Commodities

Which way to go

by Henry Becker 08.23.2011
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In a prime example of market confusion today we are told by the media that the low volume rise in the market (as of 12:23pm est S&P 500 up 2%) is in anticipation of Fed accommodation being announced this coming Friday.  The second observation is that precious metals are being knocked down.  Stocks rising in [...]

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Shh Jim Rogers is speaking

by Henry Becker 06.14.2011
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Market Navigator

by Henry Becker 05.17.2011
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The market has been signalling as pause if not correction with low volume and a switch from commodity and resources to defensive positions. As of the close on 5/16/2011 the following were the US industries or sectors leading and lagging: Leaders: Health Care Utilities Consumer Staples Pharma Semiconductors Laggards: Oil and Gas Exploration and Production [...]

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Opportunities and Risks for 2011

by Henry Becker 01.19.2011
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2011 will have its opportunities and risks like any other year.  Instead of predictions which I find to be useless as there are far too many moving parts.  None-the-less it is a good exercise to take stock of where we are now and map a way forward along with plans for contingencies.   I find [...]

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Is Chile More than you think?

by Henry Becker 11.10.2009
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No, it is not a typo. I know the mainstream press cannot get enough of Brazil. I too have sung (still sining) the praises of the future host of the Olympics. On the other side of the continent from Brazil is a sliver of a country that boasts an impressive economy. With 16 million people [...]

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Ozzy Ozzy Ozzy Oi Oi Oi

by Henry Becker 08.31.2009
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You remember the cheer for the Australian athletes from the Sydney Olympics.  There are certainly some cheers going up for the Australian stock market.  Not only is the Australian stock market turning in solid performance take a look at the currency. Oh did I mention that the Australian economy is the only advanced economy to [...]

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Where does money grow on trees?

by Henry Becker 08.09.2009
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As kids we were all told that money does not grow on trees.  As of late one of the strongest sectors of the global economy has been trees.  OK not trees but the timber industry is in full stride.  There are a number of factors that could be driving the performance. Planting roots The big [...]

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Is the food crisis gone? Did you forget?

by Henry Becker 07.30.2009
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As I get older I find myself saying I remember when quite often. I remember when the headlines of the paper were splashed with “Food Crisis.” Oh, wait that was last year. Did it go away or was the food crisis mopped up by the other crises? Believe me it is still lurking out there [...]

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Playing the mining merger mania with ETFs

by Henry Becker 07.03.2009
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Many of the metal commodities have been enjoying a nice rebound thanks to renewed faith that China will continue to snap up vast amounts of natural resources.  According to the Economist.com, another factor lately has been the merger deal making. In late June Xstrata and Anglo American proposed a merger.  If completed this would produce [...]

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Can anything break Aluminum?

by Henry Becker 06.18.2009
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Aluminum has been experiencing quite a rally under puzzling circumstances.  Like most commodities aluminum has taken it on the chin in the last year.  But, in the last three months the performance of the ETN that tracks aluminum, the iPath Aluminum ETN (ticker JJU), is up over 17%.  The puzzling part is that some say [...]

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