Time to Buy the Dips In Homebuilders

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on January 12, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) I last provided a comprehensive review of the housing market on September 29, 2010 in “Still Expecting Housing to Bounce Along the Bottom Until 2013.” At the time, I reiterated the … Read more

After LPS Plunges On New Legal Woes, Volume Soars in Call Options

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on December 29, 2011. Click here to read the entire piece.) In early November, I wrote that a turnaround finally seems to be materializing for Lender Processing Services (LPS). Regulatory and legal issues have long been a severe overhang for LPS, so … Read more

Time to Moderate Bullishness on the Australian Dollar

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on December 5, 2011. Click here to read the entire piece.) The Australian dollar was a particularly strong beneficiary of last week’s bullish euphoria. Although the dollar index has only lost about 1% since its most recent peak on Friday, Nov 25, … Read more

Buying Canadian On Expectations for Stronger Growth

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on November 27, 2011. Click here to read the entire piece.) The Conference Board of Canada anticipates stronger growth in Canada over the next two years. The sovereign debt crisis in Europe represents the most significant downside risk to this forecast: {snip} … Read more

Global Economic Pressures Continue to Push the Dollar Reluctantly Higher

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on November 27, 2011. Click here to read the entire piece.) The U.S. dollar’s role as a “safety” currency has finally returned although the market has only reluctantly marched back to the dollar’s printing presses. This year’s first two market swoons sent … Read more

ECRI Still Adamantly Campaigning for A Recession

On November 7, 2011, Lakshman Achuthan of the Economic Cycle Research Institute (ECRI) appeared on CNBC again to talk about recession. Achuthan was very adamant in his insistence that the business cycle simply could not be reversed from its downward course. The talking points almost sounded like a campaign. It included precious gems like “divergence … Read more

A False Choice Between Democracy and Financial Markets

Robert Reich recently asked “Which do you trust more: democracy or financial markets?” His article was written in response to Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou’s proposal to hold a national referendum on whether to accept the conditions of a bailout on their unserviceable government loans. He concludes the piece asking readers whether we should “…rule … Read more

As America Invests In Its Grid Modernization, You Can Too

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha. Click here to read the entire piece.) On October 5, 2011, the Obama administration announced the launch of pilot projects for grid modernization. This news comes as a welcome relief to the constant drumbeat of recessionary fears. This news also suggests that … Read more