Monday, February 29, 2016

Average Credit Card Interest Rates Hit All-time High / Personal_Finance / Credit Cards & Scoring

By: MoneyFacts

The credit card market continues to be inundated with introductory interest-free deals, but behind the scenes the latest research from Moneyfacts.co.uk can reveal that the average purchase rate on all credit cards has hit an all-time high of 21.6% APR*.

Cardholders with a high interest credit card may not be fully aware of how much they pay over the long term or how much they could save by switching to a better deal. For instance, sticking with a high interest card could mean that it will take almost four years to clear a debt of as little as £1,000.

Monday, February 29, 2016

Tory Elite Risk British Civil War By Stating Intentions to IGNORE BrExit LEAVE EU Referendum Result / ElectionOracle / EU_Referendum

By: Nadeem_Walayat

A string of senior tories have been making insidious statements declaring that a vote by the British people to LEAVE in the forthcoming EU Referendum does not necessarily mean that the Tory elite would take Britain out of the EU, instead statements have been made that it would be just used as a bargaining chip in future negotiations ahead of a SECOND referendum, and what if Britain votes to LEAVE again, will there be a third, fourth, fifth until the Tory elite get the result they want?

Monday, February 29, 2016

Another Pull Back in the Stock Market Due? / Stock-Markets / Stock Markets 2016

By: Brad_Gudgeon

Last week, I was doing what most traders were doing, being swayed by the momentum indicators.  Last time we saw the momentum indicators where they are now we pulled back a little and then continued on up.  That was early October 2015. The problem is, the current e-wave formation has an irregular bottom that formed after the February 8 low and that was on February 11, which suggests a move below the last low of SPX 1810 and soon.  And here we have the astros confirming along with the very short term momentum indicators agreeing.

Monday, February 29, 2016

Silver Price Breaks Lower - Gold and PM Stocks Set to Plunge... / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2016

By: Clive_Maund

In the latest Gold and Silver Market updates, posted last weekend, the view was expressed that an intermediate top was forming gold and silver, not a bull Flag as some were suggesting, and the latest COT data not only confirms this view, but suggests that a severe drop is imminent, and it already started in silver on Friday. Fortunately we exited most of our long positions in the sector, many at a handsome profit, over the past 2 weeks, having spotted the danger.

The latest 1-year chart for gold is - or should be - alarming for those still long the sector. It shows gold churning having hit a target after a parabolic slingshot move that resulted in it becoming heavily overbought. Now it is vulnerable to a reaction which the latest COTs suggest will be heavy. Breakdown from the parabola will likely lead to a dramatic plunge.

Monday, February 29, 2016

Is the Stocks Bear Rally Ending At A 50% Retracement? / Stock-Markets / Stock Markets 2016

By: Andre_Gratian

Current Position of the Market

SPX: Long-term trend - Severe correction underway.

SPX: Intermediate trend - Next down-phase close at hand.

Analysis of the short-term trend is done on a daily basis with the help of hourly charts. It is an important adjunct to the analysis of daily and weekly charts which discuss longer market trends.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

“Somebody” Stepped In to Prop Up Stocks Friday / Stock-Markets / Stock Markets 2016

By: Graham_Summers

At this point the manipulations are getting ridiculous.

“Someone” decided to step in a prop up stocks yesterday. How do we know it was a market prop and not real investors?

There were several “tells.”

Sunday, February 28, 2016

The Fed is Working to Implement NIRP / Interest-Rates / NIRP

By: Graham_Summers

The Fed Vice-Chair has begun laying the groundwork for NIRP.

The US Federal Reserve is obsessed with market reactions to its policies. Because of this, anytime the Fed plans to announce a major change in policy, it preps the markets via numerous leaks and hints… oftentimes for months in advance.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Israel’s War on Palestine Ignored with World Focus on Syria / Politics / Palestine

By: Stephen_Lendman

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Gold Price Generates Long-term Buy Signal / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2016

By: Gary_Savage

Gold has just generated a long term buy signal. This is exact;y what should happen if the 8 year cycle low is complete. I've been saying the 8 year cycle low has to occur along with a yearly cycle low, and we got a yearly cycle low in December.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Regime Change in Turkey? More Likely Than You Think / Politics / Turkey

By: Mike_Whitney

On Friday, the United States rejected a draft resolution by Russia that was intended to prevent a Turkish invasion of Syria. Moscow had called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to address its growing concern that Turkey is planning to send thousands of ground troops and armored vehicles it has massed on its southern border, into Syria to protect Turkish-backed militants and to block the Kurdish militia, the YPG, from establishing a contiguous state in northern Syria. Moscow’s one-page resolution was a thoroughly-straightforward document aimed at preventing a massive escalation in a conflict that has already claimed the lives of 250, 000 and left the country in ruins.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Stocks Bear Market Uptrend Nearing its Peak / Stock-Markets / Stocks Bear Market

By: Tony_Caldaro

The market started the week at SPX 1918. After a gap up opening on Monday the market rallied to SPX 1947. After that it pulled back, aided by two gap down openings, to SPX 1891 by Wednesday. Then helped by two gap up openings the market rallied to SPX 1963 by Friday, and ended the week at 1948. For the week the SPX/DOW gained 1.55%, the NDX/NAZ gained 1.80%, and the DJ World index gained 0.90%. Economic reports for the week were neutral. On the uptick: Q4 GDP, durable goods, the FHFA, personal income/spending, the PCE, and existing home sales. On the downtick: Case-Shiller, consumer confidence/sentiment, new home sales, the WLEI, GDPn, plus weekly jobless claims increased. Next week’s reports are highlighted by the FED’s Beige book, the ISM’s and monthly Payrolls. Best to your week!

Sunday, February 28, 2016

US Dollar Rebound Increases Near-Term Gold and Stocks Risk / Commodities / Gold and Silver Stocks 2016

By: Jordan_Roy_Byrne

Last week we noted that the odds favored more upside in precious metals before a larger correction would begin. While that view remains on track, we want to note the renewed strength in the US Dollar which could provide immediate resistance to higher levels in Gold and gold stocks.

The chart below plots the weekly candles for the US$ index and the net speculative position in the US$ index. The US$ index closed back above its 200-day moving average (97) and remains well above its 400-day (or 80-week moving average).

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Gold And Silver – February Heralding End Of Down Trend? / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2016

By: Michael_Noonan

Applying market logic:

We often state that the market is replete with logic, even for those who do not know how or do not like to look at charts to explain the markets. Charts that explain developing market activity have been superior to all fundamental analysis over the last several years. For us, that statement would include for as long as charts have been maintained, starting with Japan’s rice market, a few hundred years ago.

Most market participants have some [unrequited] need to have fundamentals be the driving force behind their market comprehension. [See the stock market top from 2008 and the ongoing follow-up by fundamentalists who were unable to comprehend how their world of value investing had just been turned upside down. As an aside, charts were flashing a major sell signal after the top but well before the collapse]. We digress…not really. The point is valid.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Challenging S&P 500 1947/Breakout....Sentiment Changes... / Stock-Markets / Stock Markets 2016

By: Jack_Steiman

A very interesting week as the S&P 500 made a strong move upward towards the double top breakout at 1947. It succeeded at getting through. That was as of the close yesterday, so naturally when you get a breakout what you want to see is follow-through, which was the case this morning when we woke up to some very strong futures. The breakout was on with a move to 1962 early on in the day. A nearly 1% move, which can be confirming, but only on a closing basis. When the day was over we saw the S&P 500 pull back, and, thus, it closed only one point above the breakout level, which is not enough to yet confirm that breakout move. Above, but not by enough. So yes, the market has made its strong move off the bottom, but now we get some deeper understanding about what's taking place. About whether this was a rally in a bearish environment, or whether the market is ready for much higher prices. When you study this evening's charts you'll see some very interesting back tests that got stopped today.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Stocks Rally on Lies, Fantasy, and Hope / Stock-Markets / Stock Markets 2016

By: Barry_M_Ferguson

What should we make of the rally in stocks, world stocks, metals, materials, oil, junk bonds, and everything else that could be counted as an asset in the third week of February, 2016? Well, not much. When central banksters want a rally, we get a rally!

The stock rally can easily be explained through ‘calendar-ization’. This is a term that I coined a few years back so if you reuse it, send me some money. What it means is this. Every year, central bankers and their shills (Wall Street, bankers, financial media) goose asset prices in the fourth quarter so investors will get a pretty statement in January. Knowing that the next quarterly statement doesn’t get printed until April, these same manipulators take off the better part of January to rest and restock their inkjet money printers. Naturally, asset prices swoon. Realizing that most investors get monthly statements as well, these manipulators go into panic mode and begin to goose asset prices to mute the damage of January. If the selling in January is too brutal, as was the case this year (2016), the manipulators hold off until February. Then we get a rerun of the same movie.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

UEFA Champions League 2016 Walkers Crisps Instant Win Prizes Experience / Personal_Finance / Freebies and Comps

By: Adnaan_Walayat

It's literally child's play to win tons of UEFA Champions League prizes in Walkers Crisps promotion as this video of 8 year old Anika illustrates. Literally tens of thousands of official UEFA t-shirts, footballs and sharing balls are up for grabs and your virtually guaranteed several wins from every walkers crisps multi-pack (24).

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Learn Why 2015 Was a Key Transition Year for Stocks, Early Stages of Bear Market / Stock-Markets / Stocks Bear Market

By: EWI

Steve Hochberg explains why he thinks we're in the early stages of a bear market

Our Chief Market Analyst Steve Hochberg talks to Moe Ansari on Market Wrap Radio. You'll hear his take on what we've seen in the markets so far in 2016 -- and why Steve thinks 2015 was a "transitional" year.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Obsoleting Banks, Brokers, Clearinghouses & Exchanges / Stock-Markets / Financial Crisis 2016

By: Gordon_T_Long

RA Co-Founder Gordon T. Long has an in-depth discussion on the future of Bitcoins and Block Chain technology with serial entrepreneur, Reggie Middleton. Middleton’s experience has given him the ability to recognize value, or the lack thereof, well before much of the professional populace. His ability to identify opportunity and his “out-the-box” mind-set are due to years of entrepreneurial pursuits in insurance, financial valuation/modeling, technology, media, and real estate. He is the founder of Veritaseum and the finance and technology blog, Boom Bust Blog. Until 2011, he wrote about financial evaluation and the global financial crisis at the Huffington Post.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

The Hong Kong Dollar, Rock Solid / Currencies / Hong Kong

By: Steve_H_Hanke

The currency speculators are restless, again. Many, like George Soros and Kyle Bass, are reportedly taking aim at the Hong Kong dollar (HKD). HKD bear circles think China’s renmimbi (RMB) will lose value against the U.S. dollar (USD) as China’s economy slows down and capital flight from China continues. This, it is asserted, will put pressure on the HKD, and force its devaluation. Thus rendering the fixed rate of 7.8 HKD/USD null and void, and pumping profits into the pockets of those who bet on a devaluation of the HKD.

Friday, February 26, 2016

OceanaGold’s Epic Fundamentals / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2016

By: Zeal_LLC

With the gold-mining sector’s market-dominating outperformance this year, investors are searching for the best-of-breed gold miners.  The elite mid-tier OceanaGold is certainly among them.  OceanaGold has truly epic fundamentals, combining super-profitable low-cost gold production with a solid balance sheet and great growth potential.  Gold-stock investors really need to seriously consider this gem for their portfolios.

OceanaGold likely derives its name from Oceania, a loose geographic region comprising the islands of the southwest Pacific Ocean.  And given OceanaGold’s operations in New Zealand and the Philippines, its name is quite apt.  OceanaGold operates several gold mines, and recently acquired a great new gold project in South Carolina.  While not widely known yet by American investors, OceanaGold eventually will be.