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Investments go from Friday 13th to Ides of March-- Thread March 15, 2015
Weekly investment & finance thread ^ | MARCH 15, 2015 | Freeper Investors

Posted on 03/15/2015 7:00:49 AM PDT by expat_panama

Seems like there's an awful lot of doom'n'gloom out there:

(excerpt from)

  More Volatility Sends Market Down for a 3rd Week

The stock market was hit hard on Friday, capping a third week of declines as investors reacted to a steep drop in oil prices and a jump in the value of the dollar.

Utilities, major exporters and companies that make basic materials like steel had the biggest declines.

The sell-off came at the end of a volatile week, and it sets the stage for a Federal Reserve policy meeting next week. Investors will be watching closely for clues about the central bank’s views on the economy and interest rates.

“This week has really been about investors’ outlooks adjusting in the face of higher interest rates later this year,” said Gabriela Santos, a global market strategist at JPMorgan Funds.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 145.91 points, or 0.8 percent, to 17,749.31. The Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index lost 12.55 points, or 0.6 percent, to 2,053.40, and the Nasdaq lost 21.53 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,871.76. Continue reading the main story

Benchmark United States crude fell $2.21 to close at $44.84 a barrel in New York. Oil is now within 40 cents of its low for the year, and its lowest level in six years, after a drop of 10 percent this week. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils used by many American refineries, fell $2.41 to close at $54.67 a barrel in London.

Several energy stocks followed the price of oil lower...

[snip]

In the bond market, United States government bond prices did not move much. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was unchanged at 2.12 percent.

Gold edged up 50 cents, to $1,152.40 an ounce, silver fell 2 cents, to $15.49 an ounce, and copper was flat at $2.66 a pound.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  

(excerpt from)

US stocks fall for third-straight week; worries about oil prices and interest rates persist

The stock market was hit hard Friday, capping a third week of declines, as investors reacted to a steep drop in oil prices and a jump in the value of the dollar.

Utilities, companies that make basic materials like steel, and major exporters had the biggest declines.

The sell-off came at the end of a volatile week and sets the stage for a Federal Reserve policy meeting next week. Investors will be watching closely for clues about the central bank's views on the economy and interest rates.

"This week has really been about investors' outlooks adjusting in the face of higher interest rates later this year," said Gabriela Santos, a global market strategist at JPMorgan Funds.

 

Traders gather at a post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, March 13, 2015. U.S. stocks are opening slightly lower a day after the market notched its best performance in five weeks. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

 

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 145.91 points, or 0.8 percent, to 17,749.31. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 12.55 points, or 0.6 percent, to 2,053.40 and the Nasdaq composite lost 21.53 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,871.76.

Oil dropped sharply after the International Energy Agency said prices had further to fall because supplies were continuing to rise. Benchmark U.S. crude fell $2.21 to close at $44.84 a barrel in New York. Oil is now within 40 cents of its low for the year, and its lowest level in six years, after a drop of 10 percent this week. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils used by many U.S. refineries, fell $2.41 to close at $54.67 a barrel in London.

[snip]

Gold edged up 50 cents to $1,152.40 an ounce, silver fell two cents to $15.49 an ounce and copper was flat at $2.66 a pound. In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline fell 4.8 cents...

 

 

 

 

 

(excerpt from)

U.S. stocks end rocky stretch with third straight weekly loss

 

Consumers aren't as optimistic. Sentiment index slides in March.

 

 

U.S. stocks suffered another bout of selling on Friday and the main indexes registered losses for a third straight week.

The turbulent week was dominated by wild swings in currencies, with the dollar surging to multiyear highs against the euro as expectations rose for a rate hike by the middle of the year.

Oil prices fell nearly 10% over the week as the commodity had been hit hard due to a stronger dollar, reports of a supply glut and heightened output. Weaker-than-expected economic data added to the dour Wall Street mood.

The S&P 500 SPX, -0.61% closed 12.55 points or 0.6%, lower at 2,053 and lost 0.9% over the week. Energy sector stock led the decliners over the week, falling 2.8%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.82% dropped 145.91 points, or 0.8%, to 17,749.31 and recorded a 0.6% loss over the week.

The Nasdaq Composite COMP, -0.44% ended the day down 21.53 points, or 0.4%, at 4,871.76 and lost 1.1% over the week.

Investors grappled with mixed economic reports over the week. Friday’s producer prices report showed a surprise drop. Meanwhile, consumer sentiment slid in March, falling more than experts had forecast. Those less-than-stellar reports followed a report on Thursday showing a sharp fall in unemployment claims.

[snip]

Regardless, Skelly thinks market reaction to the eventual hike will be measured.

The Federal Open Market Committee meets on Tuesday and Wednesday, and although no rate changes are expected, investors will closely be watching Chairwoman Janet Yellen’s news conference for hints on how patient the central bank will be before tightening its monetary policy.

 

 

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Then again, universal doom'n'gloom's usually a very bullish indicator.  That and the fact that most of the price plunge took place before this past week when the trend turned flat...

 

 

This is the thread where folks swap ideas on savings and investment --here's a list of popular investing links that freepers have posted here and tomorrow morning we'll go on with our--

Open invitation continues always for idea-input for the thread, this being a joint effort works well.   Keywords: financial, WallStreet, stockmarket, economy.

 



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: economy; financial; stockmarket; wallstreet
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To: expat_panama

The economy “moderated” from a moderate position already. Looks to me like their feared deflation is still on the horizon.


61 posted on 03/18/2015 7:27:59 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin (It's a shame nobama truly doesn't care about any of this. Our country, our future, he doesn't care)
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To: Lurkina.n.Learnin

That ‘deflation’ question had been in my brain right before I saw you post —it’s key. Seems like Yellen’s either too scared to mention it or she refuses to believe it’s there, but the fact that their target is an inflation ceiling is a form of acknowledgment that means they want no part of deflation.


62 posted on 03/19/2015 3:00:39 AM PDT by expat_panama
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To: 1010RD; A Cyrenian; abb; Abigail Adams; abigail2; AK_47_7.62x39; Aliska; aposiopetic; Aquamarine; ..

Hey and happy Thursday to ya!   Yesterday's 'festivities' included a FOMC announcement and a market upside reversal big time --a percent gain in soaring volume.  Metals settled on the bases set back a half year ago but this morning futures see 'em +1.67% (fwiw, stock index futures are @ -0.15% but that's been creeping up).  Huge "claims day" document dump:

Initial Claims
Continuing Claims
Current Account Balance
Philadelphia Fed
Leading Indicators
Natural Gas Inventories

--and--


63 posted on 03/19/2015 5:49:25 AM PDT by expat_panama
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To: palmer
The “free lunch” article is fantastic.

imho it was a nicely written but without a valid point; it falsely advanced a misunderstanding that the primary purpose of the Fed is a growing economy.  It isn't.  The Fed exists to stabilize the dollar's prices.  Sure, an economy grows better with stable prices but economic production comes from producers.  There is a big difference between money and wealth --and the Fed knows full well that it can create the first and not the second.

64 posted on 03/20/2015 3:05:25 AM PDT by expat_panama
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To: 1010RD; A Cyrenian; abb; Abigail Adams; abigail2; AK_47_7.62x39; Aliska; aposiopetic; Aquamarine; ..
Markets   Yesterday   Today's Futures
metals   Solid base support with gold'n'silver hanging steady at $1,171,40 and $16.22   Looking good at +0.38%.
       
stocks   Mixed bag in low volume as the dust settles.   Seeing a resuming advance @ +0.29%

Let's all sleep late this morning as yesterday went nowhere and today's shaping up like more of the same.  There's not even any econ announcements --what could possibly happen today?  News: 

Why the Fed Can't Raise Interest Rates Yet - John Crudele, New York Post
When Will Interest Rates Rise? Maybe Never - Jeremy Warner, Telegraph
For Bond Traders, Old Strategies Won't Work - Alex Rosenberg, CNBC
Ordinary Investors Now Have Edge over Pros - Peter Coy, Bloomberg BW
Why Haven't Claims from 'Flash Boys' Been Proven? - Bill Harts, CNBC
Smallest 'Errors' Produce the Most Carnage - Jeff Snider, RealClearMarkets
SEC Chair Wants Activist Fights to Be Nicer - Matt Levine, Bloomberg

Threads:


65 posted on 03/20/2015 3:21:13 AM PDT by expat_panama
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To: expat_panama

You’re up awful early today. I guess you’ll be wanting to get off early, too - being that it’s Friday and all.

We may have to inspect your timesheets to make sure everything’s in order...

LOL!! just kidding!


66 posted on 03/20/2015 3:31:11 AM PDT by abb ("News reporting is too important to be left to the journalists." Walter Abbott (1950 -))
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To: expat_panama

Here’s one to add to your list

Banks Struggle to Unload Oil Loans
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3270011/posts


67 posted on 03/20/2015 5:17:24 AM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin (It's a shame nobama truly doesn't care about any of this. Our country, our future, he doesn't care)
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To: abb

;) busy day already, wife invited 60 people over for a party tomorrow so I had to hit the day running. I’m a morning person anyway...


68 posted on 03/20/2015 6:04:13 AM PDT by expat_panama
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To: Lurkina.n.Learnin

Interesting —always a shake-up when things change, even when things change for the better.


69 posted on 03/20/2015 6:05:54 AM PDT by expat_panama
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To: Lurkina.n.Learnin

Here’s when the majors add to their reserves via buyouts, after someone else found it.


70 posted on 03/20/2015 8:06:18 AM PDT by abb ("News reporting is too important to be left to the journalists." Walter Abbott (1950 -))
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To: abb

I’ve been expecting to see some consolidation at some point.


71 posted on 03/20/2015 8:33:52 AM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin (It's a shame nobama truly doesn't care about any of this. Our country, our future, he doesn't care)
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To: SomeCallMeTim

How did the meeting go? Did it help with understanding the annuity?


72 posted on 03/21/2015 9:07:38 AM PDT by Abigail Adams
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To: Abigail Adams

It was a NOTHING meeting... All I got was, a way to log in to see my account, and the underlying options for investments. We will meet again next week to talk about it some more.

A Freeper emailed me this link...

https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Variable_annuity

Which, helped me understand a BIT more about what I’ve purchased.

I have to say, my oldest son works with this bank, in this investment arm. He has been helping me, and I trust him completely.

I’m not an investment novice.. I have a good handle, IMO, on things like Time Value of money. The terms of this kind of investment seem to me to be “Too Good to be True”... but, I keep reading, looking for loop-holes, and, I don’t see any.

I HOPE it’s as good as it seems. It seems very flexible... Gets better, the longer I can wait... but, is reasonably good if I have to access sooner.

I’m SO uncertain about how long I will work, and what my total retirenmemt funds might be... This seems like a really good, fairly conservative BASE for my retirement plans... Not the whole, for sure... but, a soldid base tio build on.


73 posted on 03/21/2015 6:55:15 PM PDT by SomeCallMeTim ( The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them!)
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