BTC iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust

The S&P 500 rose ~0.7% to 2,733.01 on May 21 due to the rise in industrial stocks and crude oil prices—the highest level in more than two months.

On the commodities side, we have broad-based commodity benchmark, the Nasdaq Commodity Index, aptly named.

The major threat to emerging markets is tightening in the US. While the Fed will likely leave rates unchanged in September, a hike is possible in December.

Low commodity (GSG) prices in the first quarter of the year impacted commodity-driven emerging markets like Russia, Brazil (EWZ), Indonesia, and Venezuela.

Fallen angel bonds—high-yield bonds originally issued with investment grade credit ratings—are generally known for offering potential value. A big source of this value has been the tendency of fallen angels to be oversold below what may be considered fair value, leading to a downgrade to high yield. A less obvious source of value for fallen angels […]

Latin American markets were trading higher on July 9—taking cues from other emerging markets. Brazil’s inflation rate was released lower at 8.8% in June.

The Latin American (ILF) (EWW) economy contracted in the second half of 2015. The fourth quarter registered the biggest fall in six years.

A number of factors have contributed to the slowdown, including soft overseas growth and a sharp drop in capital spending by energy and mining companies.

It’s been more than a year since Saudi Arabia has had a new king, and what an eventful year for the country under his leadership!