Category Archives: Uncategorized

Get Set for Grexit

Investors should prepare for Greece to leave the Eurozone—not a disaster but likely to cause significant volatility, especially for U.S. and European financial stocks. George Soros, who has made billions betting on currency market ructions, believes there is a 50% … Continue reading

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White Privilege: Universities Should Educate, not Exploit, Black (and White) Athletes

When you’re watching the sweet sixteen, elite eight, final four, and championship game, keep in mind that many of the players are not getting a decent education that will allow them, upon graduation, to thrive in the workplace and be … Continue reading

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European Sojourn

First stop: Bruges, Belgium, which at the end of the 14th century was the commercial capital of northern Europe. Then its population was about 40,000, including hundreds of merchants from all over Europe—Italy, Germany, England, and of course Flanders. Spices … Continue reading

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To Attack Crony Capitalism, GOP Should Shut Down Fannie & Freddie

The GOP should run to the left of Democrats on financial issues in 2016 by positioning Democrats as the party of crony capitalism. Exhibit A is Fannie Mae. Exhibit B is Freddie Mac. Both were in bed with Democratic Party, … Continue reading

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B&T, Watch Wendy Do the “Impossible”

Yesterday on Bloomberg two respected Street professionals—blogger Barry Ritholtz and strategist Tony Dwyer of Canaccord Genuity—were discussing the topic of long-term investing in equities, Buffett style. They basically concluded it was impossible for the average individual investor to be a … Continue reading

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Get Set for Fed Rate Hikessssss

Item: In a major new report, a blue-ribbon panel of economists estimates that if all the brain power expended over the past 20 years forecasting the next move by the Federal Reserve had, instead, been used for productive endeavors, U.S. … Continue reading

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Growth Offers the Best Value

In this week’s Barron’s Lawrence C. Strauss has an interesting article on the “growth versus value” debate. It is is a dumb concept invented by quantitative analysts and pension fund consultants that has little utility for real investors who actually … Continue reading

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Famous Random Events in American History

Item: President Obama opined that Americans were right to be concerned that in Paris there were “violent vicious zealots who behead people or randomly shoot a bunch of folks in a deli In Paris.” His spokesman Josh Earnest said the … Continue reading

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Emerging Market Masochism: an Update

As I argued on  December 25, it is unwise for non-specialists to invest directly in emerging market stocks because: You can get exposure to EM economies with far less risk by buying U.S. or European multinationals. Emerging markets are very … Continue reading

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Equity Market Outlook: Still Mediocre but Not Terrible

January’s 3% decline in the S&P 500 is consistent with my observation on December 30 that “Stocks Are Expensive, Offer Mediocre Risk / Reward.” The main issues are: Investors and strategists have become bullish and complacent; they were far more … Continue reading

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