After a 15 year hiatus, Apple (AAPL) has restored its dividend, announcing a 2% annual yield that exactly matches the average for the rest of the S&P 500. It also announced a $10 billion share buyback. The only thing missing that the cheerleaders were hoping for was a 10:1 share split. The move now makes
Many hedge fund traders are unhappy about the current near monopoly enjoyed by the top three ETF issuers, Black Rock, State Street, and Vanguard, which control 83% of the market. At last count more than 1,100 ETF's were capitalized at more than $1 trillion. The result has been grasping management fees, exorbitant expense ratios, and
?I think we?re headed towards VAT taxes. It?s only a question of how long it takes for them to wake up and figure it out. You can?t tax the wealthy enough to close the budget deficit we have,? said Leon Cooperman of hedge fund Omega Advisors.
When Apple (AAPL) made its three day, $50 move up last week, it created $55 billion in new market capitalization. That 72 hour addition alone would rank it as the 100th largest company in the world besides Boeing (BA), Union Pacific Railroad (UNP), and Nike (NKE). Trading volume in Apple calls is has smashed all
I have been banging the table for years now about the importance of demographic trends for the economy, the financial markets, and the housing market. Well, politics is no different. According to recent surveys, Millennials, who are now aged 19-30 (I have three of them) are suspicious of government, have a strong anti-business bias, are
?I don?t like the bond market at all. A jackass in a Tuxedo is still a jackass,? said Bill Spiropoulis at Corestates Capital Advisors
Long the domain of hedge funds and large banks, the carry trade has gone mainstream. Individual investors are increasingly resorting to the techniques employed by the masters of the universe to boost trading and investment returns. But they lack the risk control infrastructure and discipline employed by the big boys. As with other innovations of
A confidential report from the Pentagon just made public says that the 2008 financial crisis was the result of targeted attacks by terrorists groups. A ramp up of oil prices that began in 2007 led to the bear raids against Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers in 2008. The final phase may be in place now,
The 'Oracle of Omaha' expounded at length today on why he despises the barbarous relic. The sage doesn't really care about the yellow metal, whatever the price. He sees it primarily as a bet on fear. If investors are more afraid in a year than they are today, then you make money. If they aren't,
?What the wise man does in the beginning the fool does in the end,? said oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett.