Monthly Archives: January 2012

S&P500 Heatmap YTD Peformance

Click chart to enlarge and for better resolution. (click here if chart is not observable)

Posted in Equities, Global Stock Performance | Tagged | 1 Comment

U.S. Gasoline Consumption Tanks in 2011

(click here if charts are not observable)

Posted in Energy | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Italy’s Monti to Focus on Growth

(click here if video in not observable)

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Euro | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Eurozone Sovereign Spread Tightening

After the better than expected Spanish bond auction, eurozone sovereign spreads have come in significantly today.  The widely watched Italian 10-year bond yield fell to 6.63 percent. The return of confidence, in our opinion, is the continuation of the markets’ … Continue reading

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Euro, Eurozone Sovereign Spreads, PIIGS, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Charlie Rose: Ian Bremmer on Volatility Drivers

Ian Bremmer of the Eurasia Group on their latest report and the top risks that will drive volatility in 2012. Click here for full interview.                        (click here if picture is not observable)

Posted in Geopolitical, Interviews, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

U.S. Employment and Wage Growth in Large Counties

Interesting data points on the U.S. employment situation from the BLS: From June 2010 to June 2011, employment increased in 215 of the 322 largest U.S. counties, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Ottawa, Mich., posted the largest … Continue reading

Posted in Demographics, Employment | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Shanghai Bounce

The Shanghai has put in its best two day performance since September ’09, rising 5.8 percent.   After its post crash peak in August 2009,  Chinese stocks have fallen almost 40 percent before hitting their lows last Friday. Expectations of monetary … Continue reading

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Equities, Global Stock Performance | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Nonlinear Thinking: Smartphone Ultrasound Imaging

Stunning!  Guess it’s time for our annual physical with Dr. iPhone. (click here if video is not observable)

Posted in Nonlinear Thinking | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Macro Notes from the Alcoa Conference Call

4Q 2011 Highlights Loss from continuing operations of $193 million, or $0.18 per share; excluding special items, loss from continuing operations of $34 million, or $0.03 per share Revenue of $6 billion, down 7 percent sequentially, up 6 percent from … Continue reading

Posted in Commodities, Earnings | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

What’s Up at the CES

(click here if video is not observable)

Posted in Technology | Tagged , | Leave a comment