Forex technikal and fundamental analysis: Daily Markets

Dec 31, 2009

Daily Markets - Financial News & Opinions

ExxonMobil’s $41 Billion Purchase Of XTO Energy - What’s Its Strategy?
Comparing The US Dollar And S&P 500 Relationship Since 2007 Peak
Retirement Portfolio Concepts For The Average Joe And Josephine
US Mortgage Rates - We Have Seen The Lows For Now
Video: The Day Ahead: Jobless Claims

ExxonMobil’s $41 Billion Purchase Of XTO Energy - What’s Its Strategy?

Posted: 30 Dec 2009 11:01 PM PST

Over the past three years, small domestic independent oil and natural gas producers have increased US natural gas supplies from an estimated 30 years’ supply to 100 years’ worth, thanks to techniques they developed that help them extract gas from shale rock on a budget.

Yet large U.S. oil companies barely paid attention, much less invested in the new technology or the businesses utilizing it. Instead, they let European competitors gobble up the opportunities.

And for a while there, … [visit site to read more]

Comparing The US Dollar And S&P 500 Relationship Since 2007 Peak

Posted: 30 Dec 2009 10:01 PM PST

In continuing the thought from yesterday’s post “A Look at the Dual Rallies in the US Dollar Index and S&P 500,” I wanted to show a longer-term perspective of the two markets, starting with the S&P 500’s October 2007 peak. This will give us more ground to cover in assessing the inverse correlation between the Dollar and the S&P 500.

(Click for full-size image)

It’s not a 'given’ that these markets are automatically inverse. In fact, after the October 2007 stock … [visit site to read more]

Retirement Portfolio Concepts For The Average Joe And Josephine

Posted: 30 Dec 2009 09:01 PM PST

There are as many formulas for retirement planning as there are financial planners and talking heads. Here is my view, inspired in part from an article by two well known financial advisers.

This program is not designed for the sophisticated investor, but I have found that at times simplicity is divine. There are takeaways here for everyone.

The retiree will likely need to replace 100% of pre-retirement final salary income. Many retirees are finding that their expenses don’t actually … [visit site to read more]

US Mortgage Rates - We Have Seen The Lows For Now

Posted: 30 Dec 2009 07:01 PM PST

It sure looks like the mortgage rates are headed upward. We saw a nice dip below 5%, but over the past week we have seen the rates surge higher. I believe we have seen a bottom in the 10 Year Yields as well. These are an indicator of where mortgage rates are heading.

Take a look at the 3 month Mortgage Rate Monitor from Zillow.com. This includes the national average as well as those of my home state of Pennsylvania.

My thinking is that we have seen the lows in the short … [visit site to read more]