Sarah Sands
Disclosure: I am in full compliance with all ethics and other policies for Market Realist research analysts. I am not invested in securities that I cover on Market Realist.
More From Sarah Sands
A Look at Russia’s Manufacturing Activity in January 2018
Russia’s manufacturing activity in January According to Markit Economics, Russia’s manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers’ index) improved marginally between December 2017 and January 2018, to 52.1 from 52.0. The January figure met the market estimate of 52.0 and was the strongest reading since July 2017. Factors affecting Russia’s manufacturing PMI in January were as follows: production volume and output […]
Germany ZEW Economic Sentiment Has Been Worsening Gradually
The iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG), which tracks the performance of the German economy, fell 5.2% in June.
A Look at the German Ifo Business Climate Index in July
According to a report provided by the Ifo Institute for Economic Research, the German Ifo Business Climate Index has weakened marginally so far in July compared to June.
Is Consumer Confidence Weakening in the Eurozone?
The Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) and the iShares Europe ETF (IEV) rose 2.8% and 3%, respectively, in the month through July 24.
Eurozone Inflation Rose to a 16-Month High in June
Core inflation stood at 0.9% in June compared to 1.1% in May.
Is the Eurozone’s Economic Stress Level Increasing?
In this series, we’ll examine the Eurozone’s economic condition and its accompanying indexes.
Howard Marks on Bitcoin: ‘Not an Investment…It’s a Trade’
Billionaire investor and the co-founder of Oaktree Capital Management Howard Marks shared his views on Bitcoin at the Delivering Alpha Conference on July 23.
Howard Marks: This Is the Single Biggest Equity Market Risk
Howard Marks said at the 2018 Delivering Alpha Conference on July 23 that the Fed’s hawkish stance is the single biggest risk for the equity market (SPY).
Howard Marks on FANG Stocks: ‘It Could Produce More Pain’
Billionaire investor and co-founder of Oaktree Capital Management Howard Marks shared his latest views on FANG stocks, ETFs, and Bitcoin.
Steve Bannon: ‘We’re at War with China’
Former top advisor to President Trump Steve Bannon shared his views on the US (QQQ)–China (FXI) trade war at the 2018 Delivering Alpha Conference on July 23.
Dan Loeb on PayPal: ‘It Could Be Next Netflix or Amazon’
Billionaire investor and CEO of Third Point, Dan Loeb, also discussed his fresh position in PayPal (PYPL) in the second quarter of 2018.
Dan Loeb: Fed Rate Hikes Could Disturb Markets
The broader market S&P 500 Index (SPY) rose 7.7% in the first half of 2017 and 1.6% in the first half of 2018.
Economic Indicators Investors Should Watch This Week
If major Eurozone economic indicators improve in the coming months, we could expect those economies to regain some strength.
A Look at the Indonesia Manufacturing PMI in June
According to Markit Economics, Indonesia’s (IDX) manufacturing activity fell to a five-month low in June.
China’s Services Activity Rose: Is Trade War Taking a Pause?
The final China Markit Services PMI improved significantly in June. It was 53.9 in June compared to 52.9 in May.
China Manufacturing PMI: Is It Signaling an Economic Change?
The China Manufacturing PMI for June showed an improvement in manufacturing activity.
Brazil’s Services Industry Contracted: What’s Ahead?
The final Brazil Services PMI was again in the contraction zone in June after showing some contraction in May.
Why Brazil’s Manufacturing Activity Contracted in June
The final Markit Brazil Manufacturing PMI entered the contraction zone in June. It was 49.8 in June compared to 50.7 in May.
Why Is Russia’s Services PMI Weakening Gradually?
The Russia Services PMI has been weakening gradually since April. It was 52.3 in June compared to 54.1 in May.
Why Russia’s Manufacturing PMI Is Gradually Contracting
The final Russia Manufacturing PMI has again entered into the contraction zone in June after showing a huge contraction in May.
US-Mexico Trade and the Impact on Mexico’s Manufacturing
Improving domestic and international demand are helping Mexico’s manufacturing industry.
David Rubenstein: Economy Is Doing Well under Trump Administration
David Rubenstein said at the Delivering Alpha Conference that the US economy (SPY) is doing well under the Trump administration.
David Rubenstein Thinks Two More Rate Hikes Won’t Hurt US Economy
David Rubenstein, the co-founder and co-executive chair of the Carlyle Group, said at the Delivering Alpha Conference that further interest rate hikes likely won’t damage the US economy.
Will Jim Chanos’s Short Bet on Mednax and Envision Be Profitable?
Mednax and Envision Healthcare’s (EVHC) stock price fell 1.45% and 1.72%, respectively, on Wednesday, July 18.
US Inflation Didn’t Meet Expectations: How It Impacts the Economy
According to the data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US Consumer Price Index, or the inflation index, witnessed weaker improvement in June compared to May.
June’s Inflation and Retail Sales: Impact on the Economy, Markets
In this series, we’ll analyze the performance of inflation in the United States as well as US retail sales for June.
What the Spain Services PMI Says about the Economy
According to a report by Markit Economics, the final Spain Services PMI showed a weaker improvement in June than in May.
Why Morgan Stanley Downgraded Small-Cap US Stocks
Previously, we discussed Morgan Stanley’s (MS) optimistic views on major defensive sectors.
Morgan Stanley Sets 12-Month Target of 2,750 for the S&P 500
Morgan Stanley (MS) doesn’t expect activity in the US economy (QQQ) or others to rise further as we are in the late cycle of the bull market.
Will US-Europe Trade Tensions Affect Europe’s Manufacturing PMI?
The final Eurozone manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers’ index) has been falling gradually since December 2017.
Why Germany’s Manufacturing PMI Has Been Gradually Falling
According to a report by Markit Economics, Germany’s final manufacturing PMI has been weakening gradually since December 2017.
Why Citi Upgraded Its Rating on US Equities to ‘Overweight’
Citigroup has an optimistic view on US equities and upgraded its rating on US equities to overweight from neutral.
Citi Predicts Global Equity Market May Climb 9% in Next 12 Months
Citigroup believes the global equity market has the potential to climb another 9% in the next 12 months.
Key ADP Highlights: 177,000 Private Jobs in June
According to the ADP report, the private sector had softer improvement in June than in May and didn’t meet the market expectation.
Why Goldman Sachs Thinks FB and NVIDIA Could Do Well in H2 2018
Year-to-date through July 5, Facebook has risen 11.7% and NVIDIA has risen 24.7%
Goldman Sachs: These Stocks Could Benefit despite a Tough H2 2018
The S&P 500 Index (SPY) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA) fell 0.5% and 0.54%, respectively, on July 3 as trade tensions escalated.
How the US Healthcare Sector Fared in the First Half of 2018
The Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV), which tracks the performance of the US health care sector, rose 0.95% in the first half of 2018.
Do S&P 500 Moving Averages Signal Trend Change in H2 2018?
The S&P 500 Index and the NASDAQ Composite Index managed to provide positive returns in the first half of 2018 despite uncertainty in the global trade environment.
Will Volatility Keep Rising in the Second Half of 2018?
The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures the volatility of the S&P 500 Index, rose sharply in the first half of 2018.
What Happened to the S&P 500 Index in June?
After providing strong returns in May 2018, the major US indexes witnessed some nervousness in June.
David Rosenberg: Trade War Could Hurt Corporate Profit
Famous economist David Rosenberg said in an interview with CNBC on June 26 that rising trade tension could affect US businesses (SPY).
Blackstone’s Byron Wien Supports Trump’s Stance on China
In the previous part of this series, we discussed the trade war tension between the US and China and how it has been intensifying.
Tariffs on Europe’s Auto Sector: Impact on the Broader Market
US President Donald Trump’s announcement about the imposition of a 20% import tariff on all European cars increased uncertainty about US–Europe trade relations.
Trump Warned Europe with 20% Tariff on Cars: Danger Ahead?
After significant trade war tensions between the United States (SPY) and China (FXI)(YINN) in recent months, investors’ focus has now shifted toward the US–EU trade relationship.
Indonesia’s Manufacturing PMI Saw 23-Month High in May
According to a report by Markit Economics, Indonesia’s (IDX) (ASEA) manufacturing activity improved at a solid rate in May as compared to the previous month.
Is Solid Rise in China’s Manufacturing PMI Reducing Trade War Worries?
China’s manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers’ index) report for May signaled a solid rise in the manufacturing activity during the month.
Why Brazil’s Services PMI Contracted in May
According to a report by Markit Economics, the final Brazil services PMI (purchasing managers’ index) dropped in May as compared to April.
Why Russia’s Services PMI Weakened in May 2018
According to a report by Markit Economics, Russia’s service PMI weakened in May as compared to April.
Why Russia’s Manufacturing PMI Contracted in May
According to a report by Markit Economics, the final Russia Manufacturing PMI was in the contraction zone in May.
Should Investors Look to Tech Stocks despite Trade War Concerns?
The Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK), which tracks the performance of the technology sector, has risen 11.5% on a year-to-date basis as of June 22.
Facebook and Netflix Hit Record Highs despite Trade War Concerns
Netflix and Facebook have very little exposure to China.
FANG Stocks Are Hitting New Highs: Is It a Bullish Sign?
Despite the rising trade war concerns, Facebook (FB), Amazon (AMZN), Netflix (NFLX), and Alphabet (GOOGL) are hitting record highs.
These Sectors May See the Most Impact from US-China Trade War
China is a major consumer and exporter of commodities. Thus, the imposition of import tariffs on Chinese goods is likely to affect the metal sector.
What May’s Service PMI Data Signals for Developed Markets
In this series, we’ll analyze US, German, UK, French, Japanese, Eurozone, and Spanish service activity in May, as well as the Eurozone Sentix investor confidence index.
What Were Tiger Management’s Top Holdings in Q1 2018?
Tiger Management’s top five picks in the first quarter of 2018 were Adobe Systems (ADBE), Blackstone Group (BX), Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL), Microsoft (MSFT), and JPMorgan Chase (JPM).
Julian Robertson Thinks These Tech Stocks’ Valuations Look Cheap
Hedge fund manager Julian Robertson has an optimistic view on the Trump administration.
Hedge Fund Titan Julian Robertson: ‘Trump Is Doing a Great Job’
On June 14, Julian Robertson shared his view on market movement, the Trump administration, and FANG stock valuation in an interview with CNBC.
Labor Market Saw Sharp Improvement in May
The May non-farm payroll report and the ADP employment report indicated a huge improvement in the US labor market.
Is EU Political Uncertainty Affecting France Manufacturing PMI?
The overall Eurozone economy showed some nervousness in May.
Warren Buffett and Jamie Dimon Say Beware of Bitcoin
At Berkshire’s 2018 annual shareholder meeting in May, Buffett told investors that Bitcoin is “probably rat poison squared,” and advised investors against cryptocurrencies.
Jamie Dimon: CEOs Are More Concerned about Trump Trade
The Business Roundtable’s Economic Outlook Index fell from 118.6 in Q1 2018 to 111.1 in Q2 2018, its first fall during Trump’s presidency.
Could Trade Tensions Continue to Affect the Industrial Sector?
The Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) rose 3% in May.
JPMorgan Chase: Financial Sector Could Lead S&P 500 to New Highs
The financial sector could benefit the most from the Fed’s gradual rate hike process.
Leon Cooperman on Facebook: ‘It Doesn’t Look Expensive to Me’
Despite the recent data breach issue, Facebook’s stock price recovered its losses and is currently trading at $187.67.
Leon Cooperman: FANG Stocks’ Valuations Indicating Some Surprise
Amazon’s (AMZN) stock price has jumped 494.0% in the past five years.
Geopolitical Factors Are Affecting Germany’s Economic Sentiment
The Germany ZEW Economic Sentiment Index has remained flat so far in May 2018.
German Ifo Business Climate Was Flat in May
The German Ifo Business Climate Index remained unchanged in May 2018.
How Did Eurozone Consumer Confidence Trend in May?
According to a report from the European Commission, the Eurozone Consumer Confidence Index stood at 0.2 so far in May as compared to 0.4 in April 2018.
Ray Dalio: Invest in Gold as Trump and North Korea Play Chicken
Dalio advised investors last August to invest in gold as tensions between the United States and North Korea were rising.
Goldman Sachs: Rising Rates Could Change Valuation of S&P 500 Index
Prominent investment firm Goldman Sachs (GS) also said that the rising rates could change the valuation of the equity market (SPY) (QQQ) (DIA).
Why Indonesia’s Manufacturing PMI Rose in April
Indonesia’s manufacturing activity improved more in April than in March. It was 51.6 in April and 50.7 in March.
Will a Pause in US-China Tensions Help China’s Services Sector?
China’s final Markit services PMI rose significantly in April. It was 52.9 in April compared to 52.3 in March.
A Look at Brazil’s Weaker Services PMI in April
The final Brazil services PMI weakened sequentially in April. It was 50 in April compared to 50.4 in March.
Brazil’s Manufacturing PMI Fell: The Impact on Its Equity Market
The final Markit Brazil manufacturing PMI fell sequentially in April. It was 52.3 in April compared to 53.4 in March.
Why Russia’s Services PMI Rose in April
Russia’s services PMI rose sequentially in April. It was 55.5 in April compared to 53.5 in March.
Russia’s Manufacturing PMI Gradually Improving: What That Means
The final Russia manufacturing PMI has been improving since February. It was 51.3 in April compared to 50.6 in March.
What Happened to Mexico’s Manufacturing PMI in April?
Mexico’s manufacturing PMI was 51.6 in April compared to 52.4 in March.
Why Micron Was Tepper’s Top Buy in Q1 2018
David Tepper’s Appaloosa Management’s top buys in the first quarter were Micron Technology (MU), Lam Research (LRCX), Wells Fargo (WFC), UBS (UBS), and Allergan (AGN).
Why Facebook Stayed David Tepper’s Biggest Holding in Q1
Appaloosa’s top five holdings in the first quarter were Micron Technology (MU), Facebook (FB), Alibaba (BABA), Allergan (AGN), and Altaba (AABA).
Is the Market Discounting Higher Inflation Expectations?
According to the data provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US Consumer Price Index, or the inflation index, rose 0.2% in April.
Why George Soros Bought Amazon and Netflix
Legendary billionaire investor George Soros made some changes in his firm, Soros Fund Management LLC’s, portfolio in the first quarter.
George Soros Bought $35 Million of Tesla Bonds
George Soros’s Soros Fund Management bought $35 million worth of Tesla (TSLA) convertible bonds in the first quarter, according to a recent 13F filing report.
10-Year Treasury Yield: Is the US Economy Overheating?
Rising inflation, higher backlog orders since 2004, and rising transportation costs are signaling that the US economy is overheating.
Goldman Sachs: 10-Year Treasury Yield Could Reach 3.6% in 2019
Goldman Sachs (GS) said that falling unemployment and the rising budget deficit could drive the Fed’s faster interest rate hike process.
Eurozone Investor Confidence Still Weak: What’s the Impact?
The Eurozone Sentix Investor Confidence Index is 19.2 in May compared to 19.6 in April, missing the market estimate of 21.2.
What Made the Japan Services PMI Rise So Much in April?
The Japan Services PMI rose significantly in April compared to March. It was 52.5 in April and 50.9 in March.
Is UK Services PMI Suggesting a Change in Sentiment?
The final UK Services PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) improved in April. It was 52.8 in April and 51.7 in March.
Gradual Fall in Spain Services PMI Weakening Investor Sentiment
The final Spain Services PMI showed a weaker rise in April than in March. It was 55.6 in April compared to 56.2 in March.
What the France Services PMI Signals for the Economy
The final Markit France Services PMI improved marginally in April to 57.4 compared to 56.9 in March.
Germany Services PMI Is Falling: Can Investor Confidence Return?
The Markit Germany Services PMI showed a softer rise in April. It was 53 in April compared to 53.9 in March.
Services PMIs for April: What They Signal for Developed Markets
In this series, we’ll analyze how the services activities of major developed nations were trending in April.
Why Japan’s Manufacturing PMI Improved in April
Japan’s manufacturing PMI stood at 53.8 in April compared to 53.1 in March.
The Eurozone’s Manufacturing PMI Fell in April
The final Eurozone manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers’ index) has been falling gradually from its record high of 60.6 in December 2017.
Why Spain’s Manufacturing PMI Has Been Falling Gradually
Spain’s manufacturing PMI has been falling gradually since February. It stood at 54.4 in April compared to 54.8 in March.
Jamie Dimon: ‘America Looks Pretty Good’
Legendary investor Jamie Dimon shared his latest views on the US economy in an interview with Bloomberg on May 8.
Miller: 10% Market Correction Is Discounting Big Risks
The broader-market S&P 500 (SPY) fell 11% from its all-time high of 2,872.87 on January 26 to 2,553.80 on April 2.
Miller: This Could Be the Biggest Risk to the Equity Market
The broader-market S&P 500 (SPY), the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DIA), and the NASDAQ Composite (QQQ) fell 2.7%, 3.7%, and 2.9%, respectively, in March as trade war tensions rose.
Warren Buffett Sold Position in IBM: Is Danger Ahead?
Iconic investor Warren Buffett disclosed that his firm Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B) sold its entire position in International Business Machines (IBM) in 1Q18.
Warren Buffett: ‘I Made the Wrong Decisions on Google and Amazon’
Alphabet has returned 139% in the past five years.
Is Higher Inflation Hurting the Consumer Staples Sector?
The consumer staples sector is an important sector in the S&P 500 Index (SPY).