Monthly Archives: February 2012
Is Cheap ECB $ Making EU Leaders Reckless ?
“It appeared that the brinkmanship tactics had pushed Greece over the edge on Feb 12 as Athens was set ablaze in protest. Now it appears that the European finance ministers are slipping over the edge. Strong doubts remain, and are being expressed, about whether a second aid package is throwing good money after bad.
Papademos has failed to deliver. As former ECB vice president, he was expected to deliver two things: new austerity and implementation. He has, after much fanfare, agreed to the new austerity demands. The rub, according to the creditor nations, is the commitment.
Domestic considerations are blunting the international priorities. When this seemed to be the case in Italy late last year, Germany’s Merkel reportedly helped push Berlusconi out. However, it seems more difficult to repeat. It seems European officials would prefer to extend Papademos’s term. Samaras has no incentive to agree to postpone elections that he would likely win. Nor can European officials bar Samaras, yet his apparent reservations and desire to modify/renegotiate the agreements cannot but undermine confidence in a government he would lead.
In this environment, creditor nations seem to be making a bet on the LTRO that will provide banks with another large liquidity cushion. It will increase their ability to deal with a shock emanating from Greece, if necessary. Ironically, that may mean that the larger than take down at the Feb 29th LTRO, the more likely European officials will be emboldened vis a vis Greece.
There is plenty of room for policy error. The reasons to fear a Lehman-like event still seem compelling. European officials suggest the problem is the lack of implementation of reform and growth measures in
Greece. No doubt there is an element of truth with that assessment.
The problem is that it is incomplete. Part of the problem is that the program is working. Greek unit labor costs are falling. Demand is evaporating. The contraction is deeper than expected and despite optimistic forecasts of growth as soon as 2013, the risks are all on the downside.
The Troika are in Portugal to review their progress. They will likely praise Portugal’s efforts. However, it may still miss its debt/GDP targets because of the denominator…”
Comments »Watch Lin Fuck Up the Raptors Dreams of Winning in OT
[youtube://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfrebpOFpB0 450 300]
Comments »Jeff Gundlach: SELL BANK OF AMERICA RIGHT WHEN THE MARKET OPENS
What To Do With Squatters
“This nightmare took place in Covington, Washington, but it could happen anywhere.
An abandoned home in Crofton Hills suburban development was taken over by squatters. “You’d come home and find them throwing things out of the second-floor window,” neighbor John Wilson told The Seattle Time’s Sanjay Bhatt.
The squatters partied all night and trashed the house and lawn. One of them allegedly threatened to eat Wilson’s dog.
Kicking out the squatters wasn’t easy. The police refused to act because the Crofton Hills Homeowner’s Association had filed a lien against the house’s owner—and no one could get in touch with the owner.”
what to do ….
[youtube://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQU0JRq_mBY&feature=related 450 300] Comments »FLASH: CALIFORNIA IS FUCKED
FLASH- Fed’s Fisher: QE3 is a Fantasy of Wall Street
EMR
The electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted from mobile towers is so powerful that it affects the biological systems of birds, insects, and even humans. The study, released by the environment ministry, called for the protection of flora and fauna by law.
Comments »“The review of existing literature shows that the EMRs are interfering with the biological systems in more ways than one and there had already been some warning bells sounded in the case on bees and birds, which probably heralds the seriousness of this issue and indicates the vulnerability of other species as well,” the study found.
Oil Inventories Fall 177k Barrels: A Build of 1.5 Million Barrels Was Expected
Expectations of a build of 1.5 million barrels… Actual: draw of 177k barrels
distillates see a draw of 2.9 mln barrels
gasoline sees a build 400k barrels
Comments »Harris Poll: BAC, GS, & AIG’s Reputation Falls to Enron and Worldcom Levels
Coffee Break: Food Nazis
52 Week Highs and Lows
NYSE
New Highs 89 COMPANY SYMBOL HIGH VOLUME ------- ------ ---- ------ ACCO Brands ABD 11.92 296,470 AES AES 13.54 523,240 Aetna AET 47.71 563,394 Alliance Data Sys ADS 121.58 84,906 Allied World AWH 66.15 34,999 American Tower REIT AMT 64.55 276,231 Ameriprise Finl 7.75% Nts AMPpA 28.88 7,027 Ametek AME 48.88 61,396 Applied Indus Tech AIT 41.75 21,483 Ares Cap Sr. Nts 2040 ARY 25.96 665 AutoZone AZO 361.40 19,358 Axis Cap Hldgs Ser A AXSpA 25.99 2,813 Bank of America Dep pfd E BACpE 19.93 8,880 CPFL Energia ADS CPL 31.79 49,866 Carters CRI 43.39 25,001 Centene CNC 50.00 110,643 China Mobile CHL 52.13 552,571 Chipotle Mexican Grill CMG 381.87 74,167 Coach COH 76.70 282,215 Comcast 2% DECS Sprint CCZ 40.00 955 CompanhiaSBEDP SBS 74.64 98,080 Energ Gerais-Cemig CIG 22.36 230,635 Concho Resources CXO 113.96 135,257 Copa Hldgs Cl A CPA 75.91 35,016 Cosan Ltd A CZZ 14.40 60,813 Crown Castle Intl CCI 50.29 299,483 DWS Hi Incm Opps Fd DHG 15.58 17,709 Dick's Sporting Goods DKS 45.35 90,444 Discover Fnl Svcs DFS 29.18 641,307 Donaldson Co DCI 77.78 53,824 Drew Indus DW 29.02 9,136 Ecopetrol EC 53.87 19,086 First Tr Strat High Fd II FHY 17.53 29,527 Flaherty & Crumrine PFD 16.10 10,948 Flaherty & Crumrine Pfd PFO 12.26 6,878 Foot Locker FL 28.36 259,842 FortuneBrandsHome&Sec FBHS 19.99 126,815 Genesco Inc GCO 68.15 146,865 John Hancock Income Secs JHS 15.85 4,512 Health Net HNT 39.47 82,067 Hornbeck Offshore HOS 37.11 49,042 Hospitality Prop Tr Pfd D HPTpD 25.24 6,551 Huaneng Power HNP 26.25 22,365 Hubbell B HUB/B 75.87 14,932 Intl Paper IP 33.29 261,272 Jabil Circuit JBL 25.25 197,128 KapStone Paper & Pkg KS 19.15 19,802 LSI Corp LSI 8.49 959,287 LeapFrog Cl A LF 7.90 290,991 LifeTime Fit LTM 52.14 48,299 Limited Brands LTD 45.95 227,631 MI Developments MIM 37.08 8,100 MSC Indust Direct MSM 80.50 5,362 Main Street Capital MAIN 22.89 22,197 Men's Wearhouse MW 38.53 66,652 Metro Health Ntwks MDF 8.80 25,890 Michael Kors Holdings KORS 44.82 1,007,614 Molina Hlthcr MOH 35.95 98,297 Movado Group MOV 20.41 56,276 NCR Corp NCR 22.09 144,942 Navigant Consulting NCI 13.98 28,017 Nike Inc NKE 107.01 196,241 Nuveen Insured CA Muni 2 NCL 16.65 5,511 Nuveen NY Div Sers 2015 NANpC 10.23 1,000 Pall Corp PLL 64.55 37,966 Penske Automotive PAG 25.00 180,416 Philip Morris Intl PM 81.97 568,889 Pioneer Natural PXD 112.57 188,248 Plains All Amer Pipeline PAA 81.33 68,768 Polaris Indus PII 69.95 50,551 PulteGroup PHM 9.17 2,196,264 Rex American Resources REX 29.02 11,716 Roadrunner Trans Sys RRTS 18.36 19,986 Rouse Properties RSE 14.70 27,090 Sara Lee Corp SLE 20.43 521,080 Six Flags Entertainment SIX 49.04 107,567 Sonic Auto SAH 18.11 87,583 Standard Motor SMP 24.00 16,928 SYNNEX SNX 39.76 30,342 Taiwan Semi Mfg TSM 14.44 1,028,126 Terra Nitrogen TNH 231.64 25,332 Torchmark TMK 48.52 123,029 Transamerica Income TAI 22.46 1,507 US Bncp Dep Pfd Perp F USBpM 26.07 21,304 UnitedHealth Group UNH 54.60 670,841 VF Corp VFC 146.63 244,295 VISA (Cl A) V 116.63 748,834 WellCare Health Plans WCG 71.54 813,161 World Fuel Svcs INT 47.94 20,009 New Lows 1 COMPANY SYMBOL LOW VOLUME ------- ------ ---- ------ Dynegy DYN 1.58 78,057
NASDAQ
New Highs 68 COMPANY SYMBOL HIGH VOLUME ------- ------ ---- ------ AFC Enterprises AFCE 17.69 16,041 Access National ANCX 10.21 7,325 Acorn Energy ACFN 8.95 56,073 Apple AAPL 518.55 5,519,953 Arch Capital Grp ACGL 38.60 172,523 Aspen Technology AZPN 21.50 40,829 Aware AWRE 4.10 1,300 BSB Bancorp BLMT 11.35 200 Bob Evans Farms BOBE 39.71 109,029 Body Central BODY 28.67 21,781 Bottomline Techs EPAY 28.70 19,636 CA Inc CA 27.23 294,270 Carrols Restaurant Group TAST 12.65 11,149 Cincinnati Fincl CINF 34.95 87,413 Comcast CMCSA 29.05 9,163,437 Comcast A Sp CMCSK 28.02 2,344,791 CONMED CNMD 31.93 140,835 Cybex Intl CYBI 1.73 147,440 Cynosure (Cl A) CYNO 17.58 41,508 Discovery Comm B DISCB 61.24 100 Dollar Tree DLTR 88.79 84,009 EZchip EZCH 38.00 42,725 Fastenal Co FAST 51.60 291,377 Finish Line (Cl A) FINL 23.69 257,525 First Fincl Northwest FFNW 7.30 3,120 Golar LNG Partners LP GMLP 36.16 10,453 Halozyme Therapeutics HALO 11.80 91,136 Hibbett Sports HIBB 50.00 18,530 HomeStreet HMST 51.06 1,350 IRIS Intl IRIS 11.00 14,779 inContact SAAS 5.69 35,572 Innodata Isogen INOD 5.94 25,914 Intuitive Surgical ISRG 515.18 67,998 iPass IPAS 2.16 739,837 Jive Software JIVE 21.09 230,671 Liberty Global Cl A LBTYA 49.50 86,480 Lincoln Electric Hldgs LECO 45.93 21,472 Liquidity Services LQDT 43.77 40,840 lululemon athletica LULU 67.08 503,411 Mattel Inc MAT 32.69 473,184 Mesa Laboratories MLAB 50.35 4,437 Monro Muffler Brake MNRO 45.94 16,959 Monster Beverage MNST 111.18 64,780 OmniAmerican Bancorp Inc OABC 17.67 1,048 On Assignment ASGN 13.95 95,565 Parametric Tech PMTC 27.75 74,788 PwrShrs QQQ Tr Series 1 QQQ 63.60 12,652,635 Procera Networks PKT 19.19 20,058 ProShares UltraPro QQQ TQQQ 99.92 230,867 SMF Energy FUEL 4.22 139,979 Shire PLC SHPGY 108.32 172,209 Simulations Plus SLP 3.92 12,056 Sourcefire FIRE 36.97 40,530 Steven Madden SHOO 43.68 67,943 Synopsys SNPS 30.45 78,653 Tangoe TNGO 17.89 161,560 Taylor Capital Group TAYC 13.72 9,856 Taylor Devices TAYD 10.50 11,860 Tech Data TECD 54.85 17,834 Thomas Properties TPGI 4.20 300 Tower Bancorp Inc TOBC 33.23 89,758 21st Century Hldg TCHC 3.66 5,250 US Home Systems USHS 11.60 90,116 Ulta Salon Cosmetics ULTA 83.49 202,740 Vanguard Russ 1000 Growth VONG 65.24 585 ViroPharma VPHM 31.71 71,843 Volterra Semiconductor VLTR 32.25 38,687 Willis Lease Finance WLFC 14.79 2,800 New Lows 8 COMPANY SYMBOL LOW VOLUME ------- ------ ---- ------ ESSA Bancorp ESSA 9.75 1,321 Intrnt Gold-Golden Lines IGLD 8.85 2,110 NCI NCIT 6.91 6,002 Powerwave Techs PWAV 1.19 453,187 ProShr Ul Sh QQQ SQQQ 13.17 329,483 Savient Pharmaceuticals SVNT 2.00 168,584 Silicon Graphics Intl SGI 9.10 112,836 Summer Infant SUMR 4.67 6,061Comments »
NIGEL FARAGE’S LATEST SCREED
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbfco58BSy0 603 500]
Comments »Today’s Money Flows
ISSUE GAINERS SYMBOL EXCH LAST PRICE MONEY FLOW RATIO
(in millions)
Apple AAPL NASD 517.77 +114.5 1.14
Bank Of America BAC NYSE 8.09 +31.7 1.59
Procter & Gamble PG NYSE 64.73 +22.2 2.43
SPDR S&P 500 SPY ARCA 135.55 +21.3 1.11
Johnson & Johnson JNJ NYSE 64.72 +14.4 2.18
Schlumberger SLB NYSE 77.58 +13.9 2.64
DirecTV Group Inc DTV NASD 46.71 +13.6 4.15
SPDR S&P Retail XRT ARCA 57.99 +13.5 2.74
Abbott Labs ABT NYSE 55.35 +12.3 2.11
IBM IBM NYSE 192.37 +11.2 1.61
Raymond James RJF NYSE 34.77 +10.4 1.99
Kellogg Co K NYSE 52.36 +9.3 1.60
Citigroup C NYSE 32.51 +9.1 1.28
VISA (Cl A) V NYSE 116.20 +8.7 1.42
Cummins CMI NYSE 122.18 +8.4 2.04
Merck MRK NYSE 38.05 +8.1 3.19
Federal Realty Inv Trust FRT NYSE 96.66 +7.7 11.53
ExxonMobil XOM NYSE 84.57 +7.6 1.40
Abercrombie & Fitch ANF NYSE 49.17 +7.6 1.21
Owens Corning OC NYSE 31.42 +7.1 1.84
ISSUE DECLINERS SYMBOL EXCH LAST PRICE MONEY FLOW RATIO
(in millions)
Microsoft MSFT NASD 30.24 -28.3 0.33
Google GOOG NASD 610.56 -23.1 0.72
Intel INTC NASD 26.80 -15.9 0.44
Edwards Lifesciences EW NYSE 74.00 -14.0 0.22
Oracle ORCL NASD 28.17 -13.9 0.45
Amazoncom AMZN NASD 190.15 -12.5 0.73
iShr FTSE China 25 FXI ARCA 40.16 -12.2 0.30
Service Corp Intl SCI NYSE 11.09 -12.0 0.01
iShrs MSCI Emerg Mkts EEM ARCA 43.71 -11.9 0.52
PepsiCo PEP NYSE 63.49 -10.8 0.47
CBS Corp B CBS NYSE 29.73 -10.6 0.23
JPMorgan Chase JPM NYSE 38.22 -9.8 0.65
Freeport McMoran FCX NYSE 42.94 -9.4 0.68
McDonald's MCD NYSE 99.49 -9.0 0.45
Disney DIS NYSE 41.68 -8.7 0.30
iShs S&P Gbl Cons Staples KXI ARCA 67.69 -8.7 0.02
Chevron CVX NYSE 105.66 -8.4 0.61
Regions Fincl RF NYSE 5.76 -8.4 0.15
SeagateTech STX NASD 26.55 -8.1 0.36
iShrs Tr S&P L.A. 40 ILF ARCA 47.90 -8.1 0.16
Comments »
40 Short Squeezes Taking Place RIGHT NOW
Today’s Heat Map and the S&P A/D Line
Most Active Options Trades
-CALLS- OPTION EXP.DATE STRIKE PRC. VOLUME LAST S/PRC. NET CHANGE VLO 3/17/12 25.0000 888 0.8900 up 0.0900 AAPL 2/18/12 510.0000 757 11.0000 up 6.0500 BAC 3/17/12 9.0000 679 0.1100 up 0.0000 AAPL 2/18/12 525.0000 669 3.0800 up 2.1300 AAPL 2/18/12 515.0000 561 7.0500 up 4.1000 AAPL 2/18/12 520.0000 493 4.7000 up 3.0500 AAPL 2/18/12 530.0000 381 1.9800 up 1.3300 AAPL 2/18/12 500.0000 345 17.9600 up 6.7600 BAC 2/18/12 8.0000 279 0.1700 up 0.0300 AAPL 3/17/12 515.0000 189 20.8000 up 6.1000 -PUTS- OPTION EXP.DATE STRIKE PRC. VOLUME LAST S/PRC. NET CHANGE BAC 2/18/12 8.0000 400 0.1200 dn 0.0400 AAPL 2/18/12 515.0000 301 4.4000 dn 5.1500 AAPL 2/18/12 510.0000 281 2.5600 dn 3.0400 ANF 2/18/12 40.0000 250 0.0300 dn 0.2200 AAPL 2/18/12 500.0000 145 0.7300 dn 1.0000 BAC 5/19/12 9.0000 132 1.3000 dn 0.0800 AAPL 2/18/12 520.0000 130 7.0500 dn 5.3000 BAC 4/21/12 7.0000 93 0.2600 dn 0.0200 AAPL 2/18/12 490.0000 83 0.2300 dn 0.2700 JPM 4/21/12 33.0000 81 0.5100 up 0.0000 -VOLUME- CALLS PUTS TOTAL 23796 24663 48459
-CALLS- OPTION EXP.DATE STRIKE PRC. VOLUME LAST S/PRC. NET CHANGE YHOO 3/17/12 16.0000 15085 0.2700 dn 0.0100 YHOO 3/17/12 17.0000 10030 0.0800 dn 0.0200 MU 3/17/12 9.0000 5269 0.3100 up 0.0600 AAPL 2/18/12 520.0000 4604 4.8000 up 3.1000 AAPL 2/18/12 515.0000 3932 7.1000 up 4.2000 AAPL 2/18/12 510.0000 3160 10.1000 up 5.1100 IBM 3/17/12 200.0000 2885 0.8900 up 0.1400 AAPL 2/18/12 525.0000 2565 3.0400 up 2.0100 BAC 2/18/12 8.0000 1987 0.1600 up 0.0100 AAPL 2/18/12 505.0000 1777 14.1000 up 6.3000 -PUTS- OPTION EXP.DATE STRIKE PRC. VOLUME LAST S/PRC. NET CHANGE RIMM 2/18/12 15.0000 10129 0.3800 dn 0.1900 RIMM 2/18/12 16.0000 5078 1.1600 dn 0.3300 BAC 3/17/12 9.0000 3153 1.0300 dn 0.1000 BAC 2/18/12 9.0000 3052 0.9300 dn 0.0900 ZNGA 2/18/12 13.0000 2713 0.4000 dn 0.3500 ZNGA 2/18/12 12.0000 2507 0.1300 dn 0.2700 AAPL 2/18/12 500.0000 2429 0.7000 dn 1.0200 ZNGA 2/18/12 14.0000 2377 1.1000 dn 0.1000 AAPL 2/18/12 505.0000 2235 1.3500 dn 1.9000 AAPL 2/18/12 515.0000 1943 4.4500 dn 3.9500 -VOLUME- CALLS PUTS TOTAL 446217 653584 1099801Comments »
On the Matter of Austerity
Ken Fisher Says Buy Now Before the Super Bull Arrives
It looks like all the usual bullish suspects are pounding the table on the equity markets now. These comments are from Ken Fisher of Fisher investments (via Forbes):
Comments »“Last year I warned of a middling market, but this year will be different. I expect it to be a great year for stocks, including last year’s picks.
Volatility spooked investors in 2011, and as a result there are few superbulls or superbears out there. Most pros are noncommittal, mildly bullish or bearish. No one is expecting a huge trend. This is the perfect environment for an up-a-lot year.
We will soon begin the fourth year of this bull market. According to my research, fourth years have averaged 20% returns and sometimes have been much bigger. So it is best to think of the directionless daze the market suffered in 2011 as the pause that refreshes before the bull resumes.”
Home Builder Confidence Jumps From 25 to 29….Still Under Recessionary Number of 50
YAWN
Comments »
