The Coming Upward Pressure On Mortgage Rates In 2014

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on November 26, 2013. Click here to read the entire piece.) On Monday (November 25, 2013) the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported a fifth straight month of declining pending home sales. NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun projects that 2013 will end … Read more

The Housing Market Index: Strong Trends, Correlated Components, and A Weak Northeast

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on November 19, 2013. Click here to read the entire piece.) The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) just released its November, 2013 report on builder confidence: the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). It showed no change from … Read more

Cambpell’s Soup Still Not Cheap Enough to Risk Playing A Post-Earnings Recovery

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on November 21, 2013. Click here to read the entire piece.) You know it must be a good year in the stock market when a soup and food products company can deliver 11% gains year-to-date. Unfortunately for Campbell Soup (CPB), its 11% … Read more

Governor Stevens Delivers: Australian Dollar Intervention “Remains Part of the Toolkit”

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on November 21, 2013. Click here to read the entire piece.) As I noted earlier this week, I was eagerly anticipating the release of the minutes from the last policy meeting of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and a speech by … Read more

Some Quick Implications As the U.S. Dollar Turns the Corner On Taper Fears Part Two

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on November 11, 2013. Click here to read the entire piece.) The next statement on monetary policy from the U.S. Federal Reserve comes on December 18th. With taper expectations on the rise again thanks to the 204,000 jobs added in October, it … Read more