel based on consumption. Coal is also a major component in producing steel.Complete Story »
optionMONSTER submits: By David Russell The bulls tuned into TiVo (TIVO) on Friday as the digital recording service ripped to a new 5-1/2 year high.Complete Story »
Tom Lydon (ETF Trends) submits: Ever since world economies began their long march toward recovery, base metals, along with related ETFs, have seen more demand. The current supply of copper looks like it may be dropping and steel producers may be flooding the market.Complete Story »
