Financial Markets and Economy
For Emerging-Markets Funds, 'Twas Best of Times, Worst of Times (Bloomberg)
Some U.S.-based mutual funds focused onemerging-market stocks have done so well at limiting losses in 2015 that, by one measure at least, its been one of the sectors best ever.
Here is what the post-Fed bond market will look like in 2016 (Market Watch)
This year has been a roller coaster for the fixed-income market, featuring among other things the first interest-rate hike by the Federal Reserve in nearly a decade, a junk-bond fallout that many compared to the 2007 meltdown and a massive government bond rally in Europe that has pushed 40% of the eurozone’s yields below zero.
Wall Street thinks Yahoo’s 4 big acquisitions could be worth over $1 billion, if split up individually (Business Insider)
Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is often criticized for doling out roughly $3 billion on a series of acquisitions that failed to produce any meaningful improvement to the company's business.
And according to a new analysis by FBR Capital, the value of those assets is now significantly below what Yahoo paid.
Caterpillar hit with $73.6 million trade secrets verdict in U.S. (Yahoo! Finance)
A federal jury in Chicago on Friday awarded the damages to Miller UK Ltd, a British manufacturer whose case drew attention because the company funded its suit with financing from third-parties not involved in the dispute. The verdict was confirmed on Monday by Reed Oslan, a lawyer for Miller, which filed the lawsuit in 2010. Caterpillar spokeswoman Rachel Potts said the company was disappointed by the verdict and was considering its next steps.
Brent oil hits 11-year low as global supply balloons (Reuters)
Brent oil cratered to its lowest price in more than 11 years on Monday, as demand for heating oil slumped on warmer-than-normal temperatures and traders tested for a bottom.
U.S. crude remained above its 2009 low and settled up a penny a barrel as traders squared positions ahead of the January contract's expiration. The February contract declined and analysts expect stockpiles to build again this week, signaling further oversupply in already glutted market.
Australian Stocks Gain After U.S. Rally on China Stimulus Signal (Bloomberg)
Australian shares advanced for a fifth day, following a late surge in U.S. stocks, as the prospect of more stimulus from China boosted metals prices. The dollar held a two-day drop against the euro.
3 views on the dollar in 2016 (Market Watch)
At the end of 2014, a broad consensus view loomed over the currency market: The Federal Reserve would move to normalize interest rates while the European Central Bank eases. Such policy divergence would likely push the euro to parity by the end of the year.
That didn’t happen. This has eaten away at the broad consensus behind the dollar, and taught many investors a valuable lesson about the dangers of the overcrowded trade.
Amazon's biggest money-maker could be headed towards a 'narrative shift' next year (Business Insider)
Earlier this year, Amazon made the massive decision to start breaking out the financials of its cloud services business, AWS.
Amazon's Q1 and subsequent earnings reports revealed that the web services business is both profitable and fast-growing.
Nervous Investors Drive Down Asian Airline Stocks in 2015 (Bloomberg)
Asian airlines improved their safety records in 2015, but — outside of China and India — you wouldnt know it from looking at their stock performance.
McDonald's exploring sale of stake in Japanese arm: Nikkei (Yahoo! Finance)
A McDonald's executive recently traveled to Japan to talk with five or so potential buyers, including trading houses and investment funds, about selling 15-33 percent of McDonald's Holdings Co (Japan) Ltd's outstanding shares, the newspaper said. McDonald's, which owns nearly half of the Japanese unit, has asked potential buyers to respond by mid-January, and the top candidate will likely be granted the right of first refusal, Nikkei said. McDonald's was not immediately available to comment.
Microsoft buys itself an ex-executive's company for Christmas (Business Insider)
Microsoft has purchased Talko, a tiny startup helmed by ex-Microsoft bigwig and tech legend Ray Ozzie, just in time for Christmas, per a blog entry.
Talko's tech lets users tag, bookmark, save, and search through phone conversations, letting workers share notes and snippets of conference calls with each other. Talko also uses sound analysis to let you know who's speaking on a conference call.
The Fed puts emerging economies at risk (Market Watch)
The U.S. Federal Reserve has finally, after almost a decade of steadfast adherence to very low interest rates, hiked its federal funds rate — the rate from which all other interest rates in the economy take their cue — by 25 basis points. That brings the new rate up to a still-minimal 0.5%, and Fed Chair Janet Yellen has wisely promised that any future increases will be gradual.
Russian Equities Drop Overseas as Oil, Ruble Continue Retreat (Bloomberg)
The largest exchange-traded fund tracking Russian stocks fell for a third day as oil selling at the lowest price in 11 years and the weakest ruble on record dimmed the prospects for a recovery in the worlds biggest energy exporters economy.
Here's what we know about the so-called 'Santa Claus rally' (Business Insider)
A strange thing happens in the markets during the winter holidays.
3 reasons your investments are losing money or under performing (Market Watch)
Portfolio not doing as well as you’d like? That may be due to biases you don’t even realize you have.
Almost every investor is biased, research shows. “Because human beings cannot process information as rationally as, for example, computers, this problem affects almost all investors, regardless of their age, level of education, gender, etc.,” a study by researchers at Princeton University, funded by the Finra Investor Education Foundation, revealed.
Beware the Consensus as Top Forecasters of 2015 Break From Crowd (Bloomberg)
The most accurate forecasters of stocks, bonds and precious metals have a warning for investors as they look forward to 2016: dont trust the wisdom of crowds.
The stock market's breadth is unusually shallow (Business Insider)
The S&P 500 is down modestly since the beginning of the year. Through Friday, the 500-component index is down 2% in 2015.
10 favorite stocks on Wall Street for 2016 (Market Watch)
Wall Street analysts once again are betting big on oil and gas producers.
This may see like a case of déjà vu, considering what were their favorite calls as this year began. And they may eventually be right about prices for oil and other commodities, and therefore the financial prospects for energy stocks. But based on recent developments, including the decision by major producers not to cut production, investors need to be picky and patient.
Copper Reaches One-Month High as China Producers May Deepen Cuts (Bloomberg)
Copper advanced to the highest in more than a month on the prospect for deeper cuts from producers in China, the worlds top consumer.
The rally is fading (Business Insider)
US markets are kicking off the holiday-shortened week in the green.
The Dow is up 30 points (0.2%), the S&P 500 is up 5 points (0.2%), and the Nasdaq is up 19 points (0.4%).
At the open, the Dow was up by as much as 143 points.
Funds With $3 Trillion Take Rain Check on Emerging-Market Stocks (Bloomberg)
Rich pickings will be hard to find in emerging-market shares next year.
Gold posts highest settlement in about 2 weeks (Market Watch)
Gold futures marked their highest settlement in about two weeks as some softness in the dollar and a lack of any significant economic data offered the metal a lift.
February gold GCG6, -0.24% rose $15.60, or 1.5%, to settle at $1,080.60 an ounce. That marks gold’s highest settlement since Dec. 4, when gold prices closed at $1,084.10 an ounce.
SP 500 and NDX Futures Daily Charts – And Now the Bail-Ins (Jesse's Cafe Americain)
As you may have heard, four Italian banks failed last week on bad investments, and the savers are being 'bailed-in.'
Politics
Obama says Donald Trump is exploiting fears among blue-collar men (Market Watch)
President Barack Obama says Donald Trump has been able to do so well in the Republican presidential primary because he’s found a way to play off Americans’ anxieties.
Iran Nuclear Deal Restricts U.S. More Than Congress Knew (Bloomberg View)
Members of Congress knew the Iran nuclear deal came with strings attached. They didn't just know how many.
When the admninistration presented the agreement to Congress, lawmakers were told that the new sanctions on Iran would violate the deal. Now the administration is trying to sidestep a recently passed provision to tighten the rules on visa's for those who have visited Iran.
Technology
A new Apple iPhone and a Tesla rival mark the most anticipated products of 2016 (Market Watch)
This was an amazing year for tech. Whether it’s drones, self-driving cars, virtual reality, augmented reality or robotics, one thing is certain: There was never a lack of new developments and discoveries to write about.
But there is another thing that makes this year special: A lot of new tech is in different stages of development, especially virtual reality and augmented reality.
Health and Life Sciences
Breast cancer risk linked to gum disease (Futurity)
Women who report having periodontal disease are at greater risk for breast cancer, especially if they smoke or recently quit smoking, a new study reports.
“We have seen associations between periodontal disease and chronic diseases including stroke and heart attacks. Our hypothesis was that it would also be associated with breast cancer,” says Jo Freudenheim, professor and interim chair of the epidemiology and environmental health department at the University at Buffalo.
Singing Hits a High Note for Folks With Early Dementia (Medicine Net)
Here's something to croon about: Singing can boost the brain function and mood of people with early stage dementia, Finnish researchers report.
The study included 89 people with mild to moderate dementia. For 10 weeks, they were either coached in singing, listened to familiar songs, or received standard care from their caregivers.
Life on the Home Planet
Religious Leaders Stand Up For Peace Amid Anti-Muslim Attacks (The Huffington Post)
Amid a spike in anti-Muslim assaults, vandalism and death threats around the country since the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino and growing sentiment against the resettlement of Muslim refugees, congregations of all faiths have scrambled to think of ways to curb the violence and call for peace.
