With Vultures Circling, Cliffs Natural Resources Breaks Important Support

The vultures continue to circle around Cliffs Natural Resources Inc (CLF) looking to take advantage of a company desperate to raise enough cash to stay alive. From Bloomberg today (Sept 26, 2014): “Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (CLF), the U.S. iron-ore producer, has drawn interest for its Australian mines from producers including Mineral Resources Ltd. (MIN) … Read more

Rio Tinto Quickly Gives Up Gains from Morgan Stanley Upgrade

Two weeks ago, I noted Rio Tinto (RIO) as a prime short as a late responder to the on-going collapse in iron ore prices. On Monday (September 22), it broke down. Typically, I close out fortuitous short positions on such swift moves, but I am projecting RIO to go a lot lower over the next … Read more

Unemployment and Commodity Prices Working Against the Australian Dollar

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on August 7, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) It is probably only a matter of time before the next deep swoon in the Australian dollar (FXA). On August 7th…the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported a spike higher in … Read more

A Stubbornly Strong Australian Dollar Introduces A Risk Factor into Economic Forecasts

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on June 26, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) Australia’s Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE) recently released its Resources and Energy quarterly for the June, 2014 quarter containing a notably more cautious tone toward the Australian dollar (FXA) … Read more

Little Follow-Through for Gold’s June Spike Higher As Sentiment Fails to Follow Price

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on July 9, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) When gold (GLD) spiked higher last month (June 19, 2014), some heralded the move as proof that the Federal Reserve was falling behind inflationary pressures. Source: FreeStockCharts.com I characterized the move … Read more