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25 Jul 2008 Markets Rally on Oil Prices and Bank Reports

Posted at 15:31h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

On the 14^th of this month, the collective global investor decided oil was entirely too expensive. It is down nearly 15% from its peak of $147.27 per barrel. During the same period the Dow Jones Industrial average rallied 2.7%, the small cap Russell 2000 jumped 5.7%, and the tech-laden Nasdaq, 3%. Some better-than-expected news from leading banks added fuel to the rally.

11 Jul 2008 Markets Decline on Record Oil and Continued Credit Woes

Posted at 15:34h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

Equity markets in the US continued the longest stretch of weekly losses for the S&P 500 Index in four years. Despite good news of a smaller trade deficit and better-than-expected jobs data, investors continued to worry about oil, credit, inflation, and consumer spending.

06 Jun 2008 Capitulation?

Posted at 15:39h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

The oil bulls stampeded last night and the herd is growing. Crude rose more than $8 per barrel on a Morgan Stanley report that Asia is taking an unprecedented share of Middle Eastern exports. The report said that oil could reach $150 per barrel within the month. Almost on cue, Nigerian workers threaten to strike if Chevron fails to meet its demands.

30 May 2008 Oil vs. Global Growth

Posted at 15:45h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

The broad US economy continues to find ways to grow despite mounting hurdles. Government reports this week of increases in GDP, exports, personal incomes, and new houses sold all defied economists’ estimates. Gains in some cases were significant, while others were increases on a declining scale.