links for 2010-03-17

Japan's New Government Is Frustrated by Strong Yen – WSJ.com Japan's stubbornly strong currency is becoming a source of frustration for the country's new administration, and a source of confusion for many traders. (tags: yen currency Japan economy) Senators back bill to pressure China on currency | PBS A group of 14 U.S. senators unveiled … Read more

The Fed Blesses the Market’s Melt-Up – And Greases the Skids for the Dollar

A catalyst for working off the market’s over-extended and over-bought conditions remains elusive. The Federal Reserve’s latest monetary policy statement essentially blessed the market’s stubborn “melt-up.” The statement did not provide the incremental “hawkishness” as I was expecting given last month’s surprise discount rate hike. In fact, this statement’s reference to low rates for an … Read more

links for 2010-03-16

Loans Going Bad Faster Than the Fixes – CNBC The good news is the pace of loan deterioration is slowing. The bad news is we are still seeing record high delinquencies, and new delinquencies are outpacing loss mitigation efforts. (tags: mortgage foreclosure) Why Applied Materials Should Curb its Solar Plans : Greentech Media In the past few … Read more

“Climactic Tops” Remain Intact For Now

Just over a month has elapsed since I concluded that S&P 500 was reaching a short-term bottom but would not challenge its 52-week highs (set in January) for “many months to come.” On Thursday, the S&P 500 printed a new 52-week closing high by one penny. On Friday, the index made a new intra-day high … Read more

links for 2010-03-15

Pound Bears Bet More Than When George Soros Beat BOE (Update2) – BusinessWeek Futures traders are more bearish than ever on sterling amid concern that the currency’s worst annual start in 13 years will continue as the U.K.’s budget deficit approaches the Greek shortfall that roiled the euro. Wagers on the pound weakening against the … Read more