Market Overview

What is the most important decision for the long-term investor? This is actually an easy question, but most investors get it wrong. You need to choose the right level of risk! Here are the key facts:...

The Bureau of Economic Analysis released new data today showing that corporate profits reached an all-time nominal high in the second quarter of 2013. Profits before tax rose to 12.53 percent of GDP...

Note from dshort: I've updated this commentary, originally posted in July, to include the latest Flow of Funds data on federal loans to students, which now constitute 42% of of the assets on Uncle...

Note from dshort: I've updated the quiz based on yesterday's Q2 Flow of Funds release. Hint: The correct answer is the same as it was for the last quiz, just more incredible.Pop Quiz! Without recourse...

The secret of my success, in my opinion, has been my ability to accurately describe parts of the market and economy exactly the way they are and exactly the way they are not. I say power to make...

I'm not a Rand Paul fan, but he made a comment yesterday that makes complete sense: (to paraphrase) If Obama likes Obamacare so much, why doesn't he voluntarily enroll in it? To that I'll add:...

Bears Have Allies In WashingtonMarkets hate uncertainty. Washington loves to create uncertainty since it provides leverage in political negotiations.From BloombergThe Senate likely will not vote on a...

In an unprecedented move for an Iranian leader, President Hassan Rouhani has used his visit to address the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly to condemn Nazi war crimes at a breakfast...

The Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report was released this morning for last week. The 305,000 new claims number was a 5,000 decrease from the previous week's 310,000 (an upward revision from...

There are four developments in China to note:First, in what seems a bit like "buy the rumor sell the fact" type of activity, the Shanghai Composite slipped 1.9% today to a three week low.Reports...

Over the last few weeks, as the overwhelming majority of economists, reporters, and Wall Street insiders expressed certainty that the Fed would begin to taper its QE program, I did my level best to...

Thursday's Market DriversUK CA cap sends cable tumblingUSD/JPY soars in Asia on talk of pension fund reform but gives up most gainsNikkei 1.49% Europe 0.22%Oil $103/bblGold $1337/oz.Europe And AsiaGBP...

Euro area M3 growth stood at 2.3% y/y in August, up from 2.3% in July, in line with market expectations. At the same time, M1 growth declined to 6.8% y/y, from 7.1%. The high M1 is driven primarily by...

Markets turn their glare to Washington where partisan squabbles threaten to undermine the US economy once again. Congress has until Monday to pass a budget or a government shutdown will begin. At...