Wednesday, April 14, 2021

The Current Cannabis Sector Rally Is Pointing To Another Breakout / Commodities / Cannabis

By: Chris_Vermeulen

My research team and I continue to believe the Cannabis/Alternative sector is poised for a big trend in 2021 and 2022.  Over the past few years, this sector has continued to trend lower after the hype of 2016~2018 – back when everyone was getting into the Cannabis industry as multiple US states authorized recreational and medical use.  After the 2018 peak, followed by the early 2019 moderate price recovery, this entire industry sector fell out of favor with investors for almost 2 full years.

MJ Pennant Setup Almost Complete

The peak in the MJ, Alternative Harvest ETF, in September 2018 was $45.40.  The lowest price since that peak was in March 2020 at $8.81 – that’s an 80% decline in price.  Currently, MJ is trading near $22.31 and we’ve seen a tremendous recovery after the 2020 US elections.  These elections resulted in a wave of enthusiasm for Cannabis and Alternative supply companies as it was widely expected the Democrats would move quickly to legalize Cannabis and other illegal drugs after their win.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

U.S. Dollar Junk Bond Market The Easiest Money in History / Interest-Rates / US Bonds

By: EWI

The latest data from Refinitiv shows that companies have raised a record $140 billion in the U.S. dollar junk bond market during the first quarter of this year. That beats the previous record set during the second quarter last year when companies scrambled to issue debt in a bid to raise cash during the pandemic. The three biggest issuance quarters in history have been set in the past year. With investors falling over themselves to lend money to any venture offering a U.S. dollar yield above 4%, companies are now not only finding that they can raise money easily in order to roll over existing debt, but some are using the proceeds to pay dividends to owners. It's beyond absurd.

When a mania is in full force, though, the vast majority of participants are blind to the absurdity. Investors, for instance, think that they must lend because 4% or higher is such a juicy yield when compared with anything else. And the central banks will not let companies fail, so it's a free lunch.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

The SPY Is Nearing Resistance @ $410… What Is Next? / Stock-Markets / Stock Market 2021

By: Chris_Vermeulen

My shorter-term analysis for the markets continues to stay Bullish and suggests the US reflation trade, the strengthening of the US and the global economy, and recovery from the COVID-19 restrictions will likely prompt a moderately strong upside price trend leading into at least mid Q2:2021.  The recent strength of the US Dollar is helping to push capital into the US markets as foreign investors attempt to shift capital away from Emerging Market and currency weakness and the Treasury Yield rallies seem to have indicated a moderate warning related to global central banks attempting to front-run inflation concerns.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

The Curious Stock Market Staircase Rally / Stock-Markets / Stock Market 2021

By: Monica_Kingsley

Another day of tiny S&P 500 gains defying gravity, boosted by overnight price action. Well, liquidity overpowering junk corporate bonds opening with a bullish gap only to partially close it. With some credit market hints at deterioration present, the yen carry trade is getting a new lease on life today, and that‘s generally bullish for risk-on assets such as stocks – but not really for precious metals.

With all the Fed support, the Powell bid is in, affecting „traditional“ sectoral dynamics of rotation. Value is probably about to feel the heat if you look at the very long lower knot in financials (XLF ETF) yesterday. Yes, this interest rate sensitive sector still rose in the face of long-dated Treasuries‘ gains. Needless to say, technology loved that, and its heavyweights ($NYFANG) keep driving the sector up. It looks to be a question of time before Tesla (TSLA) joins – Square (SQ) already did.

The key question is the rotation‘s degree – now that the yields appear ready to retreat still a little more (the 10-year yield appears targeting the low 1.50%  figure if not declining further), which is what technology anticipates even though utilities and consumer staples have been dragging their feet a little lately. But value stocks aren‘t selling off in the least (yet?). Is the TINA still strongly in effect when those stock market segments that could have been expected under more stringent monetary policy to be sold, aren‘t no more? Rising tide lifting really all boats – in stocks.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Stocks are Heating Up / Stock-Markets / Stock Market 2021

By: Paul_Rejczak

In keeping with its historical performance, April has started off white-hot. We ended March, and Q1 for that matter, with more questions than answers.

But April 2021 started with a blowout jobs report, and the indices haven't looked back since. Right now, the S&P 500 is at yet another record, the Dow is just about at a record, and we've seen a furious comeback for Big Tech and growth stocks.

The sentiment is certainly better now than it was just a couple of weeks ago. However, I implore you to remember that every month in 2021 thus far has started off hot and saw a pullback/volatility occur in the second half of the month.

Think about it. In January, we had the GameStop trade spooking investors. In February and March, we had surging bond yields, inflation fears, or Jay Powell comments that rubbed people the wrong way. These concerns won't just disappear because we want them to. If we could make things magically disappear, COVID would've been over yesterday.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Two Methods in Calculating For R&D Tax Credits / Companies / Taxes

By: Sumeet_Manhas

When it comes to determining the federal research and development or R&D tax credits, companies may have multiple options. They will be allowed to utilize either the regular research credit (RRC) or the alternative simplified credit (ASC) approach to partly fund expenditures in materials, systems, software, formulations, methods, or innovations, depending on the situation.

The Regular Research Credit Calculation Method of R&D Tax Credits

The RRC system enables a business to a credit equivalent to 20% from its present year qualified research expenditures (QREs) over a base sum. This approach may be confusing since corporations must get a total cumulative gross R&D receipt from over the preceding four tax years in order to measure the allowance, and whether they started activities in the 1980s or earlier, they must collect details from any of those years.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Stock Market Minor Correction Due / Stock-Markets / Stock Market 2021

By: Andre_Gratian

Current Position of the Market
SPX Long-term trend:  There is some evidence that we are still in the bull market which started in 2009 and which could continue into the first half of 2021 before major cycles take over and it comes to an end.
SPX Intermediate trend:  SPX is in the next phase of its intermediate uptrend.
Analysis of the short-term trend is done daily with the help of hourly charts. They are important adjuncts to the analysis of daily and weekly charts which determine longer market trends.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

How to Feed Budgies Cucumbers - Best Vegetables Feeding for the First Time, Parakeet Care UK / Personal_Finance / Animals & Pets

By: N_Walayat

How to Feed Budgies Cucumbers - Best Vegetables Feeding for the First Time, Parakeet Care UK

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Biggest Inflation Threat in 40 Years Looms over Markets / Economics / Inflation

By: MoneyMetals

William Watts with MarketWatch sees the “biggest Inflation scare in 40 years” on its way. He expects massive amounts of stimulus coupled with a boom associated with easing COVID restrictions to generate a surge in prices like the nation hasn’t seen since the late 1970s to early 1980s.

The signs say Watts may be right. Commodities, with the exception of closely managed gold and silver prices, have been screaming higher in recent months. Wheat, corn, lumber, copper, steel, and a host of other key inputs have all spiked higher.

The jump is already being felt in consumer goods and construction, but the bulk of the price hikes may still lie ahead.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

How to Get Rich with the Pareto Distribution - Tesco Example / Personal_Finance / Learning to Invest

By: Nadeem_Walayat

PARETO distribution! Never heard of it, well watch the video and learn something important as you get another one of my insights into how the world actually works and so how to adjust what you do so as to meander towards riches in this lifetime as opposed to the after life which many billions have resigned themselves towards. WATCH the VIDEO and LEARN something new that could change how you progress through life!

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Litecoin and Bitcoin-Which Is Better? / Currencies / BlockChain

By: Umer_Mahmood

Monday, April 12, 2021

The Major Advantages Of Getting Your PhD Online / Personal_Finance / Student Finances

By: Steve_Barker

Monday, April 12, 2021

Covid-19 Pandemic Current State for UK, US, Europe, Brazil Vaccinations vs Lockdown's Third Wave / Politics / Coronavirus 2021

By: Nadeem_Walayat

Covid Current State

Firstly what's the current state of play in the deadly global pandemic game of vaccinate before the next Big variant wave hits.

Monday, April 12, 2021

Why These Stock Market Indicators Should Grab Your Full Attention / Stock-Markets / Stock Market 2021

By: EWI

The McClellan Summation Index has been "in a clearly defined downtrend since late December"

Many Main Street investors only pay attention to the daily trading closes of the main stock indexes.

But those who fall in that camp are missing out on a lot of valuable insights regarding the strength or weakness of a trend. In other words, when it comes to the stock market, it pays to "look under the hood."

For example, on Friday (March 26), all three major indexes rallied with the S&P 500 climbing 1.7% to hit a record closing high. Those who glance at the stock market headlines may have concluded "all systems go."

Monday, April 12, 2021

Rising Debt Means a Weaker US Dollar / Currencies / US Dollar

By: MoneyMetals

Americans appear to be growing more concerned about the skyrocketing national debt level – officially $28.1 trillion and counting.

The Peter G. Peterson Foundation’s monthly Fiscal Confidence Index recently shed five points, dropping to a level of 47, in the wake of the Biden Administration’s latest $2 trillion stimulus package.

That $2 trillion bill is simply piled on top of already massive budget deficits.

And it adds furthers to concerns over the country’s currency, the Federal Reserve Note “dollar.”

Monday, April 12, 2021

Another Gold Stocks Upleg / Commodities / Gold and Silver Stocks 2021

By: Zeal_LLC

The gold miners’ stocks suffered a rocky start to 2021, rolling over into an extended correction after a young upleg prematurely failed.  The resulting deeper lows left sentiment overwhelmingly bearish, with this contrarian sector deeply out of favor.  But over the last five weeks or so, gold stocks have powered higher again in another young upleg.  This one has a far-stronger foundation given the underlying gold setup.

The leading and dominant gold-stock benchmark and trading vehicle remains the GDX VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF.  It held $14.2b in net assets in the middle of this week, a massive 30.6x bigger than the next-largest 1x-long major-gold-miners-ETF competitor!  Several weeks ago I analyzed the top 25 GDX gold miners’ latest quarterly results, which revealed this sector now enjoys incredibly-strong fundamentals.

While gold averaged $1,876 per ounce in the recently-reported Q4’20, the big GDX gold miners reported average all-in sustaining costs of $1,038 per ounce.  That implied stellar $838-per-ounce profit margins!  That fantastic profitability fueled record revenues, adjusted earnings, operating cash flows, and treasuries at the GDX-top-25 gold miners.  That was their sixth quarter in a row of soaring mid-double-digit earnings growth!

Monday, April 12, 2021

AMD The ZEN Tech Stock / Companies / Tech Stocks

By: Nadeem_Walayat

AMD profiting from it's Zen 3 processors if not it's 6000 series GPU's due to lack of supply has meant that AMD's eye watering valuations have evaporated. Gone is Mid 2020's EC of 317, gone is Novembers 137, AMD not stands on an EC of just 56! Which means AMD IS CHEAP! Thus gets a buy rating of 100%.

Monday, April 12, 2021

Overclockers UK Build Quality - Why Glue Fan to CPU Heat sink Instead of Using Supplied Clips? / Personal_Finance / Computing

By: HGR

So during the unboxing of a £1000 student gaming machine from Overclockers UK we straightaway noticed that the fan had been glued onto the CPU heat sink, why would they do that? After all Raijintek the manufacturer will have supplied clips to do that (CPU Cooler Raijintek Themis Black Heatpipe CPU Cooler PWM - 120mm ). So in this video we contemplate why Overclockers would do that as that is not the intended why the fan is supposed to be mounted onto the heat sink, watch the video and share your thoughts in the comments below.

Monday, April 12, 2021

What are the Key Capabilities You Should Look for in Fleet Management Software? / Companies / SME

By: Justin_Weinger

In recent years, thanks to the rise of the internet and a spike in the number of telecommunications networks that can transfer data between offices in real time, fleet management software solutions have become more and more popular. However, with this popularity comes a range of different options available for you to choose from, which can be confusing if you are new to the software. On this note, we have broken down the key capabilities you should look for when choosing a new fleet management software.

Monday, April 12, 2021

What Is Bitcoin Gold? / Currencies / Bitcoin

By: Umer_Mahmood