Friday, December 30, 2016

Markets drift lower to close out the year

Dow gave back 53 near session lows, decliners over advancers about 5-4 & NAZ was off 48.  The MLP index was up 1+ to the 315s & the REIT index rose 3 to the 339s.  Junk bond funds edged higher & Treasuries crawled higher, taking the yield on the 10 year Treasury down to 2.45%.  Oil was down pennies but close to its yearly highs & gold saw profit taking after its recent modest rebound.

Dow Jones Industrials






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Live 24 hours gold chart [Kitco Inc.]

Deutsche Bank UniCredit & 8 other EU banks would fall short of the ECB's capital demands on Banca Monte dei Paschi based on stress-test results, highlighting potential objections to the plan.  The ECB told Monte Paschi it needed enough capital to push its common equity Tier 1 ratio to 8% of risk-weighted assets in the adverse scenario of the stress test, the Bank of Italy said yesterday.  That's well above the legal minimum of 4.5%.  This year’s health check had no pass mark, but in 2014 lenders were held to a CET1 ratio of 5.5%.  Monte Paschi was the worst performer in the stress test's adverse scenario with a CET1 ratio of minus 2.4 percent.  The Italian gov is planning a bailout of Monte Paschi.  Under EU law, state aid can be given to solvent banks to cover a stress-test shortfall, but the absence of a hurdle means the size of the gap could be disputed when Italy seeks approval for the rescue from the European Commission.  The gov in Rome is planning a so-called precautionary recapitalization for Monte Paschi.  The Bank of Italy said the ECB's demands for an 8% CET1 ratio & a total capital ratio of 11.5% translate to a shortfall of €8.8B ($9.3B).  Closing the CET1 gap requires €6.3B of high-quality capital, €4.2B of which will come from converting subordinated debt to equity, with the remainder provided by the gov, according to the Bank of Italy.  Another €2.5B will be needed to offset capital lost in the debt-to-equity conversion to reach the 11.5% total ratio.

ECB’s Monte Paschi Capital Bar Would Trip Up 10 Other EU Banks


The Chinese gov said it will ease restrictions on foreign investment in sectors ranging from banking & internet services to rail equipment & motorcycles, in response to mounting complaints from foreign business groups & govs.  China's National Development & Reform Commission, the economic planning agency, said service sectors such as accounting & auditing, architectural design & ratings services will be open to foreign investment.  In manufacturing, barriers to foreign investment will be lowered in sectors such as rail transportation, motorcycles & ethanol fuels.  The moves are part of a set of guidelines approved by China's Cabinet this week Beijing says are aimed at leveling the playing field for foreign companies & boosting investment, which has been slowing.  The guidelines would "help ensure and promote fair competition between domestic and foreign companies" & attract more investment.  Foreign investment in China rose 3.9% from Jan-Nov, slower than the rate of growth in the previous year.  China would also work to open up areas typically deemed sensitive by the gov, such as internet services, telecoms & education, in "an orderly way."  But the extent to which such sectors would be liberalized was unclear.  Earlier this year, China passed a law on cybersecurity seen as enabling the ruling Communist Party to exert greater control over the internet & technology products & moved to more tightly control schools.

China to ease curbs on foreign investment after complaints


US stocks pulled back on the last trading day of the year, led down by Dow stock Apple (AAPL) & other big tech stocks, but major indices were still poised to post solid gains for 2016.  This was done in subdued holiday trading.  The Dow has climbed more than 13% for 2016, but also posted its first weekly decline since the election.  Stocks have stalled this week after surging in the wake of Trump's election.  Investors have bet Trump will cut taxes & regulations & introduce fresh economic stimulus.  The Dow slipped further from the 20K milestone, after coming within 13 points of the mark but not yet breaching it.

Wall St Set to End Strong 2016 With a Whimper

What was a terrific year for stocks closed on a down note.  The market is vastly overbought & profit taking has to be expected.  Energy stocks have led the advance & much of their strength comes from hopes that oil producing countries will be able to limit production next year.  In addition, Trump's election has brought hopes that he will be able to lower taxes & bring more jobs to the economy.  Success by Trump to improve growth  in the US economy will be key for the Dow to reach more record highs in 2017.

Best Wishes to all for the New Year!!!

Dow Jones Industrials










Markets drift lower as the year closes

Dow dropped 18, decliners a little ahead of advancers & NAZ fell 35.  The  MLP index gave back 1 to the 313s & the REIT index added 1 to the 337s.  Junk bond funds were higher & Treasuries were slightly higher.  Oil was down pennies while gold had a tiny gain.

AMJ (Alerian MLP Index tracking fund)


Crude Oil Feb 17

Gold Futures,Feb-2017







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The Trump era is marking a new age for gold as an investor safe haven.  While the precious metal has always been hoarded in times of trouble, a bevy of political & economic surprises in 2016 sparked a surge in buying that sent bullion to the first annual gain in 4 years.  Prices may rally 12% in 2017, according to a recent survey.  Fueling the bullish outlook is the risk of chaos on multiple fronts: a possible trade war from America's fraying relationship with China, the alleged Russian hack of US political parties, the UK's complicated exit from the EU & elections slated in France, Germany & the Netherlands that may see a rise of nationalist groups.  And then there are Trump's frequent Twitter posts, in which he feuded with rivals & made declarations that unsettled allies even before he takes office in 3 weeks.  Gold for immediate delivery is up 9.2% this year to $1158 an ounce, halting a 3-year slide.  More than 2/3 of the analysts & traders surveyed were bullish for 2017.  The forecast was $1300, with the year's peak seen at $1350.  That doesn't mean there aren't reasons to be bearish.  After starting 2016 with the biggest H1 in 4 decades, prices fell from their peak in Jul & investors have cut back on bullion holdings.  That was mostly because an improving US economy & higher interest rates made other assets more attractive, including equities.


The Institute for Supply Management gauge of factory activity in the Midwest region declined to 54.6 in Dec from 57.6 the month prior.  The forecast called for a slight decline to a reading of 57.0.  Readings above 50 point to expansion, while those below indicate contraction.

Midwest Manufacturing Growth Slowed in December


Trading is light with modest price swings.  After the year got off to a slow start, Dow rallied around 4K to almost 20K from its low in the middle of the year.  That is called one staggering advance.

Dow Jones Industrials