Author Archives: Jim Sutliff

Economic Data Drives Oil Higher –

Posted on 20. December 2011 by Jim Sutliff

Economic data sent oil prices higher in trading on Tuesday.  Housing starts and building permits rose and data from Europe looked strong.  Also, supplies of crude oil fell 4.6 million barrels last week which was higher than analyst expectations. To read … Continue reading →

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Bernanke Meets With Republican Senators –

Posted on 14. December 2011 by Jim Sutliff

On Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke met with Republican Senators to discuss the European Union sovereign debt crisis.  According to GOP Senators, Bernanke indicated that the European debt crisis could significantly impact the American economy.  The Euro fell below $1.30 in … Continue reading →

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Currency, Democrat, Economic News, Euro, Federal Reserve, General, Infrastructure, Interest Rates, Investments, Political News, Regulatory, Republican, Trading, Treasury | Leave a comment

Eurozone Leaders Reach Agreement –

Posted on 10. December 2011 by Jim Sutliff

European leaders reached an agreement on centralized fiscal policy.  The agreement is supported by all 17 euro zone countries as well as the 9 countries seeking to join the union.  England did not approve the fiscal plan.  Stock markets reacted positively … Continue reading →

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Data Sends Crude Oil Lower –

Posted on 1. December 2011 by Jim Sutliff

European and Chinese manufacturing numbers came in weak and that helped to send crude oil lower.  Crude oil settled at slightly higher than $100 dollars a barrel on Thursday.  This is the first time since February 2009 that Chinese manufacturing has … Continue reading →

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Currency, Earnings, Economic News, Euro, Gasoline, General, Investments, Oil, Options & Futures, Trading | Leave a comment

Crude Oil Rises On Retail Sales –

Posted on 28. November 2011 by Jim Sutliff

Thanksgiving weekend sales rose and crude oil prices followed in trading on Monday.  Crude oil futures broke the $100 dollar mark and hit their highest level since November 17th.  On the supply side, Libyan output increased to over 750,000 barrels a … Continue reading →

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Dow Jones Falls Again-

Posted on 23. November 2011 by Jim Sutliff

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 200 points in light trading on Wednesday.  The drop marked the sixth straight day that the Dow Jones posted a loss.  European debt concerns and weak production numbers forced prices lower. To read … Continue reading →

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Euro Falls On Debt Yields –

Posted on 19. November 2011 by Jim Sutliff

Yields for European sovereign debt continue to drive the Euro lower in trading.  The Euro fell against most major currencies and settled at $1.3525.  In trading against the Yen, the Euro fell to 104 Yen and had the biggest weekly drop since late … Continue reading →

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Currency, Economic News, Euro, General, Interest Rates, Investments, Options & Futures, Trading | Leave a comment

Fed Economists: Europe Could Trigger Recession –

Posted on 14. November 2011 by Jim Sutliff

A paper released by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco indicates that the crisis in Europe could trigger a 2012 recession in America.  According to the paper, the chances of a recession in the first six months of 2012 … Continue reading →

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Currency, Economic News, Education, Euro, Federal Reserve, General, Investments, Stocks, Treasury | Leave a comment

Smaller Euro Zone –

Posted on 9. November 2011 by Jim Sutliff

The Euro zone debt crisis continues to spread and yields on Italian debt broke the 7% mark today.  As a result, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell almost 400 points in trading on Wednesday.  Speculation of a smaller Euro zone with deeper … Continue reading →

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Currency, Economic News, Euro, General, Interest Rates, Investments, Options & Futures, Political News, Regulatory, Stocks, Trading | Leave a comment

Italian Bonds Force Stock Futures Lower –

Posted on 7. November 2011 by Jim Sutliff

Stock futures are lower as traders focus on Italian bonds.  Bond yields for Italian debt have climbed and Berlusconi may step down as Prime Minister.   The 10 year Italian government bond yield rose to 6.58%.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at almost … Continue reading →

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Money Market Fund Regulations –

Posted on 23. October 2011 by Jim Sutliff

In a recent speech, former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker discussed regulatory control of money market funds  and the role of the government in the mortgage market.  Capital requirements and deposit insurance protection are two of the measures mentioned in the … Continue reading →

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European Rescue Fund May Increase –

Posted on 19. October 2011 by Jim Sutliff

The European Financial Stability Facility may be increased to $2 trillion Euros.  The potential increase sent the Euro higher in morning trading.  Currencies that fell slightly in trading are the yen, Dollar, and Swiss Franc. To read a related Bloomberg article, … Continue reading →

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Currency, Economic News, Euro, General, Investments, Regulatory, Trading, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

IMF Plan Opposed –

Posted on 14. October 2011 by Jim Sutliff

The United States opposed a plan to almost double the size of the International Monetary Fund.  Currently, the fund has $380 billion in resources.  Shareholders opposed to the plan included Japan, China, Germany, Canada, and Australia. To read a related Reuters article, … Continue reading →

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Currency, Economic News, Euro, General, Interest Rates, Investments, Regulatory, Trading, Treasury, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Treasuries Fall On Jobs Data –

Posted on 7. October 2011 by Jim Sutliff

Treasury yields rose for the fourth straight day after a government jobs report indicated that the economy added more jobs in September.  Ten year notes increased to 2.06% near the end of the trading day.  Yields had fallen to their lowest … Continue reading →

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Currency, Earnings, Economic News, Euro, Federal Reserve, General, Interest Rates, Investments, Trading, Treasury | Leave a comment

Greece Missing Deficit Target –

Posted on 3. October 2011 by Jim Sutliff

A draft budget sent to the parliament indicates that Greece will miss deficit targets set in the bailout program.  The budget news sent stocks lower and raised concerns for euro zone debt.  The Euro may come under pressure in the next … Continue reading →

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Currency, Economic News, Euro, General, Investments, Stocks, Trading, Uncategorized | Leave a comment