The first six weeks of 2010 have been a bit on the tumultuous side, as equity markets that came flying out of the gate have done a complete reversal, heading lower and erasing large chunks of the gains recorded in 2009. While the rocky start has been unnerving for investors anxious over the possibility of a double dip recession, others have found a silver lining in the recent pullback, as some big losses have created attractive entrance points in sectors that now appear to be bargains. [click to continue…]
Crude oil has crept gradually higher since the beginning of the year, with spot prices rising from about $35 per barrel in January to nearly $80 in recent weeks. With a sliding dollar and expectations for a strong, sustainable global economic recovery, it seemed like only a matter of time before crude jumped above $100 and the public outrage was dialed back up. But in recent weeks, crude oil prices have slumped, recently enduring a seven day losing streak that saw futures prices lose more than 5% and hit a new two-month low. [click to continue…]
As the stock market continues to rise, seemingly running ahead of fundamentals, more and more investors are becoming concerned that the stocks are becoming overvalued, and that a downward correction may be just around the corner. While safe haven investments such as the U.S. dollar and gold are popular picks for investors looking to profit from a decline in asset prices, the inverse correlation between these investments and equities is far from perfect.
A growing number of investors are beginning to utilize inverse ETFs to accomplish a wide range of investment goals, ranging from establishing hedges in their portfolios to speculating on a pullback in prices. If used correctly, these products can be very powerful, but they can be complex and come with a number of risks that should be carefully considered.
Exxon Mobil, the Texas-based oil giant, reported early Thursday that its second quarter profit fell a larger-than-expected 66% as a result of weak demand, shrinking margins, and lower fuel prices. Excluding one-time items (such as a $140 million charge related to punitive damages in the Exxon Valdez case), earnings fell from $2.27 per share last year to 84 cents according to the Wall Street Journal. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting earnings of $1.02 per share.
