Copper Producers Could Still Have Long Way To Fall

Copper Producers Could Still Have Long Way To Fall: By H.J. Huney:

Copper has been on top of the world for much of the past half decade. If you started investing in copper or copper producers in the early years of the new millennium, you would have made spectacular returns in a time when the S&P 500 would’ve produced modest to flat returns.

Just how well did copper do? From September 2002 to February 2011, copper prices increased a whopping 450%! Not a bad little gain. If you had been fortunate enough to have held stock in Freeport-McMoran Copper and Gold (FCX) during that same timeframe, you would’ve seen even greater returns; around 700% – 800%!

And here’s where it gets really interesting: Freeport’s returns look impressive until you take a look at the astronomical 1900% gains you could’ve realized by owning shares of Southern Copper (SCCO)! Aside from owning stock in Apple (AAPL) during that same timeframe, it would be very

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Go With The Crowd And Short Netflix

Go With The Crowd And Short Netflix: By Ryan Canady:

Poor Netflix (NFLX). The company with which many investors seemingly had a summer fling has now started to endure the painful breakup period with so many of its subscribes and investors. Most have heard about the well-documented blunders of Qwikster and the price increase for Netflix services. These two situations led to more than 1 million subscribers leaving the company. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the challenges that Netflix will have to face in the coming years.

The Poor Get Poorer

While some companies are great to pick up at dramatically reduced prices, NFLX is not one of them. This stock has been smacked down from its 52 week high of $304.79 down to a closing price of $69.30 on December 29). Not a falling knife to grab, Netflix has a target price as low as $45 a share with the median

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Europe Markets: European shares tumble 11% in tough year

Europe Markets: European shares tumble 11% in tough year: European stocks post modest daily gains in thin trading, but end year marked by deepening euro-zone crisis with steep losses.

Currencies: Dollar pares 2011 gains in final session

Currencies: Dollar pares 2011 gains in final session: A closely followed index tracking the performance of the dollar stands poised to register gain for a second straight year, while the euro’s lost 3% versus the U.S. unit in 2011. One strategist sees ongoing weakness for the shared currency, to the $1.20 level, in 2012.

Spain predicts higher budget deficit in 2011

Spain predicts higher budget deficit in 2011: The newly appointed Spanish government predicts the 2011 budget deficit will reach 8% and announces €8.9 billion ($11.5 billion) in austerity measures.

David Callaway: Look for 2012 to be the year of the dollar

David Callaway: Look for 2012 to be the year of the dollar: Europe’s crisis, weakness in China and a slowly recovering U.S. economy all bode well for the long-suffering greenback in 2012, argues MarketWatch Editor-in-Chief David Callaway.

I must agree with the above to the extend of the projected scenario in Europe debt default as well as the slowing of the economic machine in China.

So among the indicated investments for 2012 and beyond for oil, and agricultural related stocks, we should also add the dollar.

NewsWatch: U.S. stocks hit as Italy’s debt sale spurs worry

NewsWatch: U.S. stocks hit as Italy’s debt sale spurs worry: The S&P 500 back falls back into the red for the year, as Wall Street focuses on hazards of longer-dated Italian debt.

European Debt Default

I hear often now the question of whether the US will be able to bear an EU debt default.
The answer to that is "NO".  Reason why?  That is simple.
If the EU defaults on its debt the crisis will become a World crisis - many others will be affected by it, and the US cannot bear the weight of such a crisis.
It is not the end of the world by any means, but things on the economic front will change dramatically.
Is Europe getting ready to default?  I think that many banking entities are getting position just for the occasion.  Why would those banks be doing so if they thought there is no need for it?
I believe the possibility is imminent.
Where would you position yourself in case this happens?  Oil, and agricultural related stocks will do well into the future as the demand for energy and food will continue to grow while the availability of both of those will be more scarce.

Economic Report: U.S. home prices drop in October: Case-Shiller

Economic Report: U.S. home prices drop in October: Case-Shiller: U.S. home prices took a step backward for a second month in October, according to a key index released Tuesday.

As one of the most basic pillars of our economy continue to struggle, the news continue to tell us that the economy is finding its footing and slowly but certainly finding its way up.
How can an economy possibly find its footing while one of the most inportant footings of its foundation - Housing - continues to deteriorate?

Consumer confidence is supposedly up today. Hmmm? I suppose folks are ok with the value of their home still in the decline. That is the value of one of the most important asset.
And to top off that confidence I suppose the shutting down of ove 120 Sears store is one of the reasons - right?

Is it what it is, or what the news tell us it is?

10 Stocks To Short In 2012

10 Stocks To Short In 2012: By Williams Equity Analysis:

My recent pieces on the U.S. Treasury bubble and our "House of Cards Economy," China's decline, and the alarmingly negative long-term fundamentals in Europe have, admittedly, been bearish. I say this with no regret. I'm not an eternal pessimist. In fact, I think our next crisis will give birth to an American population with the will to elect politicians on the basis of sound economic policy. This new America will consistently vote for less government spending, lower taxes, and less government intervention within the free market. Certainly, Americans understand that a purely free market leads to obvious problems, but our new leaders will largely avoid aggressive interventionist policies.

One can certainly hope.

My general thesis on the issues our economy faces in 2012 and beyond can be seen in the linked articles. That being said, while 2012 offers plenty of opportunity on the long side, the short side has, in

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Stocks to Watch: Stocks to watch Thursday: Tibco, Neogen

Stocks to Watch: Stocks to watch Thursday: Tibco, Neogen: Among the stocks that could see active trade in Thursday’s session are American Greetings, Neogen and Bed, Bath & Beyond.