Friday, November 14, 2014

11/14/14 BRIC'd


Brazil slammed at Ibovespa open. Scaling back into EWZ (Brazil) @ 38.05 (-4% discount to Thursday's close) and PBR (Petrobras) @ 9.48 (-7% discount to Thursday's close).  Both now closing in on or printing new 52-wk lows.

RSX (Russia) on the watchlist, as are CAF and EEM (heading into Monday's open of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Connect).


193 comments:

  1. Is pbr gonna bring down that country and cause a mkt panic?

    ReplyDelete
  2. BB....some food for thought re: DB

    http://ibankcoin.com/bluestar/2014/11/14/is-deutsche-bank-is-holding-the-old-maid/

    I have no idea what's hidden inside that bank, but the continued weakness of late has been notable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Almost as if expectation is low, that Germany will come to the rescue.

      Delete
    2. Good call though, I was thinking it might bottom around $28.8x

      Delete
  3. EWZ off @ 38.74 (+1.8%). PBR off @ 9.67 (+2%).

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  4. BXE - For some reason this one has been performing beyond my expectation, recently.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just goes to show, you never really know why a stock goes up or down.

      Delete
    2. Not just that, but I can't blame my bad entry on BXE.

      Delete
  5. Mark, looks like you've got some nice places to cycle around there. Nice not having to worry about cars and looks like nice views.

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  6. CP,

    I think with TCK, you have to think about how the coal market does. Personally I'd stay away as I think coal; still have a ways to go on the downside due to less China demand due to less steel production and pollution concerns. If I wanted to go into metals, I'd look at a copper or zinc miner, both metals have better outlooks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, more of a rhetorical question I suppose. I do like the idea of zinc though, always liked that metal and was one reason I was interested in silver. But silver is in overproduction, thus zinc as well?

      Delete
  7. Brad, you still holding DB? I am and I think it does OK, but it is a risky one. From a "what we know" perspective, I think it does well, but the real risks are that there are things in here that come back to bite us as that author suggests.

    Part of my faith is based on the fact that they've raised capital twice. So the first time you can understand given the financial crisis, but you would think they would have made sure they got enough. The second time they said they didn't need to, but since they did it, you think the CEO would have been reading the riot act to his team to make sure that for sure this was the last time or he would almost certainly lose his job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been trading it recently...buying on dips and selling the rips. Agree re: riot act, but I don't like the way it's been acting and I think there may be an opportunity to get it lower. Frankly, I have more confidence in ING than DB, but I don't want to be overconcentrated in one stock, hence my interest in DB. I still have some shares, but not many.

      Delete
    2. Brad, what's your assessment of Europe, are things looking up or deteriorating?

      Delete
  8. Kind of wondering if ECB QE might not actually lift the Euro... Given that should instill confidence, and the $USD is nearing the upper limit of it's 10 year+ channel.

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  9. CAF @ 25.39.
    Reopened EWZ @ 38.79.
    Reopened PBR @ 9.54.
    Closing RYTPX (Rydex 2x Inverse SPX) @ the 1030 est window for what will likely be a minor loss.
    Opening RYWVX (Rydex 2x Emerging Markets) @ the 1030 window.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RSX @ 20.39.

      With the exception of India, now BRIC'd.

      Delete
  10. SPWR had a nice little bounce yesterday. Gone now.

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  11. DB - One thing about this one that gnaws at me a little is it seems to be going through a soft landing as opposed to shoe-drop waterfalls.

    Overall, the market seems quite positive and my fears have receded, doesn't feel like the calm before the storm, either. On top of that, my least favorite blogger is very negative despite still being long (no doubt he doesn't do as he says) b/c he's the greatest human to walk the face of the earth.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Brad, I agree with your assessment of ING versus DB.

    DB price now at the place it bottomed in 2011 and 2012, so would be a logical place for it to do so again, but we'll see.

    Morningstar has a fair value of $42 per ADR from $44 as we update the exchange rate. Our fair value estimate is about 0.7 times book value and 0.9 times tangible book value as of third-quarter 2014. So no outrageous expectations there and if things get better, could be much higher.

    I think DB gets support too from the fact that the Europeans don't want all investment banking from US companies and DB is the Euro leader.

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  13. What's making PM's/GDX etc. pop?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it's probably this:
      http://content.screencast.com/users/springheel_jack/folders/1411/media/b1b40d29-21c5-42b2-862c-38d270bc7287/141104%20USD%20Monthly%20Declining%20Resistance%20Broken.png

      Delete
  14. "Chart Talk: Decennial Pattern: Years ending in “5” are strong
    November 13, 2014

    Decennial Pattern: Year 5 is strongest year of decade. Average Year 5 returns: S&P 500: 25.3% & DJIA: 28.9%. Decennial Pattern & Presidential Cycle aligned & bullish. This bodes well for year-end 2014 and 2015. Stock charts: 90-day breakouts: GRPN, HNT, HRC, LBTYA, ODP & RHI. 90-day breakdowns: ICA."

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  15. I've been thinking about getting long the EuroStoxx 50. With the ECB undertaking a QE program, I think that the baton is getting passed to Europe. If the effect is similar to what happened in the US, we should see European markets get pushed up. However, seems like we have some weakness here that may offer a buying opp.

    DB may be bottoming here. Tough call.

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  16. Guys take a look at the move in the Euro.  This is bottoming in my opinion.  I need to look a little more closer at this but the overnight move and now back to flat after a big move down tells me there are buyers here.  This is very important for European securities in my opinion.  Especially ADRs.

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  17. CP...regarding Europe. I live in Spain and for a lot of people things have been bad for a while. You either have a job or you don't. Younger people have been immigrating to other, stronger European countries (Germany, UK, Denmark, etc...) to find work. That said, nearly everyone I know has work. The problem in Spain is the salaries, which are quite low relative to the rest of Europe.

    I live in Barcelona and frankly, it's a booming city. Tons of tourists and a good economy overall, especially compared to the rest of Spain. The number of hotels seems like it has doubled in 10 years and there are now tons of new restaurants, many of which are quite good.

    In the end, I think we are witnessing a global transformation. There are winners and losers and this is happening everywhere and I think it will continue to accelerate. People in "knowledge" industries---high-tech, medicine, etc.--- will do well relative to other industries.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, that's the beauty of blogging. I had no idea you resided in Barcelona. One younger brother (the one who works in HK) often vacations in Spain, and has nothing but good things to say about his visits.

      Delete
    2. I like Europe a lot. But I avoid Germany and France, LOL.

      Delete
  18. I have a high school friend that has worked for the IB division in DB for 7 or so years.  I should ask him for more insight.  From what I remember the culture there sucked.  But its trading at 1/2 the p/b that MS is so there has to be some mean reversion I would think.  For ING - The one concern I have is I believe they sold their ING Direct division to Capital One.  Before I started investing our excess cash for my business I was using that for everything and I know a lot of people were.  Even today when I look around they (Capital One 360) offer the best rates on money market type accounts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I want to get long DB, have been resisting the urge and meanwhile the urge is growing.

      Delete
  19. Great place to live. Nice people, good life-style.

    That said, I sometimes think about moving back to the states. It's tough always being a foreigner.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anyone like TRIP? Beaten down....and is the company of reference for hotel and restaurant reviews. I think it does well long term, the only question is at what price do you buy? Growth seems to be slowing somewhat. I own a few "starter" shares.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Barcelona is a beautiful and fun city with a nice climate, so will almost certainly be one of the winners in the new economy, so good place to be.

    Found this report: http://www.gurufocus.com/global-market-valuation.php

    Basically compares current valuations to long term valuations by country.

    Spain rated 3rd of the developed markets, whereas USA at the bottom. I think you have to do some thinking around this. Netherlands, where ING is, rated 5th and I think lower risk than Spain given their heritage and a good place to look.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I almost bought TRIP a couple years ago under $30, so hard to buy in the $60's. Good business, but expensive stock, so you have to believe in their growth.

    ReplyDelete
  23. TRIP revenues still growing strongly (up nearly 40% from the year-ago period). It may even be a buyout candidate. I could see someone like PCLN buying them to create the industry behemoth.

    ReplyDelete
  24. PHM - This one's been ripping and it's gonna continue, huh?

    ReplyDelete
  25. "I've been thinking about getting long the EuroStoxx 50. With the ECB undertaking a QE program"

    Is that actually going to happen? If yes then it seems like there should be a nice rally (assuming it's not priced in already).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd think an ETF like PGAL might give some hint but lately it's not telegraphing this message.

      Delete
    2. Draghi announced that the bank would seek to bump the ECB balance sheet up to "2012 levels", which implies a €1 trillion increase. I think that qualifies as QE.

      They are buying asset-backed securities and euro-denominated covered bonds, but not sovereign bonds (at least yet) as the legality of doing so is in question and it seems the Germans are not on board with it.

      Delete
    3. Yeah, I'm sure they're being selective assets but I wasn't aware Bundesbank had actually approved this, thought Bundesbank is calling this illegal and the decision is indecision? I'm probably too far behind the curve, mostly by the time I hear/read about stuff it's already priced in.

      Delete
    4. Take EWG for instance, shouldn't this one be ripping higher if the current programs were deemed adequate?

      Delete
  26. Saudi Arabia - I'm struggling with this strategy as I understand it, why would SA be throwing low prices at the US specifically instead of Europe when Europe could actually benefit the most? It's puzzling me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. To hurt the frackers and slow down shale growth.

      Delete
    2. Yeah, but selling your commodity cheap into a market that's currently land-locked doesn't seem like a logical approach b/c those hydrocarbons in the ground don't go away as decades pass, more like a ST strategy. SA should compete LT by erecting refineries for exporting finished product and create employment for their countrymen instead?

      This strategy actually creates US employment?

      Delete
  27. Not sure about a TRIP buyout. It was owned by Expedia for years and they just spun it out a couple years ago, so I would assume there's not many synergies. They do have a very good business though. The real question is how much growth is priced in versus what really happens. I am not good at estimating those, so stay away, but certainly could see why you'd want to buy it.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Reading a bit on PBR.

    Warren Buffett has a quote "Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked."

    Well, looks like now that the tide of high oil prices is going out, PBR may have been swimming naked

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree completely. I think there's a lot more pain down the road

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    2. PBR is one my least favorite blogger was touting, which makes me think he's short.

      Delete
  29. Ok we need to consider what the play is on this...

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2266854-jose-canseco-says-human-beings-will-rule-the-galaxy-by-traveling-via-comet?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&hpt=hp_t2

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How about Jim Beam and cocaine? I don't get the attraction for space travel to a place depicted in sci-fi movies, would rather see these genuine efforts be used for cleaning up the plastic soup floating in the Pacific.

      I have to guess he's long TSLA or something but the likes of CLH/TDW/CKH/GLDD or maybe even BP/XOM comes to mind, once Conseco's space-buzz wears off?

      Delete
    2. Or perhaps ORB, I hear this one might explode higher.

      Delete
  30. Now I 'm beginning to think someone must've painted Conseco's mailbox with a neurotoxic paint or something, SHW has been ripping higher on booming sales of this popular coating.

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  31. F - Gonna close that gap at $16.75ish, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  32. Replies
    1. This company was called onto the carpet for doing business in Iran if I recall. Now sanctions have been dropped, correct?

      Delete
  33. CXO - Looks like a bull flag to me, higher risk than BALT?

    ReplyDelete
  34. JONE - Even with yesterday's oil swoon JONE has not produced a new lower low, seems pretty strong.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MEMP - Did make a new low probably concern over the juicy dividend? $19 looks like the open gap down if SA already blew their wad and ran out of gas..

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  35. Asleep at the wheel over here......
    "Boeing (BA) and General Electric (GE) receive U.S. government approval to do business with Iran for the first time since...

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  36. TASR - Jumpin' Josepha, would be my choice over rat on a stick cameras but I don't consider myself very smart and certainly inexperienced (both of these are major downfalls) so what do I know?
    The theme here is police cameras, I have no idea of which is making the grade but it appears the market does?

    ReplyDelete
  37. INVN - Huge short float. Pfffhhh, is this thing on?

    ReplyDelete
  38. STM - October and November, identical action. Does STM compete directly with INVN?

    ReplyDelete
  39. "Police Forces From New Orleans, Norfolk, Savannah, and Miami Beach Choose TASER's AXON and EVIDENCE.com Solution"

    Just noticed this.

    ReplyDelete
  40. So despite the huge SA hydrocarbon fire sale, no thank you very much anyway, the $US is going to reverse to the downside? Amazing, Europe must be the place to be then.
    $7T of loans denominated in $US reasons for this?

    ReplyDelete
  41. BofAML Weekly Metals Musings: China retiring as world commodities engine
    11/10/2014 5:30 AM

    We came away from an Asia trip cautious on steel inputs, but investors were keen on ali. AA day was unsurprising. VMC beat. We discuss the real risk of a flat demand outlook for Chinese steel, which would be particularly bad for iron ore and coal. We continue to be cautious on steel prices, noting the correction of scrap to lower iron ore prices. We like NUE, ATI, VMC.

    ReplyDelete
  42. TC - We're the guys to turn to for whatever you need.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Coal vs iron ore - If my memory is correct, India has plenty of iron ore but lacks coal and the harbors for accommodating today's huge bulk ships.

    So might this be a reason for snapping up a ton of smaller ships on the cheap?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Expanding their fleet of small ships is precisely what VLCCF has done recently, correct?

      Delete
    2. Adding to this observation from the lunatic fringe, if you were China with deep harbors would you help India by flooding the market with giant ships that are well oriented towards serving the harbors of your best trading buddy India ?

      Delete
  44. Replies
    1. No love for steel anymore, so I'm looking at AKS chart at the moment.

      Delete
    2. Miniature survey - How are your home and business energy needs met primarily? Solar panels on roof, natural gas appliances, coal fired furnace, or hot water burbling from the ground in Iceland?

      Delete
    3. Nat gas and purchased electricity.

      Delete
  45. I wish FCAU had more chart history...although that probably works in our favor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pull up FIATY. or go to:
      http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/Stock/FCA?countrycode=IT

      Delete
  46. Reuters U.S. News ‏@ReutersUS 17m17 minutes ago

    Strippers win $10.9 million judgment for unpaid wages from New York club http://reut.rs/1xXSBAG
    ---------
    Just trying to contribute.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Getting BRIC’d up this morning in the back alleys of Rio has paid off.

    (a) EWZ bid 39.30. Second tranche now +1.4%.
    (b) PBR bid 19.97. Second tranche +2%.
    (c) RSX bid 20.64, +1.2% from basis.
    (d) CAF bid 25.80, +1.6% from basis.
    (e) EEM bid 41.32. RYWVX opened the 1030 window @ 72.20. Based on the current bids for EEM + EWZ, will likely close the 345 window 2%+.

    My only regret is not to have opened a position in miners as well. GDX now +6%.

    I have no plans to close any positions today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. With a big reversal in the Euro today I think it's time to consider everything that goes up with a declining dollar (in short term). My guess is you see a mini rally in the Euro and a fade of the dollar into New Year's. It's time to look at those oil names & miners closer probably.

      Delete
    2. I'll just stick with my all in on FCAU tho. I think this is another good play on this move in currencies, coupled obviously with what I think is a grossly undervalued company.

      Delete
    3. excellent. are you holding it over the weekend?

      Delete
  48. TLLP - Registering high on the Richter scale.
    HIMX - Hello, old friend! What do you have in store for us next week?

    ReplyDelete
  49. FCAU/FIATY- They don't look that close to me??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FIATY was the OTC symbol before they got the FCAU listing. Would have been nice if they carried the chart history over, but didn't, so you can either try and visually link them together or look at the MIlan listing as TOF suggested. Milan has history since 2000.

      Delete
  50. Have a great weekend everyone, just one more Q before I go outside and scream once more... This one's rhetorical and strictly for entertainment purposes:
    "If I were a carpenter and you were a lady, would you marry me anyway, would you have my baby?"

    ReplyDelete
  51. Just doing some reviewing of my YTD gains / losses. Despite having one of my best years yet, I managed to make money on less stocks than I lost money on (had a 49% success ratio). Reinforces the concept of cutting losses quickly I guess.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not sure there's much to take from it but you're welcome. I was surprised to see it

      Delete
  52. (a) Added a minor position in RYEUX (Rydex Europe) at the close.
    (b) RYWVX closed @ 73.21, or +1.4% from the 1030 close. The gain appears 'suppressed,' as EEM/ EWZ closed +0.8%/+1.4% from their 1030 prints. I would have expected at least a +2.8% rise.
    (c) CAF closed @ 25.95, +3.84% for the day and +2.2% from my opening basis.
    (d) RSX closed @ 20.67, +1.4% from both yesterday's close and my opening basis.
    (e) PBR closed @ 9.95, -2.45% from yesterday's close but +4.2% from my opening basis.

    I can think of no reason not to hold all positions through the weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have chips on 4-5-6-8-9-10 in addition to a pass line bet on emerging markets.

      Delete
    2. Didn't you close b,c, d, and e?

      Delete
    3. No, what gives you the impression that I did?

      Delete
    4. "I can think of no reason not to." Wait a sec while I run that one through my boolean logic analyzer. :)

      Delete
  53. CNN Breaking News ‏@cnnbrk 40m40 minutes ago

    Study finds that chemicals in sunscreens may lead to infertility issues in men. http://cnn.it/1EMb1sh

    Make fun of that one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A chemical vasectomy would beat a real one, hands down.

      Delete
  54. http://fortune.com/2014/11/14/caesars-says-its-main-operating-unit-needs-restructuring/?xid=yahoo_fortune

    Never bet against the house? Bad management can run even a casino into the ground.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Z- is today the first clear sign of performance chasing?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dude I was really close to shifting money into that under $100. I just think that's the one true winner amongst all of these high priced internet companies. They're building monopoly

      Delete
    2. TOF was hoping I'd buy FCAU so he could flip to Z, but that didn't happen.

      Delete
    3. Good writeup on FCAU and basically what we've been saying here already:

      http://oraclefromomaha.wordpress.com/2014/11/02/update-im-back-at-least-for-a-while/

      FCAU is about 1/2 way down.

      Delete
  56. Ouch that HTZ, Luckily oil prices have provided some breathing room.

    ReplyDelete
  57. $WTIC - Why do they blame the oil sell off on falling global demand and fail to mention the $US rally? Is it b/c they want mom and pop to think the global econ is weakening?

    ReplyDelete
  58. FIATY - Here's the chart I'm looking at and it shows the ema's had rolled over up until the time the chart stops and switched to FCAU. If this chart was continued without that switch, looks like the ema's would probably be reconverging about now?

    http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=FIATY&p=W&b=5&g=0&id=p93675313354

    On top of that, I see there was a big player adding GM this week?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Buffet did a fairly large add to GM last quarter according to 13f filings.

      Delete
  59. Brandt - Possibility for $50 crude: "The weekly Crude Oil chart explains the current weakness. The 3-1/2 symmetrical triangle on the weekly chart has a target of $50. Look for real estate deals in North Dakota."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://peterlbrandt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/11.13_CL_W.jpg

      Delete
  60. AMZN - ema's have rolled over during this initial period of weakness, on this chart:
    http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=AMZN&p=W&b=5&g=0&id=p03471194703

    ReplyDelete
  61. TOF, if i look through my stocks this year, i have a lot of losers as well. But fortunately, my largest positions have done well. My top 3 of my 40 stocks generated 2/3 of my profit.

    I think it just shows you had to pick good stocks this year.

    ReplyDelete
  62. (a) Short term: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-to-play-the-historic-opening-of-chinas-stock-market-2014-11-14

    (b) Long term: http://www.jasonzweig.com/manias-and-meddlers-the-secret-past-of-the-chinese-stock-market/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with this 2nd article quite a bit. I think the European markets are the best play here because they're the closest to the US in terms of the soundness of capitalism...and some of them are cheap.

      Delete
    2. JP MOrgan hot on Europe:

      http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-17/jpmorgan-says-sell-u-s-stocks-buy-europe-on-valuation.html?cmpid=yhoo

      Delete
    3. JPM - Buy europe! That must be hot off the press, DB/EWZ/EZU Jumping now!

      Delete
  63. Good article on micro cap spinoffs, something I've been reaearching for potential anomalies in the mkt:

    microcapclub.com/2013/10/lessons-learned-investing-microcap-spinoffs/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How about office space rental, for small but growing startups where the home office no longer cuts it?

      Delete
    2. nvm, I'm used to having every single one of my ideas shot down, no big deal.

      Delete
    3. ha i'm not sure what that has to do with spinoffs so just curious. i'm actually putting together an idea for a business that takes advantage of the work from home trend so i'm all ears.

      Delete
  64. PLL - Water filtration is hot, is that driving the stock? We knew it would be, didn't we?

    ReplyDelete
  65. Nothing to appealing this morning.

    ReplyDelete
  66. Need the Euro to stop dropping to give stocks like FCAU more tailwind. It's fighting an uphill battle every time the Euro drops so much. Fiat is up 1.1% in Europe but only 0.4% in the US.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was thinking in those same terms, not specifically FCAU but all of europe? Anyway, is FCAU an euro play, a US play, or an IP play? Or perhaps all of the above?

      Delete
    2. FCAU headquarters are in Italy and I think about 1/4 to 1/3 of their sales come from Europe...however, the Fiat brand is dragging them down and there's substantial excess capacity in their plants in Italy so I think the theory is that they hope to shift production over there to take advantage of the excess production capacity. A rebounding Europe would help things out significantly for them and all auto makers. FCAU is a dirt cheap stock as it is though so I'm not sure it will need a ton of help from the Euro. But a collapsing Euro does no one any good.

      Delete
    3. I like the Fiat brand, LOL! :) Considering F makes their profits on pickups so maybe Fiat, being the little shift boxes they are, aren't very profitable.

      Delete
  67. "Japan economy in recession" Umm, what's the unemployment figure?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its all because of that foolish sales tax boost.

      Delete
    2. If you like Europe, and want broad exposure in addition to FCAU, check this out.

      http://etfdb.com/etfdb-category/europe-equities/

      Delete
    3. Seems like they short cover all the weak sectors on Friday and then the battle renews the following Monday.

      Great call on FCAU and the autos in general, Appalosa's largest holding is GM which I think some hold here.

      Delete
    4. Sorry thought was responding to the FCAU thread above

      Delete
    5. Exactly, as if the sales tax boost was going to encourage consumption. WTF?

      Delete
  68. On Saut's most recent weekly note:

    "Some pundits are saying that the bear market in crude oil is an ominous precursor to a bear market in stocks, but this is not backed up by the historical facts. In examining the SPX’s performance during bear markets in oil shows the SPX has an average +3.02% (median +5.51%) gain two-thirds of the time according to the good folks at Bespoke. To further illustrate this lack of correlation, Bespoke constructed the nearby charts and wrote:

    Bull markets are shaded in green while bear markets are shaded in red. Here it is hard to make any compelling argument that bear markets in crude oil have been bad for the equity market. In fact, during 84% of all the days that crude oil has been in a bear market, the S&P 500 has been in a bull market. A more persuasive case may be that bear market periods in the S&P 500 were preceded by bull markets in crude oil.
    "

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is also worth noting that the current “bear market” in crude oil, at 416 days, is the second longest bear market in the past 30 years, with the longest being the 541 calendar days affair between 6/24/92 and 12/17/93 (another tip of the hat to Bespoke). Accordingly, I think crude oil is in the process of forming a bottom, but the oil complex stocks will likely have issues in tax loss selling season before they bottom. Still, dividend-paying oil stocks should be accumulated between now and the end of the year because they are trading below “known valuations.”

      Delete
  69. I keep looking at GOOGL and wondering if there's something inherently wrong with them...keep thinking maybe its a change in the way people are searching on phones vs laptops or maybe facebook / apple / twitter / yelp are all stealing a little market share...but then if you look at the longer chart you realize it doubled in 18 months so it's most likely just consolidating. That's one big cap business that I think is a no brainer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What are they up to, renting moffet field?

      Delete
    2. I think GOOG is a premier company, but it is just hard to move up on such a large market cap.

      Delete
  70. I always like this guy, John Bogle. He's the founder of Vanguard and viewed as the grandfather of index fund investing.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfknQvVkDUU

    This was during the middle of the 08 crash. My brother was asking me if I know of him.

    I was watching another interview from a guy that was talking about index investing and he had a really great comment that I never considered: he said its not some great tragedy if you can't outperform the S&P 500. consider that out of the millions of businesses out there, these are the very best 500 companies. so if you can't outperform them it's not that unusual. obviously we can outperform them but it's a great point.

    ReplyDelete
  71. All I need to know is, if eurozone stimulus going to proceed or if Germany is going to nix the idea. I don't have the simplest piece of info I need, to make a decision.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. who knows. just seek those companies that are cheap / beaten down with catalysts. if stimulus comes it will only help.

      Delete
    2. I've liked VE for a while. it's not that cheap but it's in a solid business with structural tailwinds behind it. plus, technically i like these types of setups that it has where it broke down so fast in 2011 that there's not a ton of overhead resistance until the mid 20's so after it gets above $20 it could move up pretty quickly. kind of like what happened with X earlier this year.

      Delete
    3. I agree buying cheap offsets a lot of risks and is always good. The other thing is the EU is going to do something if necessary. Even the German's aren't going to let the whole thing fall apart if they can help it.

      Delete
    4. Let me know if you guys hear something please, meanwhile I'll try following chart indicators (which are positive in many respects). There are always options, I might have to add to energy or buy EWZ if europe gets away from me.

      Delete
  72. The declining Euro is good for exporting companies, but the trick is that the benefit they receive from a lower Euro are greater than the decrease in stock price due to it being quotes in Euro's. Maybe thing like Sieman's, SAP, UL as some quick ideas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yep also have to take into account that their products are cheaper to overseas buyers.

      Delete
  73. (a) Shanghai + HK both opened at their highs last night, only to sell off into the close.
    (b) Accordingly, both CAF (Morgan Stanley China ‘A’ Shares) and EEM are pulling back today.
    (c) EWZ (Brazil) and PBR (Petrobras) have also pulled back.
    (d) With the exception of Russia and Europe, the positions I opened Friday are now back to my opening bases.
    (e) I plan to give the positions another day to play out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Russia sure is cheap - if Putin backs down and pulls out of Russia, would see a big pop. Don't know if politically he can do that though.

      Delete
  74. JPM - So just to clarify, JPM advises to sell the US market in favor of Europe.....

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  75. Quiet US market the last week or so - means and buying and selling in balance.

    My thinking is we break upwards as we start to see the typical year-end rally driven by people putting bonuses, retirement contributions, etc. into the market. I think we need some bad geopolitical news to break downwards.

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  76. Z for zillow

    http://priceonomics.com/the-seo-dominance-of-zillow/

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  77. RSX (Russia) off pre-market @ 20.96 for a 2-day gain of +3%.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Solid European sales figures for fcau

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seemed like good car sales across the board for all.

      Delete
  79. I peeled off 15% of my shares of FCAU at around $12.7 trying to play a dip.

    ReplyDelete
  80. I hate when this happens:
    http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11879624/jose-canseco-says-re-attached-finger-fell-poker-game

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  81. Europe - Have they actually done anything or is this just a hopeful response to lip service?

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  82. AEG - Was considering this one y-day b/c it was beat up and looked like it stopped moving down but noticed my broker downgraded it.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Do you guys know the best way to get allocated shares of an IPO before it trades? TD Ameritrade never has any shares available.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you have to be a qualifying investor (large pockets)?

      Delete
    2. With TD in Canada, they have a new issues portal where you can sign up to get email on new issues. We don't get the hot US ones like BABA, but we do get some hot Canadian ones. I've only bought I think 3 of these, and always got a fill, although usually not a full position.

      Delete
  84. MUX - up 17%, that's real money if you bought yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  85. That double bottom in SPWR is very compelling. I picked up some SPWR at $28.08 hoping for a run to $31-32. Still like the solar sector longer term but for the short term there seems to be a reasonable floor of support to trade against.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Strategic $2.4B deal to split up operating and dev assets between SUNE/TERP
      SUNE and TERP surprised us today with their announcement to acquire First Wind, a top developer of
      North American wind assets. Similar to the AES/ Silver Ridge deal, the transaction is marked by
      separating the assets of First Wind between the SUNE YieldCo and DevCo, optimizing the transaction.
      The DevCo gets 1.6GW of development assets, although we look forward to some more background on
      the assets in terms timing, location, and maturity. With TERP taking 500MW of wind assets and 21MW
      of solar assets, TERP is adding $72.5M in CAFD, which was purchased for a total EV of $862M or around
      12x EV/CAFD, roughly in-line with many of recent YieldCo transactions.
      Transaction pumps growth economics and diversifies platform into wind
      At the heart of the transaction is the significant operational MW growth in TERP, growth to +2GW of
      2015 deployed MWs and raised CAFD/ dividend guidance to $214M and $1.30, significantly pushing
      forward economic timelines. SUNE has already guided an expectation of a 1 year pull-in on IDRs and
      there may still be opportunity to outperform here through more acquisitions and organic adds. However,
      we believe that SUNE's diversification into wind is one of the biggest parts of the transaction. We look
      forward to hearing more about the integration of the First Wind platform from an operational level and
      in growth opportunities (i.e. Canada, South America, etc.)
      Looking to hearing about future wind dev goals and financial timeline update
      We also look forward to tomorrow morning's call giving us some more diligence color on the pipeline,
      backlog additions to the call rights and the associated timing of assets. We also look to see more
      information on SUNE's assumptions on IDRs and what current expectations are for 2016 onward.
      Finally, we hope to hear an update on current financing needs for both SUNE/TERP post-restructuring of
      debt as this transaction will likely use up a majority of outstanding liquidity.

      Delete
  86. CP, re AEG, if you want to buy for a couple year hold and what should be a very good return, at $7.81, there are probably only half a dozen days this year when the price has been lower.

    If you want to play for a bounce, I can see not buying today.

    ReplyDelete
  87. TD likening the current market to the late 90's period, which was a great time for stocks:

    Market Overview
    From a more technical perspective on U.S. equity markets, we are seeing two
    positive indicators suggesting that the current rally could continue into and perhaps
    through the year-end.
    First is the continuing strength in the U.S. transportation sector. Not only is the
    Dow Transportation sector ETF (IYT-US, US$163.60) setting new absolute highs,
    but it is also setting new relative highs versus the S&P500. We view the relative
    strength in the transports not only as a positive leading indicator for the overall
    equity market, but for the U.S. domestic economy as well. On the latter point, we
    are also entering into a seasonal period when the U.S. economic activity tends to
    accelerate, as we saw last year. If the U.S. economy were to surprise on the upside,
    it could lead to modestly higher interest rates and further strength in the U.S.
    dollar. This could then lead to lower oil prices (on a stronger U.S. dollar), leading
    to further relative strength from the transports.
    From a Canadian perspective, Canadian National Railway Co. (CNR-T, $80.70;
    portfolio weigh 9.0% is one of our top selections to gain exposure to the U.S.
    transports and a resurgent U.S. domestic economy. It is our view that the U.S.
    economy is beginning a bottom-up consumer-led recovery not dissimilar to what
    we would normally observe in the early phase of an economic cycle. Importantly,
    this resurgence also occurred in the later stages in the 1990’s cycle from 1997 to
    mid-1998. We continue to draw comparisons from that period to the current phase
    in today’s cycle given the very similar global macro backdrop. Although the
    causes may differ, the results are the same — a weak global economy versus a
    stronger U.S. economy, a stronger U.S. dollar, and lower commodity prices.
    We believe that a consumer-led U.S. recovery fits well into CNR’s “early cycle”
    relative performance versus the U.S. rails. Technically, CNR’s relative
    performance versus U.S. rails is highly correlated to the relative strength in the.
    S&P homebuilding sector, which in part is explained by CNR’s relatively high
    wood products exposure. The S&P homebuilding sector has been one of the top
    performing sub-sectors, up nearly 25% off its October low. It is also worth noting

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that it was also one of the top performing subsectors from Q1/97 to Q2/98, gaining
      over 100%.
      Second, a more recent positive technical indicator has been the recovery in U.S.
      small caps. Following a relatively weak past year, the recent market recovery off
      the October low has been led by U.S. small caps. Importantly, the relative recovery
      of the small cap has been led by the consumer discretionary and bank sectors.
      Again, we believe that this is another positive indication of U.S. consumer strength
      and a broadening of the U.S. recovery.
      From a Canadian perspective, our top large-cap selections for relatively high
      exposure to a U.S. consumer recovery remain Gildan Activewear Inc. ( GIL-T,
      $66, portfolio weight 3.6%) and Alimentation Couche-Tard (ATD.B. $40,
      portfolio weight 5.8%). Similar to what we saw through the later 1990s,
      consumer growth stocks could experience a further multiple expansion against a
      weak global economy and low commodity prices. Although Couche-Tard at 20x
      12-month forward consensus earnings looks fully valued, we believe that Gildan at
      15.7x still has multiple expansion potential.
      Energy
      Similar to the non-recession major corrections we saw in oil prices in 1986, 1997–
      08, and in 2006, we believe that oil prices need to re-adjust lower on deteriorating
      supply-demand fundamentals. The ending of QE and the revaluation of the U.S.
      dollar has, in our view, exposed oil and other commodities to their weak
      underlying fundamentals (excess supply and weak global demand). It has been our
      view that commodities through the current cycle were overinflated through
      monetary stimulus. As a result, the current correction is steep, largely because oil
      prices were, in our view, fundamentally too high. Subsequently, for us to turn more
      positive on oil prices and the energy sector, we now need to see improving
      fundamentals against the backdrop of what we believe will be continuing U.S.
      dollar strength. With U.S. inventories and speculative net long positions still too
      high, in our view (see exhibits 7 and 8), we believe that oil prices could remain low
      or move lower, particularly if the U.S. dollar continues to trend higher.

      Delete
    2. Nice to see this AFTER taking a 50% haircut on BXE, now jump into autos for a repeat? Umm, can't do that.

      Delete
  88. Great interview with Joel Greenblatt:
    http://wealthtrack.com/recent-programs/greenblatt-strategy-change/

    Here's some more info on Greenblatt:
    http://basehitinvesting.com/some-thoughts-on-joel-greenblatts-magic-formula-and-its-ytd-results/

    Here are his results using the Magic Formula:
    http://basehitinvesting.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Magic-Formula-Results-vs-SP-500.jpg
    The Magic Formula method of picking stocks averaged 23.8% per year vs a market average of 9.6% during the period from 1988-2009.

    ReplyDelete
  89. Must be about time for Japan to panic again and print more YEN, better get long TM in case and/or short KB b/c Korea will be the victim.

    It's impossible to invest while currency wars are being waged.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Considering natty is pretty cheap and coal is cheaper than dirt, then why hasn't my electric bill collapsed? Where'd that money go?

    ReplyDelete
  91. (a) After treading water most of the morning, EWZ (Brazil) is launching into the close (+2.58%). I’m closing EWZ here @ 39.85 for a 2-day gain of +2.84%.
    (b) PBR plunged to 8.80 intraday, and now back to 9.45 (or about -0.12/share above the 9.57 basis of my second tranche). Taking it off here.
    (c) VGK (Europe) trading +1.5%. I plan to take RYEUX (Rydex 1.25x Europe) off end of day for what will likely be a 2-day gain of +2.4%.
    (d) EEM currently +0.6%. EWZ now +2.65%. Between the two, I’m guessing RYWVX will end the day between +1.5% and +2%> taking the entire position (opened in two tranches over 2 days) off at the close.
    (e) CAF. Made the wrong call on this one! I opened @ 25.3x last Friday, watched it climb to 25.95 at the close, and decided to hold through the weekend. Yesterday, I watched it gap down to 25.45 and close at 25.25. It gapped down again this morning to trade as low as 24.90. Taking the position off here @ 25.12 for a -1% loss. Obviously, I don’t like watching a +2.2% gain slip into a -1% loss, but the open of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Connect was a ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ situation. Had I closed last Friday, CAF would have gapped UP to 26. Since I decided to hold, it naturally gapped DOWN. It happens.

    I’m actually quite bullish on Emerging Markets and Europe for the next few months, and expect the global stock market ex-US to outperform. Regardless, risk levels are high right now and I have to take gains whenever I have them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Like I said, you're in the zone.

      Delete
  92. NXPI - I like this stock but why now are there so many arrows pointing in it's direction and not at the recent lows? Gotta wonder.

    ReplyDelete
  93. Replies
    1. VGK went long gapped up and broke above 50 dma, my timing has been off lately so who knows

      Delete
  94. I ended up bailing on 1/3 or so of my FCAU around $12.75 or so avg (not sure). I am trying to play a potential pullback here coupled with a few really interesting short term trading opportunities I see in a few stocks I'm still researching, one of which is SPWR which I took a decent sized position in.. Keeping a core holding in FCAU regardless as I think it gets to $20 or so within a year.

    ReplyDelete
  95. "With TD in Canada, they have a new issues portal where you can sign up to get email on new issues. We don't get the hot US ones like BABA, but we do get some hot Canadian ones. I've only bought I think 3 of these, and always got a fill, although usually not a full position. "

    Thanks.

    What's a full position for you? 2%? Or do you have a few larger positions and dozens of smaller ones?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I usually buy a position of about 3% (in tranches). Then ones I really like I will go to around 10% - 15%. My top 5 holdings are 50% of my portfolio. I also buy longshots once in a while (0.5%).

      I think I end up with 40 stocks because some move up slower than expected but are too cheap to sell, but too expensive to buy more, and they just become a smaller percentage as my portfolio grows faster.

      Delete
    2. 22 of my 38 stocks (58%) make up less than 20% of my portfolio, so a good number in this bunch. I've tried to do some analysis to see how it would affect my results if I was more aggressive in cutting losses, but it is hard to do. I suspect it would not be a big effect though.

      Delete
  96. There are so many interesting setups its hard to contain myself!

    SPWR
    FSLR
    HCLP / SLCA / EMES
    FXE / Short Dollar and its implications
    NBG
    IRE
    EWZ
    EEM / EDC
    YNDX
    ENSV
    and I have a bunch of others including some new IPOs. this is going to be an interesting run into the year end.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You left out GDX/ GDXJ. Had I stuck with them, my gains would be 2-3 fold higher.

      Delete
    2. Although my better half is still holding.

      Delete
  97. RYWVX and RYEUX (both leveraged funds that can be difficult to 'price' ahead of the close based on proxies such as EEM and VGK) closed significantly below my lunch time estimates. Often an indication of weakness 'under the hood' despite strong rallies in large cap (aka 'headline') indexes.

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  98. Anyone looking for a decent entry/reentry into stocks will probably see one within the next few days. JMO.

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  99. TOF, when you talk about these setups, what timeframe chart are you looking at and what is it that makes you think they are good?

    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete