Nightly Recap 3-15-2010
Market Summary:
DOW +17.46 (10,642.15)
S&P +0.52 (1,150.51)
Nasdaq -5.45 (2,362.21)
Nightly News Links
US Economy:
NY Manufacturing Index Shows Strength (Econompic)
Manufacturing activity in the New York region continued at a solid pace in March, the New York Federal Reserve Bank said Monday. The new orders index shot up 17 points to 25.4. Shipments also moved higher. Inventories climbed above zero for the first time since August 2008.
ECRI Leading Economic Index Drops For 12th Week In A Row (ZeroHedge)
Leading indicators in the U.S. are telling a similar story about a possible double-dip. Friday’s reading from the ECRI continues to show a weakening recovery. Their leading indicator’s growth rate fell to a 31 week low. The smoothed ECRI leading economic index for the U.S. fell last week for the 12th week in a row, to stand at its lowest level since July 2009. Something tells us a slowdown is about to start.
World Economy:
Moody's warns nations to cut spending or risk AAA ratings (Washington Post)
The United States and other top world economies need to make potentially painful government spending cuts or risk losing the high-grade credit ratings that have kept borrowing affordable, the Moody's rating agency said Monday. Outlining the dilemma faced by policymakers in the United States, Great Britain, Germany and France, Moody's said that debt levels in the four large credit-worthy economies had reached the point at which they are at risk of being downgraded -- a step that would drive up interest rates, increase borrowing costs and mark a turn in perceptions about the world economy.
Germany's Manufacturing Jobs Fell 4.9% in January (Business Insider)
The Federal Statistical Office said Monday the number of Germans employed in manufacturing fell to 4.9 million workers from about 5.15 million in January 2009.
Chinese Economic Indicators Are Starting To Roll Over (Pragmatic Capitalist)
“Early signs of softening in data momentum suggests we should be much more cautious about corrections in those markets that benefited late last, and early this year.” Despite being the strongest leg of the economic recovery, Chinese investors have turned remarkably cautious in recent months. The Shanghai Index peaked in July of 2009 and has traded down ever since. The index has declined 9.5% this year while U.S. investors have continued to run head first into stocks.
Interesting Reads:
Consumers Don’t Strongly Identify with Brands (Marketing Charts)
trendwatching.com calls these products and services “functionall,” or providing function for all. Often designed for lower-income consumers in emerging markets, they also have broader crossover appeal for more affluent consumers in mature markets. Look for brand manufacturers to produce more of these products, and for more global brands to try to penetrate mature economies.
Is The US Preparing For a Strike on Iran? (HeraldScotland)
Hundreds of powerful US “bunker-buster” bombs are being shipped from California to the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in preparation for a possible attack on Iran.The Sunday Herald can reveal that the US government signed a contract in January to transport 10 ammunition containers to the island. According to a cargo manifest from the US navy, this included 387 “Blu” bombs used for blasting hardened or underground structures.
National credit card statement (Cracked)
A National Debt happens when governments spend more than they actually have, and everyone getting the money agrees that's absolutely fine.
60 Minutes: Michael Lewis' The Big Short - Video (CBSNews)
If you had to pick someone to write the autopsy report on the Wall Street financial collapse 18 months ago, you couldn't do any better than Michael Lewis. He is one of the country's preeminent non-fiction writers with a knack for turning complicated, mind numbing material into fascinating yarns.
Part 1
Part 2
Have a Good Night
-K
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Julie
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K