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May 2010 Stock Market Commentary
Sovereign debt woes continue to be the bane of this rally. At the end of April the S&P Rating Agency downgraded Greece’s debt to “junk” status, which accelerated the steep sell-off in the euro and sent it down to its 2008 lows! This sparked a world-wide panic sell-off which sent stocks plunging. In addition, Spain and Portugal’s debt was also downgraded which put pressure on a host of capital markets. Italy and Iceland are the two nations which analysts believe are also dealing with ominous debt levels. All of this helped the US dollar enjoy one of its strongest gains against the euro in over a year. Since November, the greenback has rallied smartly and jumped above its 50-day moving average (DMA) and 200 DMA lines. As expected, the stronger dollar sent US stocks and a slew of commodities (i.e. dollar denominated assets) lower as investors continue to debate our economic future.

Jobs Report: Why Does It Matter?
The jobs report is extremely important, especially now, because in October 2009, the unemployment rate surged to a 26-year high of 10.2%! Over the past few months, the number of job losses have steadily declined as the unemployment rate edged higher. If this trend continues we can easily turn positive (i.e. start creating jobs) in the near future which will bode well for the economic recovery. That said, Wall Street watches this report very closely because a stronger jobs picture translates into a healthier economy. A healthier economy translates into stronger sales and earnings which, in turn, translates into higher stock prices. Sometimes, ladies and gentlemen, it is that simple.

The Perception of Fundamentals Matter
The Perception of Fundamentals Matter What moves a stock’s price? At the most basic level it is Information. Unfortunately, life is not that simple. Arguably, one of the most important market moving components is not the actual data but the perception of the data that matters. It is the perception of fundamentals that determines stock…

Elon Musk How To Kill A Giant
Aim to solve a big problem, not a small one Find industries that are stagnate or in decline Look for places where everyone thinks that it is “impossible” to succeed Once you pass the initial startup phase- older industry can not catch up Start a company that tries to change the way the industry behaves…

Davos 2010: Peter Munk, Barrick Gold Chairman& Founder Shares Outlook on Gold
Peter Munk, chairman and founder of Barrick Gold, shares his outlook on the commodity.

Death Cross: Not A Good Day For The So-Called "Risk" Trade
The Dow Jones Industrial Average & The Benchmark S&P 500 index and Nasdaq composite (not shown) are currently retesting their 2010 lows. As long as these lows hold, the current trading range remains intact. However, if the lows are breached, odds favor lower prices will follow. In addition, it is important to note that their 50 DMA lines are about to undercut their longer term 200 DMA lines which, as we now know, is not a “healthy” sign. It is also worrisome to see that other capital markets have hit new 2010 lows which suggests the bears are getting stronger (i.e. EUR/GBP, EUR/JPY, and EUR/CHF are already at fresh 2010 lows).