The current smackdown in the cryptocurrency markets has many investors questioning the wisdom of holding through the selling. I, however, remain a crypto bull in the major currencies. Here’s why: 1. Nasdaq Embraces Cryptocurrency The market just took a vast but underappreciated step toward the legitimization of cryptocurrency.  The Nasdaq stock exchange stated that it is open to becoming a cryptocurrency exchange.  An established and respected financial marketplace, such as the Nasdaq, embracing cryptocurrency is another bullish step in making the burgeoning blockchain world mainstream.   #-ad_banner-#While roadblocks, such as an accepted regulation framework, remain a stumbling block for… Read More

The current smackdown in the cryptocurrency markets has many investors questioning the wisdom of holding through the selling. I, however, remain a crypto bull in the major currencies. Here’s why: 1. Nasdaq Embraces Cryptocurrency The market just took a vast but underappreciated step toward the legitimization of cryptocurrency.  The Nasdaq stock exchange stated that it is open to becoming a cryptocurrency exchange.  An established and respected financial marketplace, such as the Nasdaq, embracing cryptocurrency is another bullish step in making the burgeoning blockchain world mainstream.   #-ad_banner-#While roadblocks, such as an accepted regulation framework, remain a stumbling block for the mainstreaming of crypto, Nasdaq’s openness to the market is a definite first step. Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman told CNBC, “I believe that digital currencies will continue to persist, it’s just a matter of how long it will take for that space to mature. Once you look at it and say, ‘do we want to provide a regulated market for this?’ Certainly, Nasdaq would consider it.” Additional bullish news from Nasdaq includes a collaboration with the Gemini crypto exchange.  Founded by the Winklevoss Twins of Facebook fame,  Gemini is on the forefront of making crypto trading safer and less prone… Read More

Carl Icahn may have a point. The activist investor has spoken out against the government’s longstanding mandate forcing refiners to blend a certain amount of ethanol (or other biofuels) into their gasoline. It’s not that he is against biofuels per se but sympathizes with the many small merchant refineries that lack the capability to handle them. —Sponsored Link— URGENT BUY ALERT One tiny, $17 company is poised to pay out the biggest gains we’ve ever seen in the marijuana market. This is an URGENT situation. One that could start in as little as the next… Read More

Carl Icahn may have a point. The activist investor has spoken out against the government’s longstanding mandate forcing refiners to blend a certain amount of ethanol (or other biofuels) into their gasoline. It’s not that he is against biofuels per se but sympathizes with the many small merchant refineries that lack the capability to handle them. —Sponsored Link— URGENT BUY ALERT One tiny, $17 company is poised to pay out the biggest gains we’ve ever seen in the marijuana market. This is an URGENT situation. One that could start in as little as the next few hours. And we’re giving the name of the company away for free. So I urge you to claim our free report by clicking this link. Those without the necessary equipment must purchase what are called renewable identification numbers (or RINs) from larger rivals who possess the blending capacity. These credits can be quite costly. So, Icahn has proposed shifting the burden from refineries who make the fuel to retail gas stations who sell it. Of course, this policy may have something to do with the fact that Icahn has substantial holdings in the refinery sector. Read More

If there’s any company struggling more with recent bad publicity than Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA), that company would have to be AT&T (NYSE: T). The company just can’t seem to get out of its own way. Take the ongoing merger with Time Warner (Nasdaq: TWX). AT&T management believes the deal will reinforce the Direct TV purchase, which cost AT&T $67 billion. But the $85 billion price tag for TWX, including an additional $50 billion of debt, seems a bridge too far. On top of that, the company is facing stiff resistance from the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. #-ad_banner-#Now, it’s no… Read More

If there’s any company struggling more with recent bad publicity than Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA), that company would have to be AT&T (NYSE: T). The company just can’t seem to get out of its own way. Take the ongoing merger with Time Warner (Nasdaq: TWX). AT&T management believes the deal will reinforce the Direct TV purchase, which cost AT&T $67 billion. But the $85 billion price tag for TWX, including an additional $50 billion of debt, seems a bridge too far. On top of that, the company is facing stiff resistance from the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. #-ad_banner-#Now, it’s no surprise that the deal would face regulatory resistance. What is a surprise is why a large-cap company with the vast resources of AT&T would hire a law firm with no actual experience in handling antitrust law. Instead, they hired Daniel Petrocelli, a defense attorney best known for winning a wrongful death suit against O.J. Simpson. And while it’s possible Petrocelli could win, it’s definitely an uphill battle for an inexperienced team to go against a DOJ team with antitrust experience spanning several decades. Then there’s the revelation that AT&T paid $600,000 to Trump lawyer Michael Cohen. Ostensibly, the payment was… Read More

Have President Trump’s protectionist policies gone overboard?   Once heralded as the most pro-business U.S. president since Ronald Reagan, Trump’s zeal to shelter American businesses from global competition has caused many free-market economists to question his wisdom.   The stock market has benefitted wildly from the White House’s corporate tax reform.  Bulls remain in charge, but things are rapidly changing. #-ad_banner-#Trump’s protectionist actions, combined with his erratic nature, have cast doubt on the markets. The stock market hates uncertainty and doubts beyond all else. Trump’s negotiating style has dumped uncertainty into the markets at an unprecedented degree.   Nowhere is… Read More

Have President Trump’s protectionist policies gone overboard?   Once heralded as the most pro-business U.S. president since Ronald Reagan, Trump’s zeal to shelter American businesses from global competition has caused many free-market economists to question his wisdom.   The stock market has benefitted wildly from the White House’s corporate tax reform.  Bulls remain in charge, but things are rapidly changing. #-ad_banner-#Trump’s protectionist actions, combined with his erratic nature, have cast doubt on the markets. The stock market hates uncertainty and doubts beyond all else. Trump’s negotiating style has dumped uncertainty into the markets at an unprecedented degree.   Nowhere is this economic uncertainty more vivid than the rapidly deteriorating U.S.-China trade relations.   Make no mistake, Trump’s idea of fighting China’s unfair trade practices is noble.  However, his heavy-handed uncertainty in execution is resulting in greater economic harm than good.  In fact, it may completely erase his tax reform-fueled market gains overtime.   The proposal of hitting the world’s second-largest economy with 25% tariffs on $50 billion of imports will not only hurt the Chinese economy, it will have severe effects domestically.   China will not quietly sit still and accept the new tariffs; it will retaliate with a slate… Read More

All major indices continue to move mostly higher in unison, after breaking through their respective 50-day averages. Short-term technicals look mostly bullish for the overall market going into the second quarter and the always-difficult summer season. —Sponsored Link— New FCC Approval: Say Goodbye To Power Cords The FCC recently green lighted a stunning breakthrough device that will revolutionize electricity and get rid of the need for any plugs or cords. The Washington Times says that this technology “will change the world on a scale hardly seen in human history.” Even famed scientist Stephen Hawking agreed… Read More

All major indices continue to move mostly higher in unison, after breaking through their respective 50-day averages. Short-term technicals look mostly bullish for the overall market going into the second quarter and the always-difficult summer season. —Sponsored Link— New FCC Approval: Say Goodbye To Power Cords The FCC recently green lighted a stunning breakthrough device that will revolutionize electricity and get rid of the need for any plugs or cords. The Washington Times says that this technology “will change the world on a scale hardly seen in human history.” Even famed scientist Stephen Hawking agreed that “it’s about to change your life.” And this technology is set to pour $37.2 billion into this sector. But only one small company is at the center of this massive shift. Learn more now. By my estimates, the recent rally was less about more bulls jumping into the market, and more about the bears backing away after China and North Korean issues calmed a bit. With the vast majority of S&P 500 members having reported first-quarter earnings, the results and future are still a bit mixed and murky, respectfully. As of last Monday, 457 companies… Read More

Berkshire Hathaway recently reported its equity holdings through Form 13-F and caught the market by surprise with some additions and sales. As the market fixates on individual purchases and sales, I’ve found looking more broadly at the portfolio reveals valuable insight into Warren Buffett’s outlook on stocks. #-ad_banner-#In fact, Buffett’s portfolio is surprisingly concentrated in just three industries. Combining this with position changes in individual stocks, investors may be able to get ahead of The Oracle of Omaha by investing in best-of-breed companies within the industries. What’s In Warren Buffett’s Portfolio? Buffett took the lead in 1965 and has… Read More

Berkshire Hathaway recently reported its equity holdings through Form 13-F and caught the market by surprise with some additions and sales. As the market fixates on individual purchases and sales, I’ve found looking more broadly at the portfolio reveals valuable insight into Warren Buffett’s outlook on stocks. #-ad_banner-#In fact, Buffett’s portfolio is surprisingly concentrated in just three industries. Combining this with position changes in individual stocks, investors may be able to get ahead of The Oracle of Omaha by investing in best-of-breed companies within the industries. What’s In Warren Buffett’s Portfolio? Buffett took the lead in 1965 and has rewarded investors ever since. Returns on shares of Berkshire Hathaway have climbed 20% annually over the last 38 years, easily beating the S&P 500. That means instant market buzz anytime the company files its Form 13-F, a regulatory disclosure of portfolio holdings, which was released  May 15 showing first-quarter activity. The media loves to go straight to the individual stocks and changes in Buffett’s portfolio when a new 13-F is filed each quarter,  but a wider view can be just as instructive in revealing his outlook on the market. The Berkshire equity portfolio includes just 42 companies for a total… Read More