The Truth About Rare Earths

The notion that China is somehow in the driver’s seat is laughable. China’s position in the economic warfare vehicle is more like a grungy teenager on a skateboard clinging to the bumper: it’s only along for the ride, and if things get bumpy, it will end up with a face full of asphalt.

More China Selling

Right now, we’ve got American owned shell companies funneling U.S. tech to Russia to build the bombs that rain down on Ukraine. Tankers brimming with Russian oil are welcome in India and Turkey. Income mutual funds feast on that 8% Altria dividend that’s driven in part by cigarette and Juul vaping sales. Two-thirds of Americans favor a waiting period for gun purchases that only 9 states’ lawmakers have approved. Walmart (NYSE: WMT) agreed to pay a $3 billion fine for dealing opioids…

A Failure to Fear Monger

Welp, guess I’ll join the legions of financial/investment writers out there and talk about inflation and the Fed. Even with banks failing and a big jump in the number of economists and strategist-types saying recession is about to take us all for a ride to lower stock prices, the Fed is still the one driving this crazy bus…

Fair Value? Really?

With 5,300 stocks out there, it’s a pretty good bet that a pretty solid percentage are complete crap and should be completely off-limits for individual investors. And I will be so bold as to say that even within Morningstar’s cozy little neighborhood of 700 stocks, there will be more than a handful of crap.

Primed for Gains on Delaware's Legalization Bill?

MariMed (OTCBB: MRMD) Primed for 87% Gain on Delaware Marijuna Legalization Bill Last week, the Delaware Senate approved two new bills designed to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes. The last time a legalization bill got to the governor, it was vetoed, but it looks like this time there will be enough votes to override any potential veto.

A New Monroe Doctrine

I started formulating my semi-retirement plan 5 or so years ago, when my kids were leaving for college. I‘ve never really entertained the idea that I’d just quit working altogether. Market and economic analysis, investing and trading and writing about it is in my blood, and I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to.

The Case for Schrödinger (NASDAQ: SGDR)

This year (2023), AI products, software and services are expected to generate $500 billion in revenue from businesses and governments looking for better and faster ways to make use of the massive amounts of data our digitized world generates.

Big Tech Piggy Banks

Stocks have been acting downright frisky since the mini-banking crisis earlier this month. If you expected to see investors take a little breather, make sure the coast was clear before piling money back into the market, well, I’m with you. I wasn’t eager to jump into stocks the Fed and Treasury Department was scrambling to prevent a full-on banking meltdown.

Eggs and Inflation

It’s literally been years since I made fresh guacamole. Because, while I can be pretty extravagant at times, I ain’t payin’ the runaway inflation price of $3.50 for one stupid avocado…

Eyes on the Prize

Right now, the global economy is, umm, uncertain. There’s open war in Europe, a cold war with China, banks are failing, inflation remains way too high, interest rates may get pushed even higher, and the U.S. economy is facing a credit crunch that will certainly lead to a recession – if one hasn’t already started…

Mistakes Will Be Made

the Fed hiked interest rates yet again on Wednesday. I actually set my alarm for 2 pm ET so I could see what happened. The Fed delivered a 25 basis point hike, as expected. And that hike took the Fed Funds rate (the interest rate the Fed charges banks to borrow from the Fed) to the 4.75%-5% range.

The Bears Eat Goldilocks

Stubbornly strong employment data even as interest rates push 5% has encouraged some strategist-types to suggest that the Fed might engineer a “no-landing” outcome – a “goldilocks” ending where inflation magically falls without any serious damage done to the economy, where everything comes out ju-u-u-st right…