Category: INO.com Contributors

Pick Up This Metal Fabricator Now That It's Bottomed

Posted on by Daniel Cross

Daniel Cross - INO.com Contributor - Equities


Certain stock sectors tend to underperform others as part of the business cycle. Investors have known about this phenomenon for decades and cyclical industries like industrial goods have a well-established track record of ups and downs. Occasionally, these stocks find themselves at the bottom of their cyclical curve and suddenly have nothing but bad news priced into the stock. That can leave them deeply undervalued with a lot more upside potential than downside.

Industrial manufacturing production has fallen this year with projected growth of just 2.5%, partially due to the slow start in the first quarter thanks to adverse winter weather conditions. However, with the economy posting improving data, those figures could be revised upwards as the year progresses. With the lower expectations already priced into the manufacturing industry, stocks look to be at tremendously discounted prices. Continue reading "Pick Up This Metal Fabricator Now That It's Bottomed" →

Is It Time to Take Profits on Oil Refining Stocks? (re-visited)

Posted on by Adam Feik

Adam Feik - INO.com Contributor - Energies


I wrote on February 24th about whether the time had come to take profits on oil refining stocks like Tesoro, Valero, and others. (My conclusion was to hold the stocks for the time being, but to keep a close eye on them).

Since then, oil refiners have continued rising (generally), as oil prices have showed continuing weakness – especially in the last 30 days. Crude oil, of course, is the key input for refiners, so refiners benefit when its raw materials prices are low. Nymex crude fell below $50/bbl Wednesday, having fallen from $61 on June 23, 2015, and from $107 on June 20, 2014 (data from eia.gov).

Here's an updated table showing performance of selected refiners through July 22:

On Thursday, July 23rd, oil and refining stocks both fell. But more often recently, it's been… Continue reading "Is It Time to Take Profits on Oil Refining Stocks? (re-visited)" →

Platinum Could Hit The Floor

Posted on by Aibek Burabayev

Aibek Burabayev - INO.com Contributor - Metals


The Global Outlook: Platinum Is In Serious Trouble

NYMEX_EOD:PL1
Chart courtesy of TradingView.com

Indeed, this metal is very tricky. One moment it can be flying high, then it can take a swing hitting the bottom and again and again. This time around, Platinum is on its way down, falling like a hot knife through butter. Without any problems, it has lost $500, down from $1500.

The minor swing was detected at the $1200-$1300 level on the monthly charts and then the metal slid even faster. The price has easily broken below both the 2006 low at $1059.60 and the 1980 high at $1045. The psychologically important round number level at $1000 has fallen even quicker. Continue reading "Platinum Could Hit The Floor" →

Are You Really As Diversified As You Think?

Posted on by Matt Thalman

Matt Thalman - INO.com Contributor - ETFs


A while back I pointed out that due to Apple's (AAPL) market capitalization, a large number of ETF's were massively over-weight the technology giant. In some cases, Apple represented more than 5%, 7% or even 10% of the total value of the ETF based on how many holdings the fund actually owns.

I recently came across an ETF that is not only overweight Apple by a massive amount, with maker of the iPhone representing more than 13%, but its top 5 companies (6 holdings since Google (GOOG)(GOOGL) has two stock classes) represent more than 37% of the fund, of which might I add has over 100 holdings. Furthermore though, what makes this so interesting is that the ETF I am talking about tracks a major index, which simply adds to the myth that the fund is helping investors diversify and is a safer way to invest. Continue reading "Are You Really As Diversified As You Think?" →

Hedge Your Dollars With Pounds?

Posted on by Lior Alkalay

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


Which currency is set to outperform? Is it the US Dollar or the Pound Sterling? Consider if you will that, despite some notable headwinds, the Fed is moving closer to a rate hike. For many, that suggests the Dollar as the best bet for the next 12 months. Especially with unemployment at 5.3% and core CPI now rebounding to 1.8% Year on Year. Yet some US data releases are still only "mildly" positive; for example gains in wages, slowed from 2.3% to just 2%.

On the other side of the Atlantic the Bank of England has signaled that it's warming up towards a rate hike, too. Yet, unlike in the US, gains in wages have been rising by 3.2% Year on Year. Moreover, GDP has been growing at a pace of 0.4% (QoQ) in Q1, far better than the negative figure posted by the US. So is the Sterling looking better than the Dollar? Not exactly. Then is the Dollar looking better than Sterling? The answer is, once again, not exactly. But here's the thing. Continue reading "Hedge Your Dollars With Pounds?" →