links for 2010-03-08

Talk of China giving up on dollar is nonsense: banker | Reuters Li Ruogu, chairman of Export-Import Bank of China, a lender tasked with supporting the country's foreign investments, said in a group interview that a collapse in the dollar's value would damage Chinese interests. China should focus instead on trying to stabilize the dollar … Read more

Stock Market Overbought As It Tests 52-Week Highs

The stock market’s bounce from oversold conditions has been as impressive as almost all other such bounces over the past year. I noted in early February that several technical indicators were pointing to a buying opportunity. One of those indicators, the percentage of stocks trading above their 40-day moving averages (also known as “T2108“), is … Read more

links for 2010-03-04

Gold breaks the rules – MarketWatch "In a world where governments are openly devaluing their fiat currencies in an attempt to ease increasing stimulus debts and increase exports, central banks are figuring out the best way to preserve their wealth: the U.S. dollar and gold. Look for them to trade up together," (tags: gold U.S._dollar)

Bullish Traders On IMAX Options Run Into Bad News

Interpreting the trading volume in options is typically difficult (I did an analysis in three parts last year). But I am most fascinated when a herd of speculators get caught leaning in the very wrong direction. This is what happened with IMAX. Schaeffer’s Research reported on heavy, bullish activity in the trading of IMAX options … Read more

links for 2010-03-03

Hedge funds raise bets against euro – FT.com Hedge funds are raising their bets against the euro amid growing fears of a regulatory backlash against their trading positions on the specific sovereign debt of Greece and other weak eurozone economies. (tags: euro hedge_funds Greece debt) U.S. Said to Tell Hedge Funds to Save Euro Records … Read more

The Bank of Canada Continues to Lament Its Strong Currency

No new news in the Bank of Canada’s decision to maintain its overnight rate target at 0.25% and to start increasing this rate at the end of next quarter. The Bank of Canada continues to lament the stubborn strength of its currency despite these rock-bottom rates: “…the persistent strength of the Canadian dollar and the … Read more

The Consumer Remains Bullish on Spending, Not On Mutual Funds

Major resistance has broken and trends are turning back up on the major indices, so it is time to consider more seriously the prospect of the market printing fresh highs on the year sooner than later. Yesterday, I examined Cummins (CMI) as one of several stocks that may indicate the market has sufficient buying power … Read more

links for 2010-03-02

Illinois stuck in a ‘historic, epic’ budget crisis – chicagotribune.com Talk of major tax increases coupled with draconian spending cuts is building in Springfield (tags: Illinois govt_spending debt) Ritholtz on Bailouts, the Fed, and the Crisis | EconTalk | Library of Economics and Liberty Barry Ritholtz, author of Bailout Nation: How Greed and Easy Money … Read more

links for 2010-03-01

Pound Has Problems of Its Own – WSJ.com While experts debate the fate of Europe's crisis-racked currency, it appears the British pound may be heading for its own little nightmare. (tags: British_pound currency) More Often Than Not, the Insiders Get It Right – CNBC Corporate insiders are sending fairly positive signals about the market. When … Read more