November 28, 2008

Commodity News Digest

Category: Commodity News Digest – Kristina Zurla Landgraf – 12:48 pm

Treasuries Set for Best Month Since 1981Amid “Time of Trial” - Bloomberg

Ruble Collapse Prompts Russia to Raise Rates - Bloomberg

Gas Prices: Lowest Since 2005 - CNNMoney

European Unemployment Soars - CNNMoney

Gold Rises Slightly; Monthly Gain Biggest Since 1999 - MarketWatch

Cyber Monday Expectations Should be Scaled Back - MarketWatch

Crude Falls as OPEC May Delay Production Cuts - MarketWatch

Short Selling Declines as U.S. Stocks Scrape New Lows - Reuters

Copper Slides; Japan Data Highlights Bleak Outlook - Reuters

FTSE Notches Biggest Weekly Rise in Dismal Year - Reuters

Friday Funnies

Category: Friday Funnies – Kristina Zurla Landgraf – 11:07 am

Thanksgiving Divorce

A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York the day before Thanksgiving and says,”I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough.

“Pop, what are you talking about?” the son screams. We can’t stand the sight of each other any longer,” the father says. “We’re sick of each other, and I’m sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her.”

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. “Like heck they’re getting divorced,” she shouts, “I’ll take care of this,”

She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at her father, “You are NOT getting divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?” and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. “Okay,” he says, “they’re coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own way.”

If you’re working today but still in a post-Turkey-Day coma, top ten excuses for falling asleep at your desk.


“They told me at the blood bank this might happen.”

“I wasn’t sleeping, I was trying to pick up contact lens without hands.”

“I wasn’t sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm!”

“Amen”

“This is just a 15 minute power-nap like they raved about in the last time management course you sent me to.”

“Whew! Guess I left the top off the liquid paper”

“I was doing a highly specific Yoga exercise to relieve work related stress.”

“This is one of the seven habits of highly effective people!”

“Boy, that cold medicine I took last night just won’t wear off!”

“Darn! Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out a solution to our biggest problem.”

November 26, 2008

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fireside Chat – March 12, 1933

Category: Webinars – Paul Nowak – 6:00 pm

This “Fireside Chat” with Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 offers some parallels to the situation in the financial system today, and the steps our government is taking to fix it. But, in harkening back to the days of the Great Depression, you can certainly find things to be thankful for today.

Commodity News Digest

Category: Commodity News Digest – Kristina Zurla Landgraf – 3:01 pm

U.S. Economy: Durable Goods Orders, Consumer Spending Tumble - Bloomberg

Mortgage Rates Tumble on Fed Debt Purchasing Plan - Bloomberg

Copper Gains in London as China Cuts Rates - Bloomberg

Slowdown Blues: Deals in Commodity Industry Put on Hold - Money Control India

Gold Dips as Rising Dollar Damps Demand - MarketWatch

U.S. Average Gasoline Price Plummets Below $2 a Gallon - Cattlenetwork

Tough Times Ahead for Cattle Producers - Cattlenetwork

Crude Rises on China Rate Cut, European Stimulus - MarketWatch

Retailers Pull out Stops to Stir Black Friday Buying - MarketWatch

October Home Sales and Inventories Fall - Reuters

Clapping Clerks, Tons of Tinsel Await U.S. Shoppers - Reuters

Farmers Eye Record Income Despite Price Plunge - Reuters

November 25, 2008

Bearish Stock Market Signal: Old Support Becomes New Resistance

Category: Uncategorized – Paul Nowak – 8:21 pm

By Marty Lundgren

The stock market has seen wild swings in the last couple months and everyone is wondering whether or not we’ve reached a bottom. From a technical standpoint, it appears that we haven’t. In fact, a simple look at the technicals might make you want to reconsider calling a bottom in this market. (more…)

Commodity News Digest

Category: Commodity News Digest – Kristina Zurla Landgraf – 5:24 pm

Fed Commits $800 Billion More to Unfreeze Credit Markets - Bloomberg

Food Prices Will Rise, Causing Export Bans, Riots - Bloomberg

Gold Futures Rise for Longest Rally Since July - Bloomberg

Home Price Plunge Reminds Us What Our Houses Are–and Aren’t - MarketWatch

After “GD2″ in 2011, a 100-Year Bear Market? - MarketWatch

We Can’t Afford the Citigroup Deal - MarketWatch

Several Factors Lead to Less U.S. Meat Production - Farm Futures

Many Crops Still in the Field - Farm Futures

Economy Shrinks at Fastest Pace in Seven Years - Reuters

Gasoline Demand Up for Second Week: Spending Pulse - Reuters

Life Insurers Seek Aid to Stabilize Investments - Reuters

Oil Prices Tumble, Gas Falls to 2004 Levels -AP/Yahoo Finance

First Signs of Consolidation in Ethanol Industry - AP/Yahoo Finance

Consumers Get Their Bailout, Sort of - CNNMoney

Dollar Falls on U.S. Plan to Boost Lending - CNNMoney

S&P 500 Futures See Best Two-Day Rally Since 1987

Category: Broker Commentary, Market Updates – Kristina Zurla Landgraf – 10:09 am

Stock index futures surged on news the Federal Reserve will commit as much as $800 billion to revive lending, with the December S&P 500 futures last trading up 21 at 869. The S&P 500 has rallied 13 percent from an 11-year low on Nov. 20, and posted its best two-day gain since 1987, according to Bloomberg. Lind Plus Senior Market Strategist Jeff Friedman said technical indicators, the Stochastics and Relative Strength Index (RSI), are turning neutral and hinting at some relief. However, he’d like to see closes in the December S&P futures above the 20-day moving average at 896 to increase confidence a near-term low has been posted. If the market turns lower, he said the 75 retracement of the 2002-2008 rally marks the next downside target, at 717.

November 24, 2008

Trading Hours for the Thanksgiving Holiday

Category: Market Updates – Kristina Zurla Landgraf – 3:29 pm

The following schedule for the Thankgiving 2008 holiday is taken from sources which Lind-Waldock deems to be reliable, but we are not responsible for any errors or ommissions. Please check the Web site of the appropriate exchange for further information or changes. (more…)

Commodity News Digest

Category: Commodity News Digest – Kristina Zurla Landgraf – 3:14 pm

Why Citigroup Got Detroit’s Money - CNNMoney

Gas Prices Continue to Fall - CNNMoney

Recession’s Grip Forces U.S. to Flood World With More Dollars - Bloomberg

Treasury Traders Paid to Borrow as Fed Examines Repos - Bloomberg

Existing Home Sales Fall, Buyers Sidelined - Reuters

CBOT Traders Eye U.S. Corn Harvest Delays - Reuters

Dollar, China Imports Drive Copper to 1-Wk High - Reuters

SUV Sales Stir as Gas Prices Sink - Chicago Tribune

Auto Industry Planning Car Pool to Washington - AP/Yahoo Finance

Oil Prices Spike on Another Wall Street Bailout - AP/Yahoo Finance

Gold Hits Six-Week High on Dollar, Safe-Haven Buying - MarketWatch

Purdue Outlook: Could Recession Benefit Hog Producers? - Cattlenetwork

November 21, 2008

Commodity News Digest

Category: Commodity News Digest – Kristina Zurla Landgraf – 5:50 pm

Stocks Rally on Report Geithner to Head Treasury - MarketWatch

Treasury Yields Pivot off Multi-Year Lows - MarketWatch

Oil Ends Slightly Higher, but Down 13% on Week - MarketWatch

Berkshire Asked By SEC in June for Derivatives Data - Bloomberg

Gold Surges Amid Deflation Concern; Silver, Platinum Rebound - Bloomberg

VIX’s Records Show Fear That May Last into 2009 - Bloomberg

U.S. Clout Down, Risks Up by 2025 - Reuters

FX Outlook: U.S. Dollar to Remain Bid in Holiday Week - Reuters

Least Drought Coverage in Three Years - FarmFutures

Energy Matters: Gasoline Eyes $1.75/G, But Dip May be Brief - Dow Jones/Cattlenetwork

Why Cheap Gas Can’t Save the Economy - CNNMoney

This Crisis Could Have a Happy Ending - Fortune