Economic News Sends Gold Higher –

Posted on 4. November 2011 by Jim Sutliff

Gold broke the $1,760 an ounce mark in trading this week.  The precious metal rose on the possibility of slower domestic economic growth and another round of monetary stimulus.  Recently, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke indicated that additional monetary stimulus may be in the works to lower unemployment.  The lingering European debt crisis is also increasing demand for gold.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-04/gold-traders-more-bullish-as-debt-crisis-u-s-economy-spur-bets-on-gains.html

James Sutliff

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Currency, Economic News, Euro, Federal Reserve, General, Hedge Funds, Interest Rates, Investments, Metals, Options & Futures, Regulatory, Stocks, Trading, Treasury | Leave a comment

Greek Referendum Sends Stocks Lower –

Posted on 1. November 2011 by Jim Sutliff

The Dow Jones started to rebound after falling more than 300 points.  Stocks fell after Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou called for a referendum on the European Union bailout plan.  Currently, the Dow Jones is down slighlty less than 200 points in afternoon trading.

To read a related Reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/01/us-markets-stocks-idUSTRE7A01NM20111101

Jim Sutliff

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

Crude Ends Week Lower –

Posted on 28. October 2011 by Jim Sutliff

Crude oil ended the week with traders taking gains and sending crude prices lower for the day.  Crude oil fell to $93.32 a barrel after gaining almost 7% since October 21st. A decline in Japanese factory output also weighed on prices.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-28/oil-pares-biggest-weekly-gain-since-march-as-japan-output-falls.html

James Sutliff

Posted in Economic News, General, Investments, Oil, Options & Futures, Trading, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

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 speech.

To read a related reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/23/volcker-regulations-idUSN1E79M03Q20111023

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Banking, Economic News, Federal Reserve, General, Investments, Mutual Funds, Regulatory, Treasury | Leave a comment

Dollar Falls Against Yen –

Posted on 21. October 2011 by Jim Sutliff

The Dollar fell in trading to a low of 75.76 Japanese Yen.  The Dollar also lost ground to the British Pound and the Euro.  Light trading volumes and the weekend meeting of European Union leaders contributed to the shift in currency allocations.

To read a related MarketWatch article, please click here:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/euro-drifts-amid-eu-summit-worries-2011-10-21

James Sutliff

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

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, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-18/euro-drops-versus-most-peers-on-spain-rating-downgrade-confidence-data.html

Jim Sutliff

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

Euro & Gold Decline –

Posted on 17. October 2011 by Jim Sutliff

The Euro declined in trading after a spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel indicated that the debt crisis would not be resolved in the next few weeks.  The news also sent crude oil and gold prices lower in trading on Monday.

To read a related Wall Street Journal article, please click here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20111017-711244.html

James Sutliff

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Currency, Earnings, Economic News, Euro, General, Investments, Metals, Oil, Options & Futures, Stocks, 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, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/14/us-g-idUSTRE79C74G20111014

Jim Sutliff

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

Euro Advances –

Posted on 10. October 2011 by Jim Sutliff

The Euro advanced today after a pledge by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Sarkozy to create a plan to recapitalize the banks and address the Greek debt load.  Traders sent the Euro 2% higher against the Dollar in afternoon trading.  The increase could be temporary if a satisfactory solution to the Euro zone debt is not reached in the coming weeks.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-10/euro-advances-as-merkel-sarkozy-set-deadline-for-bank-capital-measures.html

James Sutliff

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Currency, Economic News, Euro, General, Investments, Options & Futures, Trading | 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 mark on September 23rd at slightly above 1.67%. 

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-07/treasuries-fall-as-u-s-economy-added-more-jobs-last-month-than-forecast.html

Jim Sutliff

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

Crude Oil Inventory Drops –

Posted on 5. October 2011 by Jim Sutliff

The Department of Energy weekly report indicated that crude oil inventories fell 4.7 million barrels.  Inventories of gasoline fell 1.1 million barrels and distillates dropped 700,000 barrels.  Analysts had expected an increase of 700,000 barrels for crude and 1 million barrels for gasoline.  The drop in crude imports played a role in the lower inventory figures.  Crude rose in late morning trading after the report.

To read a related Wall Street Journal article, please click here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20111005-708995.html

James Sutliff

Posted in Banking, Economic News, Gasoline, General, Investments, Oil, Options & Futures, Trading | 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 few weeks as traders seek safer investments.  

To read a related Reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/03/us-eurozone-idUSTRE79211720111003

Jim Sutliff

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

Stocks Finish Quarter Down –

Posted on 30. September 2011 by Jim Sutliff

Stocks fell on the last day of trading for the quarter and the Dow closed 240 points down.  The Standard & Poor’s 500 index posted the largest quarterly drop since December 2008.  Conerns relating to the global economy continue to weigh on stock prices.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-30/u-s-stock-futures-decline-on-concern-worldwide-economic-growth-is-slowing.html

James Sutliff

Posted in Banking, Economic News, General, Investments, Stocks, Trading | Leave a comment

Crude Oil Inventories Rise –

Posted on 28. September 2011 by Jim Sutliff

Crude oil inventories rose 1.9 million barrels last week and gasoline demand fell 2.4%.  Analysts had expected crude oil inventories to remain unchanged from the previous week.  The drop in demand and rising economic concerns forced crude oil prices lower in afternoon trading.  Crude oil dropped over $3 and closed below $82 a barrel. 

To read a related Associated Press article, please click here:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Oil-gives-up-most-of-its-apf-3347782159.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=5&asset=&ccode=

Jim Sutliff

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

Gold Prices Tumble –

Posted on 25. September 2011 by Jim Sutliff

Gold prices tumbled at the end of the week falling almost 10% in the last three trading sessions.  Gold fell $101.90 on Friday and settled at $1,639.80 an ounce.  Global economic conditions have led traders to consider the possibility of deflationary conditions.  Generally, gold investments do not perform well in deflationary environments.  This marked the sharpest decline in gold prices since 1980. 

To read a related CNN Money article, please click here:

http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/23/markets/gold_prices/index.htm?iid=HP_LN

James Sutliff

Posted in Banking, Earnings, Economic News, General, Investments, Metals, Trading | Leave a comment