By: Michael Vodicka
President-Licensed Investment Advisor
Here’s a quick look at the Top 10 Stories of the Week, Enjoy!
Payrolls Plunge to 88K: Biggest Miss Since 2009, Participation Rate at New 30-Year Low
“So much for “open-ended QE driven recovery”. Moments ago the March Non-farm payroll hit and it was a doozy, printing at 88K, below the lowest forecast of 100K, well below the expected number of 190K, and a tragedy compared to the February revised print of 268K (was 236K). This was the biggest miss to expectations since December 2009 and the worst print since June 2012.” -Zerohedge
US Macro Data Plunges Most in 10 Months
“The last two weeks have not been pretty for the ‘it’s different this time’ crowd. Day after day has brought miss after miss in macro-economic data for the US; from PMIs to NFPs, no matter how hard you try, there is not even enough for an ‘anecdotal’ strategist to pin his BTFD thesis on. Quantitatively, the US macro surprise index has seen its biggest 10-day drop in 10 months, completely reversing all the ‘seasonally-adjusted’ difference from the 2011 ‘Deja-Vu’ market and macro behavior.“ -Zerohedge
21 Keys Stats about the Explosive Growth of Poverty in America
“If the economy is getting better, then why does poverty in America continue to grow so rapidly? Yes, the stock market has been hitting all-time highs recently, but also the number of Americans living in poverty has now reached a level not seen since the 1960s.” -Zerohedge
Investigators Hit Brick Wall: Bank of Cyprus CEO Hard Drive Wiped
“As the investigation into unusual loan write-downs and the ‘premature’ movement of capital away from Cyprus by the elites of that nation progresses, Cyprus Mail reports that the investigators – Alvarez and Marsal (A&M) – have found that the information provided by Bank of Cyprus (BoC) was incomplete and data deleting software were found on the computers of two senior executives.” -Zerohedge
US Official: North Korea Has Loaded Missiles into its Launcher
“Tensions on the Korean peninsula remain in a heightened state amid new reports that North Korea has prepared missiles for launch, while South Korea has deployed naval destroyers to its coasts.” -CNN
7 Oil Stocks with Yields up to 9%
“With the S&P 500 hitting an all-time high, stocks have been stealing the headlines. But behind the scenes, there is a market that is just as hot. And when this market accelerates as it did in early 2008, prices can easily jump 50% in a few months. Take a look at the big move below.” -Michael Vodicka @Street Authority
The Secret Energy Trade the Market is Ignoring
“Energy has been one of the worst-performing sectors in the S&P 500 during the past year. While the broader market is up an impressive 13%, the energy sector has gained just 2.5%. That performance looks even worse when compared with the market’s most bullish sectors, with health care up 29% and so-called consumer defensive stocks (which include makers and retailers of food and household and personal goods) up 23%. But overall weakness in energy stocks is masking a lone group of standouts from the lackluster sector.” -Michael Vodicka @Street Authority
Forget Big Banks, These Financial Stocks are Safer
“Despite the negative reports from the media, big banks have been popular investments in the past four years. But with the recent flare-up in Cyprus, the European Union just provided a stark warning on big bank stocks: Proceed with caution.” -Michael Vodicka @Street Authority
6 Stock Picks from a $6 Billion Hedge-Fund Manager
“David Einhorn of Greenlight Capital Management is considered one of the most successful hedge-fund managers of all time. With a net worth of more than $1 billion and assets under management of more than $6 billion, Einhorn’s smallest moves are watched closely by insiders.” -Michael Vodicka @Street Authority
