The Canadian Dollar Hangs in the Balance Between Weak Jobs Growth and Strong High-End Housing Demand

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on July 14, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) Employment picture remains lackluster On Friday, Statistics Canada painted another disappointing jobs picture for the country. Instead of the 20,000 additional jobs expected by the “consensus” for June, the Canadian economy … Read more

Some Chart Reviews Before Earnings Potentially Change Everything: RAX, MLNX, DBA, JJA, KBH, BBY, IBM, VLO

Technical analysis becomes particularly precarious during earnings season, but there are some intriguing charts I felt compelled to post anyway. Some telling and strong stories here… Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (RAX) RAX has given back all its gains from the initial excitement over the potential for “strategic alternatives.” Bears have added insult to injury by rushing … Read more

Australia’s Central Bank Is Not Overly Concerned With Having One of the Most Expensive Housing Markets In the World

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on July 6, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) The IMF recently established an informative web site called “Global Housing Watch” that promises to provide quarterly updates on housing conditions around the world. The update for Q4 of 2013 shows … Read more

Home Builder Sentiment Springs Back to Life

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on June 15, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) It appears the National Association of Home Builders(NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) has indeed stabilized. Last month, I interpreted a small recovery in the HMI from a March plunge as … Read more

Baby Boomers Seem Unlikely to Mass Exit from Single-Family Detached Homes Anytime Soon

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on June 14, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) Recent research provide additional color to the last entry in my on-going series on Baby Boomers and the housing market: “Cash Buyers And Optimism Counter The Notion Of An Imminent Housing … Read more

Cash Buyers and Optimism Counter the Notion of An Imminent Housing Crisis Triggered By Baby Boomers

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on June 3, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) Last year, I wrote a series of articles expressing my skepticism about the notion that an abandonment of homes by incapacitated Baby Boomers would cause America’s next housing crisis (for example, … Read more

Residential Employment Plows Ahead As Housing Indicators Stabilize

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on May 5, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) The latest U.S. non-farm employment report showed another strong print for employment in residential construction. For the 31st month in a row, seasonally adjusted employment in residential construction showed year-over-year growth. … Read more

An Unexpected Drop In Leasing Velocity Helps Reset RealPage

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on February 25, 2014. Click here to read the entire piece.) RealPage (RP) provides software for revenue management and other related services for managers of rental housing. After noticing that the stock had dropped over 20% in after hours trading following the … Read more

Chart Review Madness: Bearishness Abounds

As promised, here is a cornucopia of charts. To me, this is still just a small sample of the very enticing and intriguing charts popping up everywhere as more evidence builds that some kind of top is getting printed in the stock market. In particular, note my selection of momentum charts that are wobbling, weakening, … Read more